Reformulation for sustainability: Woolworths to boost plant-based and healthier products portfolio as part of five-year plan Australian retail giant Woolworths is eyeing a major boost in plant-based and healthier reformulated product options to be part of its portfolio as part of its sustainability plan to be implemented over the next five years until 2025.
According to the Woolworths Sustainability Plan 2025, the firm aims to evolve its business strategy to take a more circular economy approach – and from the perspective of making improvements to its product portfolio, the focus will be on
‘making it easy for our [consumers] to choose products that are healthier, sustainably sourced and responsibly packaged’.
As the UK plans to dismantle Public Health England – in a move health expert Dr Anthony Laverty describes as ‘retrograde’ – the Government is being called on to take ‘bolder action’ to combat obesity.
In the UK, the majority of adults are overweight or obese. According to recent NHS data, 67% of men and 60% of women fall into these categories.
In 2020, 20% of year six children were classified as obese, with prevalence more than twice as high in the most deprived areas, compared to the least deprived.
At the same time, the British Dietetic Association estimates that three million people are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition across the country.
Food and beverage products adopting the voluntary Health Star Rating (HSR) scheme in Australia and New Zealand are more likely to increase their HSR scores overtime, resulting in researchers calling for its mandatory adoption for the greater benefit of society.
OVERVIEW GLOBAL ORANGE MARKET
During the lockdown in March, the demand for oranges went through the roof; a market development from which the southern hemisphere benefited the most. Towards the end of the year, the market in Europe and North America has stabilized and the demand is not as high as a few months ago. This slowdown in the demand has been a cause for disappointment in Spain, where they had initially expected the high demand to be maintained. In North America, many wholesalers appear cautious about purchasing due to the uncertainty in the market. The sale of oranges in China is also not going great. The demand has declined, causing prices to fall.
Growth and diversification for an Australian premium fruit juicing company in a challenging year
This year has been a big year of change and diversification for one of Australia s leading premium fruit juice companies.
South Australia s Ashton Valley Fresh released three new retail products, including an all Aussie apple and orange juice and an apple and blackcurrant juice. In addition, a new range of condiments (oil, apple cider vinegar, and balsamic vinegar) will be launched within the next week. But the year has not been without challenges. We’re producing bulk juice with a limited number of juicing apples on the market for the first time in years due to low crop yield, bushfires, weather, and higher than ever first grade apple packouts, Business Development Manager Joyce Ceravolo said. It’s been a challenge for us and customers to absorb the sharp price increase in juicing fruit but they’ve been fantastic in supporting us through unprecedented times.