Food & Beverage

One of Coopers Brewery’s oldest beers, Coopers Best Extra Stout, is enjoying a resurgence among Australian consumers with sales at their highest level in almost half a century. In calendar year 2019, 3.4 million litres of Coopers Best Extra Stout were sold, 10% above the 2018 figure (3.1 million litres), and on par with a previous peak sales volume in 1975. Coopers Managing Director, Dr Tim Cooper, said Stout has been in constant production since 1879 and was one of the company’s mainstay products during the last century, along with Sparkling Ale. “During the 1950s, we would sell over four million litres of Stout a year,” he said. “However, demand for Stout declined after 1975 with sales dipping to below two million litres in the early 1990s. “From the mid-1990s, sales remained at approximately 2 million litres a year until 2007, after which sales have been gradually increasing, with strong growth in the last three years.” Dr Cooper said the revival in Stout came at a time when t...

Melbourne based The Confectionery House has hit the ground running in 2020 with release of a new line of chocolate coated honeycomb . Branded as Little Ozzie Treats  there are four flavours in the  range consisting of bite sized Milk Chocolate Honey Honeycomb ; Dark Chocolate Peppermint Honeycomb, then comes Milk Chocolate Orange Honeycomb , and White Chocolate Raspberry Honeycomb. The range is packaged in colour coded , re-useable pouch bags for hang sell in retail  outlets  . Since 1985 the family owned company has built a reputation for quality choc coated confectionery – initially as a contract manufacturer for major retailers, and now geared to market their own brands while expanding their existing contract manufacturing. According to General Manager , Ezra Freeman Didolis  ‘ The off- take to our new choc coated honeycomb range has been most encouraging, and sales confirm our research about honeycomb being as popular as ever . There are no short cuts with our manufacturing – we...

Coles Group Limited (Coles, ASX: COL) is providing a trading update ahead of its 2020 Half Year Results announcement. The trading update is a provisional result based on management accounts and is subject to finalisation and audit review. Coles has previously advised that it is transitioning to a retail reporting calendar reflecting 27 weeks in the first half which in the 2020 financial year ended on 5 January 2020, the prior corresponding period ended on 30 December 2018. In its 2020 first quarter sales results on 29 October 2019, Coles reported that in the early part of the second quarter, Supermarkets comparable sales growth had trended towards the level achieved in the fourth quarter of the 2019 financial year. However, the success of the Christmas campaign exceeded expectations with Supermarkets delivering comparable sales growth of 3.6% in the second quarter1 and 2.0% for the first half1. Comparable sales growth in Liquor and Express (c-store) were 2.1% and 5.1% respectively for...

Veganuary may be officially over, but it seems a dog’s dinner may be a little less meaty than before. Indeed, new Mintel research shows a third (34%) of UK dog food buyers believe it is good for pets to regularly have a plant-based meal instead of a meat-based one. Meanwhile, more than four in 10 (43%) dog food buyers believe it is healthier to limit the amount of red meat eaten by pets, than not limit it at all. And it’s Britain’s younger dog owners who are most likely to give red meat the chop, as almost three in five (58%) dog food buyers aged 16-24 believe it is healthier to limit red meat in their dogs’ diets, compared to just 30% of dog food buyers aged 45+. Similarly, four in 10 (40%) dog food buyers aged 16-24 are in favour of regularly dishing up plant-based meals, compared to just 21% of owners aged 55+. Following other human food trends, Mintel research reveals that digestive health is also high on pet owner’s priority list, as three-quarters (76%) of cat/dog food buyers b...

Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are suffering from a swarm of hundreds of millions of locusts. The swarm has been described as “almost of biblical proportions” according to an ABC News reporter. It has been feasting on East Africa’s food bowl which triggered a call for international aid by the United Nations. This outbreak has been the worst in almost 70 years, according to locals. The UN Food and Agriculturual Organisation (FAO) is warning about the size and destructive potential of the swarm. It could leave millions of people without food, as an expert estimates that ‘even a small locust swarm can consume more food than 35,000 people in one day. The UN continues to warn that the swarm may spread to the Middle East, and to South Asia. To read the ABC News article, click here. Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You can also upload a document to receive a consulting from our professional staff * * * * Choose your options...

