The Federal Court has ordered two restaurants to pay a penalty of $13,200 each for misleading customers as to the price of meals in their menus on Sundays and public holidays. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took action against two New South Wales restaurants – Helmos Enterprises (NSW) Pty Ltd, trading as Georges Bar and Grill, and Gourmet Goody’s Family Restaurant Pty Ltd, trading as Steersons Steakhouse. The ACCC alleged that the menus failed to tell customers... ...Read more »

Consumer group CHOICE has described Coles’ decision not to publish its in-store prices online as a major disappointment and has called on the supermarket chain to reconsider. Coles’ announcement means Australian shoppers will not be able to use the internet to compare the cost of shopping at the nation’s two major supermarkets, as is possible for airfares, “We at least expected Coles might try to put some of its prices online as ALDI does and Woolworths has started doing,”... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is using its new powers to issue infringement notices to a number of restaurants and cafés which have menus that fail component pricing laws.Infringement notices carry penalties of $6,600 for corporations and $1,320 for individuals, and if the infringement notice penalty is not paid, the business may face court action. The infringement notices are being issued against restaurants and cafés which have failed to provide the total price for menu items... ...Read more »

Fonterra Australia has launched a new incentive payment which provides returns to all Victorian and Tasmanian suppliers, gives improved cash flow through the season and enhances the popular Seasonal Ratio Payment (SRP) with up-front payments.Fonterra’s National Milk Services Manager, Heather Stacy, said the new incentive, called SRP Plus, will be paid over and above the standard milk price and will mean more money for farmers, paid earlier in the season. “We originally created SRP to... ...Read more »

A new study from the UK has suggested that British supermarkets are more often rounding up their prices to the nearest pound, breaking away from one of the traditional tricks of the trade. Price comparison website mySupermarket.co.uk researched prices at the leading UK grocery chains and discovered that rounding up to the nearest pound or 50 pence was becoming commonplace. For example, a small packet of tuna pate at Sainsbury’s rose from 99 pence to £1 between 2008 and 2009, while half a dozen... ...Read more »

Earlier this week a Federal Government commissioned taskforce relayed the results of research into preventative health strategies, providing an insight into the possible future of regulation for food and beverage manufacturers. Some of the more significant recommendations included: - the banning of alcohol sponsorship of sporting and major cultural events - a call for further research into the possibility of higher taxes on unhealthy food and beverages - a phasing out of junk food advertising on... ...Read more »

The future for health policy in Australia has been outlined today, with plans to hike cigarette prices, ban the sponsorship of sport for alcohol companies and develop a National Food and Nutrition Network. The long awaited release of the report from the taskforce – which was set up in April 2008 – is set to shake up the regulatory environment for food and beverage manufacturers. Among the changes is a controversial plan to not allow alcohol companies to sponsor sporting or cultural events... ...Read more »

The CEO of Safeway, one of America’s largest supermarket chains, has recommended all supermarket operators focus on ‘everyday low prices’ rather than promotions in order to lure the budget consumer. During last week’s quarterly conference call with investors, Chairman, President and CEO of the retailer, Steve Burd, suggested that loyalty amongst the budget consumer could no longer be driven by heavy promotions as they were channel surfing more often and showed a greater preparedness... ...Read more »

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has contended that Seven-Eleven Japan, the convenience business of Seven & I, illegally pressured franchisees to avoid discounting the price of food products. In a statement, the competition watchdog claimed that 7-Eleven franchisees were advised not to reduce food prices with a reported implication that they would terminate the contracts of those who did. The FTC ordered the company to cease such practices but the company is reportedly considering appealing... ...Read more »

Many American consumers are willing to spend more on “higher quality” menu items despite spending less on dining out. In a new study, ‘The Consumer Pricing Strategy Report’, foodservice consultants Technomic discovered more than six out of ten consumers (61 per cent) indicated they would spend more for a higher quality sandwich if it contained premium meat; 41 per cent if it were made with premium cheese; and 34 per cent if it contained premium bread. The report focuses on... ...Read more »