Grocery prices in Australia could jump another 8 per cent by this time next year, according to an alliance of food producers and distributors.  Key points: Food industry warns grocery prices could jump 8 per cent next year Producers and distributors want a national food security plan The federal government has called an inquiry into Australia’s food security The National Food Supply Chain Alliance said extreme weather events, COVID, industrial action, animal disease and geopolitical tensions have exposed vulnerabilities in Australia’s food system, leading to an increase in retail food prices. The alliance represents 165,000 businesses including convenience store operators, farmers, meatworkers, independent retailers, hospitality workers and warehouse and transport operators. Its members argue a national food security plan could help mitigate rising food prices and further disruptions to the food system. “There have been rises of around 8 per cent (over the past year) we believe it could be as high as that again in 2023 and possibly into 2024,…

Supermarkets are offering conveniences like speedy delivery, pickup and smaller formats, pushing into c-stores’ turf. ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Seeing that consumers are demanding faster service and a reduced friction way to get their essential goods, grocery stores are taking a page from convenience stores’ handbook, according to Modern Retail. Grocers, such as Walmart, Albertsons and Aldi, among many others, are offering fast delivery and pick up on certain convenience items in order to gain more market share and win smaller basket trips from consumers that shop convenience stores. According to NACS State of the Industry data, the average in-store basket size increased 6.3% in 2021 to $7.59 and has grown 22.4% over the past two years. Much of that growth could be attributed to pandemic-era shopping when customers wanted to get in and out quickly and chose c-stores to fulfill that need as opposed to larger, more crowded grocery stores. Those types of trips…

New York(CNN Business)Your next Subway order could come from a vending machine. Subway reported strong third-quarter sales Monday and publicly unveiled its first Grab and Go “smart fridge” filled with premade sandwiches, snacks and drinks. The machine debuted in September at University of California San Diego, and the company plans to add more across North America in high-trafficked areas like other college campuses, airports and hospitals. Local franchises will prepare and deliver sandwiches to the refrigerators, which are equipped with artificial intelligence and “natural language processing” so customers can choose to order verbally and have a contactless experience. Initial reaction from customers has been “extremely positive,” Subway said in its release. Subway is leaning into grab-and-go. In 2020 the company began selling premade sandwiches in regular fridges at retail locations like casinos, gas stations and airports. Subway said Monday that program has rolled out to 400 locations with “plans for continued growth…

California voters allowed a law banning the sale of flavored tobacco products to go into effect during the nov. 8, 2022, election. Mario Tama via Getty Images Dive Brief: California voters approved Proposition 31 on Nov. 8, which allowed a law banning flavored tobacco products to proceed, with about 61% of voters supporting the law as of Friday morning’s count. The ban was initially signed into law in August of 2020, but opponents of the bill got it on the ballot for a veto referendum, putting it on hold until after Election Day. It will go into effect no later than Dec. 21, according to the Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Similar laws are in place in Massachusetts and being considered in New Jersey. Further, the U.S. Food and Drug administration is considering a nationwide menthol flavoring ban for tobacco products. Dive Insight: Once it goes into effect, California’s Senate Bill 793 will prohibit…