Page 55 - Food & Drink Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

included Mingle Spices, Matcha Maiden, Kooee! Snacks,
Bake Mixers and 99th Monkey.
The Chobani Food Incubator (CFI) was originally launched in the US to give food startups resources to challenge bigger food companies. In Australia, the final five were chosen from over 100 applications across
a broad range of categories.
The application process involved taste-testing and one-on-one meetings with food entrepreneurs with
each of the companies selected for their commitment to standout products that
will expand the Australian food market.
Their products include a high-protein jerky, a
range of ‘no-nasties’ seasoning, matcha beverage powder,
healthy bake mixes and sustainable
nut butters.
NEW BREWERIES
BOOM
For the third year running, small breweries
opened at an average of about one a week across Australia during 2017 with around 49 new breweries,
compared to 46 breweries in
2014 and 57 in both 2015
and 2016. Queensland was out in front
with 17 new breweries, eight of which opened in Brisbane and four on the Sunshine Coast, according to brewing historian Dr Brett J. Stubbs who conducted the research on behalf of online beer publication, Australian Brews News. Victoria became home to 11 new breweries, and NSW now boasts nine, many of which opened in regional areas, although Sydney’s inner south west saw four new breweries with two located in the
suburb of Marrickville. The results show a new
record high for Australia breweries with close
to 400 of them.
UNILEVER
THREATENS TO SHUN SOCIAL MEDIA
Consumer goods giant Unilever threatened to pull its advertising from Google and Facebook, saying it would not invest in platforms that ‘create division’, calling on the industry to collectively build trust back into our “systems and society”.
Unilever owns a number of food brands including Lipton, Continental, Streets, Weis and Ben & Jerry's.
In a keynote speech at the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting in Palm Desert, US, Unilever’s chief marketing officer Keith Weed said the industry must “work together to improve transparency and rebuild consumer trust in an era of
fake news and toxic online content”.
Lead consumer analyst at data and analytics company GlobalData Ronan Stafford said consumer brands and media companies need to find a way to work together as people’s lives move increasingly online and the ability to reach them using traditional media channels diminishes.
D’ORSOGNA SMALLGOODS EXPANDS
Western Australia’s smallgoods company D’Orsogna announced plans to double its manufacturing capacity with the construction of a new factory north of Melbourne. The 10,858 square metre
facility is being built by MAB Corporation and Gibson Property Corporation in Merrifield Business Park and is expected to provide 240 jobs.
D’Orsogna, which has grown to employ more than 550 people, was founded in 1949 by Italian
migrant brothers who opened a small family butcher shop in West Perth.
According to the company, the ambitious Merrifield factory will cost $65 million.
Currently headquartered at Palmyra, near the port of Fremantle, D’Orsogna produces a range of cured and cooked whole and sliced hams, bacon, sausages and
gourmet continental goods. D’Orsogna currently supplies
companies such as Woolworths, Coles, Metcash and food service businesses.
FONTERRA AND A2 MILK FORGE ALLIANCE
Fonterra and the a2 Milk Company entered into a strategic partnership to unlock new opportunities for both companies. Under the alliance, a2 Milk will leverage Fonterra’s global milk pool and supply chain, manufacturing capability and in-market sales and distribution capacity, while Fonterra will draw on a2 Milk's “brand strength and capabilities”.
The news came as a2 Milk posted another round of stellar financial results, with its interim revenues rising 70 per cent and its net profits rising 150 per cent to $89 million for the half year to December.
As part of the partnership, Fonterra said it is preparing to kick start conversations with its farmers to source an A2 milk pool for a2 Milk products in New Zealand,
with the hope of significantly expanding this over time to
help meet the growing demand for a2 milk.
A similar milk pool in
Australia will also be developed.
DIAGEO CRITICISED OVER RUM AD
Alcohol giant Diageo was rapped over the knuckles by the Advertising Standards Authority for its "lack of care" in running a rum ad on Snapchat. The UK ad watchdog ruled that Diageo didn’t take sufficient caution to ensure that a Captain Morgan rum brand ad didn't reach minors.
Snapchat said it disagreed that Diageo was intentionally targeting an underage audience, as it had age restriction limits in place.
The ASA
investigated the ad
for Captain
Morgan, and
decided it was likely
to be seen by children, and appeal to children, which breaches alcohol advertising codes. The ruling left Snapchat on the defensive about its age verification and filters, which it insists it has improved since the ad was run in June 2017.
TEENAGE UNDERAGE DRINKING DROPS Underage drinking and alcohol misuse continued to make a dramatic decline according to official Australian government data.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016 found 82
per cent of 12-17 year olds in Australia do not drink any alcohol at all, up from 56.5
per cent in 2007.
Those aged 12-17 drinking at lifetime risky patterns fell from 4.2 per cent in 2010 to 1.3 per cent in 2016.
“What is clear is that under-age drinking is in consistent long-term decline in Australia,” CEO Brewers Association of Australia Brett
Heffernan said.
YEAR IN REVIEW
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