Food & Drink

Video | Coles’ Ian McLeod

22 May 2012 |

Coles managing director Ian McLeod discusses turning the supermarket chain around and his plans for the company in the coming months.

Unhappy diners are getting into a twitter

21 May 2012 |

In the age of social media, restaurants are learning that only a twit ignores an unhappy customer.

Inner-city IGA stores to go upmarket

18 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 19 | IGA stores to go upmarket

Move over Thomas Dux. Metcash plans to give Woolworths’ gourmet grocery format a run for its money by transforming inner-city IGA supermarkets into upmarket food stores stocking up to 25,000 products.

Coles deal boosts bioplastics maker

18 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Coles deal boosts bioplastics maker

Gordon Merchant’s bioplastics packaging company Plantic Technologies is anticipating a fivefold increase in sales and hopes to turn a profit for the first time in nine years after clinching a new supply contract with Coles.

Corbett fired manager accused of IT fraud

18 May 2012 | Hannah Low

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Corbett fired IT manager accused of Woolies fraud

A well-known company director, Roger Corbett, fired the man at the centre of a multimillion-dollar fraud case involving supermarket giant Woolworths after he became concerned about IT systems he was using.

A Spanish seduction

17 May 2012 | Katarina Kroslakova

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | FOOD

Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, protege of Ferran Adria, understands comfort food but loves to take diners outside their comfort zone.

Hobby farmer par excellence

17 May 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | WINE TIM WHITE

A winemaker of note has turned his hand to livestock for the perfect complement.

WHAT TO DRINK

17 May 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 18 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | WHAT TO DRINK

Discover three different wines all from Western Australia’s Margaret River.

Cole’s moving moment

17 May 2012 |

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 64 | Cole’s moving moment

CSR’s respected investor relations boss, Martin Cole, is leaving the building materials company after a 4½-year stint.

Company briefs

17 May 2012 |

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 28 |

Grocery wholesaler Metcash is entering into joint ventures with independent retailers to protect and expand the market share of hardware chain Mitre 10.

Billabong founder’s green punt coming up red

17 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 25 | Green punt coming up red

It’s not easy being green, as Billabong founder and environmentalist Gordon Merchant found after he outlaid $10 million in 2010 to gain control of Plantic Technologies, which makes plastic packaging from corn.

Foster’s soft drinks may taste right to CCA’s Davis

17 May 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 17 May 2012 | PAGE 24 | Foster’s soft drinks may taste right to CCA’s Davis

Coca-Cola Amatil chief executive Terry Davis may have turned up his nose at Foster’s $150 million Australian spirits business but the brewer’s soft drink brands may still tickle his fancy.

Coles hits back at pricing claims

16 May 2012 | Claire Stewart

PRINT: 16 May 2012 | PAGE 4 | Coles hits back at pricing claims

Coles has dismissed claims that its aggressive price discounting and decision to increase private label products was hurting Australia’s food manufacturers.

Woolies recruit stocks up on ideas

16 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 16 May 2012 | PAGE 4 | Woolies recruit stocks up on ideas

After a 20-year career with one the world’s largest food companies, former Kellogg’s global chief executive David Mackay is bringing unique insights to the board of grocery retailer Woolworths.

Something fishy about avocado

16 May 2012 | Alan Stokes

PRINT: 16 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | There’s something fishy about avocado

Stokes | Whoever decided “avocado” and “sushi” belonged together should be sliced thinly and drizzled with lemon juice.

No popping Coca-Cola Amatil bubble

15 May 2012 | Elise Shaw and wires

Tough trading conditions will not deter beverages supplier Coca-Cola Amatil from expecting a higher underlying profit in the first half of the 2012 calendar year.

Scotland battles ‘drink yourself to death’ culture

15 May 2012 |

Scottish ministers have taken a tougher line than anticipated on alcohol abuse by fixing their planned minimum price for alcohol at £0.50 a unit, pushing up the cost of cheap vodka by nearly 50 per cent.

Aged in the bottle

15 May 2012 |

PRINT: 15 May 2012 | PAGE 56 | Aged in the bottle

Coca-Cola Amatil will hold its AGM today in Sydney at the Intercontinental Hotel and the bottling giant’s araldited CEO Terry Davis will be holding a press conference directly after.

Loyalty wars on the cards

15 May 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 15 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Loyalty wars on the cards

Woolworths has returned fire in the fresh war being waged by the supermarket giants: consumer loyalty.

