Organic food supplier Organic Marketing Australia has lost its case against Woolworths Ltd over the supermarket giant’s use of the phrase “Honest to Goodness” in a recent marketing campaign. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday that Organic Marketing Australia, which trades as Honest to Goodness, applied to the Federal Court to stop Woolworths running the A$3m (US$3.1m) campaign until the matter was resolved. However, the court refused the injunction, urging the parties... ...Read more »

Woolworths has been taken to court by food supplier Organic Marketing Australia, over a phrase used in its marketing campaign.The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that Woolworths is being sued over its use of the phrase “honest to goodness” by Organic Marketing Australia, who has traded under the Honest to Goodness brand since 2003. According to the report, Woolworths stands to lose A$3m (US$4.9m) if it is forced to halt the campaign, which features celebrity chef Margaret Fulton. Organic... ...Read more »

The management running UK-based premium organic chocolate maker Green & Black’s is reportedly considering buying the business from parent company Kraft Foods. A report in The Financial Times said bosses at Green & Black’s, which Kraft acquired as part of its acquisition of Cadbury last year, are looking at possible plans for a management buy-out. The FT cited sources familiar with Green & Black’s that claimed the chocolate maker’s management were struggling to... ...Read more »

According to Datamonitor’s recently launched report, Market Insights: Alcoholic Beverage sales in China – the country which ranked number one globally in volume of alcoholic beverage sales in 2009 – are forecast to reach 61 billion litres in 2014, compared to 47 billion litres in 2009.Several factors have contributed to the immense growth of alcohol consumption in China. Among many, rising disposable incomes and resulting improved lifestyles are considered the most important. Others,... ...Read more »

UK organic food makers have launched a marketing campaign they hope will improve consumer understanding of the sector and boost sales.The three-year “Why I Love Organic” campaign, launched by sector body The Organic Trade Board (OTB), costs GBP2m (US$3.1m). Half the investment has been put up by the organic industry with the rest coming from the EU. The campaign, which aims to “democratise” the organic sector by getting consumers to talk about why they buy organic products,... ...Read more »

NASAA have confirmed reports that longstanding WA grower, Steve Marsh, has recently been the victim of GM contamination despite his best efforts to avoid it. Following confirmation that the genetically manipulated (GM) canola plants have indeed contaminated Steve Marsh’s certified organic farm from a neighboring property, NASAA has decertified the affected portion of his farm (325 ha’s) until it can be demonstrated that these areas are GM free. For future certification to be regained... ...Read more »

French yoghurt maker Yoplait, itself the subject of frenzied takeover speculation, has bought Canadian organic yogurt brand Liberté. Yoplait has acquired the business for an undisclosed sum from Liberté’s shareholders, private-equity firms Swander Pace Capital and Roynat Capital and the Canadian firm’s management team. Yoplait said Liberté would give it “the opportunity to acquire a strong market position in a new and rapidly growing market segment”. In 2009, Liberté generated... ...Read more »

A West Australian organic farmer has found genetically manipulated (GM) canola seeds contaminating nearly two thirds of his arable land. Australian organic standards mandate zero tolerance for any GM so he will consider suing for financial loss, the first case of its kind in Australia. Steve Marsh says he used test strips to identify the seeds of GM canola which have blown more than 1.5 km inside his boundary and contaminated about 220 hectares. He believes the seed may have blown in after a neighbouring... ...Read more »

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is conducting a new study into how water and natural fertilisers – such as manures, biosolids and compost – are used by the horticultural industry. NZFSA specialist advisor Marion Castle says the study will help growers continue to produce safe fruits and vegetables and avoid problems that have hit the fresh produce industry overseas. The study will also look at how contaminants from these sources that might be introduced to fresh produce... ...Read more »

Australian olive oil maker Kailis Organic Olive Groves has acquired the olive assets of collapsed local agribusiness Great Southern Limited. According to Kailis, the deal will make it the “world’s largest vertically integrated organic olive oil producer”. The acquisition includes 1,795 hectares of planted and irrigated olive groves, water licences, associated infrastructure and equipment. The value of the deal was not disclosed, however a company spokesperson told just-food that... ...Read more »