SupermarketNews // October 2014

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October 2014 • Vol. 7 No. 10

West End New World butcher Callum Sutherland scooped gold at last month’s NZ Bacon & Ham awards - (see page 8)

“BEST BEFORE” COULD BE VICTIM OF PRODUCT WASTE WITH consumers now demanding more clarity on food labelling and manufacturers expressing real concern over waste on perfectly fine products, it seems the industry may well push for a deletion of the “Best Before” concept and stick with “Use By” as the sole criteria.

Certainly the retail industry is having ongoing difficulties with maintaining product viability and the proposed changes in Europe could well be implemented here to save millions of dollars lost in wasted product.

The concept coming before the European Union this month if adopted would mean that “best before” on many staples in the dry grocery category would be removed and there would be more clarity for producers and retailers. Currently, many consumers believe that products are no KATHERINE RICH

longer good enough to eat once the Best Before date has been reached but most were still safe and edible.

The Food & Grocery Council says the issue comes up here from time to time but the last time it did, members indicated they did not want to remove Best Before because it performed an important function in terms of quality of food.

“However there is always an opportunity for more discussion and members are welcome to raise the issue with us,” said CEO Katherine Rich. “If

PRICE LOCKDOWN PROVES SUCCESSFUL FOR COUNTDOWN PROGRESSIVE is reporting ‘universally strong’ results from its pricedown programme, covering both its Price Lockdown and Price Guarantee promotions. Steve Donohue, general manager merchandise, says the success of the programme is a reflection of good partnerships which are delivering results for both the retailer and its suppliers.

“So far we’ve had no unsuccessful partnerships and we have suppliers experiencing everything from high

double digit growth all the way through to companies doubling and quadrupling their sales,” says Donohue.

While there is no definite date as to when the promotion will end, Donohue says suppliers can be guaranteed of a great execution around the pricedown programme.

“It’s a key part of our customer proposition these days and we’re keen to improve the execution of it.”

Despite a global price increase of some commodities, Donohue says the

anything, perhaps discussion could centre on further education around the difference between the two pointers because often consumers don’t know the difference.”

The confusion over the two instructions is rife in this country and is certainly affecting sustainability with an estimated 15% of all products being tossed out because of the Best Before date being reached. There is strong support here from industry experts and commentators to eliminate the guide instruction and certainly it would also give more clarity on labelling allowing consumers to make their own decisions.

In studying this issue, the industry may also take a stronger stance on country of origin labelling that is also becoming an issue of significance to consumers.

Certainly it seems appropriate that imported single ingredient products be identified to allow an informed decision even if we don’t go as far as main ingredients in a multi product. n retailer is always open to discussions surrounding price and looking to work with its supplier partners to offer the best prices to consumers.

STEVE DONOHUE “Import costs fluctuate but not always up. Market dynamics also play a part and prices vary around the world. We want to make sure Kiwis aren’t disadvantaged for being Kiwis.” n

IS THAT A FRESH PHARMACY OPPORTUNITY OPENING UP? WITH the industry’s last big breakthrough – liquor – well in hand and proving a bonanza for supermarkets, the search for the “next big thing” might not be that far away as other countries threaten to break the current elite arrangements and deregulate pharmacy.

While it is happening in many other parts of the world, including France where pharmacies have been on strike over proposed changes, the mood is changing even closer to home such as Australia.

continued on page 2

PAIHIA SITE COULD SWITCH BANNERS FOODSTUFFS has not ruled out taking over Countdown’s former full-service supermarket site in Paihia. Countdown was forced to cease trading last month and immediately vacate the premises after it failed to win a court bid to extend its sub-lease on the Blackbridge Road site. Landlord Ian Blakeman told the NBR that the sublease had already been sold to a rival supermarket. Foodstuffs would not confirm if the retailer had purchased the sub-lease or whether the report of New World owner Eric Rush visiting the site was correct.

“Given the closure of Countdown we are looking into what opportunities may be available for our brands in Paihia, and this includes talking to the landlords of the Blackbridge Road site,” says Foodstuffs corporate PR director Antoinette Shallue. n

contents 14 NZ’s Best Bangers 18 Liquor 20 Store Check 32 Allergy 34 New Products

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editorialcomment Taking Negotiations Seriously

Real Innovation Needed

THE inability of some supplier companies to recognise that getting new products, product extensions and price increases often boils down to the person they send to do the negotiating. When it is serious business affecting the company’s ongoing profitability and the reliance is on one of the two major buyers, then skilful handling shouldn’t be left in the hands of an order taker.

As a buyer recently pointed out to me, a key issue for him that was often not considered, was the ongoing availability of the product. Now who starts a sellin with that proposal ?

It is a fact that smart negotiations by both parties adds cash to the bottom line. This only happens when the two parties are prepared properly, understand the give and take process of conditional negotiations and don’t waste time with meaningless games. The problem is – and the basis of ongoing complaints from small companies – is that they don’t take the negotiations as seriously as their retail customer. Talk to a number of category managers at retail and you’ll find that quite a few suppliers arrive for an appointment quite unprepared for the meeting. There are account managers out there who are on first name terms with the buyer and expect negotiations to be a breeze – well wake up, it’s 2014.

INNOVATION seems to be the big buzz word at the moment. Innovation awards, innovation expert speakers and new products at every turn. As we head towards the Christmas moratorium there is a plethora of NPD from manufacturers trying to reinvigorate categories, maintain market share and offer consumers something ‘new’. While that is all well and good for consumers, a terrible fact remains that many of these new products will not be on our shelves two years later. In fact a recent Nielsen report in the UK found that 76% of new product launches fail within the first year. At the recent NZ Food Awards I wondered how many of these companies will enjoy commercial success? Despite the awards being sponsored

by Countdown, some of the winners aren’t even stocked in supermarkets and at premium price points they are unlikely to ever be market leaders. This year Sealord took out the top award but it’s hard to be enthusiastic about a traditional smoked fish. I was even more surprised as Regal Salmon already has a smoked salmon in the market and has done for some time. When compared with some of the innovative products entered into international food competitions, entries for various local awards don’t really stack up. What is even more disheartening is the lack of passion from many corporate marketers. When marketers and sales staff are not passionate about a product, how will they ever be able to do it justice in the competitive grocery space?

PETER MITCHELL, Publisher

PHARMACY OPPORTUNITY

continued from page 1

The new Harper Competition Review draft report has recommended that the rules on ownership and location of pharmacies was unnecessary. The report concluded it did not consider that current restrictions were necessary to ensure the quality of advice and care provided to patients. It said such restrictions limited the ability of consumers to choose where to obtain pharmacy products and services and the ability of providers to meet consumer preferences. The review panel said it considered that pharmacy ownership and location rules should be removed in the long term interests of consumers and should be replaced with regulations to ensure access and quality of advice on pharmaceuticals that did not unduly restrict competition.

According to the panel, negotiations on the next Community Pharmacy Agreement offered an opportunity for the Australian Government to remove the location rules with appropriate transitional arrangements. It seems certain that the Australian supermarkets will quickly move into pharmacy if the recommended changes take place. And it would seem logical that New Zealand would follow suit in changing what is currently amongst the most privileged of retailers. n

JASMINE WALTERS, Editor

POWER OUTAGE SIGNALS NEED FOR BACK-UP PLAN A FIRE in an Auckland power substation has reinforced to retailers and manufacturers the necessity of a practical back-up plan in the event of natural disasters and emergencies. Four Countdowns – Mt Wellington, Newmarket, Greenlane and Sylvia Park – were affected by the power outage and were forced to close for most of Sunday the 5th. Progressive’s meat and seafood processing plants were also hit by the power cut.

“Our teams worked really quickly to get back up generators where possible and everything is back to normal. We were able to salvage some perishable stock by transferring it to other stores or refrigerated trucks, but we have had some stock loss for food safety reasons where food was above temperature and couldn’t be saved. It’s too early for us to know the extent of this in terms of cost,” says Countdown’s Kate Porter.

Meanwhile, Foodstuffs’ spokesperson Antoinette Shallue says its retailers continued to trade throughout the power outage despite being located within the affected areas.

“All of our stores have back up generators capable of keeping the store running at full capacity.

In addition, stores have actually increased their stocks of hot food such as hot chickens and fresh bakery goods so that customers without power have been able to come and get hot food for their families – stores will continue to provide this service until power has resumed across the city,” says Shallue. n

range our customers expect from New World,” says Angela Bull, general manager property development, Foodstuffs North Island.

Subject to resource consent, work is expected to start in the second quarter of next year and the store will remain trading during the refurbishment. n

OREWA REFURB

FOODSTUFFS North Island has applied for resource consent to refurbish its New World Orewa store. Located at Moana Ave, the proposed refurbishment will involve an expanded and improved car park layout as well a lighter, brighter store.

“The refurbishment will introduce plenty of natural light, wider aisles and a more spacious retail environment, plus plenty of car parking. The new look store means that we can provide an improved offer, with the great service, prices and

SupermarketNews is published under license. Please direct all enquiries and correspondences to SupermarketNews. The opinions and material published in this edition of SupermarketNews are not necessarily those of the publishers unless specifically stated. All material in this publication is copyright and may only be reproduced with the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013 ISSN NO. 1173-3365

PUBLISHER Peter Mitchell, peter@reviewmags.com

MARKETING Tania Walters, tania@reviewmags.com

EDITOR Jasmine Walters, jasmine@reviewmags.com

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION Kieran Mitchell, kieran@reviewmags.com

ADVERTISING SALES Jasmine Walters, jasmine@reviewmags.com Felicity-Anne Flack, felicity@reviewmags.com SENIOR DESIGNER Raymund Sarmiento, raymund@reviewmags.com

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SUPERMARKETNEWS SUPPORTS:

OLD TIME GROCER PASSES ON JACK Flood, one of the industry’s leading grocery figures in the early days of supermarketing, passed away in Auckland this month aged 94.

Jack, who was a flying officer in the Second World War, lost his wife Rona some years ago but was remembered by many as president for many years of NARGON, chairman of the old AWL retail directorate and an IGA operator in Otahuhu for many years under the banner of TJ & F Flood.

The business was started by his parents in 1932 and Jack redeveloped the business with his mother Florence in the late 1940’s. As reported at the time, the “massive” new supermarket measured 50ft by 40ft and had the unusual feature of two central gondolas.

As part of the strong Nathan Group in national grocery Jack was a great promoter of small neighbourhood supermarkets that would provide

COKE APPOINTMENT COLOUR SWITCH COCA-Cola Amatil has appointed ICE CREAM Andrew Hewett as its New Zealand

JACK FLOOD

sophisticated one stop shopping with well merchandised presentation, friendly atmosphere and competitive prices. He was leading the independent grocery trade at a time when massive changes were afoot, especially in the development of Foodstuffs launching into major stores. At the time, the Nathan Group was running Foodmasters, IGA Super Discounters and Family Fare, all of which have now disappeared. n

FSNI SITES UP FOR SALE FOODSTUFFS North Island is set to offload more of its Wellington sites this month, following a review of its property portfolio.

The co-operative is looking to divest up to 10 industrial properties in Petone, including its closed Naenae New World site. Also rumoured to be on the market is a significant block of land near the Basin Reserve, which has been touted as a potential location for China’s new embassy.

Foodstuffs Wellington invested $26 million on properties between 2009 and 2013 in a bid to retain its market share. “Sites that are suitable for a supermarket development are not common so as a business we often have to move when the opportunity to purchase arises - and sometimes development of sites will not come to fruition,” says Angela Bull, FSNI general manager property development.

corporate affairs manager. He replaces Suzy Clarkson who has moved to a corporate role at Fletchers. Hewett is an Australian who has been an executive producer of Triple M Radio Sport for the past seven years but has a background of journalism including as a news editor for Fairfax and corporate affairs manager at Heinz.

A SPANISH scientist has developed an ice cream that changes colour when it is licked. The new product is called Xamaleon (after the chameleon that can change colour). The original product starts out in a blueish-purple colour and as it is licked, it changes into a bright pink.

KIWI MILK POWDER ON HOLD

FOODSTUFFS has introduced more characters to New World’s successful Fresh Every Day advertising campaign.

Launched last month, the new ads highlight the fresh experts of the Daily Baker and the Fruit and Vegetable Pro. “Our people are core to New World’s success and once again, real staff, are central to these ads, capturing our Fresh Experts passion for their category, showing their expertise and their desire to deliver the best for our customers,” says group brand director Jules Lloyd.

SRI Lanka has banned sales of three batches of Fonterra’s 400g Anchor full cream milk powder, estimated at around 76 metric tonne, while it investigates three food poisoning complaints. Despite being cleared by its own testing, the world’s largest dairy exporter is now carrying out additional testing alongside local officials in a bid to lift the ban. Sri Lanka is a significant importer of Kiwi products with 2013 sales of NZ dairy, honey and animal products topping $223 million.

CROXLEY DROPS OUT OF NZ

CROXLEY Stationery, a long time industry supplier, will cease manufacturing at its Auckland plant next year and focus on being a stationery wholesaler.

The company, which makes Croxley, Warwick, Olympic and Collins products, says it has struggled to compete with low cost imports.

NEW WORLD ADS

FREE GROCERIES IN DENMARK

SHOPPERS in Copenhagen are able to get groceries from a supermarket group without paying by writing a review of products available in-store. There are catches of course. They can only have 10 products for nothing. They have to register online, place an order then pick the products up from an outlet in a new deal called “tryvertising”.

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LEITH ST LIQUORLAND WINS GOLD

Gold Award Winner Chris Hart LL Leith Street & Joe Jakicevich Hancocks

Silver Award Winner Amee Murphy LL Fitzroy & Rod Gibson CEO

Year while the bronze award went to Liquorland Waiheke Island franchisee Leon Fredrichberg.

Despite being amongst the smallest of all Liquorland stores, Fredrichberg’s Waiheke Island store has enjoyed an increase in customer growth and is known for offering great service. Liquorland CEO Rod Gibson says silver winner Amie Murphy is an example to all franchisees.

“Amie continues to show her drive and professionalism in the search to be the best she can be. Her in store standards are such that she continues to grow customer counts and show

the trade how good they need to be,” says Liquorland CEO Rod Gibson.

