This week has been an eventful one in the FMCG sector. Take a look back on the top headlines below.
TWU exposed ALDI’s ‘disregard for safety’
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) released images and videos of allegedly “major safety problems at Aldi”. TWU showed safety doors blocked, fire equipment restricted, poor food storage, exposed electrical wiring and flooding around a loading dock. The union indicated that these images are “evidence of how safety is being put at risk”. An Aldi spokesperson said the retailer maintains “the highest standard of compliance in all its operations”. Aldi is taking the TWU to the Federal Court over what it said is a string of false and misleading claims.
David Jones opened its first standalone food store in Melbourne
David Jones opened its first standalone food store in Melbourne. The 425sqm store is at Capitol Grand, offering a wide range of meals, including a vegan range, alongside meat, eggs, dairy, fresh produce and other groceries and pantry staples. The retailer said that roughly 60 per cent of items in the store are private labels, whipped up exclusively for David Jones by Inspired Foods, the Australian arm of Interfood, South Africa’s leading food supplier.
Coles unveiled new Christmas range
Aussie supermarket Coles will launch its new plant-based Christmas range in stores and online in November 2019. The new food range features Christmas desserts including Coles Finest Luxury Melting Chocolate Pudding; Coles Finest Sloe Gin Fruit Mince Pies and Coles Finest Luxury Chocolate Raspberry and Prosecco Sponge Pudding. The retailer also revealed its new specialty Own Brand products like French; Spanish and Italian premium cheeses and Italian panettone that are available at 200 Coles stores. Capitalising on the plant-based trend, the new range includes a new plant-based roast alongside garlic prawn skewers, salmon pastrami, semi-boneless crackling ham and butterflied leg of lamb.
Ferrero launched Tic Tac Coca-Cola
Confectionery giant Ferrero Group has launched a new product that is a collaboration between Tic Tac and Coca-Cola. The special edition Tic Tac Coca-Cola combines the flavour of the soft drink with the popular candy. The latest innovation will be rolled out in the iconic Tic Tac boxes in over 70 countries worldwide in the next few months. Ferrero Group said that “with Tic Tac Coca-Cola, consumers will enjoy an incomparable taste experience which combines the refreshment of Coca-Cola with the iconicity of Tic Tac.” It will be available in three unique packs with the Coca-Cola logo on each sweets.
Arnott’s Shapes brought back interactive flavour game for footy finals
Arnott’s Shapes has brought back its ‘Flavour You Can See’ interactive game just in time for the upcoming footy finals. Consumers can play an online Shapes Flavour Battle where they can select a flavour to be pitted against a rival Shapes. The game is linked to a live leader board and rewards the highest-scoring players from Australia and New Zealand each week with a year’s supply of Arnott’s Shapes.
That’s all for this week. We will be back again with the top stories on Monday morning!
