Foodstuffs South Island expands facial recognition across stores, sparking privacy concerns and boosting security efforts

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Foodstuffs South Island expands facial recognition across stores, sparking privacy concerns and boosting security efforts

Foodstuffs South Island is moving facial recognition beyond a small trial and into more stores, which puts store safety, privacy controls and front-end retail operations on the same line. For FMCG operators, that matters because this is no longer just a security experiment; it is becoming a live store-management tool. The three Christchurch stores in … Read more

Supermarket Aisles Reveal Consumer Confidence Signals as Shoppers Spend More, Indicating Stronger Economic Recovery in 2026

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Supermarket Aisles Reveal Consumer Confidence Signals as Shoppers Spend More, Indicating Stronger Economic Recovery in 2026

The clearest read on consumer confidence is not always in the headlines. It is often hiding in supermarket aisles, where shoppers quietly change pack size, brand choice and basket mix before they change their language about the economy. For FMCG teams, that matters because aisle behaviour shows pressure earlier than most surveys. When shoppers trade … Read more

Organic Industry Strategy Targets Massive Growth Across FMCG, Unlocking Millions in New Revenue

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Organic Industry Strategy Targets Massive Growth Across FMCG, Unlocking Millions in New Revenue

Australia’s organic horticulture sector has done something it has never managed before: get its four certification bodies to back one national growth plan. That matters because the organic horticulture strategy now has a clear commercial aim, not just a set of good intentions. For FMCG buyers, brand managers and supply chain teams, the signal is … Read more

GS Retail Says Private Label Must Win Beyond Price to Capture Bigger Profits in 2026

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GS Retail Says Private Label Must Win Beyond Price to Capture Bigger Profits in 2026

Private label has moved well beyond the cheap aisle label, and GS Retail is treating that shift as a strategic reset. In my view, the real story is not that prices still matter, but that price alone no longer protects a private label range from being ignored. For FMCG teams, that matters because the battleground … Read more

AI Sensors Cut Food Waste Across FMCG Supply Chains, Saving Millions and Transforming Operations

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AI Sensors Cut Food Waste Across FMCG Supply Chains, Saving Millions and Transforming Operations

Food waste usually starts as a quality problem, then shows up as a margin problem. AI sensors are now being positioned as one of the few tools that can spot spoilage early enough to stop product from being dumped unnecessarily. That matters for retailers and suppliers because the cost hits both sides of the shelf. … Read more

Viennetta Salted Caramel Lands at Coles and Metcash, Driving Excitement for Dessert Lovers Across Australia

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Viennetta Salted Caramel Lands at Coles and Metcash, Driving Excitement for Dessert Lovers Across Australia

Viennetta’s return to flavour innovation tells me this is less about nostalgia and more about shelf relevance. The new Salted Caramel variant gives Streets a way to keep a decades-old dessert in the conversation while shoppers keep looking for small indulgences that feel special at home. For buyers and brand teams, the signal is simple. … Read more

Aussies Shift Grocery Shopping Habits as Cost Pressures Bite, Saving Money Every Week in 2026

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Aussies Shift Grocery Shopping Habits as Cost Pressures Bite, Saving Money Every Week in 2026

Cost-of-living pressure is no longer just squeezing baskets. It is changing the way Australians plan, compare and buy groceries, and that matters for every supplier chasing share on shelf. The latest ING Sense of Us 2026 report shows households are trading down, bulk buying and using promotions more deliberately. For FMCG executives, that means the … Read more

V2Food’s Lisa Ronquest-Ross Rebuilds Faith in Alt-Meat, Targeting $50M Growth in 2026

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V2Food’s Lisa Ronquest-Ross Rebuilds Faith in Alt-Meat, Targeting $50M Growth in 2026

Plant-based alt-meat is no longer being judged on hype. In this category, taste and repeat purchase have become the real filters, and V2Food is making that case with unusual discipline. That matters because the sector has already burned through a lot of consumer trust. For FMCG teams, the lesson is blunt: if the product misses … Read more

Mingle Seasoning expands into Aussie salad dressings, aiming to boost supermarket sales in 2026

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Mingle Seasoning expands into Aussie salad dressings, aiming to boost supermarket sales in 2026

Mingle Seasoning salad dressing is the latest sign that the brand is pushing far beyond the spice aisle and into broader supermarket territory. For FMCG teams, the real signal is not just the new range, but the fact that a seasoning brand now thinks it can win shelf space in one of the most crowded … Read more

Supermarkets Invest Millions to Bring AI and Robots Back to Store Floors, Boosting Efficiency

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Supermarkets Invest Millions to Bring AI and Robots Back to Store Floors, Boosting Efficiency

Supermarkets are moving back to a model that looks oddly familiar: smaller stores, less browsing and more of the work shifted out of sight. In the process, how supermarkets are going back to the future is becoming a live commercial question for every buyer, supplier and retailer watching labour, fulfilment and store formats collide. For … Read more