Coles has been announced as the “official supermarket partner” at all AFL and AFLW games in 2020 to 2025. The red Coles logo will be in the centre and act as a backdrop at the start of every match and quarter for the next 5 years. “We are thrilled to be uniting with one of Australia’s most recognisable and trusted brands. The partnership is a natural fit, with both the AFL and Coles dedicated to giving back to local communities and providing opportunities for all Australians,” AFL General “It is an absolute honour to have our logo in the centre circle as the ‘Coles Centre Circle’,” said Lisa Ronson, Coles Chief Marketing Officer. Get used to seeing this – Coles logo to feature in centre circles from start of 2020 premiership season @AFLcomau pic.twitter.com/1yuwstETHK — Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) February 6, 2020 Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You can also upload a document to receive a consulting from our profes...

•    Morning Glory Farms, a spaghetti squash grower in Australia, will work with DiMuto to digitalize its squash and conduct marketing campaigns to end consumers •    The Morning Glory Farms brand of spaghetti squash is sold at major local retailers in Western Australia, including Coles and IGA •    The SMART marketing services powered by unique DiMuto QR codes is a cost-effective solution to reach out to end consumers and communicate brand stories of farmers and growers •    The deal underscores the 360 approach to solving global agri-food supply chain challenges that DiMuto trade platform brings beyond just supply chain traceability Singapore, 24 February 2020 – DiMuto, a tech-based trade solutions platform that provides end-to-end supply chain visibility for global businesses, has secured a deal with Western Australia produce grower Morning Glory Farms. DiMuto will be digitalizing Morning Glory Farms’ spaghetti squash to track and trace them throughout the supply chain, as well ...

Citrus Australia says major retailers must lift prices to juice growers, who are facing a decline in production due to seasonal conditions. Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock says prices paid for fresh juice by supermarkets to juice companies does not reflect the seasonal environmental impacts of frost and drought on the 2019/20 Valencia crop. “This limits the amount of money that juice processors can pay growers, which will exacerbate the long-term decline in juice variety production,” Mr Hancock said. “The juice growing industry is under immense pressure and Australian consumers may not have access to fresh Australian orange juice in as little as five years. “Such a situation would be devastating for Australian consumers. “We implore our major retailers to recognise the impact seasonal conditions are having on our growers and to lift their prices accordingly.” Mr Hancock said estimates forecast a shortage of juicing oranges in the coming months. Crop production is estimated to...

It’s estimated that each year, about 4.1 million people in Australia get sick from food they’ve eaten (‘foodborne illness’), 32,000 people are hospitalised and 120 people die. Australia is known to have a strong reputation for producing high quality and safe food, therefore it is critically important to uphold this reputation by maintaining and implementing food safety standards. Recently the Ministers responsible for food regulation agreed that their top priority is to reduce foodborne illness, particularly illnesses related to the bacteria Salmonella and Campylobacter. In addition to foodborne illness, food recalls are another major concern when it comes to food safety. The most common causes of food recalls are undeclared allergens and biological contamination. In the last 10 years there have been a total of 707 food recalls coordinated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Avoiding food recalls is in the best interest of all food manufacturers, given Australia is recog...

Alto-Shaam, a global leader and innovator in the foodservice equipment industry, has appointed Tracy Bennett as regional sales manager for Australia and New Zealand. In this new role, Tracy is tasked with leading and executing Alto-Shaam’s sales growth strategies across Australia and New Zealand including strategic account management and developing new sales opportunities. She will also be responsible for establishing and building long-term working relationships with key target segments including channel partners, chains, key accounts and end users. Tracy will report directly to Paul Harper, Alto-Shaam Vice President of Asia-Pacific. “Tracy joins us with extensive experience in the foodservice industry”, Paul said. “I look forward to working closely with her to grow our business and achieve our objectives across the region.” Prior to joining Alto-Shaam, Tracy worked in Australia as national sales manager for a global food equipment manufacturer, where she demonstrated her ability to...

