Recently listed Australian fast food operator Collins Foods has announced a 1.2% drop in sales revenue for the first half of the 2011/12 financial year, up to 16 October 2011. Collins Foods, which was listed the Australian Securities Exchange in August 2011, operates 119 KFC outlets and 26 Sizzler restaurants, mostly in Queensland. Shares in the company fell by 24 per cent following the announcement, made on Wednesday 2 November 2011. The company reported an expected loss in Net Profit After Tax... ...Read more »

France will use talks with other G20 nations to argue for tougher rules on global food commodities trading, as surging prices pose a risk to businesses and consumers. France kicked-off two-day talks in Paris yesterday (22 June) to persuade G20 nations to impose caps on investments in food commodities, such as wheat, barley and sugar. Under its proposals, investors would also have to declare themselves as either speculative or commercial traders. It is the first time that agriculture ministers have... ...Read more »

Unilever and Coca-Cola Co. have joined forces to launch a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the global consumer goods industry.The two giant firms hope to change the behaviour of customers and suppliers with the guide, which has been launched as businesses urged governments to provide a lead on controlling greenhouse gases at this week’s UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. The consumer goods initiative – ‘Moving Fast to a Cleaner Climate: A manager’s guide... ...Read more »