As March kicks off, we look back on another week of big news in the FMCG landscape. Take a look back at what happened this week on Inside FMCG.
Coca-Cola Amatil switches to sustainable sugar
Softdrinks giant Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) is now using only sugar manufacturers who practice sustainability. It will source sugar from Bonsucro and Smartcane Best Management Practice. Both brands’ production frameworks aim to increase on-farm productivity while reducing environmental and social risks. CCA group managing director Alison Watkins said that the move to sustainably accredited sugar has a good impact to the environment and is also a good commercial decision for the company.
Woolworths has the green light from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to push through with its fuel deal with British retailer EG Group, who will acquire the supermarket’s 540 fuel convenience sites. The FIRB said the Commonwealth had no objection to the takeover, which was the only condition needed for the $1.725 billion deal to proceed. Woolworths will also commence a wholesale food supply agreement to the network. It will still apply four cent per litre fuel discount and customers will continue to earn Woolworths Rewards points on fuel and merchandise.
Former PepsiCo boss Indra Nooyi joins Amazon
Former PepsiCo chief executive officer Indra Nooyi has joined online retail giant Amazon as a director, and will be part of the audit committee of the board. She is the second woman to join the board this month, after Starbucks’s chief operating officer Rosalind Brewer has joined the ranks. Last year Amazon adopted a new policy to increase diversity in the business. The board now has 11 members, five of which are female.
Woolworths released Disney Words
Supermarket giant Woolworths has partnered with The Walt Disney on a new Disney-themed collectables campaign that rivals Coles’ Stikeez. ‘Disney Words by Woolworths’, a word play game features popular characters such as Cinderella, Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear. For every $30 spent in-store and online, customers can collect one of 36 tiles featuring a Disney character on one side and a letter or symbol on the other, for use with multiple word play games.
Blackmores CEO Richard Henfrey resigned
Australian health supplement company Blackmores has announced chief executive officer and managing director Richard Henfrey’s resignation. The company offered no explanation for his departure after 18 months in the top job. Last week the company warned investors not to expect an increase in sales to China over the next six months and said that it had commenced a review of its investment approach in the country.
That’s it for this week. Inside FMCG will be back by Monday morning to deliver the headlines.
