Tag Archives: oceania

Iconic Australian chocolate discontinued due to declining sales

2023-06-20 FreeNews

The iconic Australian chocolate Fantales will be discontinued next month due to declining sales.

Nestlé confirmed they would cease producing their once-popular film-themed caramel lollies.

Nestlé Oceania Confectionery general manager Andrew Lawrey said the decision would come as "sad news" for many.

Fantales (Allen's Lollies/Facebook)

The need for significant upgrades to the Melbourne confectionery factory along with declining sales led to the decision.

"Many of us grew up with Fantales and have fond memories of them. Despite the sense of nostalgia Fantales evoke, unfortunately people simply aren't buying them as often as they used to," Lawrey said.

"In addition, our Fantales equipment needs significant investment. It's become increasingly difficult to get the parts we need to maintain it, and with declining sales, replacing it isn't viable."

The chocolates were first created in 1930 and became famous for their "fan tales" of actors and musicians on its wrappers.

Staff will be moved to other roles within the factory.

Fantales will now be on sale for as long as stocks last.

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Man wrestles with armed robber trying to steal from jewellery store

2023-06-20 FreeNews

A business owner has wrestled with an armed man who was attempting to steal from his jewellery store in Geelong this afternoon.

9News captured the moment the hooded man attempted to break into McGill's Jewellers on Ryrie Street about 4.30pm.

The offender, wearing a black hood, appeared to have a weapon when he became involved in a scuffle with jeweller Mark McGill.

Max Procaccino witnessed the incident while working across the road, and ran over to help.

"I heard the duress alarm and I ran over. I was screaming 'drop it, drop it', while the owner was wrestling with him," he said.

The offender fled on an e-scooter, leaving empty-handed.

Police are investigating the incident.

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First car buyer finds ute odometer wound back by 250,000km

2023-06-20 FreeNews

A first car buyer has found the second-hand ute he bought had its odometer wound back by more than 250,000km after the NSW government began releasing data to crack down on tampering.

Residents are now able to check odometer readings of used cars after Service NSW began offering free online checks on June 19 in an effort to reduce odometer fraud.

The government has seen four times the amount of odometer fraud in the last two years.

David's son bought his first second-hand ute and then realised the odometer had been wound back.

David and his son bought a 2008 Toyota Hilux from a private seller in St Clair for $26,000 after working hard to save up.

He said the ute wasn't "super cheap or super expensive" but the price you would expect to pay.

The ute's odometer indicated it had done around 188,000 kilometres when they bought it but when David checked it, he realised the vehicle's odometer had been tampered with.

The Service NSW app and website check said it had been wound back by more than 250,000km.

David's son bought his first second-hand ute and then realised the odometer had been wound back.

He said his son was devastated.

"He's a young guy, he works hard," David said.

"He's just an honest kid that's been ripped off.

"I tried to contact him (the seller), I sent him messages saying 'Look, can we please sort this out?'

"I gave him the opportunity to be a man about it because he's obviously done the wrong thing and I haven't heard back from him."

9News attempted to contact the previous owner but he didn't respond to calls and texts.

David's son bought his first second-hand ute and then realised the odometer had been wound back.

The service has only been live for a day but NSW Fair Trading has already received four complaints about odometer tampering.

The department is expecting many more as others log on and check.

It issued $113,000 in fines and 103 penalty notices in the last two years, which represented a dramatic jump from 38 total penalties in 2019 and 2020.

On the day the technology was made available, Roads Minister John Graham said buyers of cars, motorbikes and trucks can take some power back with access to this information.

"Odometer tampering is illegal and a ploy used by unscrupulous sellers to misrepresent a vehicle's value and condition," Graham said.

"It didn't work in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and we don't want it to happen in NSW."

You can report incorrect odometer readings in NSW here.

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