|
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
MEDIA RELEASE - 9 December 2004 LARGEST ORGANIC STORE IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Macro Crows Nest, official opening 10 Dec 2004 / National Rollout Planned Australia's organic retail pioneer, Macro Wholefoods Market, will officially open the largest organic store in the Southern Hemisphere in Crows Nest, Sydney's Lower North Shore, on Friday 10th December 2004 - a sign of the times for a burgeoning industry predicting up to 25 percent growth in 2005. Organic products are grown and processed without the use of chemicals, fertilisers or GMO's. The new 1300sqm Crows Nest store expands on the diverse organic and wholefoods offering at Macro's iconic Bondi Junction store, and will include an organic meat and poultry section - creating Australia's first for organic one-stop-shop. Macro Wholefoods Market Crows Nest will offer: organic fresh produce (fruit, vegetables, bulk foods as well as cheese and bread), naturopathic & body care (beauty products), a 70 person Macro cafe. Completing the lifestyle offering, a Macro wellbeing centre will open in 2005. There will also be regular instore health screenings, cooking classes and dietician visits. The official store opening will feature instore cooking demonstrations with organic devotees high profile providore, Simon Johnson on the 10th December from midday - 2:00pm and award-winning celebrity chef, restaurant owner, and author, Kylie Kwong on 11th December 2004 also from midday - 2:00pm. Some of Australia's leading organic growers will also be on-hand to talk to customers. Macro owner, Mr Pierce Cody said: "It's great that Macro can step up its pioneering role in this exciting and vital industry. Whilst it's still a maturing market here, Australians are switching off chemically-farmed food and food additives and onto organic food at a rapid rate. This is part of a global sea change where people are moving to clean food and clean living. "Organic food is in demand from people of all ages - principally those seeking a health conscious lifestyle, who understand the nutritional and health benefits of organic foods, and enjoy the superior taste. Macro Wholefoods caters to vegetarian and vegan customers, those seeking kosher foods, people with food allergies, and cancer sufferers." Ms Kylie Kwong said: I'm an organic food fanatic - I see organic food as an essential part of the diet of any person who is genuinely committed to their physical, mental and emotional health, and spiritual wellbeing. There is a very powerful organic movement underway globally, and I truly believe we're about to experience the dawning of a new era of food in Australia. "I think more and more people within our 'materialistically driven' society are hungry for 'real and true nurturance' - that which will 'sustain, nourish and fulfil'. By supporting the organic food movement, people do not just enjoy the eating the cleanest, most intensely flavoured food, but most importantly; take responsibility in the saving of our planet, we too are protecting future generations. At Billy Kwong, our menu is now mostly organic and our customers love it. By serving you the healthiest, life - giving food, in a manner which is both generous and mindful - this to me, is the most powerful way Billy Kwong can contribute to the community. "Congratulations to Macro on their amazing new Crows Nest store - it is very inspiring and encouraging to see the leadership Macro are showing in driving this vital industry forward in Australia," said Ms Kwong The original Macro Wholefoods store was established in Bondi Junction 17 years ago, and was followed by the opening of a larger Bondi Junction store which is today a thriving business, attracting a large and loyal customer base from across Sydney. The Crows Nest Store is located at 13 - 19 Willoughby Road, Pacific Highway and is expected to cater to customers from across Sydney but particularly Sydney's North Shore. A team of more than 100 staff will and will be a core part of the unique Macro offering - providing customers with an in-depth knowledge and insight into the organic foods phenomenon. Opening hours for the Crows Nest store are: Monday to Saturday 8am - 8pm and 8am - 7pm on Sundays. Macro Cafe will open Monday to Saturday 7am - 8pm and Sunday 8am - 7pm. Macro Wholefoods Market underwent a change in ownership in April 2004 when the business was purchased by Mr Pierce Cody and Mr Brett Blundy. Mr Cody was the founder of Australia's largest outdoor Advertising business - Cody Outdoor and has more than 25 years experience in the advertising/media industry. He is a trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Director of the public companies, APN News & Media, Adcorp and a founding shareholder of Tower Estate. Pierce has had a keen interest in the health/wellbeing market for a number of years. The purchase of Macro formalised that interest. Mr Brett Blundy has a proven retail track record in music and fashion and founded the public company Brazin. Further information: Fleur Brown (02) 8257 1741 or mobile: 0419 270 863 MEDIA RELEASE - 9 December 2004 TOP SYDNEY GIRL'S SCHOOL TO GO ORGANIC IN 2005 In a progressive move, Kambala, an independent girls' school, has chosen to integrate organic food into their canteen menu for 2005. Organic products, or clean food, are grown and processed without the use of chemicals, fertilisers or mould retardants. The Kambala decision, aimed at helping to address the growing issue of childhood nutrition and obesity, follows an overseas trend that has seen top US schools introduce all natural and organic products into their schools. Pioneer of Australian organic retailing Macro Wholefoods Market will supply the organic food to the Kambala canteen. The Macro products will include organic fruit & vegetables, vegetarian wraps, rice paper rolls, rice balls to name a few. More and more Australians are turning to organic food, with predicted growth of up to 15%-25% in 2005, as research has shown the affects of pesticides on human health is extreme - and is linked to illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological disease. However, its not just the absence of pesticide residue that is appealing for parents, it is also that it tastes better and they can assist in disease-prevention, with studies indicating that organically farmed foods have higher cancer-fighting chemicals than conventionally grown foods. Kambala Principal, Margaret White said, "We are responsible for our students' education and we believe that a comprehensive education includes health and nutrition. We are teaching it in the classroom - and now we are offering healthy solutions in the canteen. "Kambala is proud of its track record in terms of promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst our students. The inclusion of organic products in our canteen complements the sport and activities offered as a daily part of the Kambala curriculum. "We want our students to know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and that includes what they eat. A healthy and nutritious diet improves the students' ability to concentrate and retain information. Canteens offering only junk food and processed snacks are disadvantaging their students' ability to learn." Mr Pierce Cody, Macro CEO said "We applaud Kambala's decision to incorporate organic produce into their canteen menu. Childhood obesity in Australia is rising at an annual rate of 1%. If this trend continues, half of all Australian children will be overweight by 2025. "There are a lot of myths around organic and healthy food - this will give young people a chance to experience the intense taste of organic food and hopefully help them to develop positive, lifelong eating habits. "We hope this is the first of many schools across Australia to adopt organic produce in their canteens. We intend to work closely with the state and Federal education departments to provide cost-effective solutions for the provision of organic produce for our students." About Organic Food and Product: Organic food and products are better for you because they contain: Organic food also: [1] Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) Annual Report 2004 [2] Systematic Review of Pesticides Human Health Effects' (OCFP's report), Ontario College of Family Physicians in Canada [3] Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, American Chemical Society (world's largest scientific society) Feb 26, 2003 [4] http://archives.econ.utah.edu - Economics Department of the University of Utah |
||||||||||
| Site by Noggin |
