The Council of Better Business Bureaus has released its first report on the progress that participants in BBB’s groundbreaking self-regulation program - the ‘Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative’ - have made in changing the children’s food and beverage advertising landscape. BBB has assessed the participants’ compliance with their pledges regarding child-directed advertising of their food and beverage products and concluded that the participants... ...Read more »
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a US-based advocacy group, has claimed that nearly every single possible combination of the childrens meals offered by America’s leading* fast-food chains are too high in calories. According to the CSPI, 93 per cent of 1,474 possible choices at the 13 leading fast food restaurant chains exceed 430 calories - an amount that is one-third of what the Institute of Medicine recommends that children aged four through eight should consume in a day. The... ...Read more »
Cadbury has been named as Australia’s most authentic food brand in the second landmark Authentic Brand Index (ABI) study released by Principals and Synovate, with Microsoft coming out on top overall. The ABI is the only study to measure the authenticity of global and local brands among Australian consumers. Technology brands, like Google and Microsoft, are emerging as more powerful brands than the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) giants that have dominated Australian marketing for decades. Microsoft... ...Read more »
The NSW Government’s Name and Shame Website has been embraced by the public with more than 25,000 hits since the website was set up on July 1, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald reported yesterday. The Minister advised that almost 50 offences have already been published, with consumers showing strong support for the site. “From today there are 46 offences listed on the Food Authority website and in just over three weeks, the name and shame register has had more than 25,000... ...Read more »
The five year association between Schweppes and Red Bull GmbH is about to come to an end. In July 2003 Red Bull Australia and Schweppes formed a distribution alliance, with Schweppes to assist with sales, distribution and merchandising of the popular energy drink. In most countries Red Bull takes sole responsibility for distribution, but the association with Schweppes was made due to the strength of their network in Australia and the resulting ability to increase sales of the product. The... ...Read more »
Starbucks Corporation has announced the next step in its multi-faceted plan to transform the company, with a decision to close approximately 600 underperforming company-operated stores in the U.S. market. The decision followed extensive evaluation of their US company-operated store portfolio and includes the 100 stores targeted for closure in the company’s previously announced plans. In addition, Starbucks now expects to open fewer than 200 new U.S. company-operated stores in fiscal 2009, below... ...Read more »
Australia’s skills crisis is becoming more evident by the day with fast-food giants McDonald’s and KFC forced to use the ‘457′ skilled visa program to recruit staff in Queensland.The ‘457′ visa, which is currently under review by the Rudd Government, is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor skilled overseas recruits to work in Australia and allows for a stay of between three months and four years. McDonald’s Queensland regional manager Andrew... ...Read more »
In a week, New York City restaurants will finish the job of eliminating artificial trans fat from the food they serve. The final phase of the City’s trans fat regulation takes effect on July 1, requiring restaurants to clear artificial trans fat from all their menu items. When first implemented last year, the new standard applied only to fry oils and spreads. It will now cover previously excluded items such as baked goods, frozen foods, cannoli, and doughnuts as well. Only foods served in the... ...Read more »
Recent research conducted at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil into the adverse effects of trans fats on our health, has shown that these can be passed from mother to child through the breast milk, renewing demands for trans fats to be banned. Trans fats are attractive for the food industry due to their extended shelf life and flavour stability, and have displaced natural solid fats and liquid oils in many areas of food processing. While further studies are required to verify... ...Read more »
The economic downturn in America has led to a number of initiatives from McDonald’s seeking to lure customers, but the strategies now seem to be frustrating some franchisees. US comparable sales for the company rose 4.3% in May as their promotions, which included providing a small menu of items at $1 and the use of giveaways, provided steady growth. Giveaways have so far included a two-day burrito giveaway and free coffee on Mondays in some areas. Franchisees dealing with rising costs,... ...Read more »