Offside with the ILO

14 May 2012 |

PRINT: 14 May 2012 | PAGE 56 | Offside with the ILO

Brisbane coffee entrepreneur Phillip Di Bella appears to have fallen foul of the International Labour Organization, despite claiming in his promotional material that his business works “on the ground with non-government organisations including UNICEF and the [ILO] to make sure that there is no child labour used in any of the farms that we source from”.

Farmers in for a finger-lickin’ bonanza

14 May 2012 | Sophie Morris

PRINT: 14 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Farmers in for a finger-lickin’ bonanza

KFC plans to switch from frying poultry pieces in Malaysian-sourced palm oil to locally grown canola oil, fuelling the switch from wheat to the oilseed.

Don’t forget franchisees during M&A

12 May 2012 | Jessica Gardner

PRINT: 12 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Don’t forget franchisees during M&A

The experience of the Mrs Fields chain shows the importance of keeping franchisees in the loop during mergers.

Meet the reluctant entrepreneur

12 May 2012 | Anne Fulwood

PRINT: 12 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Reluctant entrepreneur

Fulwood | Nahji Chu has capitalised on a taste for Vietnamese rice paper rolls with her flourishing catering and takeaway empire.

Eating out survives the budget squeeze

12 May 2012 | Emily Parkinson

PRINT: 12 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Eating out survives the budget squeeze

It is one of the paradoxes of the Australian economy: while retailers struggle to attract sales these days, serious cash is being spent in cafes and restaurants.

Robust flavour to savour

11 May 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | WINE TIM WHITE

A big red is as much a product of the land as the grape variety. Moodemere in north-eastern Victoria is an example.

WHAT TO DRINK

11 May 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | WHAT TO DRINK

All Saints Estate Family Cellar Shiraz 2008 (Rutherglen, Vic).

Hamilton Island feast

11 May 2012 |

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | EAT

Guillaume Brahimi is launching this year’s annual qualia Great Barrier Feast series at Hamilton Island on July 6.

London Olympics special | Food

10 May 2012 | John Stensholt

PRINT: 11 May 2012 | PAGE 1 | A taste for the quirky

The city’s restaurants have reinvented their menus – from regional specialities to classics with twist.

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE)

10 May 2012 | Brendon Lau

Morgan Stanley has increased its price target on Treasury Wine Estates and reiterated its “overweight” recommendation on the stock as it believes the company has considerable upside profit margin potential.

Green Mountain replaces chairman after margin call

10 May 2012 | Peter Eavis

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Ground down by a heavy margin call

Margin calls can be merciless, as the founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has now found out after losing his post as chairman.

No thirst to distribute Calpis here

10 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell and wires

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Schweppes: no thirst to distribute Calpis here

Schweppes has no immediate plans to start distributing Calpis, a popular drink in Japan, following Asahi’s $1.5 billion acquisition of Calpis’s parent company.

Nespresso takes to the small screen to lure American fans

10 May 2012 | Jane Levere

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 8 | Nespresso takes to the small screen to lure new American fans

Nespresso, a division of Nestlé that sells single-serve espresso machines and capsules of coffee worldwide, introduced its first US television advertising this week.

Top end chocolate and coffee

10 May 2012 | Christopher Jay

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 7 | Big bikkies beckon

The Swiss role in the Australian food industry is epitomised by two high profile consumer product concerns, Nestlé which began in 1867 with milk formula for infants and Lindt Chocolate, marketing specialty chocolate for 145 years.

Briefs

10 May 2012 |

PRINT: 10 May 2012 | PAGE 6 | Briefs

Swiss investors have acquired Australian company NEP Solar, which recently moved its head office to Zurich while maintaining manufacturing operations in Sydney .

Canberra’s catch of the day

09 May 2012 | Elouise Fowler

Free food is always popular at Parliament House events. But the one on Wednesday evening wasn’t just about the food.

Guatemala’s coffee trees decimated by fungus

09 May 2012 |

A mutant strain of one of the world’s most devastating coffee diseases is attacking crops in Guatemala, putting farmers on high alert for a wider outbreak across Central America.

Carlsberg calls last orders on Foster’s

09 May 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 09 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Carlsberg calls last orders on Foster’s

Foster’s has lost the rights to its last imported premium beer after Coopers Brewery confirmed it had snared a distribution deal with Carlsberg.

