Jane Harper January 31, 2013 News Limited Network GROCERY giant Woolworths says targeted customer promotions helped drive up food and liquor sales in the run up to Christmas. The group today reported a rise in sales across all its retail groups, with total sales up 3.2 per cent to $30.7 billion for the 27 weeks to December 30. Australian food and liquor sales were up 4.7 per cent to $20.48 billion. Key like-for-like sales, which strip out the impact of stores that have opened or closed, increased 2.4 per cent. Smaller rival Coles yesterday said its like-for-like food and liquor sales were up 3.8 per cent for the six months to December. Woolworths chief executive Grant O’Brien said the supermarket business had increased market share, customer numbers, basket size and items sold, compared with the same period last year. “Effective promotional activities, leveraging our growing customer data capabilities, and the…

Eli Greenblat January 31, 2013 Analysis Woolworths boss Grant O’Brien is setting about the business of bashing the giant supermarket, liquor, petrol and merchandise business into shape to better compete against a changing retail landscape. Part of that right-sizing of the behemoth Woolworths empire is shifting costs while focusing on improved promotions and discounts on certain parts of the business to retain customers and win over new shoppers. This is key with Woolworths facing competition across the country, and across platforms, like never before. While some in the press and Canberra might attack Woolworths and Coles for being a supermarket duopoly, recent results from both companies and the performance of newer players shows Australians are willing and eager to experiment with new retailers here and overseas via the web, and new supermarket entrants such as Aldi and to a smaller extent Costco. It’s a different landscape to what other Woolworths…

31st January 2012 NZX Fast-food giant McDonald’s is muscling in on the Australian milk market but its New Zealand outlets won’t be following suit in the near future. McDonald’s spokesman Simon Kenny said the milk sales in 14 McDonalds stores on Queensland’s Gold Coast are a trial. While there are no immediate plans to follow suit in New Zealand the company would be watching the Australian trial and if there was demand from customers would consider it. However, with 161 stores throughout New Zealand introducing a new range would have complex supply chain and storage issues. According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, it’s a strategic move to offer people the convenience of grabbing the milk without having to leave the car and it could lead to more day-to-day grocery items hitting the menu. McDonald’s franchise owner Joe Condon said “We started selling the milk about six weeks ago to see…

Michelle Hammond 01 February 2013 Startupsmart Banks will need to give at least 10 days’ notice before making any materially adverse changes to small business customers’ terms and conditions, as part of the revised Code of Banking Practice. The revised code, released by the Australian Bankers’ Association, carries a number of significant changes aimed at small business borrowers and people facing financial hardship. It was released following a review and consultation process, which included the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Consumer Action Law Centre. According to ABA chief executive Steven Münchenberg, the code gives customers additional rights, on top of those in the law, and provides straightforward ways for customers to complain if they feel their bank has not met its code obligations. Changes to the code include new and stronger financial hardship provisions, a commitment not to combine accounts or assign debt when…

Eli Greenblat January 31, 2013 Analysis Woolworths boss Grant O’Brien is setting about the business of bashing the giant supermarket, liquor, petrol and merchandise business into shape to better compete against a changing retail landscape. Part of that right-sizing of the behemoth Woolworths empire is shifting costs while focusing on improved promotions and discounts on certain parts of the business to retain customers and win over new shoppers. This is key with Woolworths facing competition across the country, and across platforms, like never before. While some in the press and Canberra might attack Woolworths and Coles for being a supermarket duopoly, recent results from both companies and the performance of newer players shows Australians are willing and eager to experiment with new retailers here and overseas via the web, and new supermarket entrants such as Aldi and to a smaller extent Costco. It’s a different landscape to what other Woolworths…

Blair Speedy January 31, 2013 The Australian MARKET forces could be about to achieve what the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, the Senate, food manufacturers and hundreds of angry dairy farmers couldn’t — stop Coles and Woolworths from saving customers money. In just five years, the supermarket giants have gone from being characterised as rapacious beasts plundering shoppers’ purses with higher prices to rapacious beasts screwing suppliers to the wall so they can cut the very same prices. No wonder Richard Goyder — head of Australia’s largest private-sector employer and the son of a farmer — sounded so thoroughly aggrieved yesterday when asked about the ongoing protests from suppliers and competitors over dollar-per-litre milk, first introduced by Coles two years ago. “I just wish the facts would prevail, rather than emotions,” he said. “The reality is that Coles has worn the margin impact of lower milk prices from day one.…