Joss Granger from Liquorland Howick took home the prestigious Sel Granger Memorial Award Cup for 2014. Awarded to a store that emulates the same spirit, passion and determination to succeed as the late Sel Granger of Liquorland Howick, Granger demonstrated her commitment to the retailer by becoming the face of Liquorland, investing heavily in her craft beer offer, running a popular wine club, and being a member of the merchandise and marketing committee. n

SALMON REIGNS SUPREME AT NZ FOOD AWARDS Bronze Award Winner Leon Fredrichberg LL Waiheke & Rod Gibson CEO

Sel Granger Memorial Award Joss Granger LL Howick & Rod Gibson CEO

DUNEDIN’S Liquorland Leith Street franchisee Chris Hart has taken out the Gold Franchisee of the Year Award at this year’s National Liquorland Conference. Held in Queensland last month, Hart was awarded an educational trip to Chicago, Nashville and Lynchburg sponsored by Hancocks.

“Chris and his team have embraced the Liquorland customer ethos by providing their customers

with an experience that reflects the unique customer base and environment that they trade in.

They respect and value each and every customer and treat them to an exciting shopping experience each and every time they shop at this winning Liquorland store,” says Hancocks’ Joe Jakicevich.

New Plymouth’s Liquorland Devon St franchisee Amie Murphy picked up Silver Franchisee of the

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SEALORD was the big winner at this year’s NZ Food Awards, picking up the Chilled/Short Shelf Life award and the Supreme Award for its Hot Manuka Smoked Salmon.

Smoked in West Auckland over manuka wood, Judge Ray McVinnie says the product is steeped in tradition with a modern twist.

“The best food products always have some connection to tradition – people who are completely familiar with the rules before they break them often seem to make the best food – food that isn’t reliant on additives, or being part of a superficial food fad,” says McVinnie.

Alpine Origin Merino Ltd collected KPMG’S Export Innovation award and Original Foods took home the Rabobank Business Innovation award.

Pure Delish, A. Verkerk Ltd and Tasman Bay Food Group were also named as large manufacturer winners.

Small manufacturers were also recognised with Durello Traditional Brazilian Foods, J Friend & Co, Bohemian Ltd, Tommy & James Limited, Chia Ltd and Genevieve’s all collecting awards. Massey University vice-chancellor Steve Maharey says the calibre of entrants this year was very high.

“They reflect New Zealand’s innovative nature, and the ability to add value to our fantastic primary products. It’s no wonder New Zealand is seen internationally as world leaders in food innovation, safety and quality,” says Maharey. n

SHIRAZ/SYRAH STAND OUT

ATTRACTING a record number of entries, this year’s New World Wine Awards saw the highest number of medals awarded in the competition’s history. The judging panel granted a staggering 677 medals (63 gold, 160 silver and 454 bronze) from the 1,165 wines entered with all wines required to retail for $25 or less and have more than 6,000 bottles available for sale.

The shiraz/syrah category was a stand-out performer, collecting the highest number of medals among the red wine varietals and the secondhighest number of medals overall, second only to sauvignon blanc. Kiwi wines performed well within the shiraz/syrah class with Hawkes Bay wines picking up a record-breaking three gold medals including Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Syrah 2013, which was voted by the judges as the overall best in category.

“The New World Wine Awards shiraz/syrah category medals are usually dominated by Australian wines, but we were pleasantly surprised to see some incredibly strong New Zealand entries come through this year,” says Jim Harré, chair of the judging panel.

New Zealand wines also took out the Champion Red, White and Sparkling Wine titles with Thistle Ridge Pinot Noir 2013 awarded Champion Red, The King’s Bastard Chardonnay 2013 named Champion White and Lindauer Rosé NV picked up the Champion Bubbles award. Thistle Ridge Pinot Noir 2013 was one of eight Kiwi pinot noir’s awarded gold

medals, up from five last year.

“The quality of wines entered overall was outstanding. I think this reflects the wine industry’s growing recognition of the credibility and value of the New World Wine Awards, which are judged using the same internationally recognised 20-point system as all other major wine shows,” says Harré.

All medal-winning wines are distributed and promoted in New World’s 138 supermarkets nationwide and the top 50 selection of gold medalwinning wines will be showcased in the New World Wine Awards booklet. n

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MODERATION KEY TO TACKLING OBESITY READERS of Supermarket News will be aware of the arguments around obesity. Everyone agrees it’s mostly caused by consuming too much of the wrong foods and drinks – those with lots of carbs and sugar in them, which we should have as treats from time to time. It’s how we reduce obesity that’s the issue.

The Food & Grocery Council has long said that when it comes to food – particularly those that are energydense – moderation is the key. We have also talked about what we see as the other half of the key – exercise. Most nutritionists say that if we moderate our intake of foods high in carbs and combine that with regular exercise then we are well on the way to a healthier lifestyle. Energy in, versus energy out. It’s a message FGC has been happy to help spread.

The other side of the argument is that we should either reduce consumption by taxing sugar or fat, or simply stop eating foods that contain them. For a start, taxes haven’t worked anywhere in the world they have been tried. And as far as stopping eating sugar or fat completely, that’s a very hard thing to do, considering it’s in many of the foods we eat every day because they makes it taste good.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could enjoy a moderate intake of treat foods and maintain a healthy lifestyle at the same time?

There’s no reason we can’t, and new research that lends further weight to the energy-in versus energy-out theory supports that.

This research, which was conducted

by Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, found that the rising rate of obesity is being caused primarily by a decline in physical activity.

What he found was that per-person, the consumption of sugar, fat and calories has been falling for decades, at the same time people have become less active. He found that since 2002, the average body weight of adults in the UK has increased by 2kg, at the same time there has been a decline in calorie consumption of more than 4% and a decline in sugar consumption of nearly 7.5%. So, even though people were eating fewer calories they were putting on more weight! Why? His other major finding produces the likely answer: Britons are now walking less – from an average of 410km a year in 1976 compared to just 288km now. They also cycle less – from 82km in 1976 to just 68km. His research also found that 40% of people say they don’t do any walking at work, and he concluded that the rise in the number of office jobs and labour-

saving devices means people have fewer opportunities for physical activity at both work and home.

Snowdon says his research debunks the popular belief that the rise in obesity is just the result of increased calorie consumption in general and sugar in particular. It’s not a conclusion he has plucked out of the air – he analysed figures from official sources: the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the National Diet and Nutrition Survey; the Office for National Statistics; the British Heart Foundation.

So what about New Zealand?

Statistics on how far people are walking and cycling are not available, but there’s no doubt Kiwis are also doing less exercise than they were a decade ago, thanks in large part to advances in technology in both the work and home environments.

The Department of Health, the Public Health Association, and Sport and Recreation NZ all confirm that Kiwis are following the global trend of decreasing levels of individual physical activity.

Significantly, the Health Promotion Agency (of which I am a board member) says an estimated 11,000 deaths a year “are attributable to the joint effects of poor nutrition and insufficient physical activity”.

Statistics we do have are very similar to those in the UK: our sugar consumption is falling while obesity rates are rising.

Between 1997 and 2007 our adult obesity rate rose from 19% to 26.5% at the same time that the total amount of sugars we consumed dropped from 114g per day to 107g per day!

I would call that compelling evidence that we should be taking notice of.

There’s no doubt that we do need to promote a moderate diet along with moderate exercise, rather than ideas such as taxing foods with sugar in them. Taxes will do nothing more than raise the weekly supermarket shopping bill and hurt those who can afford it the least, while doing nothing for the nation’s health.

• Christopher Snowdon was in New Zealand in August to talk to FGC on sugar taxes. His report, The Fat Lie, can be accessed on the FGC website: www.fgc.org.nz n

Since 2002, the average body weight of adults in the UK has increased by 2kg, at the same time there has been a decline in calorie consumption of more than 4% and a decline in sugar consumption of nearly 7.5%

Katherine Rich CEO, New Zealand Food & Grocery Council

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WEST END NEW WORLD TOPS AWARDS

LABELLING SYSTEM TO BEAT IN-STORE MEAT THEFTS

Callum Sutherland

ROTORUA’S West End New World has scooped gold and silver placings in the pork industry’s annual 100% NZ Bacon & Ham awards, the only supermarket winner in this year’s competition.

Its awards were in the middle eye bacon category with its honey cured manuka smoked line and its glazed honey cured manuka smoked product.

The store’s butcher Callum Sutherland is an eight year supermarket veteran. He has been in Rotorua for the past 13 years and prior to New World, trained under Tony Smith at the Mad Butcher. No stranger to awards, Callum has twice

been named Young Butcher of the Year and three years ago he won a scholarship to work at a food festival in Germany.

After studying last year’s competition feedback, his 12-strong team amended the curing and smoking process, reduced salt and spent more time smoking. He said that the win showed that great bacon didn’t have to be produced by big companies.

West End’s owner operator Greg Dyson was delighted with the win and is proud of the talented butchery team. n

SURPRISINGLY, one of the highest theft items in a supermarket is meat.

It is a high value item that has now attracted the attention of security and labelling companies in this country and early installations being trialled in-store are proving invaluable. In an interesting combination of Wedderburn, Label & Litho and Checkpoint security advisors (now called SSL), a unique solution is now on the market – and a clever one at that.

The heart of the solution is a fully automatic weigh and wrap price labeller from Wedderburn that can be preprogrammed to apply either a standard label on cheaper cuts or an RF tag inserted inside the label on higher value items. The equipment is so flexible that it can carry two or three loads of labels that can decide and apply without having to change supplies.

These options include a standard label, a promotional label (POP) and the sub-

labeller with the RF tags. Label & Litho have developed the inflatable RF scale labels and operations manager Angus Kincaid says there has already been a lot of supermarket interest. And while they may be more expensive than the current thermal label, they have proved a great success on high value items.

The Digi Teraoka Japanese equipment that applies the inserted labels is a recent addition to Wedderburn’s offering said managing director Vernon Herbert. He said it was specifically being used for meat products at the moment but it did have much wider applications in the food industry.

For the record, the machine is the AW4600ATPOP. The labels are high quality moisture proof and microwave safe that integrate Checkpoint (SSL) RF tags into a thermal scale label that deactivate at checkout when the barcode is scanned. n

GROWTH FOR PIE COMPANY

business over the next 12 months.

“It’s about taking a simple thing and doing it well.

The Westie is currently a $3.5 million-a-year brand and its Mini Mince trays added over a million dollars in incremental value to retail,” says managing director Stefan Crooks.

Natural Food’s range is still handmade in the West Auckland suburb of Avondale with Crooks predicting the pie market will continue to grow, especially through route and convenience channels. n

ENJOYING 20% growth year-onyear and tripling its manufacturing output, The Natural Food Co 2001is capitalizing on Kiwis love of pies. In the coming months the company’s extensive baked savoury offering is set to get even bigger with a host of new products joining its La Baguette and Westie brands. A Steak & Cheese variant will join its La Baguette Roundz offering while its Westie brand is set to enter the $60 million six-pack fresh pie market. Available in Mince and Mince & Cheese options, Westie’s six-pack is being offered in an oven ready format and in addition to new frozen lines, is expected to double the

NEW TAMATEA PAK’NSAVE FOODSTUFFS North Island has lodged a resource consent application for a replacement Pak’nSave at Tamatea. Located on the roundabout of Durham and Leicester Avenues, the proposed store would be accompanied by additional retail outlets.

“We have taken the opportunity to tweak the design of the store to introduce plenty of natural light, wider aisles and a more spacious retail environment, plus plenty of car parking. The modern, new look store means that we can provide an improved offer, while still ensuring our policy of delivering New Zealand’s lowest grocery prices which our customers expect from Pak’nSave,” says Foodstuffs

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North Island general manager property development, Angela Bull. Roger Davis, Andrew Graney and Darren Turley, the owner operators of Pak’nSave Tamatea, say the new store is a great investment for the community.

“We are really looking forward to modernising our store and providing our customers with a bigger and brighter shopping experience; with wide aisles, lots of great fresh food and grocery products, and all the personal service our customers enjoy.” Subject to receiving resource consent, work is expected to start on the replacement store mid next year. The current store will remain open while the new store is constructed alongside. n

WHAT THE ELECTION MEANS FOR SUPERMARKETS

SILVER FERN REDUCES DEBT

ON 20 September 2014, voters headed to the polls after the most unusual and vicious election campaign in New Zealand’s history. The results surprised even the most experienced political pundits. National became the first party under MMP to obtain an absolute majority in the House, and actually increased their vote from 2011.

However, Prime Minister John Key made the decision to reach out to the Act, United Future and Maori parties.

At the time of writing, National has signed confidence and supply agreements with United Future and Act. As a result, Peter Dunne will become a Minister outside of Cabinet and David Seymour will be a Parliamentary undersecretary. A similar agreement is likely to be reached with the Maori Party which has dropped to two MPs. The policy direction of the new Government is now relatively clear. In terms of economic policies, the National-led Government will continue to build on existing policies with no radical change in approach. New Zealand has weathered the Global Financial Crisis well (compared to similar countries), consumer confidence is strong and supermarket customers are likely to gain some useful additional spending money as economic growth tracks upward.

National has signaled the likelihood of modest tax cuts later in the term which, although minor, will see more disposable income in most people’s wallets.

Employment law was one area where there were significant policy differences between National and Labour.

DUNEDIN based Silver Fern Farms has reduced its annual loss from $31.1 million to $28.6 million, significantly cutting operating costs and offloading its Shannon fellmongery. New Zealand’s largest meat processor and marketer attributed its poor performance over the past two years to the collapse of the sheep market.

“Market consumption and pricing continued to decrease in the first half of the 2012/13 year, resulting from further writedowns of balance date stocks. In reality, the market collapse dramatically impacted upon two financial years due to large stock positions over the September 2012 balance date,” says chairman Eoin Garden. The company is looking at export for future growth, with Price Waterhouse Coopers currently carrying out a strategic review of the business.

AGENCY FOR FARRAH BREADS

TWIN Agencies will represent Farrah Breads’ retail operation in New Zealand as of the 1st of November.

“Farrah Wraps fit the Twin Agencies model well and we look forward to a long and exciting partnership that will continue to deliver success for the category and our retail partners,” says Farrah Wraps director, Jovan Canak.

National’s planned employment law reforms stalled near the end of their last term but look certain to pass as a matter of some urgency once the new Government is officially sworn in.

The Government plans to legislate for more flexible rest and meal breaks, a change which should benefit most supermarkets. Paid parental leave will be increased progressively each year.

The minimum wage will continue to steadily grow but probably not jump to levels which would limit job opportunities. Companies will have the option of offering the so-called “Living Wage” but it will not be compulsory, even for Government agencies. The successful 90 day trial employment period policy will remain in place.

