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This week in FMCG

FMCG-ThisWeekInNews-080618-4The month is almost over but the FMCG industry had plenty to talk about this week. Take a look back at the big headlines that surfaced in the sector over the last five days.

Coles MD to change convenience offering

Coles managing director, Steven Cain, has hinted at plans to introduce a new convenience strategy for the supermarket. The supermarket giant will include smaller-format stores, meal kits and express deliveries. He said that “it’s a way of growing your sales but it’s also a way of defending your business, because certainly if you don’t do it someone else will.” Sound like an interesting plan for the supermarket giant.

Woolworths takes action on milk formula issue

Supermarket giant Woolworths will enforce a two tin limit on baby formula from next week. In July, Coles extended the limit to eight and Woolworths followed suit a month later. A video last weekend showed long lines of shoppers at Woolworths in Melbourne to purchase baby formula before it even hit shelves. A spokesperson for Woolworths told Inside FMCG that the supermarket now plans to row back on the formula allowance. The change will be communicated to its store teams and signs will be placed in stores to advise customers.

Weet-Bix celebrates 90 years

Sanitarium’s Weet-Bix is featuring 58 of today’s most popular names, from Zoe and Sam, to Ruby and Oliver, as well as Mum, Dad, Nan and Pop. It celebrates it’s 90th birthday this year and the cereal company has released birthday boxes and bowls. These are sold in supermarket shelves throughout the country until late November or until stock runs out. It is giving away 30,000 merchandises for Aussies to collect the limited edition goods.

Kimberly-Clark reveals new CEO

Kimberly-Clark has named Michael Hsu to take the place of Thomas Falk as its new CEO. Falk will be the new executive chairman of the Board of Directors. Hsu will continue to serve as a member of the company’s Board of Directors until he takes the role of the new boss in January 1, 2019. He was previously Kimberly-Clark’s president and chief operating officer since January 1, 2017. He also oversaw the company’s nearly $8 billion North American Personal Care and Consumer Tissue businesses.

Arnott’s shrinks the cookies

Arnott’s has decided to go smaller with household staples, such as Jatz, Chicken Crimpy, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Scotch Fingers, are now available in mini varieties. with the new Mini’s range. They’ve also come in red-recyclable multi packs that are environment-friendly. According to Elly Jean-Louis, Arnott’s brand manager, this is a response to consumers looking for more snacking options, including on-the-go and lunchbox friendly snacks.

Court penalises IGA operator over $320,000

An IGA supermarket owner has been fined $53,377 in the Federal Circuit Court for underpaying staff. The  majority owner and operator ‘Sam’ Haddad in Fairfield IGA Supermarket and also former majority owner of the Altona IGA Supermarket was penalised $53,377 in the Federal Circuit Court for underpaying six workers a total of $11,373 between November 2013 and November 2015. This also resulted in penalties of $157,950 and $108,936 for the two companies he is a shareholder and director of; Déjà Vu Elite Security Pty Ltd and Hadya Nominees Pty Ltd.

Blackmores shows strong first quarter results

Australian health supplement company Blackmores has reported strong results for the first quarter. It had a 15 per cent increase in revenue to $154 million and a 7 per cent lift in net profit. Both Australia and Asia had strong sales growth with sales up 19 per cent at home due to new product launches and a strong media presence. Blackmores CEO Richard Henfrey said these outcomes reflected volume growth across the business.

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