Major Australian supermarkets appear to be gradually moving towards new store formats that will offer additional services or attempt to create a more ‘market-style’ environment. Woolworths recently advertised positions available for qualified butchers for its “exciting new concept stores”. Woolworths supermarkets also appear to be gradually changing their approach to the format of stores, perhaps in an attempt to emulate its rival Coles’ strategy of focusing on the customer in-store ‘experience’. In... ...Read more »

UK-owned global rice business Tilda has launched a new children’s rice and vegetable range in Australia, using an elephant character called Tilli to appeal to kids. Available in 125g pouches, there are four flavours in the new range: Cheese and Tomato, Sunshine Vegetable, Sweet Vegetable and Wholegrain, and Mild and Sweet Curry. Tilda said the meals are designed to provide one serving of the recommended 5 daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and cater to a child’s taste pallet. The new range... ...Read more »

The proportion of consumers satisfied with German-owned Australian supermarket Aldi is once again comfortably higher than Australia’s other three major supermarket chains, according to market research organisation Roy Morgan Research. In November 2012, both Coles and Woolworths came within 1 per cent point of Aldi, making it the closest race in five years. But the latest results from the Roy Morgan Supermarket Satisfaction report show Aldi edging back toward the nine-out-of-ten mark, with 89.7... ...Read more »

Australian fruit cannery SPC Ardmona has called on the Australian government to put in place emergency tariffs on cheap imported fruit and tomatoes in an attempt to save the local industry. The Australian newspaper reported that SPC Ardmona Managing Director Peter Kelly had written to Australian Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig asking him to activate protection measures permitted under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules where a surge of imports causes or threatens to cause damage to a domestic injury. “The... ...Read more »

Australian supermarket giant Woolworths Limited will continue to focus on improving value within its stores, after announcing third quarter sales of $14.4 billion to the end of March 2013. The result is an increase of 5.7 per cent on the same period last year, or 5.2 per cent after adjusting for the impact of an earlier Easter. “The momentum of the first half has continued into this quarter as a result of sharpened focus on our core businesses and early results from work on our strategic priorities,”... ...Read more »

Leading Australian honey manufacturer Capilano has launched a new honey snack product called Snap n Squeeze. The new product is a 7g sachet of 100 per cent pure Australian honey presented in a packaging format that Capilano said “takes the guessing” out of portion size for people who are conscious of what they consume or who have a nutrition plan. “Honey is a completely natural and pure sweetener that we saw being able to fulfil a need for a healthy on-the-go option when packaged in a convenient,... ...Read more »

Major Australian supermarket Coles has entered long-term supply partnerships with two Australian dairy co-operatives, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (Murray Goulburn) and Norco. Coles has signed a ten-year contract with Murray Goulburn, which is Australia’s largest dairy co-operative. The contract will see Coles private label milk supplied by Murray Goulburn’s Devondale brand in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) from July 2014. Devondale processes approximately one third of Australia’s... ...Read more »

The total value of food and liquor retailing in Australia grew by 4.2 per cent in 2011-12, to $135.8 billion. The figures come from ‘Australian Food Statistics’, a report produced by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) with data extracted from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The report also confirms that spending in supermarkets and grocery outlets continued to account for the bulk of food retailing expenditure in 2011-12, with a share of 62 per cent.... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest supermarket group Woolworths has launched a dedicated ‘beauty bar’ in its best-known supermarket in central Sydney. The launch of the ‘beauty bar’ at its Sydney Town Hall store signals a potentially wider new strategy for the whole supermarket group. The in-store ‘beauty bar’ will offer free beauty treatments, including make-overs, skin consultations and mini-manicures conducted by professional beauty consultants. The treatments, which will be available daily from... ...Read more »

Corner stores in Australia are continuing to disappear as service stations move towards having convenience stores within the station, according to research from Australian industry research group BIS Shrapnel. Service stations with convenience stores – defined as those with more than a very simple food and beverage offering – increased almost 10 per cent from an estimated 3,162 outlets in 2010 to an estimated 3,450 outlets in 2012. Service stations without a convenience store declined from an... ...Read more »