Why Click and Collect Is Winning Australia’s Fuel Price Crunch
Rising fuel prices in Australia—now about US$1.65 per litre for petrol and US$2.00 for diesel—are forcing shoppers to treat trips to physical stores as a calculated expense. Coles Group saw its online share surge from 3% to roughly 14% in the last five years, highlighting a rapid shift toward digital purchasing. At the same time, Australia Post lifted its fuel surcharge from 4.8% to 12%, inflating last‑mile delivery costs for retailers. The article argues that click‑and‑collect, AI‑driven basket densification and transparent shipping are the new levers for profitability.
Whittaker’s Launches New Banana Caramel Block Into Woolworths
Whittaker’s, the New Zealand chocolate maker, has launched a limited‑edition Banana Caramel block in Woolworths stores across Australia. The product combines the brand’s milk chocolate with caramel and natural banana flavoring and retails for $9 per block. This follows the earlier...
Wagalot Launches Dog Food Range Made From Surplus Produce
Australian pet brand Wagalot has introduced Dogood, a premium line of dog treats and meal boosters made from surplus produce rescued from Melbourne’s Prahran Market. Partnering with sustainability specialist Eco Guardians, the range uses on‑site dehydration technology to transform up...
Foodstuffs Launches Soft-Plastic Recycling Trial
New Zealand’s Foodstuffs group has begun a five‑month pilot of a front‑of‑house soft‑plastic compactor developed by Manco Environmental. The system is installed at five stores – four New World locations and one Pak’nSave – in partnership with The Packaging Forum’s...
Yili’s NZ Companies Back to Record Profits After Transformation
Yili Group’s New Zealand operations, now consolidated under the Yili Oceania brand, posted a record $1.29 billion in revenue for 2025, a 14% year‑on‑year increase. The integrated portfolio—including Westland Milk, Oceania Dairy, Canary, Pure Nutrition and Easi Yo—generated $48.1 million in profit, the...
Woolworths Reinstates Soft Plastics Collection
Australian supermarket giant Woolworths has re‑opened soft‑plastic recycling drop‑off points in more than 700 stores across five states. The rollout follows a 2024 pilot in five Victorian locations and involves partnerships with local recyclers SaveBoard, IQRenew and Plascrete, which convert...
George Weston Foods Buys Abe’s Bagels
Australian food conglomerate George Weston Foods has completed the acquisition of New Zealand‑origin bakery Abe’s Bagels. The brand, founded in 1996, grew its revenue from about $26 million to $41 million, achieving 56% growth and now commands roughly 75% of the bagel...
Raw C Mango & Cream Paradise Coconut Yoghurt Inspired by Weis Launched
Australian snack brands Weis and Raw C have teamed up to launch Raw C Mango & Cream Paradise Coconut Yoghurt, a dairy‑free product inspired by Weis' iconic mango flavor. The yoghurt blends natural mango, velvety cream and coconut, and is free of...
Pacific PET Enters Australia’s Recycling Supply Chain
Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) has teamed with Circular Plastics Australia to launch a regional circularity program that creates a bottle‑to‑bottle supply chain for PET collected from Pacific Island nations. In its first year the initiative will recover about 2,000 tonnes...
‘Just the Beginning’: NZ’s Kiddicare Expands to Canada
New Zealand‑born baby care brand Kiddicare announced its entry into Canada, securing shelf space at more than 450 retail locations nationwide. The rollout includes major chains such as Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs. Since its 2012 launch, Kiddicare has...
Mars to Expand Wodonga Pet Food Plant with $113 Million Investment
Mars Australia is allocating roughly $132 million USD to expand its manufacturing footprint, including a $74 million USD wet‑pouch production line at the Wodonga pet‑food plant slated for commissioning in June 2026. The broader $200 million AUD (≈$132 million USD) program also targets R&D...
Cadbury’s $150 Million Hobart Experience Gets Green Light
Cadbury, owned by Mondelēz International, received council approval to build a $150 million (≈ $99 million USD) Chocolate Experience at its historic Claremont factory in Tasmania. The attraction is projected to draw about 431,000 visitors annually and generate over $120 million (≈ $79 million USD) in...
