The growth of Australia’s burgeoning organic food sector has stagnated this year, according to some of the country’s leading players. Australian sales of organic products rose dramatically between 2004 and 2007, reaching around $600 million on growth of up to 30% per annum for some sectors. Farm-gate sales soared 80 per cent in the same period. However, despite reports of resilience just a few months ago, there are concerns that this year will see flat growth – a far cry from previous... ...Read more »

Australia’s competition watchdog has today advised that it will not oppose the acquisition of organic supermarket operator Macro Wholefoods by Australia’s largest supermarket operator, Woolworths. Woolworths announced the proposed takeover of Macro last month and plans to turn all Macro stores into outlets of their upmarket grocery subsidiary – Thomas Dux*. They will also acquire ownership of the Macro Organic private label brand. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission... ...Read more »

Metcash is keen to see the ACCC block the acquisition of Macro Wholefoods by Woolworths, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review. Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket chain, announced a fortnight ago that they had reached an agreement with organic food retailer Macro to purchase the company’s stores and organic private label brand. The deal will see all Macro stores re-badged as ‘Thomas Dux’ – the upmarket grocery chain owned by Woolworths. Interested... ...Read more »

Woolworths is looking for a swift expansion of their Thomas Dux upmarket grocery chain with Wednesday’s purchase of Macro Wholefoods but will the competition regulator block it? A deal was struck by Woolworths with Macro this week which will see the supermarket chain’s Thomas Dux subsidiary takeover eight stores, one development site and Macro’s organic private label brand. The price of the acquisition was not revealed by Woolworths but that hasn’t stopped speculation from... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest supermarket chain will continue the rollout of their upmarket Thomas Dux Grocer outlets, after announcing the purchase of up to nine store leases from Macro Wholefoods in NSW and Victoria. The deal also includes the purchase of Macro’s organic private label brand. Woolworths launched Thomas Dux, an upmarket grocery store, in April last year and currently operates two stores in Sydney -  Paddington and Lane Cove. The arrangement* will see the eight existing Macro stores... ...Read more »