Australia news

Metcash has released full year results for the 12 months to 30 April 2014 with revenues up 3.2% to AU$13.4bn but underlying profits after tax down 10.9% to AU$250.1m Metcash Food & Grocery sales declined 0.5% to AU$9,072.4m Declining sales were attributed to ongoing difficult conditions that continue to impact Metcash's core business division. Grocery deflation (estimated at 1.4%), the clos...

New Coles MD John Durkan will officially take over from Ian McLeod on 1 July, however he is already making his mark on the business with a number of senior appointments. Changes to new and existing positions Durkan has reportedly appointed new personnel to head up the Coles liquor business, operations and supply chain, and also the retailer's digital advances. Andy Coleman, who joined Coles...

Woolworths and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver have launched a promotion whereby customers can collect sensory stickers that are aimed at educating children on the benefits of fresh food. Educating Australia on fresh food origins and benefits The Jamie’s Garden Collectibles range is a world-first collection of sensory stickers that are aimed at engaging children around the sourcing and health b...

Costco’s third quarter revenue increased by 7.1% to $25.8bn, with comparable store sales (ex-fuel and currency impacts) up 6%. Net income attributable to Costco increased by 3.1% to $473m. Food categories deliver solid performance These results reveal an improving performance versus the previous quarter, although they continue to be negatively impacted by exchange rate movements. Food ca...

Heston Blumenthal's new 'Heston for Coles' ranges has hit the shelves at Coles this week, plus the retailer has announced plans for 31 new stores in Queensland. Eight products highlighted with more to come... Having announced towards the end of 2013 its new partnership with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal and that he would be working to deliver an exclusive range for Coles, the new produc...

German discounter Aldi has applied to Onkaparinga Council for permission to develop its first store in the state of South Australia (SA). Seaford Heights chosen location According to Adelaide Now , Aldi Australia is planning to build a 1,587 sq m store in Seaford Heights which will benefit from 104 parking spaces. Public submissions being reviewed While one positive submission in fav...

Jamie Oliver and Woolworths have launched a new range of ready meals that will be exclusively sold in its stores. Chef partnership will hopefully drive ready meal category The new range entitled 'Created with Jamie' uses the strapline ' wickedly tasty food' and claims to have sourced the best ingredients from across Australia. The 29 lines currently launched across categories such as bakery, m...

The growth of Australia's online grocery market has been slow to take off when compared to many markets across Europe, however impressive growth is rapidly helping it catch up, with Woolworths leading the way. 50% year-on-year sales growth Woolworths is now able to deliver online groceries to 96% of Australian homes, with its online sales growing 50% in the third quarter of its financial year ...

A quick review of this week's news from Woolworths in Australia, including a new TV advert promoting online grocery shopping, rumours that a decision to appoint a new media agency is imminent and a new product launch. New campaign promoting grocery online shopping Woolworths is running a new TV advert aimed at converting in-store shoppers to online shoppers. The advert uses the strapline 'save ...

Woolworths has reported that Q3 sales increased 5.3% to AU$15,192m in the 13 weeks to 6 April 2014, with 'pleasing momentum' in Australian Food and Liquor demonstrating a continued focus on price and range. Australian Food and Liquor sales up 4.4% to AU$10,382m Despite Q3 this year excluding Easter, Woolworths still managed to increase Australian Food and Liquor like-for-like (LFL) sales by 2.9...