In announcing its second quarter retail sales results for the 2012 financial year today, Wesfarmers has expressed pleasure with the continuing strong growth of its subsidiary Coles. Coles is one of Australia’s two major supermarket groups. Coles’ first half-year’s sales this financial year were $13.6 billion, a 4.9 percent increase on the previous year. Wesfarmers’ managing director, David Goyder said, “Given a relatively tough retail environment and widespread deflation, I am pleased... ...Read more »

Woolworths Limited today announced first half year sales of $29.7 billion, a 5 percent increase on the previous year. CEO Grant O’Brien said, “The first half year result was solid considering the ongoing headwinds facing the retail sector with subdued consumer confidence and significant deflation along with the change agenda we are driving through our business”. He also stated that the first half year result includes a 5.6 percent growth for the supermarket division, an overall customer increase,... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s largest retailers, Wesfarmers Limited today announced sales from its Coles business have increased by 8 per cent to A$8.09bn for the first quarter of 2012 financial year (from 27 June 2011 to 25 September 2011). According to Wesfarmers’ report, Coles’ food and liquor store sales grew by 5.2 per cent in the first quarter. However, the supermarket chain experienced food and liquor price deflation of 1.8 per cent during the quarter. Wesfarmers stated that this was due to... ...Read more »

Cider is outpacing all other alcoholic brands in Australia, with “exceptional” sales growth seen over the past year, according to a report released today by international market research company Nielsen. Nielsen’s report shows that, in the past year, cider sales in Australia have increased by just over a third (35 per cent) in value terms and just over a fifth (23 per cent) in volume terms. A spokesperson for Nielsen said that, considering the Australian liquor market is currently decreasing... ...Read more »

This weekend is huge for Australian football with the NRL grand final on Sunday 2 October, the last pool game in the Rugby World Cup and the AFL grand final on Saturday 1 October. And while footy fever sweeps the nation, Eagle Boys Pizza, Australia’s second largest pizza company is preparing for a spike in sales. Eagle Boys CEO Todd Clayton said the franchise is expecting to make more than 100,000 pizzas over the weekend, increasing sales by over 20 per cent.  Read More →

Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy exporter, has forecast that its payout for farmers could slide in 2011/12 after a “record” 12 months in the current financial year.The New Zealand dairy giant yesterday (24 May) predicted that its payout for the year starting on 1 June would be lower than the current year, when it expects to pay NZ$8.00-8.10 before retentions. The forecast for the current year – when Fonterra expects to see record production – comprises a milk price... ...Read more »

US club store operator Costco has booked a jump in earnings for the first nine months of the year as strong sales gains boosted the group’s result. Net sales for the nine months to 8 May rose 13% to US$59.46bn, including sales from the group’s Mexican joint venture, which Costco began to consolidate into its financial results in fiscal 2011. Excluding this, comparable sales were up 9% in the period, the company said today (25 May). Costco also revealed that currency exchange and gas price... ...Read more »

Fonterra has recorded its highest ever month for exports with 229,000 tonnes of its dairy products leaving New Zealand shores in March.Gary Romano, Managing Director of Fonterra Trade & Operations, said the record shipments are the result of continued growth in global demand for high quality dairy products from New Zealand. “Our supply chain team were effectively closing the door on an export container every 2.6 minutes. That’s equivalent to 560 containers a day.” “As... ...Read more »

Fonterra announced this week that cheddar cheese would be offered for sale on its globalDairyTrade electronic trading platform from the 19 July event. The addition will expand the range of products available on the platform to seven, including Whole Milk Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Butter Milk Powder and Anhydrous Milk Fat. Fonterra will begin offering Milk Protein Concentrate and Rennet Casein from the 17 May event. Ian Palliser, Director of Optimisation, Trading and Sourcing, said adding cheese was... ...Read more »

The proportion of grocery products sold on promotion in the UK has hit an “all time high”, according to the latest data from research firm Nielsen. UK grocery sales witnessed a “dramatic” slowdown in March prompting the sector to employ “powerful” promotions in order to maintain sales, Nielsen claimed yesterday. “Shoppers are responding well to powerful promotions and we are seeing 40% of all sales now on promotion – an all time high,” senior... ...Read more »