Region. Aldi's profit and expansion

German supermarket chain, Aldi, will allocate more than $1 billion in capital funding to its Australian operation, based at Minchinbury, to support its aggressive growth strategy particularly in NSW and Victoria. Aldi, which has some 30 of its total 230 stores located in Western Sydney, has posted a net profit of $91.94 million for calendar 2009, an improvement of 27 per cent on the $72.6 million booked in 2008. Industry analysts say Aldi may have increased its share of the national grocery market to 4-5 per cent from just under 3 per cent. Aldi is spending $35 million on a product development and quality assurance centre in Minchinbury, $145 million on a warehouse and distribution centre in Prestons and $140 million on a warehouse and distribution centre at Dandenong, Victoria.

Parramatta. Boutique brewery in the CBD

Parramatta City Council will consider a recommendation, at its meeting on September 13, for conditional consent on a DA seeking alterations and additions to the Port Bar restaurant, at the Charles Street wharf, for the installation of a 60-square-metre boutique brewery, which would produce approximately 500 litres of brewed beer per week for consumption on-site.

Penrith. BEC assists in job creation

Penrith Valley BEC has assisted in the creation of 90 new businesses in the last twelve months and the creation of an estimated 101 jobs, under the federal government’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, a program aimed at getting the unemployed to start a small business.

Camellia. API struggles with competition

Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, based at Camellia, is battling several difficulties including lower retail spending and increasing competition in wholesaling and the health and beauty sector. API CEO, Stephen Roche, said in The Australian Financial Review, the company will adapt to the changing industry landscape in order to protect margins.