Retail News CRM

Tag: grocers

  • Daesang Launches Tailored O’Food Sauces for US Supermarkets

    Daesang Launches Tailored O’Food Sauces for US Supermarkets

    South Korean food manufacturer Daesang has launched a revamped lineup of O’Food sauces for mainstream US grocery shelves this week.

    The export line modifies traditional Korean fermented recipes for American palates. Formulations feature lower heat levels and familiar condiment textures.

    Adapting Fermented Flavours for Export

    Core adjustments cover two key lines, gochujang and barbecue marinades. Daesang cut pungency and tweaked sweetness ratios to appeal to mainstream chains, where traditional Korean pastes often struggle to win repeat buyers.

    Retail distribution in North America runs through subsidiary Daesang America. The company is targeting broadline supermarkets rather than relying solely on ethnic grocery channels.

    The Mainstream Distribution Hurdle

    Breaking past specialty aisles into center-store condiment bays offers Asian food makers their best margin opportunity. CJ CheilJedang took that route by acquiring Schwan’s for deep US cold-chain access. Daesang chose an asset-light, recipe-first strategy instead.

    Customer retention is the primary operational hurdle. Tweaking authentic profiles risks alienating diaspora shoppers, while established Western brands are rolling out their own Korean-style sauces.

    Earlier Footprint Across North America

    Daesang already produces kimchi at facilities in California to bypass shipping bottlenecks and trim freight overhead. The sauce lineup uses these existing supply chains to build shelf space across major accounts.

    US supermarket buyers will review early velocity data from regional pilots over the coming quarters before committing to national shelf resets.

  • Destination Italy Adds Two Frozen Pizza Lines Across Australia and New Zealand

    Destination Italy Adds Two Frozen Pizza Lines Across Australia and New Zealand

    Destination Italy expanded its frozen pizza lineup across Australia and New Zealand on September 7, 2026, launching two Italian-made varieties into regional supermarket freezers.

    Made in Italy, Woodfired Puttanesca and Woodfired Salame ship directly to Australian and New Zealand retailers catering to demand for imported convenience meals.

    Ingredients and Recipe Formats

    The Woodfired Puttanesca pizza uses a traditional tomato and mozzarella base topped with black olives, capers, and oregano. Woodfired Salame pairs that same base with sliced salami, produced in Italy before frozen transport.

    Both products rely on Italian-baked woodfired crusts to stand out from local alternatives. The format targets shoppers who want regional recipes without paying foodservice prices.

    Premium Competition in the Freezer Aisle

    Major grocers across Australia and New Zealand have steadily reallocated freezer space to imported and specialty private-label items over the past three years. Mainstream frozen pizzas face ongoing margin compression. That pressure has prompted distributors to push higher-value imported SKUs onto shelves.

    For retailers, imported lines offer higher basket values in a category historically dominated by discount domestic labels. Cold-chain freight costs and exchange-rate swings between the euro and the Australian dollar remain key operational hurdles, squeezing margins when shipping volumes fluctuate.

    Retail Distribution Timelines

    Destination Italy built its initial ANZ footprint around core woodfired SKUs before widening the range with specialized regional flavor profiles. Across the supermarket frozen sector, brands are taking similar premium routes, using origin-certified manufacturing to defend shelf share.

    Supermarkets will roll out the two new varieties across national freezer networks through the remainder of the month.

  • Sydney Grocers Slapped with $706,000 Fine for Massive Staff Underpayment: Rights Watchdog Takes Action

    Sydney Grocers Slapped with $706,000 Fine for Massive Staff Underpayment: Rights Watchdog Takes Action

    Asian grocery chains Thai Kee Grocer Pty Ltd and G Grocer Kingsford Pty Ltd, both based in Sydney, have been imposed with a combined fine of $706,000. This fine resulted from underpaying a total of 146 employees, as discovered by investigations from the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).

    Investigation and Findings

    FWO launched investigations into Thai Kee Grocer and G Grocer Kingsford, also known as Gong Grocer World Square and Kingsford, last year. The investigation uncovered that the underpaid workers held positions as shop assistants and office administrators. Of these underpaid employees, 32 were on visas, and three were between 18 and 19 years of age.

    The two grocery firms were found to have underpaid their staff by a total of $657,469 over an 18-month period. Between August 2023 and February 2025, Thai Kee Grocer underpaid 104 of its employees $446,379, while Gong Grocer Kingsford underpaid 42 workers by $211,090.

    Thai Kee Grocer and G Grocer Kingsford have since corrected the underpayment issues.

    FWO’s Statement

    Fair Work Ombudsman, Anna Booth, emphasized that all employers must adhere to their obligations under relevant awards and the Fair Work Act. She stated, “Employees have a right to their full range of entitlements. For instance, increased pay rates on weekends are intended to compensate for working during hours that are typically inconvenient when most others do not work.”

    The FWO acknowledged Thai Kee Grocer and G Grocer Kingsford’s commitments to enhance their payroll process in the future, and expressed gratitude to the employees for voicing their concerns.

    Questions & Answers

    What were the companies under investigation for?
    The companies Thai Kee Grocer and G Grocer Kingsford were under investigation for underpaying their employees.

    How many employees were affected and what were their roles within the companies?
    A total of 146 workers were affected by the underpayment. These workers held roles as shop assistants and office administrators.

    What actions have the companies taken since the underpayments were discovered?
    Since the underpayments were discovered, both Thai Kee Grocer and G Grocer Kingsford have rectified the underpayment issues and have committed to enhancing their payroll process in the future.