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 »

Coles supermarkets have launched a new marketing campaign around Australia promoting low prices for domestic fresh fruit and vegetables. The Coles campaign takes advantage of a current glut in fresh produce around Australia. However the campaign also signals greater competition for the “fresh” descriptor crossing into the marketing cornerstone of its major competitor, Woolworths. Over the past decade, Woolworths has branded itself by the slogan “Woolworths – the Fresh Food people”. Hence,... ...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 »

The exponential increase in the number of shopping trolleys (or shopping carts, as Americans prefer to call them) that litter Australian streets has forced the supermarket operators to find new recovery strategies. In addition to being eyesores, especially when dumped in enviro-sensitive areas such as alongside streams or in nearby recreational bushland spaces, governments consider these trolleys as a hazard to pedestrians and traffic.  In some Australian jurisdictions, laws have been passed to... ...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 »

Kiss Kiss Food Products Pty Ltd has recalled all varieties of Kiss Kiss Pastizzi baked goods from independent supermarkets in Western Australia due to undeclared soy. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the recalled products contain undeclared soy (an allergen) due to the manufacturer changing the product specifications. The Kiss Kiss Pastizzi products with the following flavours have been recalled: Bonza Bacon and Ricotta, Cheeky Curry Chicken, Funky Fetta, Perfect Pizza,... ...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 »

Australian national grocery wholesaler, Metcash, has reported a 14.3 per cent decline in profit to A$94.4 million for the six months to 31 October 2011. Metcash’s executive Andrew Reitzer said that challenging operating conditions have persisted due to reduced consumer confidence, highly value-conscious consumer, and continuing deflation. The profit decline takes into account “significant items and discontinued operations” associated with the company’s Franklins acquisition. Excluding these... ...Read more »