Pioneering beverage brand, MOJO Kombucha, has announced the launch of its new ‘Activated’ range, which includes a new and exciting raspberry flavour. The launch, which coincides with the brand’s tenth year, will also see a packaging refresh that highlights the product’s authenticity and brand philosophy. The new labels emphasise MOJO kombucha’s traditional brewing process, which uses live cultures and probiotics and real fruit such as blueberries, strawberries and passionfruit. The brand is seeking to challenge consumer perceptions and clear up confusion around kombucha products while also reinforcing key messaging around MOJO’s ‘always chilled, always living’ proposition. Anthony Crabb, CEO and founder of Organic & Raw Trading Co, the producers of MOJO Kombucha, said: “MOJO has always been about helping Australians understand gut health and our new packaging is an extension of the education work we’ve been doing since we first launched a decade ago. MOJO has always followed au...

New Zealand’s leading freeze-dried company, Fresh As, has launched in Australia and aims to revolutionise how consumers cook at home. Founded in 2003 by Tommy Roff, Fresh As first began with developing freeze-dried herbs. The driving force was due to being unable to provide French Tarragon to Chefs, all-year-round. With the specific herb being available only three months of the year, Tommy decided to invest in the freeze-drying method and technology, which now allows the herb to be readily available. Since its inception, the freeze-dried empire has expanded its range to include over 100 different products, including crunchy fruits, essential herbs, flavourful fruit powders and dessert solutions such as panna cotta in three different flavours. The gap in the Australian market for freeze-dried products was the catalyst for launching Fresh As locally, along with the help from New Zealand-born Chef Ben Shewry – who is the owner of award-winning restaurant, Attica in Melbourne. With Ben...

Australia’s oldest and most iconic ice cream brand, Peters, has partnered with the nation’s favourite confectioner, Cadbury®, to create a new spin on a cult classic – the limited edition Cadbury Creme Egg® available in the ice cream freezer from today. With Christmas well and truly over, sights are now set on Easter – and it wouldn’t be Easter without the legendary Creme Egg®, which is why Peters is proud to be partnering with Cadbury® to bring this exciting new treat into Aussie homes and onto Aussie lips. This announcement comes after a number of successful partnerships between Peters and Cadbury®, including Picnic®, Crunchie® and Dairy Milk® Milk Chocolate ice cream tubs, to name a few. However, this is the first time Cadbury has partnered with Peters on Creme Egg®. Peters Senior Brand Manager, Dorana Henenberg said: “Knowing the hysteria that a lot of our other Cadbury tubs has received, we’re expecting to see just as much excitement this time around and we’re confident Cadbury...

Woolworths reduces food waste by turning overripe bananas into banana bread, which in turn, helps food insecure Australians Overripe bananas, that may otherwise end up as waste, are now being repurposed by Woolworths bakers and used to make delicious banana bread loaves in-store. The banana bread, sold exclusively in Woolworths, diverts unsold overripe bananas from potential landfill, while also raising vital funds for Australians impacted by food insecurity. 50 cents from every loaf sold will be donated to Woolworths food rescue charity partner, OzHarvest. To make the banana bread, the bananas are mashed, mixed and baked at Woolworths in-store bakeries into two varieties – original and Cadbury Chocolate Chip. Woolworths Head of Bakery, Andy Thomas said; “Reducing food waste and keeping surplus food away from landfill is a top priority for all of us at Woolworths. “We looked at how we could do our part in the bakery department and with the overripe bananas that are unable to be so...

n its recent Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard, which evaluates global companies for their support of sustainable palm oil, WWF lists Ferrero as number 1 out of 173. With a score of 21.5 out of 22, WWF ranks Ferrero as leading the industry of major global retailers, consumer goods manufacturers and food service companies. Ferrero is especially recognized for its efforts to address the issue of deforestation in tropical areas and for the transparency of its supply chain. In a press statement published by WWF, it says: “only one company, the consumer goods manufacturer Ferrero, has scored over 20 points (out of the maximum 22), sending an encouraging signal to the rest of the industry that sustainable and deforestation-free palm oil is achievable.” Since 2005, Ferrero has considerably invested in the sustainability of its palm oil supply chain, especially in the last five years. Already in 2015, we were one of the first companies to source 100% certified as segregated palm oil. Moving forward,...