NSW Government Commits up to $10 Million to Help Food Waste Initiative
The New South Wales Labor government has earmarked up to AUD 10 million (≈ US$6.6 million) for food‑waste recovery as it rolls out a mandatory recycling regime on July 1. The package funds three streams: Go Fogo (AUD 4.71 million/≈ US$3.1 million) to expand weekly FOGO services to 118,000 homes,...
Two Bays Brewing Partners with Garage Project for NZ Distribution
Two Bays Brewing Co, a gluten‑free craft brewer, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with New Zealand’s largest independent brewery, Garage Project. The partnership will see Garage Project handle the rollout of Two Bays’ flagship Pale Ale and GFB Draught across...
What FMCG Can Learn From Ferrari About Switching Lanes
FMCG supply chains face extreme pressure from high SKU counts, thin margins and rapid turnover, prompting firms to look for incremental improvements within the industry. Peter Jones of Prological Consulting argues that true step‑change innovation comes from borrowing ideas outside...
PepsiCo NZ Introduces New Snack Formats and Product Lines
PepsiCo New Zealand has launched two new snack lines – Mini Canister, a portable version of Doritos, Grain Waves and Cheetos priced at NZ $4.99 (≈$3.00 USD), and Bluebird Crackers, oven‑baked biscuits flavored like its chips at NZ $3.79 (≈$2.30 USD). Both ranges will be...
Endeavour Reveals $100m Savings Program in Shadow of Middle East War
Endeavour Group announced a $100 million cost‑reduction program aimed at FY27, targeting store cost optimisation, labour efficiencies, centralised administration, procurement savings and headcount cuts. The initiative responds to rising fuel and freight expenses of $6‑8 million linked to the Middle East conflict,...
A2 Milk Recalls Infant Formula in US over Toxin Risk
A2 Milk has recalled three batches of its Platinum Premium infant formula in the United States after detecting cereulide, a heat‑stable toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. The recall covers 63,078 units, of which 16,428 were already sold to consumers through...
Metcash Acquires Three IGA Stores in Victoria
Metcash, Australia’s leading wholesale distributor, announced the acquisition of three Daly’s IGA supermarkets in Victoria – located in Portland, Heywood and Koroit. The stores, which have operated for over a century, will remain under the IGA brand with existing staff...
Filipino Craft Spirit Lands on Dan Murphy’s Shelves
Ube Cream Liqueur, a Filipino craft spirit, has been placed on Dan Murphy’s shelves, marking the first time the national liquor retailer carries a product from the Philippines. The liqueur is produced by Destileria Barako in Aklan using sugar‑cane spirit, coconut cream,...
China’s Pet Food Market Heats up as Local Brands Take on Global Giants
China’s pet food market has surged to over $24 billion, expanding sixfold since 2014. Domestic conglomerates such as Kweichow Moutai, WH Group, Mengniu and Yunnan Baiyao have launched or acquired pet‑food lines, intensifying competition for foreign brands. International players are losing...
Mr Chen’s Expands Its Noodle Range
Australian family‑owned brand Mr Chen’s has broadened its noodle portfolio with a new “Signature Series” that includes extra‑wide hand‑pulled noodles, sweet‑potato glass noodles, and rice ribbon noodles. The expansion targets high‑protein, quick‑prep home‑dining consumers and complements its existing one‑minute microwavable wet...
University of Queensland Opens Facility to Fast-Track Food Innovation
The University of Queensland has inaugurated the Faba MakerSpace, a purpose‑built facility aimed at accelerating product development in the food and beverage sector. Operated under Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (Faba), the hub provides rapid‑prototyping capabilities, specialised equipment and access...
Skyn Launches ‘World’s Thinnest’ Non-Latex Condoms
LifeStyles Healthcare Australia introduced Skyn Supreme Feel, a polyisoprene condom touted as the world’s thinnest non‑latex option. The product uses a patented synthetic material that is latex‑free, soft, and stretchy, and it has undergone clinical testing against top latex ultra‑thin condoms....
Fisheries Body Launches Consumer Nutrition Campaign Promoting Seafood
The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) has launched the Two4Life nutrition campaign to persuade Australians to eat two servings of seafood each week. The initiative is grounded in a meta‑analysis of 281 peer‑reviewed studies that links this intake to...
