Eli Greenblat April 29, 2014 The Age The Coles supermarket group helped lift the Wesfarmers result. Perth-based comglomerate Wesfarmers has once again relied on its Coles supermarket, Bunnings hardware chain and Officeworks stores to do the heavy lifting in terms of sales with the company’s retail focused businesses driving group performance for the third quarter. Wesfarmers released this morning its third quarter sales results with the mix of trading performance across its divisions mirroring the results recorded during the first half, especially when considering the impacts of an earlier Easter in financial year 2013. Chief executive Richard Goyder said highlights for the third quarter included the performances of Bunnings and Officeworks, which recorded particularly strong sales growth as well as a solid result by Coles. For the third quarter Coles recorded total sales growth of 3.6 per cent, with its flagship food and liquor business within the supermarkets group up…

April 28, 2014, CSNews WASHINGTON, D.C. — When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week finally released proposed deeming regulations covering electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products, one thing was missing from the proposal: rules on the marketing and advertising of the products. As a result, television commercials, radio spots, print ads, billboards and sponsorships will continue — for now. “It’s going to get a lot of people upset,” Jason Healy, president of blu eCigs, told Ad Age. “From a marketing perspective, I think this is great.” Praising the FDA’s science-based approach to the proposed regulations, he said “it’s a cautious approach and not a knee-jerk reaction.” Blu debuted its first TV advertising campaign in the fall of 2012, about six months after the electronic cigarette brand was acquired by Lorillard Inc. NJOY and LOGIC Technology Development LLC also have wide-reaching marketing campaigns for their e-cigarette products. It remains…

Elizabeth Knight April 30, 2014 The Age To the extent that the supermarket industry in Australia is a two-horse race, Coles has demonstrated itself as a superior sprinter for almost five years. But it’s now odds-on that Woolworths will be ahead by a nose when it comes to quarterly sales growth. Coles food and liquor business reported a very respectable 3.5 per cent increase in same-store sales in the three months to March, after adjusting for a later Easter, but Woolworths is expected to come in at around 3.8 per cent. There is little doubt that the pace of Coles’ sales growth is slowing (it grew 3.8 per cent in the December quarter) and this explains why it has decided to increase its store numbers. Woolworths has arguably taken too long to respond to Coles’ renaissance but its strategies seem to be finally getting some traction. Exactly how much will…

Eli Greenblat April 30, 2014 The Age In a dead heat between Australia’s two biggest supermarket chains, Woolworths and Coles have tied for third quarter growth, setting up the final quarter of the financial year as the next chance for Woolworths to dislodge arch rival Coles as the fastest growing supermarket business after five years of coming second. Woolworths has reported this morning third quarter like for like sales growth of 3.5 per cent Easter adjusted for its flagship Australian supermarket operations, matching the 3.5 per cent posted by Coles yesterday for the same period. In early trade this morning, Woolworths shares are down 2.1 per cent to $37.25. When Coles yesterday reported slowing growth to 3.5 per cent, adjusted for the timing of Easter, it was expected Woolworths would eclipse that with growth of around 3.8 per cent, giving it crowing rights as the faster growing business for the…

Eli Greenblat April 30, 2014 The Age Iconic Australian food manufacturer Big Sister Foods has collapsed after nearly 70 years in business putting at risk the jobs of around 100 people. PPB Advisory said this afternoon it had been appointed receivers of BSF Ermington Pty Ltd (formerly known as Big Sister Foods Pty Ltd), Miss Muffin Pty Ltd and other associated entities. Big Sister was founded in 1945 and apart from its ranges of cakes and fruit mince pies it also made muffins and cupcakes. It is a supplier to major supermarket chains. The food manufacturer employs 100 people across two manufacturing sites in New South Wales. “We are undertaking an urgent review of the business with a view to preparing Big Sister Foods for sale as a going concern,” said PPB executive Daniel Walley. ‘We will work with all stakeholders including employees and their representatives, customers and suppliers to…

Graham Hiscott Apr 30, 2014 Mirror UK Struggling Morrisons has ramped-up a fight back by slashing prices on 1,200 everyday products. The supermarket is cutting prices by an average 17%, with some items reduced by as much as 60%. Morrisons claimed the move was designed to make it “permanently cheaper” to combat the threat from discount chains like Aldi and Lidl. The latest cuts are part of a £1billion investment in prices announced in March, including £300m this year. Among the 1,200 cuts are Hovis Best of Both loaves down 26% to £1 each, Jammie Dodgers down 55% to 49p and Huggies wipes reduced by 60% to £1 a pack. Britain’s fourth biggest supermarket admits the decision will hammer profits and sales in stores open at least a year but would boost total takings. The firm is reeling after plunging from an £879million profit in 2012 to a £176million loss…