For the first-time, Aussies can redeem a free personalized Coke, delivered right to their door, thanks to the Coke Skill on Amazon Alexa. Coca-Cola Australia has partnered with Amazon to give up to 6000 Australians the opportunity to receive a free personalised Coke with their name on it delivered to their doorstep. From today, Australians can redeem a free bottle of Coke by using the Coke Skill on any Alexa-enabled device. Running until February 4, customers can initiate the offer simply by saying, “Alexa, let’s Share A Coke.” Once this voice conversation is activated a text message will be sent to their nominated mobile number, which directs users to the Share a Coke website. The ‘Share A Coke with Alexa’ promotion will be supported by a series of different creative executions to run across Australia’s digital out-of-home from today, along with social media and digital advertising. Lucie Austin, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola South Pacific, said, “Voice-assisted lifestyles are b...

Australia’s first Chef Crafted culinary-paired soft drink LoveBite, will officially launch in October as the perfect match for all types of food, with a focus on burgers. In a flavour-pairing space that has long been reserved for wines, LoveBite is refreshing the non-alcoholic beverage category by elevating everyday eating occasions with multi-dimensional matched flavours. According to Euromonitor, sales of non-alcoholic drinks have risen 57 per cent in the past five years. Frucor Senior Innovation Manager Sam Guernier says “As our appetite for non-alcoholic beverages grows, LoveBite was created for those who want to get the most out of their meals, whether it’s a simple toasted sandwich or gourmet burger. We worked closely with chefs to create the range, making sure it was a refreshing, delicious, palette cleansing drink that elevates everyday meals to an experience worth talking about and sharing. “Burgers are the ultimate cheat meal and we wanted to enhance this experience with a ...

Nestlé today announced that it will invest up to CHF 2 billion to lead the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics and to accelerate the development of innovative sustainable packaging solutions. Building on its 2018 commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, Nestlé will reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third in the same period whilst working with others to advance the circular economy and endeavor to clean up plastic waste from oceans, lakes and rivers. Food quality and safety are paramount, and packaging plays a major role in assuring this. Most plastics are difficult to recycle for food packaging, leading to a limited supply of food-grade recycled plastics. To create a market, Nestlé is therefore committed to sourcing up to 2 million metric tons of food-grade recycled plastics and allocating more than CHF 1.5 billion to pay a premium for these materials between now and 2025. Nestlé will seek operational efficiencies to keep ...

Australia’s first to market sushi retailer, Sushi Sushi, is encouraging Melbournians to experience sushi reimagined, with the launch of its new-concept store at Chadstone, The Fashion Capital. Officially opening at the end of November 2019, the relaunch of Sushi Sushi’s flagship store marks the beginning of a new era for the brand, which celebrated its 21st anniversary this year. First making its mark on the Australian food scene in 1998, Sushi Sushi set out to revolutionise the way consumers ate while ‘on-the-run’, carving out a niche for itself as the go-to place for high quality, delicious sushi. Fast forward to 2020, and Sushi Sushi is once again challenging the market, transitioning from its traditional take-away format and inviting guests to immerse themselves in the flavours of Japan, with traditional flavours reimagined for the present day – all set in sleek and comfortable surrounds. To meet customer demand, the refreshed menu features a delicious twist on iconic Japanese di...

“WTF Australia? ‘What’s The Flavour?’ that is! It’s Mr P here with a brand-new mystery flavour that is so bold, so tasty and so puzzling that Aussies will be saying WTF?! “Hidden deep in the secret Pringles food lab, the team and I have been experimenting with flavours from all corners of the world. Our Head Food Technologist has done some secret taste tests and thinks it might just be the most captivating, mystifying flavour ever created – yes, the new Mystery Flavour has those WTF?! feels!” “I know you want me to tell you WTF, don’t you? Well, I can’t, I’m under a strict CDA, (chip non-disclosure agreement) to ensure no crumbs will be left behind. So come on, give it a try! Bring your best taste buddies together again and try to guess #WTFMysteryFlavourAU.” “Eat the snack, have a crack and if you get it right, you could go in the draw to WIN $10,000.” To enter: · Try the What’s The Flavour? Pringles new Mystery Flavour · Find the first clue (psst… it’s on your WTF can!) · Loo...

