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 »

Tesco Lotus has opened Asia’s the first of its “zero-carbon” supermarket Asia, as part of its commitment to be a zero carbon business by 2050. Tesco Lotus is a major supermarket chain in Thailand, Cambodia and China. In Thailand, the stores are operated by the Ek-Chai Distribution System Co. According to Tesco Lotus, the new store in Bang Pra, Thailand, will put back into the Thai National Grid as much energy as it uses over the course of a year. Renewable fuel is converted into energy... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading supermarket chains have been accused of using “copycat” packaging of leading Australian food brands to mislead consumers into buying the supermarket’s own private label products. The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Chief Executive, Kate Carnell, said today that supermarkets are targeting brands with a strong market share and copying their designs as closely as possible without infringing trademark laws. Private label products are forecast to grow strongly and could... ...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 »

One of the world’s biggest food processors, Heinz, has moved to deprecate news reports suggesting hostility between Heinz and Australia’s leading supermarkets who are its major customers. Articles in both the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age this week claimed Heinz had “hit out at (supermarket) home brands” and had been “forced to rework strategy” because of the impact of growing home brand label presence in Australia’s supermarkets. Heinz told Australian Food News today that both... ...Read more »