Coles pays high price for my5 scheme

09 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 09 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Coles pays a high price for my5 scheme

Food and liquor retailer Coles may have to lift sales by around 2 per cent a year to offset the increased cost of its revamped FlyBuys customer loyalty program.

Wine tax push stays on the shelf

09 May 2012 | Michael Smith

PRINT: 09 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Wine tax push stays on the shelf

The beverage industry will have to wait another year for serious reform to Australia’s wine tax system.

Asahi swallows drink maker Calpis for $1.5bn

08 May 2012 |

Brewer Asahi Group Holdings said it will buy soft-drink maker Calpis for about ¥120 billion ($1.48 billion), its largest deal to date as it seeks new revenue sources, and a move that could hasten a realignment of Japan's beverage sector.

Push to merge and list media companies

08 May 2012 | Lucy Gao

China’s Ministry of Finance recently issued a circular calling for the advancement of the cultural sector, that includes the media.

Bottoms up for the budget

08 May 2012 | Michael Smith

One area likely to be overlooked in this year’s budget, but worthy of an overhaul, is Australia’s ludicrously convoluted tax system for alcohol.

Marubeni keen on US grain trader Gavilon

PRINT: Capital | 08 May 2012

Marubeni Corp said on Monday it was interested in acquiring US grain and energy trader Gavilon, establishing it as the most likely Asian buyer of the company as rival Japanese trading houses played down the chances they would bid.

Home on the Grange

07 May 2012 |

PRINT: 07 May 2012 | PAGE 52 | Home on the Grange

Lend Lease’s share price may be well off its highs but that won't stop the construction giant’s CEO, Steve McCann, from enjoying a decent tipple at the dinner table.

Bubbly for the bubbly

07 May 2012 |

PRINT: 07 May 2012 | PAGE 52 | Bubbly for the bubbly

The former Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year and owner of Stedmans Hospitality, Mandy Foley-Quin, opened her home on Sydney’s swish Lang Road in Centennial Park to the great and the good on Friday night.

Nosebags in the Loo

07 May 2012 |

PRINT: 07 May 2012 | PAGE 52 | Nosebags in the Loo

It seems Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill isn’t the only place where Sydney’s top end of town graze on Fridays.

New Metcash fight with ACCC

07 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 07 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | New Metcash fight with ACCC

Grocery wholesaler Metcash appears headed for another stoush with the competition regulator over a supermarket site in Queensland.

The $1000 wine no one knows

05 May 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 05 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | The $1000 wine no one knows

Raising prices can lift sales of premium wines but one winery intent on starting at the top is causing a stir.

Money for nothing

05 May 2012 | Jemima Whyte

PRINT: 05 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Money for nothing

Coles has upped the ante in the supermarket wars with its revamped loyalty card. But for customers some of the benefits are marginal.

Future looks vine for the winemakers

05 May 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 05 May 2012 | PAGE 3 | Future looks vine for the winemakers

The devastating grape glut that has wreaked havoc across the industry for nearly a decade could finally be over, a number of winemakers and analysts believe.

Green Mountain plunges in Christmas for shorts

04 May 2012 |

Stock in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters shed almost half its value, as management lost the confidence of Wall Street after the company cut its outlook and again badly missed sales estimates.

China’s Bright Food bites up 60pc of Weetabix

04 May 2012 | Michael Wei

PRINT: 04 May 2012 | PAGE 24 | Chinese group bites into 60pc of Weetabix

China’s second-largest food company, has agreed to buy a 60 per cent stake in British cereal maker Weetabix Ltd from private equity firm Lion Capital.

Palm oil at 6-week low on global economic woes

03 May 2012 |

Malaysian palm oil futures extended losses to a six-week low on Thursday, as disappointing economic data from the United States and Europe cast doubts on global economic recovery and commodity demand.

After ‘perfect storm’, Goodman reaffirms guidance

03 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

Goodman Fielder has reaffirmed its guidance for a 15 to 20 per cent decline in earnings this fiscal year despite increased pricing and private label pressure from food retailers and subdued consumer spending.

Woolies freshens up top team

03 May 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 03 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Woolies freshens up top team

Woolworths has promoted promising internal talent to senior roles and the grocer is working on a marketing campaign and changes to its fresh and packaged lines.

Growth feeds Patties’ share price

02 May 2012 | Trevor Hoey

After negotiating challenging conditions it would appear that there is only upside to come for Patties Foods as it builds on growth initiative undertaken in the last 12 months.

