Let’s take a look back at the top stories that dominated the headlines in FMCG this week.
Aldi to further expand in South Australia
Discount grocer Aldi has opened its latest store in South Australia and will further expand in 2020. A total of 34 stores have opened in the state, since it launched four years ago. Five more stores are set to open this year in Clovelly Park, Findon, Mawson Lakes, Norwood and Plympton. Viktor Jakupec, managing director of South Australia, Aldi Australia said that its “focus in 2020 is to continue to support local communities through new store openings, employment and food charity partnerships.”
Mondelēz announced next president as Amanda Banfield departs for Nando’s
Mondelēz International appointed president Darren O’Brien from Europe to lead Australia, New Zealand and Japan. This comes after Amanda Banfield took the chief executive role at restaurant chain, Nando’s. She was president of the region and held numerous roles at Cadbury and Mondelēz over the last 30 years. O’Brien has been with Mondelēz since 2008 and is currently based in Zurich as president, Meals Europe and the Global Category Team. He will take up the role on May 1.
ARA called for 24 hour supermarket deliveries to keep shelves stocked
Australian retailers are calling on state governments to temporarily lift curfews on supermarket deliveries to help ease shortages due to Coronavirus panic. The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) was one of 25 industry bodies that met with industry minister Karen Andrews to discuss supply chain pressures. It’s a problem to get goods from distribution centres to supermarkets fast enough to keep shelves stocked, ARA’s outgoing executive director Russell Zimmerman told Inside FMCG. The curfews on delivery trucks prevent overnight deliveries and can result in shelves being left empty for several hours.
Coles won MSC title for most sustainable seafood
Supermarket Coles bagged the Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket award at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Sustainable Seafood Awards 2020 for the fourth consecutive year. It also took home Best Sustainable Seafood Public Engagement and was Highly Commended in the Best Sustainable Seafood Product category for its MSC certified Aussie Banana Prawn Skewers – Garlic & Chilli. Discount grocer Aldi won, for the first time, the Best Sustainable Seafood Mid-Size Retailer award and was Highly Commended for its MSC certified Ocean Rise Smoked European Sprats in the Best Sustainable Seafood Product category.
Nestlé released new plant-based Milo
Nestlé’s malt beverage brand Milo created a plant-based version of the drink for health- and eco-conscious consumers. It replaced milk powder with soy and oats but the core ingredients remain the same. Trevor Clayton, head of the dairy business unit at Nestlé, said consumers are looking to vary their diets with more plant-based options to “lower their environmental footprint and for health reasons”.
That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend!