Foodstuffs North Island Offers Support for Suppliers Hit by Fuel Crisis
Foodstuffs North Island is shortening payment terms for smaller suppliers to the 20th of each month, ten days earlier, and accelerating fuel‑cost adjustment reviews from up to 12 weeks to four‑to‑six weeks. These actions aim to ease cash‑flow pressure amid...
Chasing Indulgence: Streets Launches Cremissimo Ice Cream
Streets, the Australian arm of The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), has launched Cremissimo, a new premium indulgent ice‑cream line. The range offers five distinct flavors—vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel, affogato and pistachio—each in a one‑liter tub. Cremissimo is being stocked...
A2 Milk Wins Copycat Case in Australia Court
The A2 Milk Company won a Federal Court trademark lawsuit against rival infant formula maker Care A2 Plus, which used the “Care A2+” brand. The court concluded that the “A2/A2+” branding is likely to mislead consumers into believing a connection...
‘Landmark Shift’: Organic Sector Welcomes Government Review of Regulations
The Australian federal government announced it will work with the organic sector to review the nation’s labeling rules, a move hailed as a “landmark shift” by industry body Australian Organic Limited (AOL). AOL argues the current system lacks a clear...
UDL Makes Debut in High-Strength RTD Segment
Australian premix brand UDL entered the high‑strength ready‑to‑drink market with the Double Crush 8% line, offering 375 ml cans at 8% ABV. The launch includes three fruit‑flavored variants—Orange & Mango, Guava & Lime, and Pineapple & Passionfruit—priced at roughly US$22 for a 4‑pack and US$125 for a...
Kegstar’s Konvoy Acquisition Blocked by NZ Regulator
New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has blocked Kegstar’s proposed acquisition of Konvoy, the country’s only two pay‑per‑fill (PPF) keg services. The regulator found the merger would eliminate competition, with no viable rivals or likely new entrants to curb market power. The...
Calabria Unifies Domestic Distribution Under House of Fine Wine Banner
Calabria Family Wine Group has consolidated its domestic trading and distribution under the House of Fine Wine banner, following its February acquisition of House of Fine Wine and The Wine Company. The unified platform merges portfolios and teams from Calabria,...
Coffee Companies Launch Satellite-Based Program to Track Deforestation
Coffee giants including JDE Peet’s, Tchibo and major traders have launched the Coffee Canopy Partnership, a satellite‑based system that uses Airbus imagery and AI to map coffee farms and detect nearby forest loss. The pilot will focus on East Africa’s coffee‑growing...
Edible Blooms Merges Three Sites to Create Australia’s Largest of Its Kind
Edible Blooms, a Brisbane‑based gifting company, has completed the acquisition of three online platforms—Dessert Boxes, Gift Baskets and Hampers.com.au—to launch a unified hamper marketplace, now the largest of its kind in Australia. The combined site will feature more than 700...
Unlocking $22bn in Grocery: Why Collaboration Is Now the only Path Forward
Australia and New Zealand’s grocery sector faces rising cost‑of‑living pressure, supply‑chain volatility and margin compression. A new white paper estimates up to $22 billion AUD (≈$14.5 billion USD) is trapped in inefficiencies such as out‑of‑stocks, waste and inventory misalignment, representing 6‑11% of...
Recall: Austral Herbs – Certified Organic Garlic Powder
Greenstorm Foods has issued a recall of its Austral Herbs Certified Organic Garlic Powder after discovering undeclared peanut allergens in the product. The recall covers multiple package sizes—from 250 g up to 10 kg—with a best‑before date of December 8 2028. The affected items...
Hard Fizz Launches Vodka-Based Flavours as RTD Sales Surge
Hard Fizz, a Gold Coast‑based beverage brand, is adding two vodka‑based RTD flavors—Vodka Lime and Soda and Vodka Watermelon—to its lineup. The vodka category has grown 12.7% nationally over the past year, while Hard Fizz’s seltzer portfolio posted 4% growth despite a 10.7% sector...