29th in pecking order

02 May 2012 |

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 52 | 29th in pecking order

Sydney’s Quay has made the San Pellegrino World’s Best 50 Restaurants.

Benefit of beer: it brews honesty

02 May 2012 | Alan Stokes

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Beer goggles make lies easier to swallow

Stokes | Too much beer is barely enough, especially if it means our leaders come clean about their stuff-ups.

Rising wine shares: something to raise a glass to

02 May 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 16 | China’s not the only one hot on Treasury Wine Estates

Street Talk | Analysts believe wine stocks in Australia and the US are about to turn positive.

Wilkie accused of bullying

02 May 2012 | Fleur Anderson

PRINT: 02 May 2012 | PAGE 2 | Wilkie accused of bullying

The poker machine industry has accused Andrew Wilkie of being a bully and a political opportunist for using the Gillard government’s political troubles to push his poker machine policy.

Freedom Nutritional Products (FNP)

01 May 2012 | Qaiser Malik

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 33 |

Continued strong growth across its cereal and dairy businesses has seen the share price of Freedom Nutritional Products rise by more than 20 per cent since March.

Treasury Wine is the toast of Merrills

01 May 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

Merrill Lynch has upgraded its price target for Treasury Wine Estates by a whopping 27 per cent to $5.75 a share as it predicts the Australian wine industry is about to return to more favourable times.

Coke denies talks to buy Monster Beverage

01 May 2012 |

The Coca-Cola Company has denied being in talks to buy the Monster Beverage Corporation, after rumours of negotiations between the two had pushed the energy-drink makers shares up earlier in the day.

Australia: land of the lost big idea

01 May 2012 | Deirdre Macken

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 57 | Australia: land of the lost big idea

Macken | Five years ago, we thought we could save the planet. We’re not sweating the big stuff any more but, boy, are we sweating the small stuff.

Smith warns of threat to food processing

01 May 2012 | Jason Murphy

PRINT: 01 May 2012 | PAGE 8 | Smith fears for food

Price wars between grocers may appeal to consumers, but manufacturing and retail entrepreneur Dick Smith argues they are damaging growers and processors.

Palm oil edges down in thin trades

30 April 2012 |

Malaysian palm oil futures edged lower on Monday as slower US growth raised fears of a weaker global economic outlook, although losses were curbed by strong palm oil export numbers and a tight global oilseed supply situation.

Keystone puts food into fashion

30 April 2012 | Lisa Carapiet

Models and a hearty meal aren’t often seen in the same room, but Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia organisers are changing that.

One with the lot

30 April 2012 |

PRINT: 30 April 2012 | PAGE 52 | One with the lot

Chrislyn Hamilton, who works behind the counter at McDonald’s in the Brisbane suburb of Redcliffe, has won the 2012 “Voice of McDonald’s” singing competition.

Big supermarkets on the nose

30 April 2012 | Paul McIntyre

PRINT: 30 April 2012 | PAGE 45 | Big supermarkets on the nose

Australians’ satisfaction with life has come to a grinding halt and it’s spilling over to their spending intentions, fears about personal finances and a dramatic rise in frustration with supermarket chains, says study.

Master of your gastronomic journey

30 April 2012 | Rachel Lebihan

PRINT: 30 April 2012 | PAGE 30 | Master of your gastronomic journey

Culinary arts institute Le Cordon Bleu and Southern Cross University are launching an online master’s degree in gastronomic tourism.

Aldi eager for planning reform

30 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 30 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | Aldi keen for planning reform

Aldi Australia managing director Tom Daunt says Aldi’s ambition for as many as 600 stores may never be realised unless planning and zoning regulations change.

Carslberg may toddle off to Coopers

30 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 30 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | Carslberg may toddle off

Carlsberg has become the latest label to leave Foster’s following SABMiller’s $12.3 billion takeover, with Coopers believed to have snared local rights.

Company briefs

28 April 2012 |

PRINT: 28 April 2012 | PAGE 19 |

Brisconnections said in an investor update that it was “months away” from opening Brisbane’s Airport Link road but did not provide a date.

World briefs

28 April 2012 |

PRINT: 28 April 2012 | PAGE 14 | world briefs

Osama bin Laden’s three widows and his estimated 11 children have been deported from Pakistan, leaving their villa in Islamabad amid tight security.

