Karen Collier October 01, 2013 Herald Sun TARGET is binning its ban on free plastic bags in response to complaints from customers. For the first time in four years, free plastic bags will return to the discount department store chain from today. The backflip comes as the troubled retailer tries to revive sales and earnings. Customers needing plastic bags for their shopping have had to pay 10c-20c for biodegradable versions at the cash register since May 30, 2009. Target spokesman Jim Cooper admitted the environmentally friendly push had provoked widespread annoyance, particularly among shoppers buying bulky items such as cookware. “We’ve decided to offer free shopping bags in response to extensive customer concern about being charged for bags in our stores,” Mr Cooper said. “Customers have clearly told us that they do not believe they should be forced to buy a bag.” The change will not be reflected in an…

Kate Ashley-Griffiths October 01, 2013 Knox Leader SCORESBY’S Caribbean Market is a mecca for illegal goods including “chop chop” tobacco, pirated DVDs and counterfeit designer sunglasses and handbags. A Knox Leader investigation found illegal tobacco offered under the counter at stalls selling smoking paraphernalia including hookah pipes and “gram bags” used for marijuana packaging. There was also a stall selling an array of vicious-looking knives behind large perspex screens – all legal according to the stallholder. Illegal movies, including unreleased titles, were freely available and many stalls stocked fake designer-branded watches, perfumes, sunglasses and handbags labelled Dior, Chanel and Ray-Ban. Other stalls sold rip-offs of popular brand-name toys, potentially unchecked for compliance with strict Australian safety standards. The Leader was offered a bag of illegal tobacco for $75 at one stall and watched at another as a woman handed over several hundred dollars for a supermarket bag containing loose leaf…

Brigid O’Connell October 01, 2013 Herald Sun THE price of soft drink would increase by 20 per cent and their sale banned in hospitals, schools and community sporting centres in a radical plan by Victoria’s peak public health experts to reduce young people’s heavy reliance on sugar-laden beverages. Experts from five leading health promotion bodies, including the Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia and Heart Foundation will meet for the first time tomorrow to tackle sugary drink consumption, amid claims soft drink companies are positioning themselves as part of the obesity solution through aggressive advertising targeting doctors and children. Chair of Cancer Council Australia’s public health committee, Craig Sinclair said sugary drinks were no longer occasional treats, and it was often easier a soft drink vending machine than a water tap. “While a hamburger and chips has a large amounts of fat, there is some nutritional benefit and you get the feeling…

Graham Hiscott 1 Oct 2013 Mirror UK Discount store chain makes expansion announcement as it reveals profits had risen by 30 per cent The price at Poundland is staying the same but bosses have revealed the number of stores is set to double. Ambitious chiefs at the discount chain said they intend to expand their collection of shops from 490 to at least 1,000. The plans, which could create 15,000 jobs, were announced as the firm released figures showing its profits had risen 30% to £23.1million. Chief executive Jim McCarthy rejected the idea that his stores, where everything costs £1, are only thriving because millions are being forced to watch the pennies. He said: “We have been in existence for 23 years and the majority of that time, the economy has been considered to be good.” Mr McCarthy added: “Our target of 1,000 stores shows there is plenty of growth…