Australian supermarket Coles has announced that some popular Australian brands will among a list of 40 new products to be added to its ‘Down Down’ savings list. The latest ‘Down Down’ price reduction features some iconic brands, including Vegemite, Old El Paso, Milo and Kellogg’s Cornflakes. The latest ‘Down Down’ campaign will feature rock band Status Quo with a unique version of the song ‘Whatever You Want’. The popular brands will receive their own version of the song in the... ...Read more »

Major Australian supermarkets appear to be gradually moving towards new store formats that will offer additional services or attempt to create a more ‘market-style’ environment. Woolworths recently advertised positions available for qualified butchers for its “exciting new concept stores”. Woolworths supermarkets also appear to be gradually changing their approach to the format of stores, perhaps in an attempt to emulate its rival Coles’ strategy of focusing on the customer in-store ‘experience’. In... ...Read more »

Global soft drink company Coca-Cola has said it will work to make its beverages lower-calorie, and make nutrition information more widely available on its products globally. The US-based Company already has diet drinks available in most markets around the world, but they are not always as readily available in emerging markets such as China. Coca-Cola said the goal is to have diet options available wherever regular versions are sold, and to have cans and bottles of its soft drinks display nutrition... ...Read more »

Gloria Jean’s Coffees has introduced a new smooth, medium roast Sereno Blend into its Australian coffee houses. The new blend will be available alongside Gloria Jean’s Coffees’ Original Blend. Gloria Jean’s Coffees said the new blend has been introduced “in response to the evolving tastes of Australian coffee drinkers”, and is named after the “serene and smooth body” of the blend. The Company said the blend, which is made from Arabica beans, “is a lively and light tasting coffee... ...Read more »

Australian-made products rated highly among Australian consumers, according to new findings from market research organisation Roy Morgan Research. The research found that 87.4 per cent of Australians more likely to buy food produced in Australia, while 88.5 per cent of Australians aged 14 plus said they were more likely to buy Australian-made products across all categories over products manufactured in other countries. The US and the UK also rated highly, with 56.2 per cent of Australians saying... ...Read more »

The recent first quarter trading update from Japanese-owned Australian food and beverage manufacturer Lion shows a volume increase of 14 per cent in the beer, wine and spirits category for the quarter ended 31 December 2012, despite an overall slowing of the category’s market. Lion said the alcohol sales volume increase came because of its acquisition of international premium and craft brands. But the Company reported that its dairy and drinks category faced challenges in the first quarter, and... ...Read more »

Australians are expected to spend almost $1.4 billion spoiling their mums this year, according to research from market research organisation IBISWorld. This figure is an increase of 2.7 per cent from 2012, and almost three times the amount Australian spend on Father’s Day. Positive consumer sentiment, increasing disposable incomes and low unemployment are all expected to contribute to more lavish spending on Australian mums this year, according to IBISWorld. Adult Australians are expected to spend... ...Read more »

The third quarter sales results of Wesfarmers Limited (Wesfarmers) showed its subsidiary Coles put in a strong sales performance for the three months to 31 march 2013. Coles’ headline food and liquor sales for the third quarter were $6.5 billion, up 6.6 per cent on the previous corresponding period. Food and liquor sales were up 5.5 per cent to $20.8 billion for the financial year to date. Comparable food and liquor store sales increased 5.3 per cent in the third quarter and 4.3 per cent for the... ...Read more »

Australian triathlete Charlotte McShane has signed on as ambassador for food manufacturer Simplot Australia’s meat-free brand Quorn. Made with mycoprotein – a meat-free form of protein and a member of the fungi family – Simplot Australia says Quorn products are also cholesterol-free and high in fibre. The new campaign will see Scottish-born twenty-two year-old McShane, who hopes to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympic Games, giving... ...Read more »

The rate of growth in retail trade in Australia decreased marginally in the first three months of 2013, and is expected to ease further as the year continues, according to a report from grocery retail representative body Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and pallet and container manufacturer CHEP. The report, called the AFGC CHEP Retail Index, showed 3 per cent growth in the March quarter year-on-year, but forecasts growth will ease to 2.6 per cent in the June quarter. In the month of March,... ...Read more »