JPMorgan Russia head retires, deputy steps up

27 April 2012 |

JP Morgan's Russia head Jeff Costello, a leading veteran on the Moscow investment banking scene, wi ll retire and be replaced by deputy CEO and head of investment banking, Yan Tavrovsky.

Fish Shop pulls ’em in

27 April 2012 |

PRINT: 27 April 2012 | PAGE 48 | Fish Shop pulls ’em in

Speaking of Justin Hemmes, the nightlife baron was working the floor on Anzac Day at his new Fish Shop on Challis Ave in Potts Point, at the site formerly occupied by Lotus.

Baker slices costs after earnings slump

27 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 27 April 2012 | PAGE 3 | Baker slices costs after earnings slump

Associated British Foods is slashing costs at Australia’s largest baker and smallgoods maker, George Weston Foods, following a 95 per cent slump in earnings in the first half of 2012.

Loyalty has rewards for Coles

27 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 27 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Loyalty has rewards for Coles and its customers

Since Coles revamped its FlyBuys scheme, customers have been registering online at the rate of up to 20,000 an hour. If this rate continues, Coles is likely to sign up more than one million members within the first week.

San Pellegrino awards show appetite for success

27 April 2012 | Matt Drummond

PRINT: 27 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | FOOD

It is somewhat bizarre that a list purporting to be of the world’s 50 best restaurants was first drawn up only 10 years ago.

Wine | Golden future in screwcaps

27 April 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 27 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | WINE TIM WHITE

A tasting of old Yalumba wines offers an interesting insight into the future of wine bottle closures.

What to drink

27 April 2012 |

PRINT: 27 April 2012 | PAGE 5 | WHAT TO DRINK

Some drops to savour.

Palm oil slips on economic woes

26 April 2012 |

Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Thursday as global economic uncertainty and expectations of improving production weighed on the market.

Palm oil slips on economic woes, output outlook

26 April 2012 |

Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Thursday as global economic uncertainty and expectations of improving production weighed on the market, although recovering exports and a smaller soybean crop in Argentina limited losses.

Wesfarmers (WES)

26 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 26 April 2012 | PAGE 39 |

Wesfarmers managed to convince investors that the turnaround at Coles is on track, even though the food and liquor retailer reported its slowest rate of sales growth for three years.

Ice-cream could pay for Nestlé baby formula deal

26 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 26 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Ice-cream could pay for baby food deal

Reports that Nestle is preparing to sell its iconic Peters ice-cream business through JPMorgan are making more sense in light of the Swiss food giant’s $US11.9 billion acquisition of Pfizer’s infant nutrition unit.

Why Cracka won’t sell to Woolies, Coles

26 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 26 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | Cracka way to roll out the wine barrel

It’s not often the founder of a business plots a strategy aimed squarely at making sure his major rivals never get the chance to own it.

SABMiller CEO becomes its chairman

24 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

SABMiller chief executive Graham Mackay, who engineered last year’s $11.2 billion takeover of Foster’s Group, has been named the global brewer’s new chairman.

No end to this food fight

24 April 2012 | michael smith

Declines in fresh food prices take their toll at both Coles and Woolworths but there’s too much at stake for them to back away from a fight to expand market share.

Mr Beer gives Coopers US home brew domination

24 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

The nation’s largest Australian-owned brewer, Coopers Brewery, has become America’s largest home brew supplier after making its first acquisition in almost 30 years.

Pressure on Woolies to catch up

24 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 26 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Pressure on Woolies to catch up

Updated | Supermarket chain Coles has outperformed Woolworths for the 11th consecutive quarter, lifting same-store food and liquor sales by 2.7 per cent in the three months ending in March.

Nestlé beats Danone in competition for Pfizer unit

24 April 2012 | Dermot Doherty

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 22 | Nestlé beats Danone in competition for Pfizer unit

Nestlé, the world’s biggest food company, has agreed to buy Pfizer’s infant-nutrition unit, a business that gets most of its sales in fast-growing emerging markets.

$625 to come home with Grange

24 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 24 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | Expect to pay $625 to come home with the Grange

Penfolds Grange aficionados brace yourselves. One of Australia’s most expensive wines just got more pricey.

Nestle to buy Pfizer baby food unit for $11.4bn

PRINT: Capital | 23 April 2012

Swiss food group Nestle is to buy US drugmaker Pfizer's infant nutrition business, beating French rival Danone in the battle for dominance of baby food in emerging markets.