Opposition parties had threatened to repeal it within 100 days, a move which would have cost many young or at-risk workers their opportunity of a job. NARGON has been a consistent supporter of the 90 day policy.

A high priority for the new Government will be reform of the Resource Management Act after their previous efforts were stymied by late opposition from Peter Dunne and the Maori Party. The reforms are broad but the key impact for the supermarket industry is that they should make it easier to build new stores or expand existing businesses. On the other hand, reform will also make it simpler for competing stores to be established.

The Commerce Commission inquiry into supermarket practices will continue without change which is appropriate.

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Some politicians had hinted that the Government should be more aggressive but the current process is the correct one. The inquiry should be independent, transparent and free from political interference.There is unlikely to be further alcohol legislation in the next term. National passed all the legislation it wanted and will now monitor how effective the new Local Alcohol Policies are around the country. Significantly for supermarkets and other alcohol retailers there will likely be no minimum price for alcohol, a policy promoted by Labour and the Greens.

Further restrictions on tobacco are likely to slow but there will be continued jumps in excise tax and therefore prices. Departed Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia was the driving force behind the sweeping anti-smoking changes in the previous Parliament and she will probably see plain packaging for cigarettes enacted here, assuming its legality under international law is established. That would be a significant legacy achievement for Turia and former Health Minister Tony Ryall.

The new Government will look to get off to a fast start but most media attention will be focused on Labour for some time to come. n

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TIP TOP ADDS TO RANGE

IN response to growing consumer demand, Tip Top has launched two new products and reintroduced two old favourites. Kapiti Summer Nectarine and Popsicle Junglicious are new to Tip Top’s extensive ice cream portfolio while former favourites Mint Trumpet and Fruju Tropical Snow are rejoining the range.

Previously only available on Air New Zealand flights and scoop outlets, Kapiti Summer Nectarine is a seasonal, limited edition SKU.

Available in a 1litre tub, the new addition is made with locally sourced fruit.

Popsicle Junglicious Tropical Berry variant caters to the brand’s core target market, offering children exciting, new flavour combinations. With a fun pack livery, tropical, fruity mix of strawberry and guava and crunchy ice shell, it’s a timely addition to the ice-block market.

“We’re constantly striving to keep our ranges fresh and interesting, so ongoing innovation is key. We know that our Kapiti consumer is a big

FOODSTUFFS DELAYS SILVERSTREAM MOVE decided that the best thing for both FOLLOWING a review of the newly formed Foodstuffs North Island, the company has decided to delay moving its Wellington Support Centre from its current Silverstream premises.

“As with any merger the final shape and size of an organisation takes time to evolve and it has been

staff and the wider business is that we avoid disruption and remain at our Silverstream location until at least mid-2016,” says Angela Bull, Foodstuffs general manager property development.

Earlier this year Foodstuffs

foodie, always on the lookout for new taste experiences, whilst our younger audience is looking for new and exciting flavours too. As a result, bringing new products to the market each summer keeps our ranges exciting and maintains relevance with each market sector,” says Minna Reinikkala, Tip Top group marketing manager.

Old time favourites Mint Trumpet and Fruju Tropical Snow were in high demand last year when ice cream fans were given the chance to vote for their favourite product on the company’s Facebook page. Reinikkala says the company gets a constant stream of requests from fans asking for their favourites to be reintroduced.

“Earlier this year we brought back the Strawberry Toppa but there was still huge demand for Mint Trumpet and Fruju Tropical Snow so we listened to fans and are bringing them back,” says Reinikkala. All of Tip Top’s products are made using only natural colours and flavours. n announced the business would move its 180 staff to another location in the Wellington region by mid 2015.

The co-operative has been based at Silverstream since 1978 and over 70% of its Wellington Support Centre staff are based in the Upper Hutt region.

“We are committed to giving our staff as much certainty as we can while we work through exactly what kind of site will be required for our business in the future,” says Bull. n

SEALORD CUTS JOBS

SEALORD’S restructure of its Port Nelson wetfish processing plant is expected to result in up to 150 job losses for the region. New Zealand’s second largest fishing company says its plant had been losing money due to rising costs and the strong Kiwi dollar and a restructure was the only viable option. The job losses account for a 13% reduction of its permanent workforce in Nelson and include 71 from its wetfish plant, 26 office positions and up to 50 contractors. Sealord reported a $44.3 million loss in the 12 months to September last year, its first loss in two decades, and has since moved towards higher value fresh fish variants. The Port Nelson restructure comes on the back of an investment in new seafood facilities in Greymouth.

SUMMERFRUIT ORCHARDS IN RECEIVERSHIP

PRODUCE supplier Summerfruit Orchards has gone into receivership.

Established in 1986, the company employed 15 fulltime staff and up to 300 during the picking season.

Summerfruit Orchards was supplying supermarkets with a range of stonefruit including cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines as well as certified organic apples. Summerfruit New Zealand chair Gary Bennetts says lack of profitability was to blame.

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ADVANTAGE HALL OF GROUP ENTERS FAME FOR NZ MARKET MCALPINE

CANS DONATED FOR KIDSCAN

COUNTDOWN supermarkets have collected more than 16,000 cans for KidsCan’s Lunchbox Day fundraiser.

The retailer’s 172 supermarkets acted as collection points for the charity with Countdown adding an additional 10,000 cans of Homebrand baked beans and a further 10,000 cans of spaghetti. The cans will be used to provide hot lunches at 100 KidsCan schools. “KidsCan does a great job to support Kiwi kids in more than 400 schools around the country and we are pleased to help them in their Appeal this year,” says managing director Dave Chambers.

MARKET research company Coalface Consulting is partnering with Advantage Group International to offer local benchmarking between suppliers and retailers through two standardized programs. Retailer Mirror Report provides market wide supplier feedback to retailers while Supplier Main Report presents retailer feedback to suppliers.

Operating in more than 40 countries, Advantage Group is well respected within the global FMCG sector and has worked with the likes of Costco, Coles, Tesco, Asda, CocaCola, Mars and Pepsico.

Its transparent programs offer the first worldwide rating scale and insights into global best practice with many of New Zealand’s international suppliers already participating in other markets. Since its entry into New Zealand earlier this year, the programs have already attracted more than 150 suppliers.

Coalface’s Dan Meiklejohn is managing Advantage locally and says it has received overwhelming support from all three retail groups. “Over recent years, suppliers have requested more from their Coalface Reports and the improved management of each function within the supplier/ retailer relationship is now critical to overall business success,” says Meiklejohn.

Meiklejohn says the correlation between the two programs enables the relationship to be managed across the entire value chain.

Program pricing is internationally aligned and is relative to market size.

P&G REDUCES SPOKESPEOPLE

IN a bid to simplify its advertising and improve marketing efficiency, Proctor & Gamble is set to significantly reduce its number of brand ambassadors as well as shorten its future TV ads. US CFO Jon Moeller says the company’s Head & Shoulders brand will now have only two global spokespeople across 45 marketts - soccer star Lionel Messi and actress Sofia Vergara. “We’re simplifying the number of brand spokespeople that we use on a global basis. When we select the right spokesperson, the individuals who unquestionably represent the brand’s equity, they can be effective across many markets,” says Moeller.

PLASTIC BAG BAN

CALIFORNIA has become the first state in America to ban single-use plastic bags in its grocery and convenience stores. Effective from July next year, the ban won’t apply to bags used for fruit, vegetables and meat and will allow retailers to charge 10 cents per paper bag. The new law is being opposed by a coalition of plastic bag manufacturers, which say it will jeopardise thousands of jobs in California. “This Bill is a step in the right direction — it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself.

We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last,” says California Governor Jerry Brown.

n

FOODEYE ATTRACTS CONSUMERS

LEADING digital asset management company, Images in Space, is gaining consumer interest with its new Foodeye app. Launched in August, Foodeye allows users to access and compare accurate and up-to-date information about thousands of food products available in-store. Despite being early days, several thousand consumers have already downloaded the free app, featuring content such as ingredients, nutritional panel, allergen warnings, country of origin, endorsements, health, nutritional and marketing claims.

Images in Space’s managing director Barry Pyle says the app responds to consumer needs and hopes to exceed 5,000 downloads by the end of the year.

“There has been a growing demand from consumers to have more facts on

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hand about what is really in their food, so it seemed obvious to create an app which could provide this information from a reliable source, in a user friendly comparative format,” says Pyle.

In development for more than a year, Images in Space has used data drawn directly from its own comprehensive nutritional database and will continue updating and building its service.

“It opens exciting possibilities for marketers, manufacturers, researchers, and health professionals to examine food ingredients and nutritional content in a more macro context across entire categories, gaining access to insights not previously accessible,” says Pyle.

Foodeye’s What’s Hot and What’s New features also offer brand owners a chance to provide greater detail to consumers as well as boost promotional messages. Images in Space will be building consumer awareness of its app through the Healthy Food Guide, Food Magazine and Facebook in the coming months. n OWNED

REFRIGERATION and transport pioneer James McAlpine has been inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame, 53 years after his death. After founding refrigeration company James S McAlpine Ltd in 1935, McAlpine’s newly formed business manufactured the first refrigerated ice cream transport outside of the US a mere two years later. His early foray into chillers, refrigerators and transport systems saw Kiwi milk and dairy products transported safely across the world, helping to transform New Zealand’s dairy industry into one of the country’s biggest and most important export sectors.

A partnership with well known British company Prestcold resulted in refrigerators and freezers being imported into New Zealand in kits and assembled locally at McAlpine’s Penrose factory. Used in New Zealand’s first standalone supermarket in 1958 – Foodtown in Otahuhu – the company’s refrigeration equipment continues to have a strong presence in the grocery industry.

Now trading under the McAlpine Hussmann label, an amalgamation

of McAlpine’s and leading US supermarket refrigeration company Hussmann, grocery accounts for almost 90% of the business’ turnover.

Featuring locally made and imported products, McAlpine Hussmann supplies stores with refrigerated cases for entire store fit-outs including produce, deli, dairy, meat, frozen, seafood, drinks and bakery departments. The company also provides design and build services for cool/frozen storage rooms in FMCG distribution centres.

During his 53 years, McAlpine was one the nation’s business leaders, appointed director of the Reserve Bank, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers Federation and a director of Seddon Technical College (now AUT University). n

UNITED FRESH WORKSHOP COMPARED to centre aisle FMCG products such as soft drinks, toothpaste and pasta sauce, fresh fruit and vegetables are traded and sold at a fast and furious pace.

You might be able to store a surplus of onions for a week or three in your rear store, but this approach is not recommended when it comes to strawberries or bananas, for example.

And when one adds seasonal shortages, possible Ministry for Primary Industries fumigation on imported produce, changing weather patterns and an increasing consumer desire for more information and assurance about what they are buying, and therefore eating, anyone employed in the fresh produce industry sure has their hands full.

All this makes it even more important to be well informed on those, at first glance, peripheral issues which do not appear to have anything to do with the business of growing, trading or selling fresh produce. Yet they can make all the difference between having a sustainable business or facing the arm of the law or unhappy customers.

United Fresh is New Zealand’s only pan-produce industry organisation where growers, wholesalers, service providers and retailers sit around one table, pulling on the same string of critical interest to all of us. This is increasing the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and working towards the overall well being of our industry.

An important part of the United Fresh role in fulfilling these objectives is knowledge dissemination.

In November 2013, United Fresh hosted a workshop on the then proposed Food Bill. In May 2014,

Parliament passed the Bill and the entire food industry now needs to get used to the implications of the new Food Act becoming law. The produce industry is no exception and the Food Act will impact on the entire value chain, from grower to retailer and every step in between.

Changes will be introduced gradually though. There will be a three month consultation period with the Ministry for Primary Industries in 2015, with the Act coming into force in March 2016.

Even then, changes will be introduced over a further three year period.

The good news is the industry will get time to adjust to the upcoming changes.

Our challenge will be to ensure we use the time smartly so that we are indeed ready as an industry to work in the changed legislative environment when the time comes.

To facilitate this process, United Fresh is holding a half day workshop (1.30pm-5pm) on Thursday 13th November at Waipuna Lodge, Mt Wellington.

Speakers on Traceability, Food Safety and the Food Act will include food legislation experts from our legal advisers, Simpson Grierson, data and traceability experts from GS1 and United Fresh President, David Smith.

Visit www.unitedfresh.co.nz to learn more about United Fresh membership and upcoming workshops. n

Dr Hans Maurer Executive and Knowledge Officer United Fresh

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NEW WORLD NETBALL SPONSORSHIP

FOODSTUFFS is promoting New World’s sponsorship of Netball New Zealand and the Silver Ferns with a new TV advertisement. Jules Lloyd, Foodstuffs group brand director, says the innovative advert highlights the strong relationship between New World and Kiwi netball.

“This amusing and entertaining ad takes a unique yet genuine approach to celebrate our partnership through showcasing the things that we unfortunately couldn’t realistically do in-store to show our support for netball,” says Lloyd. The ad can currently be seen on TV and in digital environments and will also be played at up-coming Silver Ferns test matches.

DOLE CRUNCHES GAINS MOMENTUM

DOLE’S recently launched nut-based snack Crunches is reporting healthy sales performance from all three variants: Almond, Cashew-Sesame and Cranberry-Blueberry.

Represented locally by Pavé Consumer Brands, marketing manager Mat Hamlin says a $250,000 marketing campaign is commencing this month which includes print advertising, TV, digital

and national Adshels.

“We’re pleased to see Dole Crunches selling very well both at the full price of $4.99 and on promotion. Stores that have displayed the product have been really happy with the volume sold, which is brilliant considering the marketing support has yet to kick off,” says Hamlin.

Consumer feedback during sampling, both in-store and at the Auckland Food Show has been extremely positive with Dole’s marketing campaign being leveraged in-store with extensive sampling, POS displays and clip strips.

GREEN KLEEN DRAWS CONSUMERS

GREEN Kleen’s new range of household cleaners are seeing excellent sell-through rates in grocery and general manager Ken Collin says reorders have been very positive. “We are seeing good levels of trial as consumers are attracted to the unique combination of fantastic highperformance product, eye-catching packaging all at very competitive price points,” says Collin.

Now available to Foodstuffs North Island, Collin says the company will be leveraging its early success to gain distribution and is being asked by Pak’nSave stores to support aisle of value promotions.

