Inside FMCG

Kiwi skincare startup Healthy Skin Lab is seeking to raise US$4 million to expand its core business in the US, following the successful launch of its tinted moisturiser on Amazon. Founded by skin cancer specialist Sharad Paul, the brand went ‘viral’ in the country for its Protect tinted sunscreen, dubbed a “holy grail” by beauty influencers. “The original idea was to put it on Amazon and see whether the product had a market,” said Paul.

Vow co-founder George Peppou has stepped down as CEO of the Australian food technology firm to assume the role of executive director. Peppou is leaving the role to manage a separate startup spun out of Vow and will be succeeded by Alex Andrews, who will assume the leadership role after serving as the company’s chief of staff in January.

Before skincare brand The Jojoba Company was selling one bottle every minute, few Australians had even heard of its namesake key ingredient. In fact, the business’s success can be traced back to a gamble made decades ago by founder Vicki Engsall’s father, who planted the unfamiliar crop on his farm near Yenda in the Riverina. “It was a bold decision with no guarantees of success,” Engsall tells Inside Retail today.

Suntory Oceania has expanded its bourbon brand, Jim Beam, with the launch of an RTD bar-serve drink. The beverage features a combination of bourbon and cola flavours, packaged in a 250ml slimline can. Operating at an alcohol by volume metric of 10 per cent, the launch provides a higher-strength option within the brand’s existing pre-mixed beverage line.

Coles has named Chad Burke as GM of customer fulfilment centre (CFC) operations, following his leadership of the retailer’s pet business Swaggle. Burke joined Coles in 2016 and has held leadership roles across the retailer’s commercial, liquor and digital divisions. Before joining Coles, he worked at Tesco and Waitrose in the UK.

Pet care brand Greenies, a subsidiary of Mars, has expanded its dog treat portfolio with the launch of Pill Pockets. The product features a built-in pouch and a malleable texture designed to encapsulate veterinary tablets, allowing pet owners to wrap and seal medication inside a treat. The commercial launch targets a documented difficulty in domestic pet management, seeking to replace manual administration or the practice of concealing medication within human foods.

Peters Ice Cream has partnered with Milo to introduce Drumstick Milo Minis to the frozen confectionery category. The new product integrates a standard Drumstick wafer cone with a filling flavoured like Milo, completed by a chocolate topping and chocolate flakes. The items are scaled to a smaller size format and sold in multi-packs with a recommended retail price of $9.90.

Few people could have predicted what would follow when the first 7-Eleven opened in Japan in 1974. What started as a traditional convenience store concept was adapted by Japanese retailers into the “konbiniensu sutoru” (or “konbini”), an elevated experience offering fresh meals and quality products rather than just cheap snacks and fuel.

Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC, is nearing the beginning of a new era as the new price gouging laws against the country’s major supermarkets take effect. Starting from July 1, the “excessive pricing prohibition” – which applies to supermarkets with more than $30 billion in revenue – will allow the ACCC to analyse what is a “reasonable” profit margin for each individual product, to determine whether it is excessively priced.

British tea brand Twinings has expanded its tea portfolio with the launch of two new products, Cold Infusions and Sparkling Tea. The expansion into cold products aligns with the growing consumer demand for lighter caffeinated beverages.