California Upholds Kangaroo Trade Ban, Rejecting Push to Reopen Market
The California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected SB 1212, preserving the state’s ban on kangaroo skins and meat. The prohibition, in place since 1971, survived a second repeal attempt in 2015, underscoring long‑standing legislative resistance. Humane World for...
NSW Liquor Retailers Argue Against ‘Discriminatory’ Anzac Day Trading Laws
Liquor retailers in New South Wales are urging the state government to overturn new Anzac Day trading rules that force about 80% of packaged‑liquor stores to shut while hotels, clubs, bars and cafes can remain open. The industry body Retail...
Voodoo Ranger Introduces Two New RTD Flavours
Lion's Voodoo Ranger brand has expanded its ready‑to‑drink (RTD) lineup with two vodka‑based offerings, Hard Cola and Hard Lemonade, each at 6% ABV and sold in 375 ml cans. Priced at roughly $19 USD for a four‑pack, the drinks aim at young...
Woolworths Increases Farmer Payments Amid ‘Difficult Cost Increases’
Woolworths announced a 10‑cent per litre increase (about $0.07 USD) for its Farmers’ Own milk to help offset soaring oil, diesel and fertilizer costs triggered by the Middle East conflict. The retailer, which purchases roughly 20% of Australia’s fresh produce and...
New Zealand First Pledges to ‘End’ Supermarket Duopoly
New Zealand First, a coalition partner, announced a policy to dismantle the supermarket duopoly that controls roughly 82% of New Zealand’s grocery market. The plan calls for legislation to split Foodstuffs—owner of Pak’n’Save and New World—into two independent corporations and to give...
Four Pillars Releases Limited-Edition Gin Flavour for Mother’s Day
Australian craft distiller Four Pillars has introduced a limited‑edition Three Peach Gin, timed for Mother’s Day. The spirit draws on Bellini‑style brunch cocktails and incorporates three distinct peach elements through multi‑stage distillation and maceration. It will launch on April 28 with...
Coles Announces $1m Relief Package for Farmers in Supply Chain
Coles announced a AU$1 million (≈US$660,000) one‑off relief package for its direct‑sourcing dairy farmers, adding roughly 5 cents per litre to the farmgate price. The move follows sharp increases in diesel and fertilizer costs triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure and...
IGA Creates ‘Chief Chatty Officer’ Role to ‘Genuinely Make Someone’s Day’
IGA has launched a “chief chatty officer” role and a dedicated community check‑in lane at its Allambie Heights store to address loneliness, which affects about 40% of Australians. Shoppers are invited to slow down and converse with staff during a...
Nutella Announces First New Flavour in 60 Years
Ferrero has launched Nutella Peanut, the first new Nutella flavor in over 60 years, blending roasted peanuts with the classic cocoa‑hazelnut spread. The product debuts in the United States with in‑store placement and a coordinated promotional push. Ferrero frames the...
Haigh’s Chocolate Releases Its Mother’s Day Range
Haigh’s Chocolate has unveiled its Mother’s Day “Delight Mum” collection, drawing on Middle Eastern flavor profiles with fruit and floral notes. The flagship product is a limited‑edition Milk Pomegranate Fudge, a white‑chocolate centre studded with pomegranate pieces and enrobed in...
‘Every Bottle Will Cost You More’: Winemakers Fight Back Against WA Scheme
Western Australia will extend its Containers For Change deposit scheme to include wine bottles on July 1, 2026, adding a 14‑cent (≈$0.09 USD) fee per container. Winemakers, organized as Friends of WA Wine, warn the fee will cascade through the supply chain, inflating...
Kalfresh Launches Sweet Corn Ribs to Compete with Takeaways
Kalfresh has rolled out a new pre‑prepared vegetable offering called Sweet Corn Ribs, designed to mimic the flavor and convenience of takeaway meals. The ribs can be grilled, air‑fried, microwaved or baked, delivering a ready‑to‑eat snack in minutes. Initially sold...
The $9m Hair Growth Brand that Wasn’t Meant to Exist
Bouf, a hair‑growth brand built around a patented FGF5 protein, turned a two‑month trial into a $9 million business within its first year. Clinical tests showed a 20% faster hair growth rate, 44% more active follicles and an 82% drop in...