The federal government’s draft voluntary Food and Grocery Code of Conduct is now with Coles and Woolworths and key suppliers, 19 months after it was first proposed, but whether it will be effective and also enforceable under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 may be another matter. Small Business Minister Bruce Billson said the federal […]
Grocery Code set for 2015 implementation Read More »
Philip Morris Limited has called on the Federal Health Minister to investigate the appointment of anti-tobacco campaigner Melanie Wakefield of the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer – one of the chief architects behind the tobacco plain packaging laws – to investigate whether the policy is working. Philip Morris has asked why the Department of
Philip Morris questions conflict of interest in plain packaging review Read More »
Metcash Limited announced that Group sales revenue increased 1% to $6.6 billion on the prior comparable period for its half-year ended October 31, 2014, while underlying Profit after Tax decreased 9.0% to $101.7 million due to ongoing operating deleverage and as investment in the MFG strategy commenced. However, Metcash’s Transformation program is making progress and
Metcash gains momentum from transformation plan, pricing strategies Read More »
More than 60% of customers believe Australian businesses are lifting their game when it comes to customer service, according to the American Express 2014 Global Customer Service Barometer. This is a clear improvement on previous years, with 54% satisfaction recorded in 2012 and 55% in 2011. While the research shows that 72% of Australians claim
Customer service the key to Christmas cheer for Australian businesses Read More »
Fuel prices are falling rapidly so that motorists should expect petrol price relief before Christmas, with average national petrol price falling about 10 cents to around $1.40 a litre in November, thanks to a global oil glut and a price battle between USA shale oil producers and the Saudi-Arabia-led OPEC countries. According to the NRMA,
Pre-Christmas petrol price falls good news for retailers Read More »
Stock Box launched the first Australian product sample box to over 700 registered members on 24 November. With a selection of 10 products from companies such as Bayer, Slim Nation, Go Natural and SPC Ardmona, retailers for the first time were able to trial and test products and provide feedback, which will assist suppliers to
Stock Box launch an “Out of the box success!” Read More »
Newsagents claim they will be faced with huge losses to their revenue and the value of their businesses if the Tatts Group goes ahead with plans to expand Tatts Lottery product sales from April 2015 to Coles, Woolworths and other large national chains. When NSW Lotteries was privatised in 2010 a network of 1600 small
Small businesses face lottery shake-up Read More »
While Perth, Western Australia retailers were granted permission to open from 7:00am under extended Christmas shopping hours, WA Independent Grocers and the Independent Retailers Organisation say the independents will lose sales to the national chain retailers and face extra costs. The new rule follows a submission to the state government by the WA Chamber of
Perth independents to lose sales with extended Christmas trading Read More »
A Dun & Bradstreet’s Business Expectations Survey revealed that 53.2% of businesses expect increased sales in Q1 2015 compared to last year, while just 7.5% forecast a decline, lifting D&B’s sales expectations index to 45.8 points, its highest level since Q2, 2000. However, Roy Morgan Research’s Business Confidence survey in October 2014 declined by 8
D&B sales outlook hits 14-year high, Morgan Poll, ACCI not so sure Read More »
A vigil by the Transport Workers’ Union outside the Coles/Wesfarmers AGM in Perth alleged that, in a quest to maximise profit, Coles contributed to lethal supply chain practices. Speaking outside the AGM on 20 November, TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon urged Coles, “to take responsibility for safety throughout its supply chain. No one deserves to
TWU protests Coles’ supply chain practices outside Coles/Wesfarmers AGM Read More »
With small business surveys by industry groups such as the ACCI and CPA Australia showing insufficient demand, slower growth and weaker business conditions, the latest American Express survey of small business owners found that three quarters believe that it’s getting harder to run a small business, with two in five unsure if they’ll be around
Small business finds it tougher, but resilience shines through Read More »
As the weather heats up and retailers look forward to Christmas and New Year sales, stores are filling shelves and storage areas with increased levels of stock. In doing so, it is important that stores a maintain vigilance and check stock is stored safely, fire equipment remains accessible, and sprinkler systems and fire exits are
Safety check your store to ensure stock doesn’t go up in smoke Read More »
The growth of store brands or private label products in supermarkets is impacting on suppliers as Coles and Woolworths push into new markets, while Nielsen said that private labels are no longer seen as simply low-cost alternatives to name brands but are increasingly high-quality products fulfilling consumer needs across a variety of price points. A Fairfax
Suppliers hit by big supermarkets broad private label growth Read More »