UNCOMPROMISING ENERGY New Zealand Agent: House of Fine Foods Ltd, Auckland Email: wayne@houseff.co.nz

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NZ’S BEST BANGERS NOW in its 21st year, the 2014 Devro New Zealand Sausage Competition has awarded 22 gold medals from more than 400 entries across 11 categories. The supreme winner will be announced later this month with sausages judged on aroma, texture and taste. Head judge Kerry Tyack says the quality of New Zealand sausages continues to improve.

“This year we had more sausages scoring at the top level than ever before. Great combinations of flavours, lower fat and thoughtful use of seasoning means better sausages are available throughout the country,” says Tyack. n

BRANDED INFLUENCE THE weekly task is upon you. It can no longer be avoided no matter how much you might like to. Time for your weekly shop. Toddlers are screaming in the back of the car. You arrive at your local supermarket.

Where are all the car parks? One glints at you on the horizon only on closer inspection it is a mere loading zone. It will have to do! You scrabble around setting up the stroller, attempting to restrain those wriggling, screaming bundles of joy. Minutes are scarce.

Racing down the supermarket aisles, trying to recall what it is you so desperately need, trying to locate your basic staples on the shelves. Frazzled. When time is limited and focus is in short supply, what helps you, in the midst of chaos, find the goods you are looking for?

What tools do you use to fill your supermarket trolley with your basic requirements?

Need something for toast, grab that jar with the bright yellow lid; something sweet for treats, reach for the purple chocolate bar!

What is really happening here?

Branding! But what is branding?

Branding simply put can be a distinctive “sign” to denote trade origin. Much more that just the words retailers adopt to distinctively brand their products. Get-up as a brand or trade mark plays a significant and increasing role in consumer recognition and recall; the tool consumers use - even unconsciously - to seek out their favourite products with ease in a world when time spent pondering over consumables is in ever short supply. No doubt you will be well aware of the tobacco companies’ fight against the adoption of plain packaging.

Ponder why. Think of the graphics or get-up of those cigarette packets oozing clean crisp images or distinctive purity. Why do they not want to be prevented from using this branded get-up? Product get-up as

a brand plays an everincreasing important role in purchasing decisions.

It enables a purchaser to pick the intended product despite their inevitable “imperfect recollection”.

Some brands play the brand get-up card very well. The products depicted below are all easily recognisable without their word brand appearing on them.

These brand owners have identified the importance of the look of their products and product packaging ensuring consumers easily identify their brand beyond its mere name as a layer upon layer architecture for identity. It is important that producers recognise and harness this brand power and protect it by registration.

Colours, shapes, smells, sounds, graphics and combinations of these elements all uniquely identify your brand and talk to consumers as they whizz by the supermarket shelves at speed with their mind on the next task to tackle after their weekly shop.

We all know that your product only has a few seconds to talk to potential purchasers and the way you employ your get-up plays a significant role in the purchasing decision.

Adopting a deliberate brand use and protection strategy around your layers of brand distinctiveness including recognising the benefit of your get-up, being consistent in its delivery and utilising key protection strategies through your intellectual property specialist help keep your products at the forefront and stifle wannabe copycats.

For further information or practical advice, please contact the writer at: sophie.thoreau@baldwins.com n

Sophie Thoreau Senior Associate Baldwins Intellectual Property

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GOOD AND THE BEST

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AROUND New Zealand, there are hundreds of small producers in a wide variety of grocery categories who began, and often continue, their lives in the variety of markets that have sprung up. A number, with more marketing skills, have moved their limited production levels into local grocery and delicatessen outlets. And some of those will eventually develop into national products on a small scale until they get the financial backing and sales skills to take the items further. For grocery, they are another opportunity.

HEAVENSENT GOURMET SINCE purchasing Hamilton’s Heavensent Gourmet in January last year, Denise and Rob Bree have moved the business to Auckland, invested in new manufacturing facilities and refreshed its condiment range. Known for its range of 13 premium dressings and vinaigrettes, under new ownership the brand has relaunched its sauce and relish offering. Its sauce line features five variants including Manuka Smoke BBQ , Totally Tomato and Spiced Plum in 375ml options while the brand’s relish range contains six SKUs including Tangy Beetroot, Aubergine & Chilli and Cranberry Cumberland in 220g jars. Hand crafted in small batches at the company’s commercial kitchen in St John’s, Heavensent’s range is steadily gaining traction in the grocery sector.

Already stocked in more than 60 Foodstuffs supermarkets, Heavensent has enlisted Eye Level Marketing to grow its grocery distribution.

“Supermarkets are a new area of growth for the brand which has been built up in gift stores for more than 20 years,” says Rob. Denise says the company has been busy refining its existing recipes and improving the quality of ingredients used. “A key point of difference for us is that we have NZ honey in most of our recipes, many products contain extra virgin olive oil and most of our products are gluten free. Heavensent is a premium brand and the investment in superior ingredients is important for our customers,” says Denise.

Alongside its condiment offering, Heavensent is also building its Sweet Heaven confectionery brand. Sweet Heaven’s Giant Chocolate Fish and Giant Toastie are also gaining stockists and are ideal for impulse purchases at POS. For more information please visit www.heavensentgourmet.co.nz

HUFFMAN’S ESTABLISHED by master chef Nicolas Huffman in 2006, Huffman’s produces a multi-purpose hot sauce for both retail and foodservice sectors. Manufactured in small batches at Rosa Foods in Porirua, the brand’s hot sauce is a blend of sun-ripened sweet peppers, distilled white vinegar, sea salt, red chillies and smoked paprika. The product is then barrel aged for a minimum of three months before being strained, hand-blended and decanted into 150ml bottles. Similar to wine, the barrel aging process releases the full flavour of the chilli skins and seeds. Huffman’s hot sauce contains no artificial flavours or preservatives. Stocked in Moore Wilson and New World stores, the company’s Nick Brown says its sauce differs to alternatives on the market as it delivers a complexity of flavour that responds differently to different food. “Our sauce will make every dish taste tastier; it doesn’t compete with the flavours in your creations instead it lifts them,” says Brown.

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Brown believes popular TV programming as well as a desire to be connected to local suppliers is behind the growing artisan trend, with several new products in development for release early next year. “We make no secret of the fact we want to deliver the best products in class with the highest quality ingredients, something that will partner every home cooked meal at a realistic price that’s accessible to as many people as we can,” he says. Offshore demand for Huffman’s hot sauce is growing, especially in Australia where it is rapidly expanding.

For more information please visit www.huffmanshotsauce.com

THE BOWSER FOUNDED by Jess Astridge in December last year, The Bowser produces a range of beverages which combine natural juices with chia seeds.

Available in mixed berry, pineapple and passionfruit variants, the Chia-Go offering responds to the growing consumer demand for healthy products. Triathlete Astridge says the Chia-Go range offers nutrition in a convenient format with chia seeds increasingly being seen as a healthy food option as they contain Omega-3, protein, fibre, minerals and electrolytes. Astridge says Chia-Go has more punch than other juice products on the market with its real fruit flavours being a point of difference for the brand.

“Some other brands on the market use other ingredients to bring out more colour in their products. The quality of our natural juices means that we don’t have to do this, so we have a more natural and flavoursome taste,” she says. Manufactured at The Foodbowl in South Auckland, the company spent nine months bringing the Chia-Go range to market. During the production process, the chia seeds absorb water and create the appearance of the seeds suspended throughout the beverage.

Astridge says this is a different and novel concept in the beverage category.

“The complexities of a chia seed beverage mean we need to be hands on with the production, and producing at The Foodbowl means we can quickly up-scale to meet demand while ensuring food safety and quality.” Packaged in a 250ml resealable pouch, the Chia-Go offering has great stand out on shelf. Astridge says the company is currently in talks with retailers and has two new food products currently in development. “We see supermarkets as a natural progression for us. People want to be able to grab our product on the go and nationwide distribution is key. The supermarkets are also our gateway to export and eventually other markets.” While not currently exporting, The Bowser has had interest from the Asian markets.

For more information please visit www.thebowser.co.nz

TOMMY & JAMES REBRANDS NZ FOOD Award winner, Tommy & James, has rebranded its premium line of frozen dairy-free desserts as the company prepares for further growth and export. Previously known as Nice Cream, from the start of November the iced coconut cream desserts will be sold under the Little Island brand.

Available in Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana Bean and Mango variants, the Little Island range is offered in

125ml and 475ml tubs.

Co-owner James Crow says the move signals a new direction for the company, which began with stick confections called Nice Blocks.

“We now feel the Tommy & James brand has a lot more to offer the market with multiple lines being produced under this banner,” says Crow.

Crow says a major driver for the rebrand is export growth and the

demands of overseas markets.

“Due to the growth in popularity overseas of the term nice cream as a generic description for all non-dairy based ice cream alternatives, we’ve chosen to rebrand as Little Island, a fresh and vibrant name that speaks not only of the location our product is made, but also to the island the coconut is sourced.”

Made using premium organic Samoan coconut cream, the Little Island brand offers a unique and standout attraction to foreign markets. The range is dairy, gluten, nut and soy free and contains less sugar and half the fat of regular ice cream.

Locally, the company’s Little Island and Nice Blocks products are currently stocked in Pak’nSave, New World, Countdown, Farro, Nosh and Moore Wilson. n

BEAN SUPREME MARKS 30 YEARS IN GROCERY BEAN Supreme established the chilled vegetarian category in New Zealand when it launched block tofu in 1984. This month the 100% Kiwi owned brand celebrates its 30th anniversary, coinciding with world vegetarian month where it has partnered with the Royal New Zealand SPCA. The

partnership will see all Bean Supreme packaging carrying an endorsement from the SPCA with the LHF brand donating money to the charity each month.

Over the years, the Bean Supreme range has grown to encompass 16 products with nine exported across the ditch. In New Zealand, the total vegetarian category has increased to 45 products across both chilled and frozen with Bean Supreme selling almost 700,000 product units through supermarkets every year. n

FLY BUYS HITS 18

NEW Zealand’s largest loyalty programme, Fly Buys, turned 18 last month. Since its launch in 1996, Fly Buys has become one of the most successful loyalty programmes in the world with more than 2.5 million members. Its cards are swiped more than 300,000 times a day and an award is claimed every 43 seconds.

Fly Buys chief executive Stephen England-Hall says the company has grown and changed over its 18year lifetime. “In 1996 we had 14 companies offering Fly Buys points.

Now we have 52. These include some of New Zealand’s leading businesses, like New World, Z Energy, Noel Leeming and Mitre 10,” he says. While the company originally offered flights as rewards, members now have more than 2,000 rewards to choose from.

MALLOWPUFFS TOP POLL

GRIFFIN’S Mallowpuffs Original has been voted New Zealand’s favourite biscuit in the company’s annual nationwide poll. Attracting almost 5,000 votes, Mallowpuffs Original featured in the top three for the first time in the poll’s four-year history, beating 57 other contenders. The brand’s Hokey Pokey Squiggles narrowly beat last year’s winner, ToffeePops Original, for second and third place. Kiwi women contributed 94% of the votes nationwide with the poll conducted via an application on Griffin’s Facebook page.

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October 2014

I 17

liquor MOA REVAMPS RANGE & PACKAGING

CRAFT brewery Moa Brewing Co has refreshed its award-winning beer offering to coincide with its new look format and packaging. The brand has introduced the previously limited release Moa Session Pale Ale into its full-time range alongside Moa Original Lager in six-pack open basket and 12 pack formats. Its Estate range will now also be in six-pack open baskets, moving away from its boxed 4x330ml format, and its packaging has also had an eye-catching makeover. Moa’s head of marketing, Jeremy Meech, says open baskets are a huge trend in the US and the revamp of its range provides a more rounded portfolio.

“It’s a much better offering for consumers and our beers cover everything from an approachable style and price point with Session Pale Ale and Original Lager all the way through to the more premium specialty craft St Josephs and Imperial Stout,” says Meech.

Moa’s Reserve Range, which now

consists of Southern Alps, St Josephs, Five Hop and Imperial Stout, has been increased in size from a 375ml cork and cage format to 500ml crown cap bottles.

Meech says the new format is getting a fantastic response from consumers and offers retailers better margins than its more popular Classic and Estate ranges.

New distinctive Kiwi imagery is being used across Moa’s range with three of the four black and white images sourced from the National Library.

“We wanted to appeal to real New Zealanders with real images they could connect with and relate to. The woodchopper, mountaineer, farming and agriculture images from times gone by also reference our traditional brewing techniques.”

Moa was required to receive model consent to use the black and white images on its packaging, a challenge when the photographs are decades old.

“When we came across the image of Sammy Turner on Mt Cook with a pick-axe in his hand, his sleeves rolled up, gazing out over the stunning vista - we knew we had found something special,” says Meech.

Meech discovered Turner had been a remarkable man during his life, completing the first traverse of Mt Cook in 1906 as well as the first ascent of Mt Cook alone in 1919 and claiming the world record for skipping in 1911. n

NORTON & INVIVO TEAM UP

KIWI winery Invivo has released a new Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, featuring grapes crushed by UK talk-show host Graham Norton. The brand’s co-founders Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron flew freshly picked Marlborough grapes to London to be crushed by shareholder Norton on the set of his talk show. Graham Norton’s Own Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has a 12.5% ABV.

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ROSÉ JOINS RANGE

LION Nathan has released a 2014 Rosé to complement its existing Wither Hills portfolio. Made with 100% pinot noir grapes, the brand’s new varietal is bursting with fruit intensity and style. The launch coincides with a packaging refresh across the entire Wither Hill range and is in line with the growing popularity of softer style wines. n

ISAAC ADDS TO RANGE LION Nathan has released Isaac’s Cider with Lime & Bitters in time for summer. Available in 1.25 ltr bottles, Isaac’s new flavoured cider features a splash of bitters, hints of lime and has a 5% ABV. n

LOW IS THE NEW HIGH The case for developing a greater range of low alcohol options AFTER a long period of relative inactivity, the low alcohol beer and cider segments are starting to emerge. Until recently, the low alcohol (less than 2.5% ABV) beer segment accounted for less than 2% of the total beer market. Given that there is a tax break for making beverages below this strength, that is a pretty woeful statistic and indicates either a lack of consumer demand for beverages in that segment, a lack of beverages being offered, or both.