Some singles might feel like Valentine’s Day (14th February) is a reality check on their love life, while others relish in the fact that they don’t need to be in a relationship to be content. This Valentine’s Day, Jamaica Blue is offering just the wing to keep every single content. For a limited time only, Jamaica Blue is offering baskets of delicious chicken wings for only $1. Celebrate the best kind of jerk with a basket of fresh and Jamaican-inspired jerk chicken wings, served with Jamaican jerk BBQ aioli on the side. Just like the Jamaicans, you can shake off the English etiquette and get sticky fingers all over your serve of these super tasty wings at the singles-only price. This Valentine’s Day, forget about defending your single status and relish in the delectable wings that will offer much more satisfaction than an expensive dinner. Melissa Wei at Jamaica Blue said: “Now that the festive season is over and the day of loved-up-couples-in-your-face is fast approaching, we’re h...

Sanitarium Health Food Company has launched UP&GO™ No Added Sugar – its most significant product innovation in the liquid breakfast category since debuting UP&GO two decades ago. UP&GO No Added Sugar has all the goodness of original UP&GO, with no added sugar and up to 30 per cent less calories. No Added Sugar Choc Ice and Vanilla Ice 250mL packs are now available nationally, with the back-to-school period traditionally one of the biggest sales weeks for the breakfast category. Sanitarium Health Food Company Head of Marketing Ms Jessica Manihera said UP&GO No Added Sugar was created to keep up with changing tastes and preferences. “Our dietitians and food scientists have worked hard to create a product that gives consumers the no added sugar start to the day they have been asking for, while delivering the same convenient nutrition as original UP&GO,” said Ms Manihera. “Alongside natural sugars, which come mainly from the skim milk powder, plant-based sweete...

Australia’s largest macadamia processors and marketers today relaunched under the new brand Marquis Macadamias. The new entity comprises Lismore’s Macadamia Processing Company (MPC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Bundaberg’s Pacific Gold Macadamias (PGM), and their marketing company Brisbane’s Macadamia Marketing International (MMI), which is jointly owned by South Africa’s Global Macadamias. The grower owned group will consolidate its position as the world’s largest macadamia processor and marketer. Marquis will grow, process and sell 48 per cent of Australia’s macadamia production and will be responsible for 22 per cent of global kernel sales, whilst handling over 16 per cent of nut in shell (NIS) world production. Chief Executive Officer of Marquis Macadamias, Larry McHugh said the group aimed to double turnover from $250 million in 2019 to $500 million by 2024. “Bringing MPC, PGM and MMI under the one brand is about consolidating our current position as the world’s largest ma...

After careful and thorough consideration, Kaufland has decided to undertake an orderly withdrawal from the Australian market. The company will be concentrating its business on its European core markets in the foreseeable future. Kaufland’s 200 Australian employees were informed of the decision today, with an assurance that generous packages including all entitlements will be offered,as part of a thorough support and consultation process for all. The future of Kaufland’s existing Australian investments, including properties purchased for retail outlets and distribution infrastructure, will be discussed with the relevant parties in coming days. This decision is about focusing business activities in Europe and is in no way a reflection of the efforts of local employees or management, or the support Kaufland has received from the Australian business community or governments. Frank Schumann, acting CEO of Kaufland International, said “This was not an easy decision for us. We always felt...

Sprout Stack is Australia’s first commercial vertical farm, and it’s set to change the meaning of local produce. Local no longer means produced in Australia, but produce grown in your own backyard. Growing high-quality salad greens in recycled shipping containers that have been fitted with advanced, hydroponic growing systems, Sprout Stack represents the future of farming. It’s helping to solve the very real problem of a faltering food system. Sprout Stack’s proprietary technology has been built from scratch, meaning its farms can be entirely controlled via a phone browser and the vision as the business scales is for the farms to become entirely autonomous. Each Sprout Stack shipping container can produce the equivalent to about one hectare of traditional farmland. It’s also highly sustainable. Plants are grown in coconut husk by-product and fed nutrient-rich water in a near closed-loop system. By being locally-based, the agtech startup can deliver fresh produce from ‘paddock’ to p...

