July 23, 2012 MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM Claims of tyranny. Calls for more freedom. And a banner with a Statue of Liberty-like figure triumphantly holding aloft a large soda cup, complete with straw. The American soft-drink industry arrived at City Hall on Monday to protest the Bloomberg administration’s proposed restrictions on sales of big sugary drinks. While appeals to populism and patriotism were rampant, the topic of obesity received only an occasional mention. The industry, which has a reputation for deep pockets and aggressive lobbying, has been collecting petitions and running radio advertisements against the plan, which is to be discussed on Tuesday at a public hearing by the New York City Board of Health. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the headquarters of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in Long Island City, Queens. A vote is expected in September. At the rally on…

July 24, 2012 The Age PayPal wants to let shoppers use its service when buying in-store in Australia. The battle for the consumer wallet is set to intensify with global payment behemoth PayPal eyeing partnerships with local offline retailers. PayPal is in talks with a handful of large Australian retailers about introducing its pay-anywhere technology, which would blend online, mobile and in-store buying through a single customer identity and account. The e-payment option available through an app for Android and iPhones, would allow customers to bypass eftpos machines and credit card companies at point of sale, paying directly from their PayPal account. The eBay-owned company would not name the Australian retailers but said they were household names. The US-based company recently inked a deal to provide pay-anywhere services to 15 large US retailers including Toys R Us, Home Depot, Foot Locker and Nine West. “We are in talks with them…

Jul 24, 2012 CSNews WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers are banding together to bring common sense to the federal menu labeling laws, which the convenience store industry has been fighting. Congressman John Carter (R-Texas) was joined this afternoon by fellow Texas representatives, Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D) and Ruben Hinojosa (D), at a press conference to introduce the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2012. Representatives from the convenience store, grocery and pizza industries, as well as small business owners, joined the bi-partisan contingent to show their support. In addition to the three Texas legislators, a bipartisan mix of House members from Washington State, Arkansas, California, Wisconsin, Utah and Missouri, Georgia and Ohio are backing the legislation. The proposed bill is in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulations regarding calorie labeling on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants and food establishments, and on vending machines. Currently, FDA rules…

Adele Ferguson and Carolyn Cummins July 25, 2012 The Age THE big supermarkets’ battle for a larger slice of the consumer dollar is set to spill into pubs and poker machines after grocery wholesaler Metcash, which operates the IGA chain, is believed to have hired a broker to identify venues and hotels. It follows a $375 million-plus equity raising launched by Metcash last month and a strategic review that includes slashing 500 staff, cutting debt and identifying bolt-on acquisitions. BusinessDay understands that up to $90 million could be allocated to bolt-on acquisitions, including pubs and poker machines, as pressure mounts on Metcash to revive earnings as the price war between Coles and Woolworths heats up. Metcash is said to be close to exchanging contracts on the leasehold of three Queensland pubs, with one suggested to be the Aspley Hotel. It is understood that Metcash does not want to own the…

AAP July 24, 2012 HEALTH care products are the brands most trusted by Australian consumers, a survey has found. The Australian Reader’s Digest released the results on Tuesday of a survey it commissioned that asked more than 2,400 Aussies which products they placed the most trust in. The top ten was dominated by health care and first aid products, with breakfast cereal and chocolate rounding out the list. Dettol topped the list, with Band-Aid and Panadol second and third. Chocolate maker Cadbury came in fourth, but dentists need not worry as oral hygiene supremo Colgate came in right behind at number five. Another health-care product, Elastoplast, is sixth on the list. Hardware giant Bunnings was voted number one in the ‘Australian Icon’ category, beating Vegemite and Dick Smith. Australian Reader’s Digest editor Sue Carney said brands that continued to offer quality and substance were the most trusted. “They have a…

Simon Canning and Nicolas Perpitch July 25, 2012 The Australian FAST-FOOD outlets are quickly becoming the measure of Australia’s two-speed economy as consumers demand value meals as comfort food. Stretched by mortgage repayments and an economy they don’t entirely trust, consumers are keeping their wallets closed and instead treating themselves with the coins lingering in their pockets. Yesterday McDonald’s reacted to a slowdown in sales with a menu aimed straight at the frugal consumer, saying it would grow its value offerings with burgers and fries priced at as little as $1 or $2. The strategy was a major reason for the company’s turnaround in the US, where the adoption of value meals helped to lift sales and profits four years ago. Australia bagged a rare mention by McDonald’s executives when the company announced its global results and a 4.5 per cent drop in earnings. Newly appointed chief executive Donald Thompson…