Region. Profit rise in first half 2011

The Queensland-based Retail Food Group, which has its NSW office in Granville, said at its AGM in December that the first half net profit after tax in 2011 would be around 10-15 per cent higher than the $12.5 million in the first half of fiscal 2010. The company owns and franchises including Donut King, Michel’s Patisserie and Brumby’s Bakeries, many of which operate in Western Sydney.

Parramatta. Scores on Doors signees

Seven Parramatta restaurants, to date, have singed up for Scores on Doors, a statewide system to rate the food safety and hygiene standards of foodservice businesses. The restaurants in Parramatta are McDonalds North Parramatta, Hungry Jacks Westfield, Wrap Station Parramatta, Oriental Tuckerbox, Sicilian Restaurant Parramatta, The Bite Parramatta and Bar Qualia Parramatta. Those participating in the program are inspected and graded with an A (excellent), B (good), C (acceptable) or P (pending). The establishments must display their scores in their shop window. The program will be reviewed at the end of the trial period, and the NSW Food Authority will officially introduce it if all goes well in NSW in July 2011.

Region. Prime food land under threat

Around 52 per cent of prime agricultural land on the outskirts of the Sydney region was included in areas slated for urban development, which could reduce the city's food security and force up food prices to cover the added costs of long distance transportation, according to Michael Shuman, US economist and champion of locally owned business and local economic development. Sydney has an economically viable local food industry worth around $1 billion a year and employing around 12,000. The Sydney Food Fairness Alliance, is organizing a two-day food summit in October.