Google Australia predicts strong growth for online presence of food and drink retail in Australia. Today, it offered advice to Australian retailers with an online presence as the market gears up for the holiday season. According to Google Australia’s figures, 31 per cent of online “Christmas” specific searches during 2011 involve the food and drink retail sector. Google Australia & New Zealand’s Head of Retail, Ross McDonald said today, “Over the next five weeks shopping-related... ...Read more »

International research body, Innova Market Insights, has identified five key trends that it claims will impact the Australian food and beverage market through 2012 and beyond. According to Innova, the top trends for 2012 relate purity, authenticity and sustainability, as consumers continue to look for products with added value, despite the ongoing economic uncertainty. Innova’s top five trends are as follows: ‘Pure’ is the new ‘natural’: Natural products are becoming the rule rather... ...Read more »

The Australian Government has today announced changes to food store and alcohol licensing in the Northern Territory. Under the changes, areas outside of major centres in the Northern Territory will be defined as a ‘food security area’.  Stores in these areas will need a license if they are an important source of food, drink or groceries to an Aboriginal community. This means licensing will apply to some stores for the first time. The government will consult with the local community about the... ...Read more »

Coles Supermarket’s media campaign that it has “declared war on liquor prices” has prompted immediate retaliation by rival supermarket chain Woolworths. Coles had announced yesterday that it has cut prices by as much as 31% on a range of beers, wines and spirits in its 1st Choice and Liquorland stores as part of a new pricing strategy. Today, the director of Woolworths Liquor Group, which owns the Dan Murphy’s chain of liquor stores, Steve Greentree described Coles’ campaign as “misleading”. Mr... ...Read more »

Market research organisation IBISWorld has predicted that A$9.8 billion will be spent on food in Australia this Christmas – a timid 3.4 per cent increase spending in 2010. According to IBISWorld, with annual inflation of around 3.3 per cent in Australia, this means that most food retailers will simply be treading water. IBISWorld General Manager (Australia), Ms Karen Dobie said that in 2011, Australian shoppers have been savvy, seeking out the best value for money, the best range and the best... ...Read more »

Progressive Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Australian retail group Woolworths Limited, has bid farewell to the Woolworths brand in New Zealand, marking the final stage of transition to the new ‘Countdown’ brand. Woolworths Meadowlands was the last store in New Zealand to carry the Woolworths brand. The store reopened this week as a Countdown supermarket. In 2009 Progressive Enterprises announced plans to transition all its supermarkets to the Countdown brand. Over 60% of its 159 stores nationwide... ...Read more »

A market report on Australia’s packaged food sector from market research consultancy Euromonitor predicts that ongoing economic uncertainty and weak consumer confidence could provide Australia’s packaged food retailers with enhanced opportunities to grow retail volume sales. Euromonitor’s ‘Packaged Food in Australia’ market report, released yesterday, says the packaged food industry displayed resilience against lowered consumer confidence following the global financial crisis of 2008 and... ...Read more »

Research published today by market research organisation, IBISWorld, predicts that Australians will spend A$25.4 Billion on alcoholic beverages in 2011-12. According to the research, Australians are increasingly choosing premium alcoholic drinks over traditional beers. The report predicts that alcohol spending in Australia will increase by 15.3% over the next five years, reaching A$29.3 Billion in 2016/17. IBISWorld General Manager (Australia) Karen Dobie said that while Australia’s alcohol consumption... ...Read more »

Newly appointed CEO of Australian retail giant Woolworths Limited, Grant O’ Brien, has unveiled a multi-pronged strategy to expand the company’s operations in Australia. In a series of media statements, the company announced plans to create 10,000 new retail jobs before the current financial year ends, as well as a five-year plan to double sales of Woolworths supermarkets’ own brand products. According to the statements, Woolworths plans to open 39 new supermarkets, seven new BIG Ws and 15... ...Read more »

A US entrepreneur has unveiled a supermarket checkout and stock management system that he claims would eliminate the need for barcodes. Ran Margalit, the creator of ShelfX, says his system will end “cumbersome lines at checkout counters” at grocery stores. The ShelfX system uses radio frequency identification (RFID) and near-field communication (NFC) technology. Launching the system today, Mr Margalit said that a ShelfX ‘Smart Shelf’, equipped with highly-sensitive scales, knows the exact... ...Read more »