Market analysis

Article (20)
  • Tailored energy procurement can unlock potential operating savings for the food industry
    Energy in the form of electricity and gas is as essential to a food company as its staff, machinery and ingredients, which is why securing supply of both commodities at the lowest possible costs is paramount.
  • Still sweet: the rise of the mid-calorie soft drink market
    There’s only so much you can do with a soft drink recipe. While carbonated beverages dominate in terms of market size, they accounted for only 14% of global new product activity in soft drinks in 2012, according to Innova Market Insights.
  • Carlton United Brewery site reveals its secrets
    The old Carlton United Brewery site at the top end of Swanson Street in Melbourne has been revealing its secrets to a team of archaeologists from La Trobe University, the site developer, Grocon, and heritage consultants Godden Mackay Logan.
  • Prepared salads move from sideline act to main event
    Watch out, ready meals: prepared salads are muscling in on the convenience market. The prepared salads market is moving away from its established place in the side dishes and accompaniments market to take its place as a main meal contender.
  • Katsu and oregano: the flavour combination of the future?
    McCormick’s Flavor Forecast 2013 predicts some wild flavour combinations, including Japanese katsu sauce and oregano. The forecast reflects the worldwide collision of tradition and innovation.
  • Take the pressure down: top 10 trends for 2013
    2013 will be a year of increasing pressure, including pressure on manufacturers to be accountable to consumers and suppliers, and regulatory pressure around definitions of naturalness.
  • What ‘foodies’ think about when investing in new technology
    Food and beverage manufacturers are interested in product quality and manufacturing efficiency but when it comes to to the driver of innovation new products are still the king.
  • Soft drink health claims on the rise
    Over 58% of all soft drink product launches recorded by Innova in 2011-12 had some kind of health claim, with many products using passive and active health claims together.
  • Improve productivity and efficiency or perish, says Simplot’s MD
    “Improve productivity and efficiency or perish” was the crucial message in Terry O’Brien’s keynote address at the AIP’s National Conference at Surfers Paradise. As managing director of Simplot Australia, O’Brien is well qualified to discuss the ‘Implications for all stakeholders of the accelerating reduction in Australian food processing’.
  • Indulgence and health the driving factors in sweet biscuit growth, says Innova
    There’s a paradox at work in the sweet biscuit market. According to Innova Market Insights, the ‘treat’ image of sweet biscuits is driving the premium sector forward, while consumer focus on health has seen an increase in healthier products.
  • Innova identifies purity, authenticity and sustainability as the buzzwords of 2012
    Innova has identified ten key trends it claims will impact the food and beverage market this year and into the future.
  • Space in the functional foods market for joint health products
    Joint health products are still concentrated in the dietary supplement market. Joint health is underdeveloped in the functional foods arena, where most of the product launches are for pets.
  • Chilled food market hots up
    The freshness and convenience of chilled food is appreciated by consumers who are increasing their purchases of complete ready meals, fresh pizza and pasta that only need to be baked or cooked, packaged sandwiches, kitchen-ready cleaned vegetables and salad preparations, smoothies, cut and portioned fruit, freshly pressed juices and ready-to-eat salads.
  • Market predictions for the Australian beef industry
    The longer-term outlook for the Australian beef market looks promising as drought continues to affect our major competitor, according to Rabobank’s latest report.
  • Pallet movements used to create a new economic indicator
    A new economic indicator, the AFGC CHEP Retail Index, provides unique insight into the performance of the Australian retail market.
  • Drivers of consumers’ food purchasing decisions
    Taste is still the major driver in food purchasing decisions in the US, but price is not far behind. Another insight, which may be relevent to the current junk food advertising to children controversy in Australia, is that while two-thirds of food purchase decision makers were interested in healthfulness, they claimed the higher prices of healthier options limited their selection.
  • What consumers worry about
    According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, European consumers who are concerned about possible food-related risks tend to worry more about chemical contamination of food rather than bacterial contamination or health and nutrition issues.
  • The future of organic products: brands or retailer private labels?
    The word "organic" on a label is no longer a guarantee of commercial success. As the organic market matures the question is now whether the market will be dominated by brand names or by private label brands.
  • More consumers turning to organic foods
    A US survey indicates that consumers, especially baby boomers, are changing their food purchasing habits. Fats, cholesterol and added sugars are being rejected and the move towards higher organic consumption is continuing.
  • Average drop of 6% in US food industry salaries
    A survey of the salaries of US food and beverage industry workers has revealed an average drop of 6.3% in the past year. At the same time, forecasts for capital spending in the industry are up 19.3%.
Feature (18)
  • Ten packaged goods trends for 2010
    Animal lovers have something to cheer about in 2010 as market research firm Datamonitor predicts a banner year for products sporting the ‘free-range’ moniker as a growing number of food companies will be hailing humanely raised protein products. 2010 is also expected to be a big year for a new generation of biodegradable plastics that may succeed in greening the image of plastic water bottles.
