Large Scale Immigration
The 1950s in Australia is characterised by a significant influx of migrants and, for the first time, not only from the UK and Republic of Ireland. Migrants came from many countries including Hungary, Yugoslavia, Italy and Austria. They brought with them recipes and food preferences that were new to many Australians. Because of their numbers, shops selling foods preferred by these new migrants started to spring up. Delicatessens, for example, started to appear, selling salami, pickled gherkins, pumpernickel, etc. Garlic and olive oil were still rare in published recipes but local manufacture of spaghetti was on the increase in the late 1950s.

Advertising
The first station in Australia's national television service began transmission in 1956 in time for the Melbourne Olympics. Some television stations carried advertising from the start but television was still to become a significant medium for advertising. Radio, cinema and magazines were the main media in the 1950s.

Self Service
By the late 1950s there were 1,700 self-service food stores in Australia and about 7% of grocers were supermarkets, which accounted for 20% of sales. A decade later a third of grocery sales were from supermarkets.

Take Away
In the 1950s, take-aways became more popular but there was still only a limited choice: fish and chips and Chinese food. For many people the only fish they ate was wrapped in newspaper from a fish and chip shop. Many Chinese migrated to Australia in the goldrush days of the 1850s but because of racial suspicion their foods were not widely tried for nearly a century. Even in the 1950s when Chinese restaurants were springing up, traditional foods like baked beans and chips appeared on the menu.

Milk
Before the 1950s milk was not always pasteurised and not transported and stored in sterile containers. State governments started to enforce pasteurisation. Milk was considered healthy and free small bottles were provided by the state for schoolchildren. It sat outside and wasn't appreciated much on warm days.

• The CHIKO roll is created in Bendigo in 1951.

KRAFT News

Name Change
In 1950 Kraft Walker Company became KRAFT Foods Ltd.

Advertising
KRAFT has been using JW Thompson advertising agency since 1931. The agency has been responsible for many major campaigns such as the 'Happy Little Vegemites' jingle, which was composed in 1954 and used until 1978 when it was revised. In 1986 Mojo won the contract to advertise Vegemite.

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread - Sliced Cheese
In all areas of the business KRAFT strives to improve. The first sliced cheese (unprocessed Swiss cheese) was sold in 1957 in 4oz and 8oz packets. In 1959 the Deluxe Processed Cheese Slices were put into production.

Another First
The year 1950 marks a new era in cheese-making when KRAFT becomes the first company in Australia to manufacture and market rindless cheese. In the late 1950s KRAFT became the first commercial manufacturer of cheddared cheese. The Company also pioneered the collection of milk and transport by road, leading the way for the introduction of refrigerated milk vats on farms and tanker collection.

Other Product Launches Of The 1950s
1954 - KRAFT Mayonnaise (10oz), Cheddar Portions and Cracker Barrel Cheese.
1956 - Philadelphia Cream Cheese, the first cream cheese to be produced commercially in Australia.
1957 - KRAFT Coon Cheese.