The highly anticipated summer campaign for Australian Lamb has landed, urging Aussies to look up from their screens and share the Lamb. The integrated campaign, created by The Monkeys, part of Accenture Interactive, kicks off with a long form tech thriller directed by Plaza’s Paul Middleditch and sets out to remind a tech obsessed nation of real life connection and reunite Aussies, distracted by their phones, screens and social, over delicious Aussie Lamb. In the ‘Lambalytica’ ad we see an elite team infiltrating people’s devices to bring them together face-to-face. From a couple who spend more time looking at their phones than each other, to a teenage gamer glued to the TV, ‘Lambalytica’ taps into the phones of unsuspecting Aussies and unites them over an epic Lamb barbie off-screen. Graeme Yardy, Domestic Market Manager at MLA says, “As a brand, Australian Lamb is famous for unity. In this digital age, we wanted to use the power of lamb to disrupt social media, peel people away fr...

Brand Finance Australia (BFA) has released their latest brand analysis. Woolworths has reclaimed Australia’s most valuable brand title in the latest BFA report, as reported by the Australian Financial Review. Woolies’ brand value is now estimated to be $11.8 billion, taking the spot from Telstra, which dropped 20% to $11.7 billion in brand value. Commonwealth Bank follows up with $10.2 billion, ranking third on the list. Brand Finance released their ranking for 2020 in Davos Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum, which contained Australian 100 and Global 500 brand rankings. To read the full article by the Australian Financial Review, click here. Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You can also upload a document to receive a consulting from our professional staff * * * * Choose your options and get a quote(we can bundle a special deal):* (one or more options are allowed) Tell me something about what you are looki...

McWilliam’s Wines is one of Australia’s first family owned vineyards, whose founder, Samuel McWilliam planted the first wine vines in 1877 in Riverina, New South Wales. The company is estimated to be owned by six generations of the family that lasted around 141 years, as reported by ABC News. Unfortunately, the family owned business is facing difficult financial times and is now going into administration as the declining performance and the constant evolving changes in the wine market is forcing them to look for investors to finance the company in order to stay in business. The company called in administrators from KPMG for assistance. “We are in the initial phase of the administration process where our priority is to undertake an immediate assessment of the business and its operations,” KPMG partner Gayle Dickerson said in a statement. To read the full ABC article, click here. Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You ca...

One of Coopers Brewery’s oldest beers, Coopers Best Extra Stout, is enjoying a resurgence among Australian consumers with sales at their highest level in almost half a century. In calendar year 2019, 3.4 million litres of Coopers Best Extra Stout were sold, 10% above the 2018 figure (3.1 million litres), and on par with a previous peak sales volume in 1975. Coopers Managing Director, Dr Tim Cooper, said Stout has been in constant production since 1879 and was one of the company’s mainstay products during the last century, along with Sparkling Ale. “During the 1950s, we would sell over four million litres of Stout a year,” he said. “However, demand for Stout declined after 1975 with sales dipping to below two million litres in the early 1990s. “From the mid-1990s, sales remained at approximately 2 million litres a year until 2007, after which sales have been gradually increasing, with strong growth in the last three years.” Dr Cooper said the revival in Stout came at a time when t...

Melbourne based The Confectionery House has hit the ground running in 2020 with release of a new line of chocolate coated honeycomb . Branded as Little Ozzie Treats  there are four flavours in the  range consisting of bite sized Milk Chocolate Honey Honeycomb ; Dark Chocolate Peppermint Honeycomb, then comes Milk Chocolate Orange Honeycomb , and White Chocolate Raspberry Honeycomb. The range is packaged in colour coded , re-useable pouch bags for hang sell in retail  outlets  . Since 1985 the family owned company has built a reputation for quality choc coated confectionery – initially as a contract manufacturer for major retailers, and now geared to market their own brands while expanding their existing contract manufacturing. According to General Manager , Ezra Freeman Didolis  ‘ The off- take to our new choc coated honeycomb range has been most encouraging, and sales confirm our research about honeycomb being as popular as ever . There are no short cuts with our manufacturing – we...

