One of Australia’s leading research companies, Roy Morgan Research has released its first, “Supermarket and Fresh Food Currency Report”. The Supermarket and Fresh Food Currency Report tracks numbers of customers by the supermarket they shop at, total dollar spent in each supermarket, and also these details as a percentage of total market spend dollars. The report also contains historical context such as trends reaching back to 2003. These show increases in fields such as cross-visitation being... ...Read more »

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 »

Australian supermarket shoppers continue to rank Aldi as top in providing customer satisfaction out of all the Australian supermarkets. This is according to the latest survey findings from the Australian market research company Roy Morgan. Roy Morgan surveyed the views of 7,533 Australian grocery buyers in the six months to November 2011. Aldi gained in customer satisfaction for the fifth month in a row with 94 per cent of those surveyed saying they were “completely” or “somewhat” satisfied... ...Read more »

Australian ASX-listed company Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WBC) today announced the signing of a five year deal to supply dairy products to Coles Supermarkets under a new consumer brand. The new brand, called ‘Great Ocean Road’, will be sold exclusively through Coles stores across Australian and includes a range of cheddar cheeses and fresh milk products. In a statement released today, WCB said it will work with Coles to formalise the agreement into a contract. Under the supply contract,... ...Read more »

This article has been written as a special briefing for Australian Food News readers on an important topic. The author Joe Lederman is the Managing Principal of FOODLEGAL.  He is  both a specialist lawyer and strategic consultant for food suppliers. He has expertise in food regulatory compliance and marketing law and is involved in all food sectors.   Experts from the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation are warning governments around the world... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket chain, Woolworths, has been forced to pull back a major summer advertising campaign after being threatened with court action by rival supermarket chain Coles. At the centre of Woolworths campaign was an image of a pair of scissors cutting through a dollar symbol. Coles saw the symbol to be too similar to an image it has been using in its own summer advertising campaign. A spokesperson for Woolworths told Australian Food News today, “We confirm that Coles’ lawyers have alerted... ...Read more »

Coles Supermarket Group has issued guidelines to the buyers that it employs on ways to avoid engaging in conduct that might be considered ‘unconscionable’ in dealings when negotiating prices with suppliers to Coles. The supermarket chain has sent a document to all of its buyers offering examples of unconscionable behavior and negotiating practices that might be said to infringe the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Act 2010. This legislation is enforceable by the Australian Competition... ...Read more »

Australia’s two leading supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are rolling out a new card payment system which does not require a signature or a PIN number from the customer. The system will comprise new Visa ‘payWave’ cards and upgraded payment terminals equipped with Ingenico pin pads. The cards have an embedded antenna and microchip, enabling a contactless communication with the pinpad at the checkout. The cards will be used for credit or debit card purchases up to A$100. Coles’ Finance... ...Read more »

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s chairman Rod Sims has announced that the ACCC will not appeal the Full Federal Court’s decision to allow Metcash’s acquisition of the Franklins supermarket business. In a media statement released today, Mr Sims said that the ACCC took action to block the proposed acquisition by Metcash of the Franklins supermarket business because it considered that such an acquisition was likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the... ...Read more »