No joy for Cadbury in ‘magic’ campaign

23 April 2012 | Rowan Dean

PRINT: 23 April 2012 | PAGE 46 | No joy for Cadbury in ‘magic’ campaign

There may be plenty of milk in a Cadbury’s bar, but its ad campaign could use a little more humour and originality.

McDonald’s hits the spot with chicken, drinks

23 April 2012 | Leslie Patton

PRINT: 23 April 2012 | PAGE 24 | McDonald’s hits the spot with chicken, drinks

McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain, reported a 4.8 per cent gain in March quarter profit as new items such as Chicken McBites attracted US consumers.

Woolworths launches plan to win loyalty, aisle by aisle

23 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 23 April 2012 | PAGE 19 | Battle plan to win loyalty, aisle by aisle

Woolworths’ new head of supermarkets, Tjeerd Jegen, has been struck by the “promiscuity” of Australian grocery shoppers.

Company briefs

21 April 2012 |

PRINT: 21 April 2012 | PAGE 19 |

Sundance Resources says it has received a letter from the Republic of Congo firming up its rights to mine at the Mbalam iron ore project.

World briefs

21 April 2012 |

PRINT: 21 April 2012 | PAGE 15 |

Morgan Stanley reported adjusted earnings that beat analyst estimates, driven by stronger-than-expected trading revenue.

Woolworths and Coles defend grocery pricing

21 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 21 April 2012 | PAGE 3 | Woolies, Coles not raising but ‘adjusting’ prices

Woolworths and Coles point to record levels of food price deflation as proof that they are reducing, rather than raising, grocery prices.

Deflation, big wet stall Woolies sales

20 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 21 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | Deflation, big wet stall Woolies sales

Woolworths chief executive Grant O’Brien has blamed price deflation and a wet summer for the retailer’s worst food and liquor sales growth for at least seven years, but says conditions should improve next year.

Company briefs

20 April 2012 |

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 22 | briefs

Metcash’s IGA supermarket network has launched a national advertising campaign to emphasise its support for national rather than private label brands.

Woolworths executive pledges profit growth

20 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 21 | Woolworths executive pledges profit growth

Woolworths new head of supermarkets, Tjeerd Jegen, says Australia’s largest retailer does not need to sacrifice profits to improve its competitiveness.

More bells and whistles for Coles FlyBuys

20 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | More bells and whistles for Coles FlyBuys

Supermarket chain Coles will give customers 10 per cent off their five favourite grocery purchases as well as one point for every $1 they spend under a long-awaited overhaul of the FlyBuys customer loyalty scheme.

Daylesford | Blokes in spa country

20 April 2012 | Mark Skulley

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 3 | Leave your cares behind

Blokes love a bit of pampering but a massage should hurt just a bit, Mark Skulley writes.

Coppola’s new venture expects plenty of reruns

20 April 2012 | Rachel Lee Harris

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | TRAVEL Italy

Besides being a filmmaker and winemaker, Francis Ford Coppola has owned hotels and resorts since the 1980s.

Bratislava | Eccentric charmer

20 April 2012 | Evan Rail

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 3 | Eccentric charmer

If the beekeeping museum isn’t your thing, why not try some of the 80 vodkas served in one of the capital’s bars.

A sommelier’s dream comes true

20 April 2012 | Rachel Lebihan

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | A WINE LOVER’S DREAM COME TRUE

Australian designer Jeffrey Toering has produced a wine knife that’s an uber-cool, top-end tool.

Wine | From pure gold to finest pinot noir

20 April 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Wine Tim White

The world’s most southerly wine growing region, where plantings have doubled in just a decade, has come of age with gusto.

Whatever takes your fancy

20 April 2012 | Naomi Lindt

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | Whatever takes your fancy

Quaint stores and cuisines from all over the world abound in this hip quarter of Singapore.

Dining | Share and share alike

20 April 2012 | Lisa Carapiet

PRINT: 20 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | FOOD

Everyone benefits as more celebrated chefs embrace the communal meal.

Coles’ revamped FlyBuys scheme takes off

19 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

Supermarket chain Coles will give customers 10 per cent off their five favourite grocery purchases every week and one point for every $1 spent under an overhaul of the FlyBuys customer loyalty scheme.

India leads charge for Coca-Cola

19 April 2012 | Stephanie Strom

PRINT: 19 April 2012 | PAGE 30 | India leads charge for Coca-Cola

Sales of the Coca-Cola Company’s myriad beverages increased around the world in the March quarter, led by consumption in India.

