One of Australia’s key industrialists, Anthony Pratt, who is chairman of the leading Australian packaging business Visy Industries, has called upon the Australian government to work with Australia’s food industry to boost production. Speaking at a conference on food security yesterday in Shepparton, Victoria, Mr Pratt offered five ways he believes Australia can quadruple its food production: Accelerated depreciation should be introduced to encourage new manufacturing investments in food. Mr... ...Read more »

SPC Ardmona has announced the release of three new fruit snacks aimed at kids of all ages into supermarkets across Australia. The Coca-Cola Amatil subsidiary said the three snacks, SPC Fruit Squeezies, SPC Fruit Crush-Ups and SPC Power Pulp, are designed specifically to make fruit fun for kids of all ages, from preschoolers to teens. “According to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, kids aged four to 18 should eat between one and five serves of fruit each day. However the latest National... ...Read more »

SPC has announced a new innovative packaging design for its baked beans – a resealable 1kg fridge pack, which allows bulk purchasers to consume their baked beans at their own preferred rate. SPC-Ardmona, owned by Coca-Cola Amatil since 2005, said the new pack has been designed to reduce wastage. “Those who only want a mouthful of baked beans can have their mouthful, screw the lid back on and put the pack back in fridge,” said a release from the company. “Alternatively, mums... ...Read more »

Victorian Foodbowl icon SPC Ardmona will today open its new factory sales outlet designed to help it grow its status as the most popular factory food outlet in the nation.Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion tonight, and today said the factory sales outlet’s new Shepparton CBD location would elevate SPC Ardmona’s already heightened status among tourists. “The SPC Ardmona factory is not a location – it’s... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest soft drink producer today announced they remained on track to meet their guidance for the full year, while Mother and Glacéau vitaminwater continue to outperform expectations. “The Australian beverage business achieved solid volume and revenue growth in the third quarter,” the firm advised in their trading update. “Transaction volume growth, being the number of physical beverage packs sold, also remained robust as the business continued to benefit from... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest soft drink bottler, Coca-Cola Amatil, has delivered a record first half net profit after tax of $189.8 million as tougher trading conditions fail to quell Australian appetite for soft drinks. The result, a 10.4% increase on last year, was warmly received by the market and Managing Director Terry Davis. “Although CCA has experienced tougher trading conditions, it has delivered another record result,” he noted. “Excellent performances from the Australian... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil have reported strong growth in the first half despite a “noticeable shift” in consumer behaviour. Australia’s largest soft drink beverage maker advised, in their May trading update, that a hot summer had driven strong demand in the first quarter, while the stimulus packages helped them achieve strong volume and revenue growth. “The economic downturn has resulted in a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour,” the maker of Coca-Cola in Australia said. “Demand... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited, Australia’s largest soft drink producer, has recorded a record net profit after tax for the 2008 full year of $404.3 million, 10.4% up on 2007. CCA’s Group Managing Director, Mr Terry Davis, was delighted with the results considering the prevailing market conditions. “CCA has delivered a record profit result against a backdrop of the most challenging economic and trading environment we have experienced for many years,” he said. “The achievement... ...Read more »

Foodbank, Australia’s largest hunger-relief charity, last night honoured a number of leading Australian food and grocery companies at its awards ceremony held during the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Annual Industry Leaders Dinner in Canberra. CEO Bronwyn Boekenstein said that Foodbank performed a brokerage role between the food and grocery industry and the welfare sector, helping to feed more than 48,000 Australians a day. “It is for this reason that we publicly recognise... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil, Australia’s largest soft drink bottler, has reported their first half profit after tax has risen 22% to $171.9 million. The distributor of Coca-Cola in Australia advised that stronger cash control was one of the reasons for the increase. New beverage products added impetus to the results, with the Mother re-launch, Kirk’s Ginger Beer, Powerade Edge and Recovery and Glacéau – which is likely reap sales 4 times the original forecasts – among the successful... ...Read more »