Last summer DB released Export Citrus, a 2% ABV beer mixed with natural lemon juice. By the end of summer it had around 2% market share, making the 12 pack the 12th most popular SKU (pack format) in beer. It way out-shot expectations and led to a lot of scrambling at the brewery to keep up with demand. Whilst credit can’t be laid solely at Export Citrus’ feet, the overall beer market also stabilised last year after decades of decline. So far in 2014 it looks as if the overall market will again be flat or even show slight growth.

Buoyed by the success of Export Citrus, DB has now released a grapefruit variant of Citrus (still at 2% ABV) and Monteith’s has launched Lightly Crushed Cider, New Zealand’s first lower alcohol cider.

Made from 100 per cent crushed, sun-ripened New Zealand apples, the crisp, dry and full-flavoured cider has a lower alcohol content of 2.8% ABV (compared to Monteiths Crushed Apple Cider which is 4.5% ABV).

The reduced alcohol trend is by no means specific to beer and cider either. Winegrowers have been experimenting with lower alcohol wines for some time and last year the Government announced that it was contributing more than $8m over seven years to work with industry on developing more lower calorie and lower alcohol wine options.

There are various reasons for the sudden increased demand for low alcohol options. One is that the demand was always there but the products weren’t. Two, a wider health and wellbeing trend that can

be seen across multiple categories, with people demanding healthier options, whether that means less fat, less sugar, less carbs or less alcohol.

Three, the developing trend for adult alternatives to soft drinks - whether this is more sophisticated soft drinks or low alcohol beers and ciders. Given that the amount of soft drinks and fruit juices sold through supermarkets alone roughly equals the entire beer market, there is clearly plenty of scope here without cannibalising the beer market further.

The final reason for increased demand will be felt later this year when the drink drive limit is reduced on 1 December. For bars and restaurants in particular, there will be a much greater need to offer more low alcohol options to ensure their patrons are confident they are still able to drive if they are only having a couple of drinks.

Most of these trends are not new.

The real surprise is possibly why it has taken this long for the low alcohol segment to really start to develop.

Part of the reason could be the tax regime. Whilst there is a reduced excise rate for beverages less than 2.5% ABV, even at the reduced rate, tax still adds on around 15c per 330ml bottle or $2 per 12 pack. If you are trying to compete with non-alcoholic beverages that do not pay excise, that is material.

Reducing the excise rate on low alcohol beverages could really explode this segment and give consumers the products they want at a price they are willing to pay for them. Whilst that may not mean reducing the rate to zero, a greater discount than what is currently provided would go some way to seeing this segment reach its full potential and give New Zealanders more tools to moderate their drinking. n

Matt Wilson Corporate Relations Manager DB Breweries Ltd

Made the way beer used to be made.

Moa Session Pale Ale is an easy drinking, balanced new world style Pale Ale. A blend of Crystal and Pale Ale malts are complemented by Kohatu, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade and Motueka hops, producing a beer with toasty malt flavours and earthy, yet tropical fruit hop tones.

storecheck The supermarket industry in NZ is dominated

by Progressive and Foodstuffs, however, there are alternatives emerging. The smaller more

PAK’nSAVE, ALBANY

STORE EXTERIOR

P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany

On Auckland’s North Shore I was able to visit a Pak’nSave, Farro, Nosh and a Countdown on a warm spring day. First up was Pak’nSave in Albany’s Mega Centre. Only just managed to get a park so the store was going to be busy. On entering I discovered it had been relaid and the entrance to the fresh produce area featured lots of product on special. Big bright posters proclaimed the specials well. In fact I discovered from a friendly staff member that the whole store from the fish counters right round to the bakery and all the fridges and freezers had been replaced and upgraded only three weeks prior. The new layout had a brighter more open feel. However, they need to do something about the floor as that was quite scruffy. Shelves were all well fronted with good signage and no out of stocks that I could see. A big improvement I thought.

• Were your first impressions positive?

(5 pts.)

4

4

4

3

FARRO, ALBANY

• Was the floor clean and free of broken/damaged stock? (5 pts.)

3

4

4

4

• Adequately lighting/heating? (5 pts.)

4

4

4

4

• Instore signage clear adequate?

(5 pts.)

4

3

3

4

• Was there good visibility of promo/ seasonal products? (5 pts.)

5

3

3

4

• Was the floor free from unattended boxes/trolleys? (5 pts.)

4

4

3

3

• Were the fridges and freezers clean and tidy? (5 pts.)

5

4

4

4

Not far away on Constellation Drive was Farro. Easy to park and my first impressions were very good. I think we get very used to the regimented straight lines of our supermarket shelves and it takes a bit of getting used to the more decorative layout of product used in these stores. I also pose the question that is it a more relaxed style of shopping because you do have to take your time to see the product and make your choices. A very clean and tidy store with lots of staff and a somewhat different product mix. However, the signage is not as consistent and whilst the deli and seafood areas were well staffed and stocked, eating in the seafood prep area is not a good look.

NOSH, ALBANY

Further east along Constellation Drive is Nosh. Possibly a little smaller than Farro, it has noticeably less car parks.

However, the barked gardens are a nice touch.

Again first impressions were very good, although I felt the in-store ticketing was average at best. The deli and meat counters had really bright, fresh looking food and the meat section was terrific. Again a diverse and different mix of product was on offer, but that still stocked the full range needed for most households.

COUNTDOWN, ALBANY

Lastly I visited Countdown in Mairangi Bay. Whilst quite small it still had everything that was needed. Aisles were noticeably narrower.

However, the store was bright and all the fresh produce and deli items looked fresh and appealing. The store layout was a little confusing and I noticed a few out of stocks in the freezers. I was greeted at the Checkouts with a warm smile from Raclina who was very

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• Was the outside of the building and grounds clean, tidy free of rubbish and with adequate trolley bays? (5 pts.)

4

4

5

3

• Were the windows and exterior clean and tidy? (5 pts.)

4

5

5

4

• Was the signage well presented and up to date? (5 pts.)

5

5

5

4

• Were there enough car parks? (5 pts.)

3

4

3

4

STORE INTERIOR

STORE LAYOUT

P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany

P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany

• Were the aisles wide enough?

(5 pts.)

5

3

3

3

• Were all shelf edge labels clearly visible? (5 pts.)

5

3

3

5

• Were all shelves clean, neat and tidy?

(5 pts.)

5

3

4

5

• Was there an adequate number of trolleys/baskets available? (5 pts.)

3

4

4

4

PRODUCTS

P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany

• Was there a good range of products to choose from? (5 pts.)

4

4

4

4

• Was there full availability of products? (5 pts.)

4

4

4

4

• Was all product packaging in good condition? (5 pts.)

3

4

4

4

• Was there a good range of magazines and cards etc and were they tidy? (5 pts.)

4

5

5

5

• Were the batteries and general merchandise tidy? (5 pts.)

4

5

5

5

boutique style supermarkets, Nosh and Farro are starting expand and take a share of the market.

So I thought it was time I had a look. friendly and efficient. A small but adequate supermarket for the area that could do with fixing the potholes in the car park.

Overall, it was very hard to find fault. Our supermarkets offer a very high standard when they get the important things right. Certainly for the folks of the North Shore they have four excellent options to choose from that provides convenience and diversity.

STAFF

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P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany

FRESH FOOD

P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany

• Did the produce look fresh?

PRODUCE (5 pts.)

4 4 4 4

FISH (5 pts.)

5 4 4 4

MEAT (5 pts.)

5

4

5

4

DELI (5 pts.)

5

5

4

4

BAKERY (5 pts.)

4 4 4 4

• Was there a full range of produce?

PRODUCE (5 pts.)

4 4 4 4

FISH (5 pts.)

5 4 4 4

MEAT (5 pts.)

5

4

5

4

DELI (5 pts.)

5

5

4

4

BAKERY (5 pts.)

4 4 4 4

• Was the Fish Counter staffed? (5 pts.) 5

5

5

5

• Was the Deli Counter staffed? (5 pts.) 5

5

5

5

• Were all staff fully dressed in uniforms and name badges? (5 pts.)

4 4 4 5

• Were there adequate checkouts, considering the time of day? (5 pts.)

3

3

3

3

• Was there anything or anyone who stood out? (5 pts.)

• Were you greeted in a friendly manner? (5 pts.)

5

4

4

5

• Overall shopper experience (10 pts.) 9

• Were you served in a speedy and efficient manner? (5 pts.)

4 4 4 5

• Were you thanked for your transaction? (5 pts.)

4 4 4 5

HOW THEY SCORE?

Maximum available score: 200 pts

5 4 4 4 8

8

7

P’nS Farro Nosh CD Albany Albany Albany Albany 172 TOP SCORE

162

162

164

CONTACT: Kevin and Peter at 09 274 9019 www.safconz.com

October 2014

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h&baisle NEW PANTENE FORMULA

PROCTOR & Gamble is set to release a breakthrough new formulation across its Pantene hair care brand. Developed on the back of 10 years of research, the new formula is designed to address the number one concern of New Zealand women – damage. Providing four times the damage protection when compared with non-conditioning shampoo, Pantene’s new recipe leaves hair with a lightweight feel. In addition, the brand has also launched the Ultimate 10 range which is comprised of two new dry shampoos – Original Fresh and Volume Booster –a BB cream and Always Smooth 7 Day Smoothing Kit treatments.

BREAST CREAM

SKINFOOD and the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation have teamed up to launch a nourishing moisturiser for breasts. Breast Cream aims to make checking breasts part of women’s regular beauty routine, allowing them to quickly pick up on any changes that could be a sign of cancer. The new product has eye-catching hot pink packaging and comes complete with a detailed leaflet, providing consumers with information on what signs and symptoms to look for. From every sale, $2 dollars will be donated to the NZBCF to help fund education, innovative research and support women with breast cancer.

“Sixty percent of young women don’t know the signs of breast cancer beyond a lump so we are proud to be working with the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation to spread the word about breast awareness and raise funds for a fantastic cause,” says Alex Badger, general manager Skinfood.

L’OREAL’S Garnier brand has launched Miracle Skin Cream which aims to instantly improve the appearance of skin as well as fight the long term signs of aging.

Micro-pigments act as a radiance concentrate, auto adjusting to all skin tones. The formula is enriched with SPF15 UV protection and seven anti-aging actives including ginger, vitamins B3, B5 and C. Garnier’s Miracle Skin Cream works to reduce dark spots, gently exfoliate and firm skin as well as contribute to the disappearance of wrinkles. The brand’s scientific team invested two years of research in creating the 50ml product which has been tested on Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic and Afro-American skin.

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WITH 80 years sun care experience, Garnier continues to be one of the most trusted sun protection labels internationally. This month the L’Oreal brand has entered New Zealand’s estimated $30 million sun protection market with its Ambre Solaire sun care range. The line of SPF50+ sun care products go beyond classic UVB and UVA protection to shield against long UVA rays. Ambre Solaire’s Sensitive Advanced offering features breakthrough UV-filtering technology and is available in lotion, spray, face and kids formats. Sensitive Advanced has a lightweight, transparent formula that is non-greasy and non-sticky with all products dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types. “The UV filters in Sensitive Advanced absorb more than 90% (instrumental test) of total UV rays, including UVB, UVA and long UVA rays. Research shows how critical it is to protect against long UVA rays as they are the most numerous and penetrating UV rays, which cause deep skin damage in the medium and long term,” says Garnier product manager Dianna Staples.

The launch is being supported by $650, 000 media spend from October through to December.

ELVIVE’S NEW OIL

GARNIER TACKLES ANTI-AGING

22

AMBRE SOLAIRE BRAND HITS NZ

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L’OREAL Paris has added to its Elvive brand, launching Extraordinary Oil Light in a 100ml spray bottle.

Designed for fine hair, the ultra-light micro-diffusion oil spray works to hydrate, protect and nourish hair fibre. Containing six flower oils including chamomile, lotus and rose, Elvive Extraordinary Oils is a versatile treatment and can be applied before washing to intensively nourish hair; before styling for deep conditioning, additional protection and softness; or as a finishing touch to dry hair for enhanced shine and a silky finish. n

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BRIBERY & CORRUPTION Image from AFP (via South China Morning Post)

It used to be that the word ‘bribery’ was the word that no-one would talk about.

I RECALL in the late 1990s working with the then Ministry of Economic Development (now part of the super-ministry MBIE, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment) on technical barriers to trade. New Zealand exporters were being questioned about difficulties in trading into different economies, and officials ‘danced around’ how we could collectively get a handle on the amount of bribes that needed to be paid to get into Asian and South American markets.

There was even nervousness about even obliquely asking the question, as payment of bribes was (and still is) illegal and the Government did not want to compromise exporters or expose them to litigation.

But everybody knew that bribery and corruption were significant barriers to trade. In the end, the term phrase “Requirement to make irregular payments or facilitation fees” was chosen and a surprisingly large number of exporters were very open about the challenges they faced.

So it was that this week I received a voting form from GS1 Global with a resolution to dismiss from the office of Vice Chair of GS1 Mr Zong Nan Wang, until relatively recently, the Chairman of Bright Foods Group.

The information supplied indicated that Mr Wang had been arrested for alleged corruption (taking bribes, embezzlement) under the new Chinese President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on senior officials and business leaders.

Although such arrests are not uncommon in China these days, the significance in Mr Wang’s arrest was that he had links to New Zealand as Bright Food Group is the parent company of

the major shareholder in Canterbury-based milk products producer Synlait, Bright Dairy.

Mr Wang had also, earlier in the year, accepted by invitation to be a speaker at the recent Connect 2014 conference, only to be forced to withdraw for what GS1 New Zealand was told was health reasons.

It is not clear from this distance as to the details nor veracity of the claims against Mr Wang, nor his health, but China commentators like Beijing bureau chief for the Financial Times (and expat Kiwi) Jamil Anderlini have long argued that corruption in China is endemic and pernicious.

What is unarguable is that, as the Chinese economy has gone through its transition to a market economy, a tidal wave of prosperity has raised out of poverty more people than ever before in history.

But at the same time extraordinary wealth has been garnered by Communist officials and entrepreneurs.

Businessmen such as Mr Wang have often had multiple roles, running state corporations, private companies and also being senior Party officials. If we accept the newswire stories and Jamil’s insightful reporting, bribery and corruption were just part of the way business and Government was done.

I’m not sure whether things have got better or worse since the late 1990s, but bribery and corruption have been strongly identified as barriers to cross-border trade in recent APEC studies. There are many supply chain ‘chokepoints’ that slow the passage of goods, but having to pay a customs official a bribe to ensure a container is cleared in a timely manner is one that most Kiwi exporters would love to avoid.