A2 looks at ways to milk interest

19 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 19 April 2012 | PAGE 24 | A2 looks at ways to milk interest

What are the odds? Only days after Macquarie Equities initiated coverage on New Zealand-listed A2 Corp, the dairy company has appointed independent adviser Greenhill Caliburn to conduct a strategic review after receiving approaches from industry players.

Food giants lift prices of non-staples to catch up

18 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 18 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | Food giants lift prices of non-staples to catch up

Coles and Woolworths, set to report their weakest quarterly sales for several years, are raising prices on less visible grocery items to offset the impact of deflation in fresh produce.

More reasons to like Aldi on the way

18 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 18 April 2012 | PAGE 1 | More in store for Aldi fans

Discount retailer Aldi is tweaking its model to appeal to a broader customer base – stocking a larger range of national brands and increasing the availability of “special buys” on products such as electronics and apparel.

Wesfarmers (WES)

17 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 33 |

Shares in Wesfarmers have underperformed the market ahead of the company’s March quarter retail sales figures to be released next week.

Wesfarmers (WES)

17 April 2012 | Brendon Lau

Citigroup has lowered its price target on Wesfarmers from $29.80 to $29.60 a share after lowering its coal price outlook, and has kept its “neutral” rating on the stock.

Cooks for a cause

17 April 2012 |

PRINT: 17 April 2012 | PAGE 60 | Cooks for a cause

Some of the country’s best-known chefs are lining up to cook at a black tie benefit tomorrow night at Sydney’s Steel Bar & Grill for their fellow chef Matt Golinski, who tragically lost his wife and three daughters in a house fire on Boxing Day last year.

A glass more than half full

16 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 16 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | A glass more than half full

For Angus McPherson, the former export manager for the highly successful Casella Wines, restoring the Rosemount wine label to its former glory is a task in simplicity.

Tehran stockpiling food to avoid unrest

14 April 2012 |

Private importers in Iran have bought about 50,000 tonnes of feed wheat despite payments problems caused by Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic, trade sources said on Friday.

Treasury Be target is Y

14 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 20 | Treasury Be target is Y

Treasury Wine Estates has launched its first new brand in the US in more than a decade, as its sales in the world’s biggest economy rebound after a two-year hiatus.

Qld contests Coke’s campaign to quaff Cooroy

14 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 14 April 2012 | PAGE 20 | Qld contests Coke’s campaign to quaff Cooroy

Coca-Cola Amatil is pressing ahead with an offer for the assets of Queensland water and soft drink bottler Cooroy Mountain Group, despite a backlash from locals and state politicians worried about job losses.

Mountain man takes on Coca-Cola Amatil

13 April 2012 | Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 18 | Mountain man takes on CCA

Coca-Cola Amatil appears to have hit an unexpected hurdle in its quest to buy the assets of Sunshine Coast water and soft drink bottler Cooroy Mountain Group, which is in the hands of administrators.

Food | Taste the sunshine

13 April 2012 | Mathew Dunckley

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | FOOD

International chefs and rich local bounty come together at the Food & Wine Festival from May 17 to 20.

Wine | Storm in a bottle

12 April 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 5 | WINE TIM WHITE

Don’t be put off by tales of bad weather around vintage – it’s only one factor in the quality of the end product.

WHAT TO DRINK

12 April 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 13 April 2012 | PAGE 5 | WHAT TO DRINK

A tasting journey from riesling to syrah to chardonnay.

Retail Food Group (RFG)

11 April 2012 | Qaiser Malik

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 33 |

Brand manager and franchisor of brands like Donut King, Michel’s Patisserie, and Brumby’s bakery, Retail Food Group has been doing well in maintaining steady growth in its business despite challenging retail conditions.

Spotlight falls on supermarket sur-prices

11 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 12 April 2012 | PAGE 26 | Spotlight on supermarket sur-prices

A new grocery inflation index shows that prices rose at Woolworths in the past seven weeks but continued to fall at rivals Coles and IGA.

CCA thirsty for Cooroy water brand

11 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 11 April 2012 | PAGE 16 | CCA thirsty for Cooroy water brand

Coca-Cola Amatil is eyeing the assets of Queensland water and soft-drink bottler Cooroy Mountain Group, which collapsed last year after taking on unprofitable private label water contracts with major retailers.

