Australia Post increases prices … Patties takes supplier to court over frozen berries … Department store John Lewis to offer sleepovers

By Dominic Powell and Emma Koehn. 

Australia Post says price hikes that come into effect from October will secure the “long term viability” of the nation’s mail delivery service.

The new prices, which start on October 2, were revealed on Monday and will affect some domestic parcels charges, express post services, international mail and services like mail redirection.

The changes include an increase of up to 35 cents when customers send parcels and a 30-cent increase for express post envelopes, reports The Herald Sun. 

An Australia Post spokesperson told Herald Sun this was the first significant change to pricing in 12 months. An online statement explaining the changes to consumers assures them the increases will allow Australia Post to continue to “reach more Australians than any other company” each day.

Patties Foods takes supplier to court

Frozen berries seller Patties Foods has instigated legal action against one of its suppliers following a discovery by health departments in 2015 that its Nanna’s brand frozen berries were contaminated with Hepatitis A.

Fairfax reports Patties is seeking $4.4 million in lost earnings plus other damages from supplier Entyce Food Ingredients, alleging Entyce broke a supply agreement by providing the contaminated berries.

However, Entyce is contesting the claim, rejecting Patties’ assertion it owed them a warranty for its berries to be uncontaminated.

Entyce-owned brand Creative Gourmet recalled another batch of berries earlier this year due to more Hepatitis A concerns.

John Lewis offers sleepovers

British department store John Lewis is branching into hospitality in an unusual way, constructing a series of luxury apartments to allow customers to test drive expensive mattresses for a night before they purchase them.

News.com.au reports the apartments will be called the Residence and will be fully furnished, but it is unknown whether customers will be charged for the experience. The apartments are rolling out at four branches this season.

John Lewis managing director Paula Nickolds told The Times the company was hoping to switch focus towards more experiences for customers.

“We are not just selling you a mattress we are selling you a perfect night’s sleep,” Nickolds said.

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