This is why the APEC agenda, especially in a year when China is host to APEC, to implement inter-operable Customs and phytosanitary clearance systems is so important. Such frameworks promise more Kiwi goods being ‘green lighted’ by systemto-system exchanges – lessening the opportunity for any official to request ‘folded stuff’ in a brown envelope. n

Peter Stevens CEO, GS1 New Zealand

FOODSTUFFS REDUCES LANDFILL FOODSTUFFS North Island has begun rolling out new sustainable seafood boxes to its Pak’nSave and New World stores. The co-operative has partnered with fish processor Sanford Ltd and Charta Packaging to develop a 100% recyclable box for seafood which is set to reduce landfill waste by around 2,250 cubic metres every year.

The cost effective and more environmentally friendly solution replaces boxes made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), a material which is not readily recyclable in New Zealand.

“The new packaging demonstrated a really positive environmental step forward for Foodstuffs Seafood Division, as the new boxes can be recycled via stores cardboard cages or balers meaning a massive reduction in the amount of EPS

going to landfill,” says Baden Ngan Kee, Foodstuffs North Island general manager merchandise. n

October 2014

I 23

coldbeverages BETTER DRINKS FOR MORE OCCASIONS

WITH a 30% share of the chilled juice market, The Better Drinks Co’s extensive portfolio encompasses the Charlie’s, Phoenix and Ti Tonics brands. The company has added to its offering this month, launching Charlie’s Honest Fizz cans in Raspberry, Orange Mango and Lemonade options. Charlie’s new fizzy drink is made with real fruit and contains lower sugar levels than the category norm. A line of Iced Coolers in 1.5ltr and 500ml bottles will also join the Charlie’s brand and are being sold in Raspberry & Pomegranate with Coconut Water, Mango & Peach Passion with Coconut Water and Lemon & Orange Blossom with Green Tea variants. Brand manager Nick Smith says the Iced Coolers tap into the worldwide trend for lower calorie drinks with the added benefits of coconut water and green tea.

“Growth is coming from actual

innovation, especially products that hit on global trends,” says Smith.

While the chilled juice category is currently in growth, Smith says sales of orange juice are either stagnant or in decline. “New products outside of classic flavour profiles are really driving growth, especially our Spirulina smoothies and Quenchers.

OJ still has its place in the category but it’s a matter of flanking them with new products to drive category

growth,” he says. Better Drinks’ trade marketing manager, Jocelyn Anderson, says the new products are being led by consumer insights across total beverages, rather than just chilled.

“We’re looking at more occasionbased shopping and are trying to offer something new to the category. Chilled juice has traditionally been anchored in breakfast so we’re tapping into new usage occasions and knocking down barriers to consumption,” says Anderson.

The company is also looking to increase its presence outside of chilled beverages.“We want to expand our footprint into other areas with our better-for-you products. Honest Fizz is an ambient product and is already driving incremental growth in petrol where it launched first,” says Anderson. Ti-Tonics, which Better Drinks has been distributing since earlier this year, is also performing steadily and making in-roads with major export markets like the US. n

NEW BRAND ENTERS MARKET

VITALZING is an innovative, locally made beverage range which is set to invigorate New Zealand’s flavoured water segment. Already in grocery with its Water for Everyone brand, the company is the first Kiwi beverage offering to incorporate dosing cap technology, allowing vitamins and minerals to be held separately until consumption. VitalZing CEO Alister Gates says dosing caps keep vitamins and minerals fresh and are successfully being used internationally by three US companies.

“Vitamins and minerals break down in water so many beverages have to include a lot of additives in order to maintain the original nutritional properties,” says Gates. Available in nine 500ml SKUs, the VitalZing offering contains Kauri Springs NZ water and its Electrolyte, Collagen, Green Tea, Vitamins Everyday and Vital Boost sub-ranges are designed to appeal to a wide consumer base. The brand’s Green Tea Original and Electrolyte Limoncello variants have already been picked up by Progressive and the company is currently in talks with Foodstuffs.

“Retailers are very excited about the range because it’s innovative as well as being a functional beverage that works.” VitalZing is also looking to capitalise on the international trend of water enhancers, releasing Water Drops in Raspberry, Peach, Lemon-Lime and Mandarin variants. The 45ml container provides 32 servings and is low in calories and contains no carbohydrates.

Ranged in 42 Countdown stores, VitalZing’s Water Drops have been well received by consumers and are ideal for POS impulse purchases. n

RETRO DRINKS

KIWI owned beverage manufacturer Foxton Fizz has been producing its range of retro soft drinks since 1918. Its five variants - Creaming Soda, Kola, Raspberry, Lime and Lemonade – are currently gaining traction through supermarkets and convenience stores. Previously only well known in Manawatu and the wider Wellington region, Foxton Fizz is now stocked from Whangarei to Invercargill.

Foxton Fizz’s Matt Watson says the brand is able to occupy a unique position as a genuine retro label within the highly competitive carbonated soda drinks category. “Our followers have a strong understanding of the brand and like it for being small town, not too serious, a wonderful reminder of days gone by and for the uncomplicated retro flavours,” says Watson. The company is currently working on new Kiwiana variants. n

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CRANKT HITS NZ

IMPORTER Best Beverage Company has added to its extensive offering, introducing the Crankt protein shake brand to the New Zealand market.

Available in Chocolate, Vanilla and Coffee variants, Crankt is a ready-todrink high protein, low carbohydrate beverage range which features additional vitamins, minerals and natural energy. Across the ditch, the Australian brand continues to grow at 17% month-on-month and has brought incremental growth to the protein drinks segment in both grocery and convenience sectors.

Best Beverage sales director, Paul Elsom, says the market for sports food products has changed significantly over recent years.

“Originally aimed at athletes engaged in elite sports, endurance events and bodybuilding, the category has expanded with the emergence of new target groups including non-athletes, teenagers,

HANSELLS ADDS TO VITASPORT

HANSELLS cold beverage portfolio includes well-known brands Vitafresh, Vitasport, Thriftee and Hansells. Its Vitasport label continues to grow at 3.5%, driven by a loyal customer following, and will soon be joined by an Electrolyte Low Cal offering (Aztec MAT 03/08/14). Available in Active Blue and Berry options, the new range makes 5x750ml and responds to growing consumer demand from families.

“Ongoing support of the brand, including sponsorship of three athletes and several events, continues to create an increased awareness and demand for Vitasport resulting in good growth,” says Hansells senior brand manager Rachael Bryers. The company’s Vitafresh brand continues to lead innovation in the powdered beverages segment with its limited release fivepack range. Featuring White Peach & Passionfruit, Tutti Frutti Blue and newly launched Feijoa & Pear variants, the brand’s limited release options are already outperforming its more traditional flavours. Containing up to 14 SKUs, the Vitafresh offering contains more vitamin C and less sugar than orange juice. Bryers says the success of Vitafresh’s limited release range is a reflection of how the consumer palette is moving into more premium and real fruit flavours.

“We’re succeeding in upselling the consumer, in a category that’s really suffering from too many deep cut promotions.” In the cordial market Hansells manufactures and markets Thriftee – a sugar free concentrate which makes over 20 litres per bottle. Suitable for diabetics, Thriftee has the highest share of throat in the cordial category. The company also markets its Hansells Quench range of mixers which features Mojito, Cosmopolitan and Lemon, Lime & Bitters options. n

women and the elderly,” says Elsom.

Available in 375ml resealable bottles, the ambient protein shakes have a long shelf life and its packaging is designed to appeal to energy drink consumers.

Elsom says the company will be launching an exciting new line of naturally sweetened soft drinks in the coming months. n

coldbeverages POMPELMO LAUNCHED

FRUIT SYRUPS A SUMMER HIT

BARKER’S of Geraldine’s range of award winning, top selling fruit syrups features 18 SKUs including Orange & Barley with Passionfruit, Crushed NZ Apricot Blush and Lemon Honey & Ginger in 710ml bottles.

Manufactured on the corner of the family farm alongside the brand’s fruit preserves and chutneys, Barker’s syrup range is ideal for the warmer months and boasts a list of NZ food accolades including a finalist nomination for its Mountain Moonshine variant at this year’s NZ Food Awards.

Its NZ Lime & Elderflower fruit syrup was also named a finalist at last year’s awards.

“For more than 45 years, innovation has been a key part of our business success. From my father’s Elderberry Wine in the 1960s right through until the new Anathoth Farm packaging and Barker’s Mountain Moonshine in 2014, we are always looking for creative ways to satisfy our customers with products made from real fruit and vegetables and a minimum of processing and additives,” says Michael Barker. n

TOTAL SUPERMARKETS - CURR MAT W/E 07/09/2014

T. Total Beverages T. Carbonated Soft Drinks T. Fruit Juice Shelf Stable T. RTD Energy Beverages T. Non Carbonated Mineral Water T. Fruit Drinks T. Sport Drink T. Carbonated Mixers T. Vegetable Juice T. Carbonated Pure Mineral Water T. RTD Other Beverages T. Carbonated Fruit Juice T. Carbonated Flavoured Mineral Water T. Non RTD New Age Bevarages T. RTD Energy Shot

VAL SALES VAL % CHG YA $629,796,976 0.8% $288,402,328 -0.3% $94,110,453 -1.8% $86,924,423 5.9% $43,896,646 5.7% $30,579,223 5.7% $30,002,596 -9.6% $24,641,397 0.5% $8,174,411 -4.9% $7,477,249 5.9% $5,719,661 73.5% $5,352,124 -16.9% $3,879,645 13.7% $636,551 27.2% $269 -96.8%

UNIT SALES UNIT % CHG YA 219,214,071 -0.7% 99,219,481 -2.9% 29,481,755 0.8% 29,804,314 0.8% 20,024,101 3.4% 8,998,504 13.9% 11,040,681 -13.4% 11,100,123 1.5% 1,919,533 -5.1% 2,633,188 9.9% 1,706,771 70.4% 1,315,334 -25.4% 1,873,628 19.5% 96,531 -9.8% 127 -97.6%

T. Total Chilled Beverages T. Fruit Juice Chilled T. Fresh Flavoured Milk T. Uht Flavoured Milk

VAL SALES VAL % CHG YA UNIT SALES UNIT % CHG YA $74,527,602 2.6% 23,472,516 1.5% $36,110,965 4.8% 9,636,212 7.1% $24,208,754 -2.0% 6,064,003 -9.8% $14,207,883 5.5% 7,772,301 4.9%

FEDERAL Merchants has added to its Sanpellegrino offering with Pompelmo joining its sparkling fruit beverage range. Made with high quality grapefruit juice, Pompelmo is a cool and refreshing beverage with a distinctive, slightly bitter taste.

The new product joins the brand’s existing Italian soft drink variants Aranciata, Aranciata Rossa and Limonata in 330ml cans.

Containing between 12–18% real fruit, Sanpellegrino’s sparkling fruit beverages preserves the natural flavour of the fruit during processing and is preservative free.

Aranciata was first launched in 1932 and since then Sanpellegrino’s beverage portfolio has gone on to represent Italian authenticity.

Federal Merchants also represents well-known brand Angostura in the beverage category. Its Lemon, Lime & Bitters pre-mix is made with the original Angostura bitters, which has been in the market since 1824, and is sold in single 330ml glass bottles as well as a 4x 330ml pack. n

Source: Nielsen NZ Scantrack

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For order enquiries, please contact sales@neillcropper.com or your local Neill Cropper Territory Manager.

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* Data source Total Supermarkets Aztec New Zealand 31st August 2014

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AROHA has added to its sparkling juice and fruit cordial offering, launching a range of hand crafted still beverages. Featuring natural ingredients, Aroha’s new line is available in Apple & Pear, Elderflower & Green Currant, Sauvignon Blanc & Saffron and Ginger, Lemon & Honey variants.

Positioned at the premium end of the category, founder Mark Dillon says sales are picking up across the entire range with consumers interested in heritage fruit juices which are under represented in the category.

“I have also introduced new flavours to the market like Green Currant -a world first albino blackcurrant that has been produced in Canterbury. We have also looked to take traditional juices in different directions with our non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc & Saffron,” says Dillon.

Dillon says many international trends are being reflected in the Kiwi market with consumers looking for natural, low-sugar alternatives.

“I believe we will see an increase in consumer demand for beverages delivering more targeted functional performance over the next few years.

Things like cologne based natural beauty drinks, protein based natural energy and muscle development drinks.”

The company has recently focused on improving its systems and distribution network in order to offer

retailers the same service levels as the category’s major players.

“As we are a local company with great products we see ourselves as leading the foot race there and hope to convert that into great sales performance this summer,” says Dillon. n

LOW SUGAR OPTIONS DRIVE GROWTH

F RUCOR Beverages’ portfolio covers the energy, carbonated soft drink, fruit beverages, water, sports and milk segments with a host of household brands including V, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Just Juice, Fresh Up, H2GO, Gatorade and Wave.

Market leaders in energy and fruit beverages, Frucor also holds the number two position in CSDs, water, sports and flavoured milk. The company has recently added to its energy offering with the launch of a limited edition summer variant from its V brand called Gnarly. National sales manager grocery, Derek Stone, says the cold beverage category continues to grow at a steady rate with consumers moving towards lower sugar options.

“Globally, beverage brands across continued on page 28

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coldbeverages continued from page 26 categories are facing the challenge of innovating healthier propositions in order to stay relevant to consumers.

As a result, we now have 47 lower and no sugar drinks across our portfolio and our Manukau based R&D team are constantly looking at how we can develop more product offerings to meet consumer demand in this area,” says Stone.

One of the first Kiwi manufacturers to use Stevia in its beverages, Frucor’s flavoured H2Go Zero products and its Just Juice with

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50% less sugar range both contain the natural sweetener.

Stone says future category growth will continue to come from functional beverages “This is not about simply adding vitamins and minerals, it is about ensuring the offer adds intrinsic value to consumers lives.

We see the future growth of beverages coming from an ability to play an increasing positive role in the management of consumers’ daily nutrition.” n

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SMOOTHIES DRIVE GROWTH FOR SIMPLY SQUEEZED SIMPLY Squeezed is the market leader in chilled beverages with its juice, smoothies and superjuice offering representing 59.2% of the category. Earlier this year, the company re-launched its smoothie range, rolling out new look packaging and several new variants including Coco-Ninja.