Coles Group Limited (Coles, ASX: COL) is providing a trading update ahead of its 2020 Half Year Results announcement. The trading update is a provisional result based on management accounts and is subject to finalisation and audit review. Coles has previously advised that it is transitioning to a retail reporting calendar reflecting 27 weeks in the first half which in the 2020 financial year ended on 5 January 2020, the prior corresponding period ended on 30 December 2018. In its 2020 first quarter sales results on 29 October 2019, Coles reported that in the early part of the second quarter, Supermarkets comparable sales growth had trended towards the level achieved in the fourth quarter of the 2019 financial year. However, the success of the Christmas campaign exceeded expectations with Supermarkets delivering comparable sales growth of 3.6% in the second quarter1 and 2.0% for the first half1. Comparable sales growth in Liquor and Express (c-store) were 2.1% and 5.1% respectively for...

Veganuary may be officially over, but it seems a dog’s dinner may be a little less meaty than before. Indeed, new Mintel research shows a third (34%) of UK dog food buyers believe it is good for pets to regularly have a plant-based meal instead of a meat-based one. Meanwhile, more than four in 10 (43%) dog food buyers believe it is healthier to limit the amount of red meat eaten by pets, than not limit it at all. And it’s Britain’s younger dog owners who are most likely to give red meat the chop, as almost three in five (58%) dog food buyers aged 16-24 believe it is healthier to limit red meat in their dogs’ diets, compared to just 30% of dog food buyers aged 45+. Similarly, four in 10 (40%) dog food buyers aged 16-24 are in favour of regularly dishing up plant-based meals, compared to just 21% of owners aged 55+. Following other human food trends, Mintel research reveals that digestive health is also high on pet owner’s priority list, as three-quarters (76%) of cat/dog food buyers b...

Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are suffering from a swarm of hundreds of millions of locusts. The swarm has been described as “almost of biblical proportions” according to an ABC News reporter. It has been feasting on East Africa’s food bowl which triggered a call for international aid by the United Nations. This outbreak has been the worst in almost 70 years, according to locals. The UN Food and Agriculturual Organisation (FAO) is warning about the size and destructive potential of the swarm. It could leave millions of people without food, as an expert estimates that ‘even a small locust swarm can consume more food than 35,000 people in one day. The UN continues to warn that the swarm may spread to the Middle East, and to South Asia. To read the ABC News article, click here. Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You can also upload a document to receive a consulting from our professional staff * * * * Choose your options...

Coles has been announced as the “official supermarket partner” at all AFL and AFLW games in 2020 to 2025. The red Coles logo will be in the centre and act as a backdrop at the start of every match and quarter for the next 5 years. “We are thrilled to be uniting with one of Australia’s most recognisable and trusted brands. The partnership is a natural fit, with both the AFL and Coles dedicated to giving back to local communities and providing opportunities for all Australians,” AFL General “It is an absolute honour to have our logo in the centre circle as the ‘Coles Centre Circle’,” said Lisa Ronson, Coles Chief Marketing Officer. Get used to seeing this – Coles logo to feature in centre circles from start of 2020 premiership season @AFLcomau pic.twitter.com/1yuwstETHK — Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) February 6, 2020 Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You can also upload a document to receive a consulting from our profes...

FoodLegal has announced its next FoodLegal workshop on #TrendingClaims, in both Sydney & Melbourne. The workshop should be of great interest to all food marketers, product developers, QA food technologists as well as legal & regulatory compliance personnel of retailers & food companies. Sydney: – 05 March 2020 9AM to 12:30PM – Level 13/60 Margaret St, Sydney NSW 2000 – $415 (inc GST) EARLY BIRD registrations by 22 February 2020 / $485 Full Price Click here for more details about Sydney workshop. Melbourne: – 24 March 2020 9AM to 12:30PM – Level 1/440 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 – $415 (inc GST) EARLY BIRD registrations by 22 February 2020 / $485 Full Price Click here for more details about Melbourne Workshop. Contact us to get more information on AD and PR options, let us now which options interest you. You can also upload a document to receive a consulting from our professional staff * * * * Choose your options and get a quote(we can bundle a special d...

