No GST on overseas online shopping this Christmas
Gareth Hutchens November 27, 2013 The Age The decision to lower the GST-threshold on imported goods worth less than $1000 has been pushed back until March next year. That means Christmas presents bought online this year from overseas will not be subject to the tax. State treasurers met with Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey in Canberra today to discuss lowering the threshold. In recent weeks, Australian retailers and state premiers have increased calls for the threshold to be lowered or abandoned, saying it gives foreign retailers an unfair advantage over local retailers. Mike Baird, NSW Treasurer, said there was no final decision on how much the GST-threshold ought to be lowered. He also said there were “various scenarios” presented to the treasurers showing that in the first “year or two” the cost of running the program would be higher than the revenue it generates. However, those costs will apparently fall with…
Read MoreSeoul food: Tourist stumbles across grocery store inside Korean subway car
Andrew Miller Oct 7, 2013 Rocket News Whatever the country, when taking a ride on the subway the feeling that you have entered into a whole new dimension, completely cut off from the world above, can be difficult to suppress. But in the Korea’s capital city, the division between underground and overground became a little blurred than usual for one tourist as they discovered a fully stocked grocery store in a subway car. Unable to believe their eyes, the tourist was quick to upload a photo online, labelling it simply: “Taking the underground subway in Seoul. I stumbled upon a train that had been converted into a grocery store….†Examining the snap closely, it’s clear that the subway car has been fitted with the same fixtures you’d expect from your average, overworld, grocery store; there’s a cash register and even refrigerated showcases complete with lighting. And the more you think…
Read MoreMelbourne CBD is being swallowed by the food chain
Craig Butt December 2, 2013 The Age Foodies now rule the roost in Melbourne, with food venues outnumbering shops for the first time. There are more cafes, takeaway outlets, restaurants and pubs than retailers in the City of Melbourne, thanks to a boom in food and a slump in retail in the central business district over the past two years. Analysis of City of Melbourne land use found there were 135 more hospitality venues than retailers in 2012. Learn About Tableau Hospitality venues jumped 7 per cent from 2469 in 2010 to 2636 in 2012 while the number of shops fell 3 per cent from 2575 to 2501. The CBD has 108 more venues than it did two years ago while in Southbank foodies now have 41 more places to eat or drink. One of the city’s newest cafes, Flipboard, occupies a mere 20 square metres in a multi-level space…
Read MoreMetcash profit up 20%
AAP December 02, 2013 GROCERY wholesaler Metcash has lifted its first half profit more than 20 per cent thanks to its exit from the Franklins line of supermarkets, which removed a drag on its balance sheet. Metcash made a net profit of $98.9 million for the six months to October 31, up from $82 million for the same time last year. But underlying profit, which excludes one offs like the exit from the Franklins business, was down two per cent to $119 million. Revenue rose five per cent to $6.65 billion but pre-tax earnings were down more than six per cent to $193 million. Metcash group chief executive Ian Morrice said the company, which provides to IGA and Foodworks supermarkets, was continuing to suffer with tough market conditions and food price deflation. He said it was difficult for the company to compete against supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles, who he…
Read MoreAn analysis of smoking prevalence in Australia Press Release
RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES NO CHANGE IN AUSTRALIAN SMOKING RATES SINCE INTRODUCTION OF PLAIN PACKAGING LONDON – The smoking rate in Australia has remained unchanged since the introduction of plain packaging a year ago according to a report issued today by London Economics, one of Europe’s leading policy and economics consultancies. The research is one of the first comprehensive surveys of smoking prevalence since the introduction of plain packaging in Australia one year ago. This analysis concentrates on actual smoking behaviour, as reported by study participants both before and after the implementation of the new tobacco packaging requirements, which more than doubled the size of the health warning on the front of the pack and removed all brand imagery from tobacco packaging, requiring tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging. Download the full press release
Read MoreTrade Press Release
Sanitarium teams up with Frucor to drive growth in Impulse.  In a move aimed to drive growth of the portable breakfast occasion, Sanitarium has appointed Frucor as its master distributor of Up & Go Liquid Breakfast 350ml and Up & Go Energize 350ml in the impulse channel.  “On the go†breakfast represents a massive opportunity, and Up & Go has driven the development of this category for the past 15 years. Over 5 million Aussies are eating breakfast outside of the home and the trend is growing. Up & Go currently has more than a 60% share of the purpose drink market and has contributed over $1 million growth just to P&C in the past year. With this partnership in place Sanitarium and Frucor will work with the trade to manage the growth of the category in a powerful way.  The current distribution model remains in place…
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