The Australian Food and Grocery Council has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business: Manufacturing and Distributive Trades. “Australia’s $70 billion packaged food and grocery industry has long been arguing for a more streamlined approach to food regulation,” AFGC Chief Executive, Kate Carnell, said. The report found food regulation could be made less burdensome by: “Increasing national consistency of regulation Improving... ...Read more »
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released its draft Children’s Television Standards 2008 for public and industry comment, with general restrictions on food and beverage advertising not recommended. “ACMA’s draft standards are informed by a significant body of commissioned research, review and analysis of available data, detailed economic modelling and its consideration of public submissions,” said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. “The draft... ...Read more »
Manufacturers typically use checkweighing to reject over or under weight products, although it has usually been of little use in identifying irregularly formed or out of specification products before material, time and energy has been invested into it. To resolve this problem, manufacturers are now applying checkweighing’s “quantity control” capabilities early in the manufacturing process and using the data to adjust processes into acceptable limits. For example, a large bread manufacturer... ...Read more »
Cadbury has today announced a $135 million proposal to improve the productivity and efficiency of their chocolate manufacturing sites in Australia and New Zealand. The changes will result in about 160 job losses over two years at their Claremont factory in Tasmania, with a further 145 expected to be lost in Dunedin, New Zealand and 25 in Ringwood, Victoria. Staff were informed at a meeting this afternoon after production was reportedly stopped at 4 this morning. The decision follows Cadbury’s... ...Read more »
A study by Unilever, one of the world’s leading consumer products companies, reveals how different demographic groups in America will change their shopping habits as belts continue to tighten during challenging economic times. More than 30 per cent of consumers are eating at home more and eating out less and 40 per cent feel worse off than a year ago as shoppers continue to grapple with managing their budgets during uncertain economic times, according to the new study - ‘Winning Shoppers... ...Read more »
ConAgra Foods, a leading North American packaged food company, has reported that they are the first company in North America to incorporate post-consumer recycled plastic in their frozen meal trays, which will divert approximately 8 million pounds (about 3.6 million kg) of plastic from landfills to the recycling stream annually. ConAgra Foods has begun to use between 30 percent and 40 percent post-consumer recycled plastic in nearly all of its frozen meal trays for Healthy Choice, Banquet, Kid Cuisine... ...Read more »
New Zealand can no longer rely on being the lowest cost producer, with its food industry needing to raise its game to adapt to the changing economic climate of the global industry, according to Professor of Food Marketing Dr David Hughes from the Imperial College London. His advice, while primarily directed toward the New Zealand food industry, is also relevant to Australian producers and manufacturers. Quality products, not fancy packaging Consumers, despite more difficult economic conditions, are... ...Read more »
New legal controls, including cross-border laws, are needed to halt all marketing of junk food and soft drinks to children up to 16 years, according to new proposals from the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO). The only promotions permitted to target children should be for foods which meet strict criteria for a healthy diet, says IASO’s policy arm, the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF). An IOTF working group is calling for legal steps as part of an international... ...Read more »
Australian frozen food manufacturer Vesco Foods has announced it will stop producing coated fish products over the course of the next three to four months. The Perth-based business currently provides frozen meal products and frozen coated fish products to many leading national and international brands including supermarkets, retail outlets, restaurants and catering institutions. Vesco Foods Chief Executive Officer, Ian Halliday, said the decision followed an extensive review of the company’s... ...Read more »
Leading food manufacturer Heinz has announced their Fiscal 2008 sales increased by 12%, as the company searches for growth from the booming health and wellness food sector. H. J. Heinz Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William Johnson advised that the surge in sales past the $10b milestone for the first time was driven by the successful introduction of numerous new products, many of them catering to the fast-growing healthy lifestyles segment. Growth in emerging markets such... ...Read more »