A leading international expert on the global food industry has told a conference in Brisbane this week that the future for Australian food exports is strong as long as we can build on our ‘beer and vegemite’ image. Speaking at the National Farmers’ Federation congress, Professor David Hughes said Australia’s position as a low-cost producer had evaporated but the high quality of our food presented an alternative marketing proposition. “What you need is customers with... ...Read more »

For the first time in 85 years there has been a change to Vegemite. Kraft, the American owner of one of Australia’s most iconic brands, has decided to tamper with Vegemite to produce a new version with cheese, however the original will remain on supermarket shelves. Last October, the one billionth jar of Vegemite was sent down the production line after first hitting retailers shelves in 1923 – a year after it was created by Chemist Dr Cyril P Callister. The product was not immediately... ...Read more »

Vegemite, the iconic Australian product owned by Kraft, has sent the one billionth jar down the production line some 85 years after its launch. The product was created by Chemist Dr Cyril P Callister back in 1922 and first hit retailers’ shelves the following year. The product was not immediately embraced by Australians, however, with a name change to Parwill – a play on the name of the similar English product Marmite – in 1928 designed to boost its flagging fortunes. Parwill was... ...Read more »

Cadbury has been named as Australia’s most authentic food brand in the second landmark Authentic Brand Index (ABI) study released by Principals and Synovate, with Microsoft coming out on top overall. The ABI is the only study to measure the authenticity of global and local brands among Australian consumers. Technology brands, like Google and Microsoft, are emerging as more powerful brands than the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) giants that have dominated Australian marketing for decades. Microsoft... ...Read more »