Retail

The Albanese Government will direct the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate pricing and competition in the supermarket sector to ensure Australians are paying a fair price for their groceries. We understand that Australians are under the pump and the cost of groceries is among the biggest concern for many.

Local MP’s have followed federal opposition leader Peter Dutton’s call for people to boycott supermarket giant Woolworths over its decision not to sell Australia Day merchandise. Both Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, and State Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, have followed Mr Dutton’s lead, calling for people to boycott the supermarket...

NSW Farmers is calling for an ACCC inquiry into the supermarket retail sector as fair prices for consumers and farmers remain nowhere in sight ... “It has become increasingly clear that margins are not being passed through the supply chain in a fair and equitable manner, and it is farmers and families who are footing the bill”: NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin.

Australia’s peak farming body supports today’s announcements on the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, hoping the action will give the Code the teeth it needs to fix a system failing consumers and farmers ... “We need to get to the bottom of why there’s a growing gap between what farmers get paid and what produce is being sold for on supermarket shelves": NFF President David Jochinke.

This is the very personal life-story of a charismatic Welsh seaman who moved to Australia for love and once there became a captain of industry. The work is ‘as told to’ by Paul Simons to the writer Terry Larder and contains many anecdotes that illuminate aspects of life in wartime Britain and in postwar Australia ... Most of the book is concerned with Paul's life and career, enlivened with some quite racy anecdotes and more serious reflections on the way of the world. Paul has a sense of humour but also a strong moral sense.

With four of the five Stephenson family members being huge fans of toys and popular culture, when Maclean Toyworld was listed for sale, Jodie Stephenson followed her lifelong dream by purchasing the popular business.

Woodburn IGA is being knocked down. Tanya and Neale Hundy have gone away during the demolition because it’s “emotional” to watch ... The IGA supermarket was renovated and modernised a year before it was flooded to the ceiling in the 2022 floods.

Patrick Goldsmith. Edithburgh has an operational supermarket for the first time in 14 years, with the new IGA officially opened ... Large crowds greeted the staff, including owner-operators Ron and Peta Turnbull, for their first day, as Yorke Peninsula Council mayor Darren Braund cut a ribbon to commemorate the occasion.

“According to Meat and Livestock Australia, some sheep and lamb categories have fallen by up to 70 per cent in the saleyards in the last 12 months. Lamb prices have drastically reduced and cattle prices have fallen by about 60 per cent. Yet families at the supermarkets have barely noticed a difference in prices”: David Littleproud.

Wiradjuri woman, artist and creator of Marara Designs Shelby-Rae Kschenka of Narrandera has entered a brand collaboration with the iconic Australian clothing company Sportsgirl. Shelby-Rae will work with the company to create a ‘meaningful, intentional and sustainable’ Acknowledgement of Country that will be present in all 130-plus Sportsgirl stores via physical in-store plaques and online.

Member for Groom Garth Hamilton is inviting local businesses to feature their products at Parliament House. The Parliament House Gift Shop has recently introduced the ‘National Showcase’ initiative.

The year is 1979. How’s business? ... “It was like a corner store, a general store. Sold everything food wise, from ice cream to groceries, veggies ... And I bought the shop on condition I got the recipe for the ice blocks" ... Final question, Roger - where is the recipe for these ice blocks?

The  Ballina Contemporary Art Market (BCAM)  is a free, one-day, fun-filled arts and cultural event taking place on Saturday 14 October ... come and meet the Australovenatordinosaur, baby Muttaburra dinosaurs, and help the deep-sea diver discover treasure!

One of Australia’s oldest checkout chicks is our own sprightly 81 year old, Judy Biggins of Naracoorte. “I love my job!” says Judy, while packing and sorting groceries as they pass through her checkout, and her customers love her.

Toowoomba Regional Council has given its approval to a development application requesting to build a shopping centre on Brisbane Street, Drayton ... The shopping centre is set to include a supermarket, two specialty shops, an alfresco dining area, main entry foyer and 105 car spaces.

The Wilcannia fashion store Cooee Clothing had its first trading days earlier this month and attracted residents needing a wardrobe refresh ... The recycled clothing store complements another CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Cooee social enterprise. Cooee Cuts is an affordable hair salon that operates one week every month ...

Local Pennie Cowin is calling on the town’s only supermarket to look after its community better by stocking essential items for residents with special dietary needs. Pennie suffers from Celiac disease, a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine.

Joan Hayman. Sixteen years ago, two Kyogle Tidy Towns members had a dream. They realised there was a need for a place where local producers could sell the products of their labour. They wanted to the town to see what was produced locally and to decrease the food miles their food travels  and help the planet.

In November last year, Kerry Ochtman said to his boss Pat Harley – “That’d be a good place for a nursery.” ... Kerry is thrilled that the new Harley Mitre 10 Garden Centre has loads of room for compost, potting soil, pots, weed control, garden screens and of course – plants.