Mars Inc.

Weekly Write-Ups
(Article write-ups for Mars Inc. All chosen articles relate to the industry in which Mars
Inc. operates in)

Coca-Cola Amatil’s energy target on track

At the recent launch of Coca-Cola Amatil’s 2018 Sustainability Report, Managing Director
Alison Watkins confirmed the company is on track to hit its target of sourcing 60 per cent of
its energy from low-carbon and renewables in the coming year. In previous years, Coca-Cola
Amatil focused on natural gas, solar and wind – however, moving forward, Watkins’s
mentioned CCA is open to incorporating alternative technologies into core operations. The
Sustainability Report indicates CCA currently sources the equivalent of 56.2 per cent of its
energy from low-carbon or renewables.
May 6th 2019 – Inside FMCG - https://insidefmcg.com.au/2019/05/06/coca-cola-amatils-
energy-target-on-track/#daily
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Retail sales rise at slower rate in March
According to the latest trade figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), retail
spending rose 0.3 per cent in March in seasonally adjusted terms – beating market
expectations of 0.2 per cent growth and representing the fastest year-on-year increase since
October 2018. Spending on food retailing, including supermarkets, was up 0.4 per cent, while
spending on department stores was down 1.2 per cent, as well as spending on newsagents
which was down 0.4 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms. Online retail sales increased,
however, with NAB’s Online Retail Sales Index showcasing a 1.7 per cent increase from
February. On a quarterly basis, March retail turnover fell 0.1 per cent following a flat
December quarter.
May 8th 2019 – Inside FMCG - https://insidefmcg.com.au/2019/05/08/retail-sales-rise-at-
slower-rate-in-march/#daily
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Asia-Pacific leads global convenience sector
According to research firm GlobalData, the Asia-Pacific region is the largest and fastest-
growing region in the global convenience market. Over the 2017-2022, GlobalData predicts
this region will experience a compound annual growth rate of 10.6 per cent due to factors
including a shift in consumer spending, local retailers increasing focus on store
modernisation, and the use of technology. In a bid to attract new customers, convenience
retailers are refurbishing stores, providing food services for customers, offering mobile
charging points and online purchase collection desks. These factors have so far improved
footfall, average basket size and customer satisfaction – all of which contribute to store sales
and customer satisfaction. 7Eleven is a prime example of such activity, having recently
opened unstaffed stores and improving delivery services to remain ahead of competition.
May 8th 2019 – Inside FMCG - https://insidefmcg.com.au/2019/05/08/asia-pacific-leads-
global-convenience-sector/#daily
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Freshness, taste and health dominate consumer preference in chocolate, bread and pastry
The tri-annual Puratos’ Taste Tomorrow event (which was held on May 1-2 in Chicago),
brought together baking and confectionery professionals to discuss the next frontier of their
respective industries. One of the attended professionals, Rollo McIntyre, the Global Head of
Innovation at Ipsos, presented a survey which focused on three major consumer categories:
perception of quality, process and experience. The report included feedback from over 17,400
consumers, 80 ‘foodies’ from 8 separate cities, as well as 66 industry experts from 16
markets. According to the results, consumers are most concerned with taste, freshness and
price when it comes to the bakery, pastry and chocolate products. Almost nine out of 10
consumers place ‘taste’ above all else when buying chocolate, and 75 per cent when buying
pastry – compared to 65 per cent in baked goods. Appearance and colour come in at 59 per
cent, followed by smell with 55 per cent and the expiration at 44 per cent. Surprisingly,
crunchiness was also considered a factor as 65 per cent of consumers stated they enjoyed
trying varying textures in foods.

May 7th 2019 – Confectionary News -

https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2019/05/07/Freshness-taste-and-health-
dominate-consumer-preference-in-chocolate-bread-and-pastry-Taste-
Tomorrow?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=08-
May-2019&c=kAUabdCpAUKRJhLdv5hd%2FSHirWWCnW9w&p2