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This week in FMCG news

FMCG-ThisWeekInNews-080618-7This week, the FMCG landscape was flooded with more big stories.

Take a look back at what happened across the business sector in supermarkets, food and beverage companies.

Woolworths raised over $7m for farmers

Woolworths Group, along with its generous customers, has raised more than A$7 million for Rural Aid’s Buy a Bale program to support Australian farmers affected by the drought. Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci was overwhelmed by the response from everyone to support the Australian farming community. He said they go “above and beyond to support fundraising efforts because they know it makes a real difference for those impacted in their local community.”

Coles’ Little Shop continues

Supermarket giant Coles will continue Little Shop for a few more weeks surpassing the original August 28 deadline. Aussies have been collecting mini replicas of iconic brands such as Vegemite, Tim Tams, Vanish and Vicks. Coles chief operating officer Greg Davis said its been a positive turnaround for the company. He said that Little Shop has created “mini communities with friends, families, neighbours and work colleagues all helping each other collect.” Have you completed your set?

Simplot to exit frozen meals category

Food company Simplot Australia has decided to leave its frozen meals category so it can concentrate more on its potatoes, vegetable, seafood, pasta and sauces. It has proposed closure of the Pakenham meal manufacturing facility. Simplot Australia managing director Graham Dugdale said Simplot will ensure that their staffs and consumers have a smooth transition and “do not envisage any impact to our current supply and trading relationships.”

CCA mulls over selling SPC Ardmona

Soft drinks maker Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) is considering offloading the fruit and veg business, SPC. CCA group managing director Alison Watkins said the company is considering different options including selling, partnership or merger but “there are no plans to close SPC. We see a positive future for SPC as it continues to transform its operations.” CCA has also extended an agreement for the distribution of Caffitaly machine and coffee capsules in Australia. This comes after the soft drinks giant expanded the Grinders Coffee brand in Indonesia. Plenty of developments within the drinks business.

PepsiCo’s $3.2bn deal to acquire SodaStream

Multinational business PepsiCo will acquire SodaStream for A$3.2 billion. The maker of home sparkling water dispensers’ shares leaped 9.6 per cent following the deal. PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi said that the company’s focus is well-aligned with the soft drinks giant’s “Performance with Purpose” and together they have a “shared vision of a healthier, more-sustainable planet.”

Nestlé released first Allen’s Australasian Recycling Label

Confectionery giant Nestlé Australia has rolled out its first Australasian Recycling Label. It first appeared on Allen’s Strawberries & Cream and Snakes Alive lollies, along with the Australasian Recycling Label and REDcycle logo. Nestlé Australia CEO Sandra Martinez said the new labelling system will “remove confusion, increase recycling rates and decrease contamination in recycling”. Nestlé aims to implement the program across all of its locally made products by 2020.

That’s it for this week, we’ll be back on Monday morning to deliver the biggest headlines in the FMCG sector.

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