Wal-Mart has announced that they will source more local produce in their endeavour to keep prices down. The announcement comes at a time when America is readying itself for its’ annual Independence Day celebration and is part of Wal-Mart’s strategy to evoke greater connection to their customers on patriotic grounds. Wal-Mart use hundreds of growers across the United States and already are America’s largest purchaser of local produce. In the summer months about one fifth of produce... ...Read more »
The self-service revolution is upon us, as Australian consumers demand greater choice and retailers begin to understand the considerable benefits of the new technology. It is changing the way businesses operate and interact with consumers; with supermarkets, airlines and banks key symbols of the trend. The introduction of ATM’s some 40 years ago can be attributed to the growth of self-service options, but it has only been in the past 5-10 years that self-service technology has really taken... ...Read more »
Name of Product: Home Brand Sultanas Milk Chocolate Package Description & Size: White and red flow wrapped bag, 300g Best Before: 21/05/2009 Australian Distribution: National Reason for Recall: Undeclared allergen - peanut The manufacturer Ernest Hillier Pty Ltd and Woolworths Limited wish to advise that they are conducting a voluntary consumer level recall on the above product due to an important product safety issue. Instead of Milk Chocolate Sultanas some packages contain Chocolate coated... ...Read more »
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced today that it will oppose the proposed acquisition of the Karabar Supabarn supermarket by Woolworths Limited. Woolworths proposed the takeover of the Queanbeyan Karabar Supabarn supermarket on April 7 and the ACCC has since been researching the potential impact on competition. With Woolworths operating a large supermarket in central Queanbeyan, the ACCC was concerned about the effect a takeover would have on competition in the area.... ...Read more »
The Supreme Court has approved Mackay Regional Council’s decision to oppose the development of a Woolworths supermarket earmarked for a site opposite Northern Beaches Shopping Centre. Councillor Di Hatfield, who handles Council’s Planning and Development portfolio, claims this decision vindicated the Council’s planning scheme. “The appeal judges in their decision have reinforced co-ordinated growth within the appropriate land zones and defence of the orderly development... ...Read more »
US company Ikan is threatening to revolutionise the way consumers shop for groceries with the launch of a new product scanning device. The product, which costs $400, allows consumers to scan the barcodes of products they have just finished or are about to finish so that it can be added to their shopping list automatically. The Ikan device has a colour screen, laser scanner and a Wi-Fi antenna to enable connection to the consumer’s home network. Once a product is scanned the device will... ...Read more »
Major legislation changes are likely to be recommended when the ACCC release their report into the competitiveness of the grocery industry, based on comments made by ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel yesterday. Speaking at a lunch hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mr Samuel indicated that he thought certain companies may have provided them with information that they would have preferred to keep secret.”The public hearings enabled us to put some people under the pump to find... ...Read more »
Archie Norman, the former boss of UK retailer Asda, continues to lure high profile executives to assist Coles with their re-development. Mr Norman has been hired as a consultant by Wesfarmers to assist with the Coles turnaround and has already been instrumental in hiring of former Asda employee Ian McLeod to the position of CEO. The Asda influence is particularly strong with announcements that former Asda colleagues, Joe Blundell and Gavin Parker, will join Mr McLeod’s team in the positions... ...Read more »
Woolworths has announced that they are to extend their HomeShop service to areas in the south of Queensland. Woolworths set-up their HomeShop business, which provides home delivery of groceries, in February 1998. At the moment the business only operates in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne but they are now extending to Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast before the end of the year. The news comes in the wake of a UK report by Verdict Research indicating that grocery retail is set to overtake... ...Read more »
The manager of the Cootamundra abattoir blamed for the recall of lamb products at Woolworths last week has left the company. Woolworths were forced to recall thousands of lamb products last Friday as a precautionary measure due to a strange odour emanating from the product upon opening. The blame was attributed to the GM Scott abbatoir in Cootamundra with some lamb product exposed to vapours from the resurfacing of the floor at the facility. The recall accounted for approximately four per cent of... ...Read more »