  • Economic snapshot of the food and grocery sector
    Australia’s food and grocery sector is comparable in size to the Australian mining industry, according to one of the findings in KPMG's comprehensive investigation of Australia's fresh and processed food, beverage and grocery industries.
  • What ever happened to freedom of choice?
    Should the NSW state government ban the sales of commercially bottled water or should consumers have the right to choose what they want to drink?
  • Five growth food and beverage markets
    Recession-proof food and drink markets often provide comfort/simple foods that can be purchased for a relatively low price. In the US, market research company Mintel has re-forecasted its research reports from the past two years, identifying which food and drink markets are actually being improved in the current market.
  • Doubts make consumers more willing to re-evaluate brands
    Challenges to brand understanding can lead consumers to doubt their understanding of an established brand, giving marketers the opportunity to reinvent brands.
  • The food industry and the next pandemic
    A pandemic will devastate the food manufacturing industry with up to 50% workforce reductions forecast. But the industry will still have to supply food to the populace.
  • What is Cadbury really up to?
    Cadbury is proposing to invest AU$135 million to improve the efficiency and productivity of its three chocolate and confectionery manufacturing sites in Australia and New Zealand. Cadbury’s managing director, Mark Callaghan, reveals details about the thought processes behind the restructure plans.
  • The raw materials market
    The top priority for food and beverage manufacturers is to develop strategies with the trade and producers for a long-term stable supply and the utilisation of raw materials as efficiently as possible using state-of-the-art technology.
  • NZ-China free trade agreement
    The historic free trade agreement between China and New Zealand will open up new opportunities for NZ businesses looking to engage with, or grow their existing links with, China. It will facilitate goods and services trade, and investment.
  • Product trends expected to make it big in 2008
    In 2008, new products that complement a simpler, purer and more natural way of life are set to dominate, according to research from Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD)
  • Food prices are set to rise and to continue to rise
    Advances in agricultural productivity have minimised food price rises for the last couple of decades. However, this is all starting to change
  • Is homicide a risk in your food plant?
    Workplace safety — it's a must-have criterion for every food processor. But accidents and injuries do happen — here is a quick look at workplace fatalities in the United States in 2006
  • Dairy research pays off
    The milk composition of each of the four-million-odd cows making the NZ dairy herd was screened in 2000-2001. A single cow, Marge, was thoughtfully purchased for $300 when it was found that her milk was particularly low in saturated fat
  • Bashing and the food industry
    In August, the annual Variety Bash will motor its way around diverse parts of Australia from Garden Island to HMAS Bathurst in Darwin, raising money for sick, disadvantaged and disabled children
  • Nanofood
    The nearly new field of nanotechnology is impacting on the food industry. Food giants like Nestlé, Heinz, Kraft and Unilever are researching the potential of nanotechnology to improve their food safety, packaging and nutritional content
  • Feeding the needs of an ageing population
    The ageing population is on the increase across most of the world. This trend is most pronounced in developed nations where living standards and availability of medical care are high, with Japan showing the fastest ageing population
  • One size doesn't fit all in the global food economy
    Through its series of studies, ACNielsen has identified some over-arching key global trends relating to consumer purchases in food and beverages over the year from mid-2005 to mid-2006
  • Ageing profits
    If food marketers decide to focus exclusively on younger audiences, then they must accept they are targeting a shrinking market. It is estimated that 80% of all advertising expenditure is directly targeted at people under 50
Product (6)
  • Business Monitor International Australia Food & Drink report
    Business Monitor International has published the Australia Food & Drink Report, which analyses food, drink and mass grocery retail markets, and gives forecasts for market performance in 2013 and beyond.
  • Kalsec HeatSync Heat Indexes for monitoring hot pepper use
    In an effort to monitor consumer demand for hot and spicy foods, Kalsec Inc has developed the Kalsec HeatSync Heat Indexes, which follow usage of more than 30 different ‘hot’ peppers.
  • Drink Sector Innovation in Beverage Packaging Report
    Drink Sector has published an Innovation in Beverage Packaging Report, which provides an overview of packaging innovation in the context of the global soft drinks, beer, cider, FABs, spirits, wine and dairy drinks markets.
  • Tobii eye tracking system
    The Tobii system from Arrow Scientific uses eye tracking to quantify the time consumers spend looking at product labels or planograms, as well as where they are looking. It is designed to help users determine which package design or shelf placement is most effective in attracting consumer attention.
  • Datamonitor report: Hot drinks in Australia to 2013
    Sales of hot drink products in Australia surpassed $1350 million in 2008 and are expected to be worth $1473 million in 2013, with the coffee category accounting for the largest share followed by tea, according to Datamonitor’s report Hot drinks in Australia to 2013. The biggest growth in coffee is coming from out-of-home consumption with more and more consumers adopting the idea of cafe culture. In the tea category, consumers are showing increasing interest towards specialty tea segments such as green tea and herbal tea due to the perceived health and wellness benefits.
  • Baked goods with cranberry
    In 2007, Mintel reported 900 new cranberry product launches and 223 introductions in the first quarter of 2008.
News (145)
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