Simply Squeezed’s Daryl Greentree says growth is coming from fruit smoothies, a segment unique to the chilled juice category.

“Smoothies growth in the last quarter has added just under a million dollars of incremental sales over 2013 numbers. We contributed $762,334, or 81%, of this with our new smoothies re-launch and we also have an 84% share of the smoothies segment,” says Greentree.

Known for its innovation, Simply Squeezed introduced New Zealand’s first dairy free probiotic juice drink with its Superjuice HappyBelly, which has been incredibly well received by both retailers and consumers.

“Consumers are looking for exciting, new flavours and pack sizes.

Traditionally the backbone of the category has been in OJ, specifically bulk packs. Whilst this is still the largest segment, the growth is definitely in smaller pack sizes,” says Greentree.

While the chilled beverage category is currently enjoying a strong growth period, growing 15% in the latest quarter, Greentree says there is a fundamental shift in consumer needs and Simply Squeezed is setting a new direction for its brands. n

PROPOSED CHANGES FACE CRITICISM

PROPOSALS before Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) could result in sports drinks brands making health claims on packaging.

The proposed changes involve claims related to hydration and the replenishment of electrolytes following exercise.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) has opposed the changes as have Australian researchers who say there is a lack of scientific evidence to support the claims. ARPHS medical officer Dr Michael Hale says an increasing number of Kiwi children are consuming sports drinks on a regular basis.

“While most people were aware that fizzy drinks were bad for your health, many do not realise that the drinks contained similar amounts of sugar to soft drink, around 15 teaspoons per bottle,” says Hale. n

coldbeverages PREMIUM FLAVOURED MILK LEWIS Road Creamery has collaborated with Whittaker’s to produce its latest offering - Fresh Chocolate Milk.

The first in Lewis Road’s new range of premium flavoured milks, Fresh Chocolate Milk combines the award-winning dairy producer’s whole milk with Whittaker’s 5 Roll Refined Creamy Milk Chocolate.

Sold in 300ml and 700ml recyclable bottles, Lewis Road’s newest product is set to bring new

BUNDABERG’S NEW PRODUCTS BUNDABERG Brewed Drinks, makers of the famous Bundaberg Ginger Beer, has introduced three new brewed beverages to its soft drink offering.

Featuring Royal Gala and Granny Smith apples, Bundaberg’s Apple Cider is a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage which has been brewed for up to three days. Sold in a 375ml glass bottle with pull tab, Bundaberg is hoping its Apple Cider will be able to capitalise on the growing popularity of alcoholic cider.

Also new to the portfolio is a Traditional Lemonade variant which

consumers to the segment.

“My goal is to offer a more sophisticated, more delicious, more natural range of flavoured milks – beginning with chocolate – that taste like nothing else on the market.

I am confident this drink will appeal to people who don’t currently consider themselves fans of flavoured milk,” says Lewis Road Creamery founder Peter Cullinane. n

picks up on the trend for retro and nostalgic products. The beverage contains real Eureka lemons and is craft brewed for more than three days using time-honoured methods.

Bundaberg Pineapple & Coconut is being offered in a 340ml glass bottle with screw cap and is the third new product to be launched by the company this summer. The sparkling drink combination is very much on trend and is ideal as a mixer with spirits and in summer cocktails.

The Bundaberg range is handled locally by Neill, Cropper & Company. n

...........

RED Bull has added to its energy drink offering, introducing Red Bull Zero to the Kiwi market. The premium new addition responds to consumer demand for healthier beverage alternatives and contains zero carbohydrates, zero sugar and is low in calories. Available in individual 250ml cans and a 4x250ml pack, Red Bull Zero will be priced in line with the brand’s energy drink and sugarfree variants.

“Red Bull Zero is expected to drive incremental sales for the brand and further invigorate the energy drink category. The diet/sugarfree/ zero segment accounts for 9.1% of all energy drink channels in the New Zealand market and is growing at 6% versus a year ago (Nielsen YTD 10/08/14),” says Gavin Pook, Red Bull New Zealand general manager. n

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Made using the traditional Sake method

allergy CONSUMER CONCERNS OVER ALLERGY DISPLAYS IN-STORE HOW New Zealand supermarkets handle consumers’ allergy concerns over product availability, in-store positioning and display is becoming of increasing interest to both buyers and sellers. Progressive’s merchandise manager, Steve Mills, says there are significantly more products available in this category than there has ever been and new product innovations continue to drive growth for retailers.

“Our naturya category, which includes organic, gluten, dairy and sugar free products has seen 20%

growth in the last year, showing a real shift in consumer tastes toward ‘free from’. All our stores have dedicated shelf space for these products and they’re popular with a wide range of customers, not just those that may have diet restrictions,” says Steve Mills.

Foodstuffs spokesperson Antoinette Shallue says its supermarkets are catering to the growing demand for gluten free products, with 50 different types of gluten free biscuits and rice crackers now ranged and more than

30 different gluten free cereals on offer.

“Gluten free pasta has seen a 16% increase in sales on last year with most pasta types now available in gluten free. Gluten free bread has also seen a 16% growth in value sales with Vogel’s loaves making up the top five products followed by Burgen and Venerdi,” says Shallue.

Foodstuffs has also increased its gluten free baking offering with more than 40 different ingredients including specialty flour, which has seen a 13%

increase in sales in the last year.

A check on the current situation amongst the growing number of consumers who rightly or wrongly believe they have allergies has raised some interesting comments.

SupermarketNews recently teamed up with specialist magazine AllergyToday with editor Paulette Crowley asking her readers for comments on what they see (or don’t) in supermarkets, and the responses below are of wide interest. n

I think New World supermarkets have done a great job with their blue gluten free markers around price tags on products in their store. It makes it a lot easier than having to pick up every product and read the tiny ingredient lists. I would like to see this adopted around more supermarkets, and dairy free, egg free, nut free introduced as well. I would like to see the allergy friendly foods placed more openly in supermarkets as well, gluten free bread is normally on the lowest shelf under the wraps, like you’re buying a ‘taboo’ product. Allergies in New Zealand are common and something we should not feel ashamed of when buying our groceries! We shouldn’t have to ‘hunt’ for ‘real food’ we can eat. It should be clearly labelled amongst all the other food, or in an area specific to allergy.

My main gripe about I am severely dairy (lactose) buying GF for my coeliac seven intolerant and gluten intolerant, so year old daughter is they often have the this makes grocery shopping on a $60 a week products out of stock and when they are out of budget for two people quite the mission! Although I stock, they are often not replaced for a number of think in the last 6-12 months supermarkets have made weeks. I have been waiting for my local supermarket some big changes around the allergy friendly foods, to re-stock tinned GF spaghetti. A staple product in with more products being available in stores and our pantry (as Watties tinned spaghetti would be some even being on special now, however, in a non-gluten free household). They would I think there is still a lot of room for Simple never run out of Watties tinned spaghetti, improvement.

Shampoo & Conditoner but no effort is made to replace the have been deleted by Unilever here one we need. (and I believe in Australia as well). Yet they don’t have an alternative that is perfume free and My Fresh colour free. It is supposedly because they weren’t Choice and Countdown selling enough of the products. I think that is very short supermarkets have an extensive gluten sighted. If they marketed the products in a pro-active free section with plenty of options for all food manner, they would sell more. And looking at the allergies. I work for Fresh Choice in Southland and price point of various other things I am attempting we stock a range constantly up dated with new and to use (and not having much success), I requested gluten free/nut, dairy ,egg free products and suspect it was priced too cheaply flour mixes to produce your own. Also I have found that the as well. international aisle in any supermarket will have a range I feel the allergy products

My two children both have nut allergies. A couple of things that bug me in supermarkets is the fact that most of the supermarket bakery products now of gluten free too once you know what to look for.

I are hard to find and require much better say ‘may contain nuts’. They didn’t use to, and most am a coeliac\ibs\dairy shopper and yes I read signage, and sometimes the products are in the of the time they’re not cooking with nuts (as far as I can a lot of labels and carry ingredient ‘health’ aisle, other times under ‘international’. I get that see) so that’s frustrating that I can’t buy the kids rolls, list booklets. it is difficult deciding whether to put like products together croissants, donuts, pikelets etc. Also, would love it if they such as gluten free bread in the bread aisle, but I would prefer a could make the bulk bins safer so I could buy lollies whole aisle dedicated to all allergy free products. It would make or rice cracker snacks etc from them. I’ve seen I find it so hard looking and, more importantly, comparing goods so much easier I just wanted to let you the cleaners using the same rag on all the to get the good brands and drastically reduce our time spent in the supermarket going know about New World Halswell in containers etc, the same scoop of gluten-free bread with back and forth comparing products and hunting them down. I Christchurch, they do a food intolerance/ when refilling. online shopping - Venerdi and visited the gluten and allergy free show in Auckland this year allergy leaflet (it’s about 20 pages long so a little Bakeworks are never in stock. for the first time and was astounded at all the products bigger than a leaflet). I have fructose intolerance Really frustrating - I live in that I hadn’t seen in our local supermarket. I am from which isn’t included but I think it’s a step too far for most Hamilton, not a small Whangarei and we are represented by all the places, whilst being diagnosed with it I tried to not eat town. major supermarket companies.

For example I the various obvious foods that affect most people and have been to both my nearest the leaflet was really helpful. It’s still helpful now Countdown and Pak’nSave in with the flours but to be honest I’ve been doing Christchurch, to buy gluten free bread, it a few years now so you sort of learn where every loaf on the shelf in the brand what you can eat.

Egg white replacer is a I buy has been mouldy. Upon returning the big deal in our house and without it bread for a new loaf the woman who our daughter is unable to eat lots of her staple I hate the served me muttered under her breath and favourite foods. Running out is sometimes supermarkets that mix the that ‘food nuts should buy real unavoidable. My only local supermarket has a large Our supermarket allergy foods with ordinary foods and bread’. selection of health food-type products and seemingly every stocks very little in the way expect you to trawl the shelves to look for second item claims to be gluten-free – but egg white replacer of allergy foods and do not it. In the case of my New World, they have We have egg allergy is not stocked. The supermarket serves an area of around advertise them well at all a bread stand just for gluten free then put in the family amongst other 8000 people and four times that in the tourist season, so it non gluten free food mixed in with it. things. Quite often I can’t get No Egg seems unreasonable that it wouldn’t stock this produce Best New Worlds I have found are in the local smaller store so have to go because egg allergy is one of the most common in Warkworth and Brookfield in elsewhere. Seems they stock it sometimes children in this country. I eventually got it from Tauranga.

I have been allergy but not always. Luckily we have lots of the health food store who didn’t bat an shopping for over 20 years and I find supermarkets to choose from being eyelid when I asked for it. there are more products now than there used in Christchurch.

I have a son who is allergic to to be, often imported from the US. Something I have dairy, eggs and nuts. I find our supermarkets cater found often is that products that my son can eat are often quite well to the gluten free market, but are sadly lacking in deleted, I assume because sales have been too low. He has Do you know of a catering to dairy, egg and nut free. While there are a few products on been disappointed many times when something he likes is no product called No Egg? Orgran is the shelves, there are not many which are safe for us. I have actually taken longer available. He has multiple food allergies which makes the make and it has the added benefit to ordering products from Australia recently as I have been unable to get my it difficult but when he was younger it was important for him of being gluten free. There is also a son’s Orgran crackers either in the supermarkets or specialty shops anymore. to have similar items as everyone else and homemade product called Vegg you can get from the They are shipped here really quickly, are cheaper than they would be to buy in just didn’t fit the bill. I also shop in many different SAFE shop.This is good for quiches New Zealand, and they have a lot more choice than we have. If supermarkets supermarkets and special food markets hunting etc. We are gluten free had an all Orgran section, stocking all their products it would be really for products for him although not so vegans. helpful as I know and trust their products. I would have thought this much now that he is older. was a growing market and that the price they charge for these products would make it worthwhile to supermarketnews.co.nz 100% OWNED stock.

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Sugar FREE ü

No sugar added ü

Gluten FREE ü

Wheat FREE ü

Egg FREE ü

Dairy FREE ü

Yeast FREE ü

Nut FREE ü

Lactose FREE ü

Vegan ü

newproducts

DELI SAUCES

CONDIMENT manufacturer Springbrook Foods has introduced a range of bulk sauces for in-store deli and butchery departments.

Ideal for use in marinades, salads, sandwiches and pizza, Springbrook’s bulk range comprises BBQ , Mint and No-Nut Satay variants. The 3kg box with tap format can be stored in ambient conditions and both its BBQ and No-Nut Satay sauces are gluten free. The brand’s No-Nut Satay option was a finalist in the Best New Foodservice Product at this year’s Fine Food New Zealand. n

VERSATILE FRUIT TEAS RED Seal has launched a range of fruit teas suitable for brewing in both hot and cold water. Available in Blood Orange, Exotic Fruits, Strawberry & Rhubarb, Lemon & Ginger, Apple & Elderflower and Peach & Pineapple options, the new tea offering contains no sugar, calories or gluten and is being sold in boxes of 20 teabags. Red Seal’s unique tea range is aiming to grow the category, allowing consumers to make their own iced teas, add flavour to bottled water or use as a base for summer cocktails.

A multi media launch campaign

will establish awareness while sampling, online promotions and PR will drive trial. n

GREEK YOGHURT DIP HEINZ Wattie’s has added to its

RUSTIC CRISPBREADS ARTISAN brand Inspired Food has launched Twice Baked Rustic Crispbreads in Cranberry & Almond and Nut Seed & Rosemary variants.

Made from gluten free flour, the handmade crispbreads are sold in 115g packs and are an ideal accompaniment to cheeses, sliced pears or fruit paste. n

Mediterranean brand with the launch of a Greek yoghurt dip range. Offered in four variants – Beetroot & Mint, Cucumber & Dill, Roasted Red Pepper & Feta and Roasted Garlic, Carrot & Coriander – Mediterranean’s new line is the only dip on the market made with authentic Greek yoghurt and is available to retail in 180g pottles. Two new line extensions have also joined Wattie’s Just Hummus brand with Beetroot Hummus and Vine Ripened Tomato variants hitting shelves this month. n

LOAF has released its four best selling slices as a range of petite sized treats called Mini Bites. Encompassing Brownie, Gooey Caramel, Rocky Road and Cranberry Pistachio, Loaf ’s Mini Bites are made with all natural flavours and ingredients. The range is available in 120g packs. n

A natural cheese range, culinary products, smoothies and yoghurt additions are among the 42 new products launched, bringing Meadow Fresh’s existing retail range up to 155 SKUs. The launch coincides with a packaging makeover across the entire range, supported by a $1.5 million marketing campaign covering TV, in-store promotions and POS displays. n

MEADOW Fresh has expanded its dairy offering with a slew of new products joining the Goodman Fielder brand.