Jamaica Blue has brought back their most iconic drinks from the ’90s, for fans to slurp through the summer. This month, Jamaica Blue has reintroduced their ‘Summer Slurpers Range’ – but this time with a twist. Differing from their classic drinks from 25 years ago, this reboot will be accompanied by a take-home reusable straw. The refreshing range includes: ● Jumpy Monkey: Made with banana puree, mango, a cheeky shot of espresso along with vanilla ice cream ● Banana Colada: A delicious combo of banana, coconut, pineapple blended with vanilla ice cream ● You Can Toucan: Blended with apple juice, kiwi puree, banana, mint, soda water and ice, finished off with lime The first Jamaica Blue cafe was introduced in 1992. To celebrate the quirkiness of the original cafe, Jamaica Blue beckons customers to bask in the heat and escape and refresh with this limited edition offer. The reusable metal straws are available in three unique, fruity options; don’t forget to collect all three. Shane M...

Coca-Cola Australia has launched the new Frozen Coke® No Sugar – a world-first innovation in the frozen beverage category. From this week, Coca-Cola’s latest No Sugar offering will be exclusively available in all McDonald’s restaurants across the nation. Coca-Cola Australia led the development of the new innovation locally supporting its global research and development team to bring the product proposition to life. George Wheen, Brand Director of Flavours, said: “We are delighted to bring this new innovation to market in Australia. It has been a focus for us as a business to offer Australians the choice of great tasting beverages across our portfolio, with and without sugar. In the frozen category, this was easier said than done! “We are really proud of the team who cracked the recipe for Frozen Coke No Sugar, which delivers a great Coca-Cola taste, but without the sugar,” he said. The new Frozen Coke No Sugar offering is exclusively available to McDonald’s restaurants in Australia...

An abundance of premium, hand-picked and juicy peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums are on the way as Montague announces the launch of its 2019/20 summer fruit season. Stonefruit is due to hit supermarkets and greengrocers nationwide in December 2019. The highly anticipated return of Montague’s stonefruit brands ‘CROC EGGS™’ and their range of exceptional stone fruit, ‘the MONTAGUE tree™, feature juicy white fleshed peaches and nectarines, succulent yellow fleshed peaches and nectarines, plump apricots and luscious plums. Ideal for summer salads or eaten on their own, CROC EGGS™’ and ‘the MONTAGUE tree™ stonefruit are renowned for their succulent flesh and a natural sweetness, providing a refreshing experience for the warmer months. “We are thrilled to welcome our seasonal stonefruit into the homes and plates of Australian nationwide. As a 100% Australian-owned family business, Montague is dedicated to providing consumers with only the highest quality fruit and we are confident t...

Australia’s oldest and most iconic ice cream brand, Peters, has partnered with the nation’s favourite confectioner, Cadbury®, to create a new spin on a cult classic – the limited edition Cadbury Creme Egg® available in the ice cream freezer from today. With Christmas well and truly over, sights are now set on Easter – and it wouldn’t be Easter without the legendary Creme Egg®, which is why Peters is proud to be partnering with Cadbury® to bring this exciting new treat into Aussie homes and onto Aussie lips. This announcement comes after a number of successful partnerships between Peters and Cadbury®, including Picnic®, Crunchie® and Dairy Milk® Milk Chocolate ice cream tubs, to name a few. However, this is the first time Cadbury has partnered with Peters on Creme Egg®. Peters Senior Brand Manager, Dorana Henenberg said: “Knowing the hysteria that a lot of our other Cadbury tubs has received, we’re expecting to see just as much excitement this time around and we’re confident Cadbury...

Woolworths reduces food waste by turning overripe bananas into banana bread, which in turn, helps food insecure Australians Overripe bananas, that may otherwise end up as waste, are now being repurposed by Woolworths bakers and used to make delicious banana bread loaves in-store. The banana bread, sold exclusively in Woolworths, diverts unsold overripe bananas from potential landfill, while also raising vital funds for Australians impacted by food insecurity. 50 cents from every loaf sold will be donated to Woolworths food rescue charity partner, OzHarvest. To make the banana bread, the bananas are mashed, mixed and baked at Woolworths in-store bakeries into two varieties – original and Cadbury Chocolate Chip. Woolworths Head of Bakery, Andy Thomas said; “Reducing food waste and keeping surplus food away from landfill is a top priority for all of us at Woolworths. “We looked at how we could do our part in the bakery department and with the overripe bananas that are unable to be so...