One of the world’s largest accountancy and business consultancy firms, Grant Thornton, today published its annual international business report on the food and beverage industry. The report highlights several key trends and predictions for Australia, including the strength of the Australian supermarket duopoly and the problems posed by their private label business. In the report, ‘Managing through uncertainty: Food and beverage industry in transition’, Grant Thornton’s Industry Leader... ...Read more »

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan could have a “dire” impact on the country’s food and agriculture sectors, analysts at Rabobank have warned. Concerns over food safety and supply problems are likely to hit exports and lead to a rise in imports, particularly from the US, Australia and China, Rabobank said yesterday. In a report on the impact of the crisis on the food sector, Rabobank said imports of seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables are likely to grow. The analysts said... ...Read more »

Australia’s $102 billion food and grocery industry remains the nation’s largest manufacturing sector, but is under intense pressure from rising imports and falling exports, according to a new report by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and KPMG. Launched this week by Federal Industry Minister Kim Carr in Canberra, the second annual economic snapshot of the food and grocery manufacturing sector State of the Industry 2010 found for the first time in decades, the industry’s international... ...Read more »

The leading representative of food and beverage manufacturers in the UK has expressed disappointment with the outcome of the UN’s conference on climate change summit due to the lack of certainty for the future. “In common with many other sectors, UK food and drink manufacturers were looking to Copenhagen to set a clear and legally binding framework for concerted and equitable international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the development of new low carbon technologies... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest soft drink producer today announced they remained on track to meet their guidance for the full year, while Mother and Glacéau vitaminwater continue to outperform expectations. “The Australian beverage business achieved solid volume and revenue growth in the third quarter,” the firm advised in their trading update. “Transaction volume growth, being the number of physical beverage packs sold, also remained robust as the business continued to benefit from... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola remains the No. 1 brand for the ninth year in a row, according to BusinessWeek and Interbrand’s annual ranking of the “Best Global Brands”. Coca-Cola has been positioned at the top for the entire nine years the research has been carried out. A number of other food and beverage brands were seen to prosper during a year in which many brands lost value. Heinz, Wrigley, Kellogg’s, Nestlé and Danone were among the big risers as consumers faith in food and beverage brands... ...Read more »

One of Western Australia’s youngest integrated dairy companies, Challenge Australian Dairy, has received the top accolade at the annual Westpac Food and Beverage Industry Awards, run by the Food Industry Association of WA (FIA). Challenge Australian Dairy, a South West based joint venture between Challenge Dairy Cooperative (WA’s only Dairy Farmer Cooperative) and QAF Ltd Singapore, took out the award for best business of the year as well as the prize for ‘excellence in the supply... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest soft drink bottler, Coca-Cola Amatil, has delivered a record first half net profit after tax of $189.8 million as tougher trading conditions fail to quell Australian appetite for soft drinks. The result, a 10.4% increase on last year, was warmly received by the market and Managing Director Terry Davis. “Although CCA has experienced tougher trading conditions, it has delivered another record result,” he noted. “Excellent performances from the Australian... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil have reported strong growth in the first half despite a “noticeable shift” in consumer behaviour. Australia’s largest soft drink beverage maker advised, in their May trading update, that a hot summer had driven strong demand in the first quarter, while the stimulus packages helped them achieve strong volume and revenue growth. “The economic downturn has resulted in a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour,” the maker of Coca-Cola in Australia said. “Demand... ...Read more »

The latest Asia-Pacific Food and Beverage Business Vitality Index, produced by market intelligence firm Global Intelligence Alliance Group (GIA), has seen consumer products giant Unilever come out on top. The Anglo-Dutch company was the overall leader ahead of 20 leading food and beverage firms in the Asia Pacific region. The research looks into three dimensions: innovation, regional presence and revenue performance, to determine the potential impact of each business on the industry. American giants... ...Read more »