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IN A new joint venture 100% Nutz has teamed up with Prolife’s Mother Earth label to relaunch and rebrand its line of Kiwi made premium peanut butters. The Mother Earth 100% Nutz spread range is available in new look 380g pots and features six variants including Chocolate Peanut Spread, Crunchy Peanut Butter, and LSA (Linseed, Sunflower Seeds & Almonds) Blend.

Made in New Zealand from Australian Hi Oilec peanuts, Mother Earth brand manager Julia Toomey is confident the dual branding on the

new-look pots will ensure existing 100% Nutz buyers will continue to reach on shelf for the product and trade up to a trusted brand. “The strength and trust of the Mother Earth brand in the market will see more consumers willing to trade up to premium peanut butter. The product is a perfect fit with the Mother Earth brand and its values to deliver on promise of nature at its most finest,” says Toomey. The launch is being supported with a Mother Earth brand TVC, PR activity and print advertising. n

MINI BITES LAUNCHED

NEW DAIRY ADDITIONS

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PREMIUM PEANUT BUTTER

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HOMEBAKE PREMIX LINE FARMERS Mill has launched a new range of high quality, specialty flour and premix products from its Homebake brand. Made from 100% New Zealand grown premium wheat, the new offering features an Artisan Flour, Biscuit Flour, Buttermilk Scone Mix, Banana Bread Mix, Muffin Mix, Brioche Mix and Pizza Base Mix. Farmers Mill CEO Grant Bunting says the Homebake range may soon be joined by gluten free specialty flours and premixes.

“We developed these products in response to increasing consumer demand for convenience in baking.

Conscientious New Zealanders are looking for quality products and fool-proof ways to bake traditional favourites but with an assurance of 100% New Zealand flour and traceability. We can categorically give them that,” says Bunting.

Timaru based Farmers Mill is New Zealand’s only grower owned and operated mill. n

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enjoy with your favourite toppings • Peckish is the #1 sub-brand of biscuits in $ sales in NZ (MAT 24/08/2014) • Peckish continues to drive the rice cracker segment and is worth $20M MAT growing at 7.6% • Line priced with current 100g Tray offering

Contact your DKSH New Zealand Limited representative for more information.

newproducts NEW NUT PRODUCTS PROLIFE’S Mother Earth label has launched two new additions to its nut range in time for National Nut Day later this month. Salsa Cashews and Deluxe Mix Nut & Seed Bites are made with minimal processing with the brand’s Salsa Cashews featuring freshly roasted cashews coated in a tangy, salsa seasoning. Deluxe Mix combines nuts and dried fruit with nut and seed bites which have been coated in yoghurt chocolate. Both new variants are being offered in convenient, re-sealable 150g packs. n

NEW READY MEALS SUNRICE has increased its prepackaged ready to go meal range and is

currently launching Chinese Black Bean & Beef and Mexican Chilli Con Carne variants. Sunrice’s range is manufactured in Thailand and these two SKU’s are made with New Zealand beef with the company taking the unusual step of registering Thailand with MPI as a processor and exporter of New Zealand beef for export back to New Zealand. The two new variants bring Sunrice’s boxed ready meal offering to 12 SKU’s and feature the new look packs with increased meat rolled out in May this year. n

KATO STREET FOOD LHF has launched a range of street food inspired condiments under its Kato Urban Chef label. Available in six variants, Kato’s new offering features Meyer Lemon Mayo, Beetroot Relish, Sticky Chilli Mayo, Tomato Relish, Roast Garlic Aioli and Caramelised Onion Relish. With attractive and convenient shelf ready trays, the New Zealand made Urban Chef range responds to the growing popularity of street food. The launch is being supported by a print, digital and sampling campaign. n

NEW OATY SLICE

ALFA ONE OLIVE OIL HANSELLS has moved into the olive oil category, launching two certified Extra Virgin Olive Oils from its Alfa One brand. Available in Leccino and Frantoio options, the new 750ml products contain single estate Italian olive varieties which have been picked and cold pressed within a few hours on-site where they are grown in Australia. Bottled in New Zealand every couple of months, Hansells brand manager Susan Harvey says the company is offering a freshness guarantee to shoppers.

“We are acutely aware that some of the olive oils sold here in New Zealand are several years old and rancid by the time they have travelled from Europe. So we only use oil from the first press and quickly process it before storing it in controlled conditions,” says Susan Harvey. This month Alfa One has also launched a Brown Rice Oil and a Non Stick Spray. Its Brown Rice Oil is ideal for high temperature cooking and contains twice the amount of antioxidants of standard Alfa One Rice Bran Oil and 10 times the antioxidants of any other cooking oil. The brand’s Non Stick Spray is naturally propelled with nitrogen and has a butane-free taste. n

TOMATO CRISPS ABE’S has increased its snack offering, releasing Tomato Salsa Bagel Crisps in 150g packs. Baked using the brand’s fresh bagels, Tomato Salsa Bagel Crisps combine tangy tomato with the sweetness of onion and spices.

Abe’s new crisps contain 50% less fat than regular potato chips and can be eaten straight from the pack or as an accompaniment to dips. “We’ve managed to deliver a well rounded flavour without compromising on the healthy aspects of bagel crisps,” says marketing manager Melanie Kyle. n

TASTI’S NEW LINES OATY Bakes has joined Tasti’s wrapped snacks portfolio in Original, Triple Choc and Lemon, Almond & Poppyseed options. The premium baked bar offering features a new bar and pack shape. To celebrate Tasti’s baking heritage the Kiwi manufacturer has also launched a traditional baking tin containing a recipe card and Christmas cake ingredients. n

NEW PECKISH CRACKERS

STRAWBERRY & Yoghurt has joined Mother Earth’s Baked Oaty Slices range. Made with wholegrain oats, yoghurt chunks and strawberry pieces, the new addition contains no artificial colours or flavours and is available in 240g boxes of six bars. The Prolife brand’s Strawberry & Yoghurt variant complements the Oaty Slice product offering which includes Apricot Chocolate, Apple Crumble and Raspberry & White Chocolate. n

DKSH has added to its successful Peckish brand with the launch of Brown Rice Crackers in No Salt and Lightly Salted options. Peckish’s Brown Rice range is made with rice

bran oil and is baked rather than fried.

Ideal for consumers on the go, the gluten free and palm oil free crackers hit shelves earlier this month and are offered in 100g packs. n

OBENTO’S SEA SALT CHOC COOKING SAKE LINDT has added Sea Salt Caramel to its premium Excellence 100g block range. Represented locally by DKSH New Zealand, Lindt’s new addition contains fine dark chocolate, crunchy caramel pieces and hand harvested sea salt crystals. n

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IMPORTER Oriental Merchant has introduced Obento’s Cooking Sake to the Kiwi market. Traditionally used to add extra flavour to meat, fish and vegetables, Obento’s Cooking Sake is also popular as an ingredient in Japanese sauces and marinades. Made using fermenting rice and koji, Obento’s new addition is gluten free and features clear English labelling. n

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In-Store Support

To watch the TV ads, visit youtube.com/caffeaurora

Vittoria Food & Beverage, Compass House, Ground Floor, 162 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland 1010 Ph: (09) 984 5675 F: (09) 984 5677 W: www.vittoriafandb.com For more information or to place an order speak to your local Alliance Marketing Representative

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THERE IS A NEW INGREDIENT IN BABY FOOD – TASTE. productwatch

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Contact Your CROSSMARK Representative For More Information

To order, contact Brian Everton on 021 244 1338 or brian@cabernet.co.nz

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NEW Rafferty’s Garden baby food pouches –

INCREASE YOUR INCREMENTAL MEAT SALES WITH DELICIOUS SINGLE SERVE PIRONGIA PURE BACON.

coconut product range Gluten Free

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• Healthier replacements for daily cooking ingredients.

• Certified Organic, free of gluten, dairy, soy and GMOs. info@matakanasuperfoods.com | www.matakanasuperfoods.com Phone 094229618

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We have matched our famous six seed combination with Gluten Freedom’s amazing texture.

Some stores already stocking this Six Seed bread line are seeing it become the best selling Gluten Freedom variant, You could too.

Please ask your local Rothfords representative or ring us direct at 09 8135481. https://www.facebook.com/VenerdiGlutenFreeBread

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RECENTLY RELEASED STILL RANGE

CONTACT: Mark

Dillon 021 490 737 or mark@arohadrinks.com

NEW FOR HOME BAKERS

Look for all ten of our fantastic products in a specialty store near you!

Visit us online at homebake.co.nz Homebake 79 Elginshire Street, Washdyke, Timaru South Canterbury, New Zealand Freephone 0800 688 717

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Flour and Premix Classic Baking Favorites

newproducts GLUTEN FREE WEET-BIX Sanitarium is supporting the launch with a consumer advertising campaign which includes TV. n

SANITARIUM has launched its highly anticipated Gluten Free Weet-Bix in New Zealand.

Made from the ancient grain Sorghum, the new Weet-Bix addition is entirely gluten free and contains 96% wholegrain, low sugar and three times the antioxidants of oats.

Available in 375g boxes,

NEW BABY FOOD BRAND

PZ Cussons has introduced the Rafferty’s Garden baby food brand to the Kiwi market. Available in120g pouches, the premium range is ideal as a first food for babies and is offered in five variants including Apple + Pear + Cinnamon, Sweet Potato + Carrot + Apple and Blueberries + Bananas + Apple options. Rafferty’s Garden can be eaten hot or cold and is being distributed by Crossmark. n

Peter Mitchell

THE things we are scared about! England’s Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA) has alleged that there are supermarket abuses of power going unreported. But Asda’s operations compliance manager has publicly questioned the statement saying: “How the hell do you know how many unreported abuses of supermarket power there are”. But a new industry poll had almost 80% of suppliers responding that they had experienced problems covered by the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. Many claimed the problems arose from the supermarket price war although there was a strong reluctance for suppliers to take the matter before the GCA. SITTING in the doctor’s rooms the other day and the elderly lady next to me said she was amazed at the development of

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TEGEL has added to its Meal Maker range, launching cooked Sliced Smoked Chicken in a 320g pack. The convenient, family sized product contains 100% New Zealand chicken breast and is ideal for use in pasta, salads and atop pizzas. Tegel’s premium chicken is barn raised and fed a high quality diet free from added hormones. n

NEW CAP FOR BORGES

INTERESTING comments from Australian retail consultant Silvestro Morabito speaking at a shopper seminar in Auckland last month. He reckons despite what we think, Aldi will be in New Zealand perhaps three years down the track and definitely 7-Eleven will enter this market in the not too distant future but he was not sure with whom they would tie up. And on a different track, he added a very telling comment for suppliers – When your product or service doesn’t sell, nothing else matters…

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CURRENTLY stocked in more than 30 Foodstuffs stores, Cabernet Foods’ Pirongia Pure Bacon is gaining traction through in-store butchery departments. Available in a range of branded pack sizes, Pirongia Pure Bacon is a traditional tasting dry bacon which has been honey cured and Manuka smoked.

Available in streaky, shoulder, middle and bacon pieces, the unpackaged range sold via butchery and deli serve-over display cabinets is also being well received by consumers who are looking for small, high quality portions. n

MEAL MAKER ADDITION

BORGES range of Extra Light, Extra Virgin and Classic Olive Oils now feature the first dual-flow dispenser. Oil flow is controlled by simply turning the bottle, releasing either a fine flow for drizzling or a larger opening for cooking. The DUO cap is exclusive to Borges’ 500ml and 1litre bottles and is made with 100% plastic so it won’t oxidise or change the quality of the olive oil. Available in over 100 countries worldwide, the Borges brand is represented in New Zealand by James Crisp. n

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PUHOI’S NEW RECIPE GOODMAN Fielder is set to release a 70g Parmesan cheese from its Puhoi Valley brand. The convenient single use pack has been developed to eliminate wastage and has an affordable price point.

The brand has also revised and improved its recipe across all of its Puhoi Valley white mould products, resulting in softer cheese throughout the shelf life. Goodman Fielder will be supporting its recipe change with in-store sampling of its Puhoi Valley Camembert. n

modern medicine. She said when she was young the doctor made her undress completely for an examination – now it was enough for her to show him her tongue.

SOMETHING our sporting greats should remember on a night out. It was Dean Martin who once said: You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on…

THERE’S continuing talk about safety in our industry both at manufacturing and retail levels. It should be emphasized that safety is about leadership and it starts right at the top.

The best example in recent times where this didn’t appear to happen was at Pike River where there were no board members with an underground mining background. Truth is that New Zealand is a relatively dangerous place to work with around 80 people killed and thousands injured in the workplace. Certainly there is a positive duty of all officers to carry out due diligence over safety and the new health and safety regulations will put the emphasis squarely on management.

IN Australia, the Fair Work Ombudsman is taking on the supermarket industry to try and stamp out the claimed exploitation of vulnerable trolley collectors, most of whom are under 20 and don’t have an education past year 10.

Anecdotal evidence there suggests that many have physical or other disabilities and were undertaking this “dangerous” work for as little as $A5 an hour. Unlike New Zealand, much of the trolley collecting in Australia is subcontracted out and a number of these are now coming before the courts.

PILOT friend of mine regrets the passing of our fleet of

Boeing 747’s. He recalls the day the Auckland tower called him with the message: “AirNZ 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o’clock, three kilometers, eastbound.” The reply was: “Approach, I’ve always wanted to say this …I’ve got the little Fokker in sight.”

IT’S interesting that for the first time in our memory, the NZ Herald has called for Fonterra to get its act together and develop more consumer products. It is our largest and most important company but does seem to have been quite inward looking in this part of its business where the focus has been on adding variants to existing ranges or improving its milk container as a major issue. When you do look at the portfolio of milk, butter, cheese, yoghurts, ice cream and a few other related categories, there hasn’t been any real innovation although Tip Top has had several new ideas (and regurgitated some old ones). Maybe its time for the marketing people to scour the world and steal some great ideas developed overseas and put them into play for the local and export market. The branded part of the company has huge opportunities.

SIGNWRITING interpretation of firewood starter sticks at my local convenience store.

Good one Jay!