News briefs

11 April 2012 |

PRINT: 11 April 2012 | PAGE 11 |

The West Australian Liberal Party is searching for two new senators, following the death of one and the announcement by another he will not contest the next federal election.

Chef get a taste of cooking for camps

11 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 11 April 2012 | PAGE 11 | Chefs get a taste of camp cooking

Western Australia’s economic boom has underpinned a surge in new restaurants, bars and cafes looking to cash in on diners with money to spend.

The pressure to be green

10 April 2012 | Jessica Gardner

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 45 | The pressure to be green

Many SMEs taking action to limit their environmental impact are doing so because of supply chain pressure.

ATO challenges Nudie juice loan

10 April 2012 | Hannah Low

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 7 | Nudie juice loan attacked by Tax Office

The father of the entrepreneur behind Nudie juice may have disguised offshore income or profits as a loan in order to avoid tax, the Australian Taxation Office has claimed.

Food trucks: bang for your bun

10 April 2012 | Lucille Keen

PRINT: 10 April 2012 | PAGE 5 | Food trucks: bang for your bun

Food trucks are all the rage, not just for the customers who line up on street corners, but for the operators who have turned a small-time operation into a booming business.

Wall St falls on stimulus doubts, Spain debt sale

05 April 2012 |

US stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors contemplated a world without monetary stimulus and a poorly received bond auction in Spain.

UK fund buys 29pc of Burger King

05 April 2012 |

Still in the midst of trying to turn around the struggling brand, Burger King's say they sold 29 per cent of the company to a UK investment fund for $US1.4 billion.

Deals of the day – mergers and acquisitions

05 April 2012 |

Italian market regulator Consob said on Wednesday EDF needed to raise the price it had proposed to buy out shareholders of Italy's No. 2 power generator Edison.

Free on the range, the teeny tiny range

05 April 2012 | Deirdre Macken

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 75 | Free on the range, the teeny tiny range

Macken | Chickens and eggs: we don’t know which came first but we do know both are carrying a lot of weight for the future of food labelling.

Metcash planting seeds for a fresh start

05 April 2012 | Sue Mitchell

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 17 | Planting seeds for a fresh start

Grocery wholesaler Metcash is planning a new retail format aimed at expanding its presence in fresh food as heightened competition increases pressure on its dry grocery customers.

Sifting through the story

05 April 2012 | Gay Bilson

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 5 | Sifting through the story

The is much to recommend in A Cook’s Life by chef, writer and restaurateur Stephanie Alexander, but her self-preoccupation detracts from a praiseworthy work.

Gotham Hall gastronomy

05 April 2012 |

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | SPLURGE

On April 16 chefs will mimic a UNESCO event held in Versailles Palace last year, only this time it will be in New York City.

Home-grown fashion in central Berlin

05 April 2012 | Charly Wilder

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 9 | TRAVEL BERLIN

Berliners love to complain about the transformation of Mitte, the central district in the city’s former East.

Salt, a seasoned performer

05 April 2012 | Lisa Carapiet

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | FOOD

Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez is trying to clear salt’s name. At his restaurant he uses about 60 different kinds.

What to drink

05 April 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | WHAT TO DRINK

Frankland Estate Smith Cullam Riesling 2010 and Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Kabinett 2009

French palate pleasers

05 April 2012 |

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 2 | EAT

InterContinental Sydney is holding the first of a series of intimate champagne degustation dinners.

Rising above it all in frenetic Bangkok

05 April 2012 | Ben Hurley

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 11 | TRAVEL THAILAND

The night air of Bangkok is surprisingly fresh when you’re sitting at an outdoor bar 55 storeys above the ground.

Rioja’s red revolution

05 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 10 | Rioja’s timely evolution

Single vineyard wines are starting to emerge in this region, which is at the heart of tempranillo production.

Wine | Riesling’s sweet revival

05 April 2012 | Tim White

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 4 | WINE TIM WHITE

It has taken far too long for Germany’s scintillating rieslings to regain popularity.

San Sebastian

05 April 2012 | Julie-anne Sprague

PRINT: 05 April 2012 | PAGE 10 | SAN SEBASTIAN

If there was one piece of advice to impart to a traveller bound for the spectacular seaside Spanish town, San Sebastian, it is this.

Palm at 13-month high on demand hopes

04 April 2012 |

Malaysian palm oil futures climbed to an almost 13-month high on Wednesday, as traders continued to bet on a brighter demand outlook for palm oil following expectations of a smaller soybean crop in coming months.