Half of Aussies say buying local is the most important thing to do to strengthen the economy. And it's not just older generations shopping with their local grocer – 20% of Gen Y support local businesses by promoting them online. Why are Aussies turning down the big boys in favour of smaller brands?

Whether it's to support local communities or to be more sustainable, the intention to buy locally produced groceries is becoming mainstream. Yet studies are showing a huge mismatch between demand for homegrown produce and those who actually buy it, with experts citing a lack of choice.

Do Germans still booze on beer and snack on sausage? Does beauty still equal blonde hair and blue eyes? In our 2015 cultural snapshot of Germany, we demystify cultural myths, shed light on the country’s economic outlook, and explore the emerging and established trends across 11 sectors.

Germans are developing an increasing appetite for produce grown on their home soil. Three in four people prefer food items to not only be ‘Made in Germany’, but to also be sourced from the same region or state - creating a sense of not just local, but hyper-local.