Industry News
Agr Bangkok sales and service centre opens
Agr International has officially opened its new Bangkok sales and service centre. The company held the formal inauguration and ribbon cutting on 25 July, incorporating Thai traditions such as a blessing by monks. [ + ]
Cheese sales decrease as youngsters avoid dairy
Cheese sales are slowly declining, according to Roy Morgan Research. The market research firm reports that, in the 12 months to March 2013, 89% of Australian grocery buyers reported purchasing cheese, down from 92% in the 12 months to March 2009. [ + ]
GS1 GoScan wins Consumer iAward
GS1 GoScan has been awarded the national Consumer iAward. GS1 Australia and the Australian Food and Grocery Council received the award for the Services Domain category for ICT innovation. [ + ]
SPC Ardmona signs $7m canned fruit deal
SPC Ardmona has signed a $7 million deal with Woolworths to supply 13 lines of canned fruit from its apricot, peach, apple and pear growers in the Goulburn Valley. [ + ]
New CEO for Standards Australia
Dr Bronwyn Evans has been appointed as chief executive officer of Standards Australia. Incumbent CEO Colin Blair will retire in October and will continue to serve in the role until Dr Evans commences the position on 28 October. [ + ]
New award category for HACCP Conference
The Ross Peters Memorial Award has been created in memory of the former technical director of Advancing Food Safety, who played a significant role in the Australian and international food industry. [ + ]
Container scheme will cost consumers, AFGC claims
Northern Territorians will bear the cost of the “flawed” Cash for Containers Scheme, the AFGC claims. The NT Government announced yesterday that it will reinstate the scheme. [ + ]
Greens’ food security plan to tackle the ‘supermarket duopoly’
The Greens party has launched Our Food Future, its plan for Australia’s food security. The plan includes seven initiatives totalling more than $600 million in commitments over the next four years. [ + ]
New industry mentor for packaging students
Certificate in Packaging (Level 3) students will gain exposure to the packaging industry, with UPM Raflatac Melbourne joining the AIP’s education program as an industry mentor. [ + ]
Fonterra fined $900K by Chinese authorities
As if the Clostridium botulinum contamination scare wasn’t enough, Fonterra has now been slapped with a NZ$900,000 administrative fine following the NDRC review of pricing practices of consumer dairy products in mainland China. [ + ]
Fonterra CEO apologises for contamination anxiety
Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings has issued an apology for the “anxiety” caused by the potential Clostridium botulinum contamination of Fonterra’s whey protein concentrate. [ + ]
Partnership showcases materials handling solutions
element14 and TE Connectivity have partnered to showcase the latest materials handling and industrial control products and technologies for customers in the Asia-Pacific region. [ + ]
MG invests $2.5m to meet dairy demand
Devondale-Murray Goulburn will invest $2.5 million to upgrade its Koroit plant to meet the production requirements of a five-year agreement with Danone to supply 50,000 tonnes of Growing Up Milk Powders (GUMPs) base. [ + ]
New definition for gluten-free foods
There’s nothing ambiguous about the term ‘gluten-free’, right? Well, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) thinks there is. It has just published a new regulation defining the term for voluntary food labelling. [ + ]
Urschel breaks ground on $80m expansion
Urschel has held an elaborate groundbreaking facility for a US$80 million construction project at its Valparaiso, Indiana, site. The facility will encompass 71 acres, with 160 acres being purchased for future growth. [ + ]