Peak retail body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) today criticised the Rudd Government’s GROCERYchoice website as a “brand promotion” tool for Australian supermarkets after the October grocery survey data released today labelled a major supermarket brand as the ‘cheapest’. ARA’s Executive Director Richard Evans believes the ‘highlights’ section of the GROCERYchoice website shows dangerous signs of government brand promotion. “Since its... ...Read more »
Chadstone Shopping Centre, one of Australia’s largest shopping centres - often referred to as ‘The Fashion Capital’, is set to open their much anticipated Fresh Food Precinct before the end of the month. Gourmet food retailers, supermarkets, liquor outlets, cafés and restaurants will all feature in the new precinct. Stephen DeWaele, Centre Manager, believes that the precinct will set the benchmark for Australian shopping centres.”We will be bringing a level and quality of... ...Read more »
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the world’s largest retailer, has joined the growing list of retailers pledging to lower their plastic bag use. The US-based company has committed to reducing its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 per cent per store by 2013. This is expected to eliminate more than 135 million pounds of plastic waste globally. To reach this goal, Wal-Mart will reduce the number of bags given out by its stores, encourage the use of reusable bags and give customers the... ...Read more »
While the majority of Australians (94%) claim to be extremely or somewhat concerned about continuing inflation over the next 12 months, interest rate hikes have little effect on the spending patterns of two in five Aussies, according to a recent Internet survey conducted by The Nielsen Company. The study did suggest, however, that dining out and purchases of common snack foods will decline, as economic pressure intensifies. According to Nielsen, while one in five (22%) Australians will immediately... ...Read more »
New research has established a number of methods to assist CPG companies prosper in spite of rising economic pressure and falling consumer demand, with important lessons for companies of all sizes. Top performers in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry achieved 3.6 per cent sales growth over and above category average while decreasing their sales costs as a percent of sales by 6.1 per cent over two years, according to the 2008 Customer and Channel Management Survey: Doing More with Less: Winning... ...Read more »
A former Coles employee has been accused of planning to use home made explosives in a Coles supermarket in Sydney. The accused, 54 year-old Andre Nord, was arrested on Saturday following the discovery of chemicals and explosives at his Woolahra unit after fire fighters were called to the scene of a fire at his place. NSW Police reported that he was charged with the “possession of explosives/articles with the intent to destroy” upon his release from St Vincent’s Hospital. The police... ...Read more »
So far this year, British shoppers have been in denial - spending more than they did in 2007, in spite of the mounting evidence that their incomes were being squeezed. Until now, with the latest research from MINTEL* finding that reality is beginning to strike and Brits are now making dramatic changes to the way they shop for food. Consumer research from MINTEL highlights that, in the last 12 months alone, 41% of shoppers have switched to cheaper brands and three in ten (34%) have cut down on the... ...Read more »
The Rudd Government is seeking to abolish an 11 cents per litre levy on fresh milk, with legislation introduced to Federal Parliament yesterday. The levy was established by the Howard Government in 2000 to fund an adjustment package for the dairy industry as it moved through deregulation. Around $240 million a year has been collected through the levy, to provide payments to around 13,000 dairy businesses over eight years. Consumers will benefit from a modest saving on the price of fresh milk when... ...Read more »
UK supermarkets Waitrose and Booths have announced plans to join forces on a new buying alliance in order to reduce costs and improve their ability to compete with the major retailers. Booths currently has 26 supermarkets located in the north of England and Waitrose 192 throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The deal between the two companies is designed to take advantage of the “synergies between the two brands” and will involve sharing cost prices and deal structures for branded food... ...Read more »
La Gina, an Australian producer of Italian cooking products, has launched a new range of risotto sauces targeted toward the increasingly lucrative health market. Aware that risottos are not usually the first choice amongst consumers looking for a healthy dinner due to their creamy texture, La Gina has created their new range to alter such perceptions. The three flavours, Mushroom & Chicken, Pumpkin and Mixed Vegetable, are all 95% fat free and low in kilojoules. To further cater for the growing... ...Read more »