Woolworths has delivered sales growth, but the real message from its latest quarter is caution. The supermarket giant is now flagging higher fuel costs, supplier pressure and a shakier consumer backdrop as Middle East tensions feed into the cost base. For FMCG teams, that matters as much as the sales line. When Woolworths pairs growth … Read more
A $3.4tn global capital cycle is no longer just about fuels and power plants. It is now a test of who can keep electricity, gas and industrial supply chains moving when the Strait of Hormuz becomes a pricing risk. The IEA’s latest outlook on energy investment points to a sharp strategic split in 2026. Capital … Read more
When a conflict thousands of kilometres from New Zealand starts showing up in an infant formula company’s freight bill, it is a reminder of how quickly geopolitical disruption converts into margin damage. For A2 Milk, the Middle East conflict has moved from background macro risk to a confirmed line item in a downgraded earnings forecast. … Read more
The 40-day threshold is the number every FMCG procurement team should have circled right now. Once the Middle East conflict crosses that mark and input costs remain elevated, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that farmers will begin cutting inputs, reducing plantings, or shifting to less fertiliser-intensive crops — decisions that will echo … Read more