RETAIL/CONSUMER GOODS

Forecasts of a rise in mango exports could be affected by the collapse of a company that owns a mango farm in Western Australia.

Cost-conscious consumers are opening their wallets to items sold at charity clothing shop Saint Vincent de Paul.

Foster's Group, Australia's biggest brewer, is on the top of a $45.6 billion list of local companies compiled by broking house RBS Equities that are seen as targets especially for foreign buyout firms.

Australia's Myer (ASX: MYR) is putting an end to continuous discounting and begins a customer service improvement campaign.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) subsidiary Coles Supermarket said on Thursday that it is set to open some 100 new format stores within the current financial year, with about 60 new format supermarkets already operating in the whole of Australia, which the company said was integral to the fiver-year recovery blueprint for Coles.

Budding Australian businesses are tapping the largest consumer market in Asia by taking part in the China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF).

Consumers seem to enjoy the thought of continuous discounts, and still keep their belts tight.

Retail firm Myer Holdings Ltd reported on Thursday that its full-year net profit plunged by almost 40 percent for fiscal 2010 as the after-effects of the global financial crisis wreaked havoc on consumer confidence, further deteriorating the already difficult business environment the company had faced on the past financial year.

Mark McInnes, former chief executive of Australian department store David Jones Ltd (ASX:DJS), has disposed about a fifth of his shares in the company since his departure in June, in order to raise $1.2 million to settle a tax obligation linked to his hasty exit.

Food and retail franchisor Allied Brands (ASX:ABQ) said today it still has the rights to distribute Baskin Robbins products in Australia.

A study commissioned by Woolworths (ASX:WOW) has found that hardware stores established by the Woolworths-Lowe's joint venture could generate $30 million a year in sales from a standard hardware outlet and slice the revenue of rivals Bunnings and Mitre 10 by up to 16 per cent.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Australia has captured the interest of the U.S. market after charges of racial stereotyping for an advertisement. The chicken company now takes a worldwide approach in its advertising campaign.

The retail store chain may be Dutch in origin, but it is serving as a magnet for other retailers across Australia.

The legal team representing the woman behind a multimillion-dollar sexual harassment claim against Australian department store David Jones (ASX: DJS) are tipped to file an amended statement of claim this afternoon.

In a last-ditch effort to purchase cheap shares, trader David Tweed has launched a legal bid to force diversified conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) to open its register.

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) remains open to further acquisitions as work continues on its venture into the multibillion-dollar hardware market.

Coffee prices have been up for about 43 percent in the past three months.

Australian fashion designer Dana Mathers has been credited with leading a new fashion trend in the US.

Well-known wine manufacturer Foster's Group Limited (ASX: FGL) rejected an offer from an international private equity firm to buy 100 percent of the wine assets of Treasury Wine Estates.

Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Australia announced today that they have initiated a safety recall on its top-selling HiLux ute.

Australia's largest supermarket chain Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) plans to offload $900 million of its retail sites from its property portfolio.

Fast-food chain Burger King is to be sold to investment firm 3G Capital for $US3.26 billion in a deal analysts said would give the restaurant breathing room to fix its business.

Australia-based beverage company Foster's Group Limited (ASX:FGL) today announced that Chief Financial Officer Angus McKay has submitted his resignation to join ports and rail operator Asciano Group (ASX:AIO) .

The prices of milk and dairy products reached close to 17 percent overnight at Fonterra's online auction. All contracts, across all product lines, have an average selling price of US3562 a tonne.

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services are driving retail trade up, according to new data released today.

Australian online retailers need a strong physical presence in order to boost sales.

The wine with Australian labels found in store shelves in China could either be the real Flinders Run or one brewed in Asian countries.

Electricity supplier Ergon Energy issues a warning against a company offering cuts to electricity bills from a simple plug-in device.

In the past three years, McDonald's in Australia has opened 50 new stores to meet the rising demand for its fast food products. The new stores brings the total number of McDonald's outlets in Australia to 811.