CBD

Pizza boss grabs wedge of Japan

A quick glance at the Domino's Pizza website in Japan - the English translated version - shows very little seems to be different in what Japanese and Australians like on their pizza.

There are the usual toppings on the Japanese site that any self-respecting Aussie pizza eater would go for (pineapple, garlic, mushroom and olives) but no sign of that legendary Australian pizza - the capricciosa. No pictures, either, of Japanese people biting into an Aussie egg-and-bacon pizza, known to some health nuts as a "breakfast pizza".

Maybe this is something Don Meij (pictured) from Australia's Domino's Pizza Enterprises can bring to the Land of the Rising Sun after his deal to buy 75 per cent of Domino's Pizza Japan, and partnering with 25 per cent owner Bain Capital.

There are some Japanese pizzas, however, that might not do too well in a cultural exchange with the Australian pizza chain. CBD's Japanese skills are not the best but it looks like one of the more popular pizzas in Japan is an "American", which according to some translations has Philly steak and sliced provolone (Italian cheese). That will set you back ¥2520 ($28) for a large. Side dishes on offer include a black chilli soup.

Dodging a bullet

HSBC's Hong Kong-based head of Asian economics and part-time crime writer Frederic Neumann was one relieved numbers boffin on Tuesday. Signs of a slowing economic giant that is China has had Neumann worried in recent months but some positive numbers last week from the Middle Kingdom on trade and industrial output put him at rest. A note sent to clients on Tuesday was simply titled "Phew".

"It looked pretty shaky for a while," Neumann said. "But Friday's numbers from China suggest that a degree of stabilisation is setting in ... The tapering news is also out of the bag and the [Bank of Japan] is doing its bit to sustain liquidity. Bullet dodged. And yet, an uncomfortable feeling lingers. All we got is a bit more time to put our house in order." Why stop at one metaphor?

Jetstar carrot

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine was trying his star jumps when he declared his state had headed off stiff competition to secure a new Jetstar maintenance and training facility for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Sure there's some juicy dollops of state taxpayer funding in there but Jetstar owner Qantas is not alone. Other airlines such as Tiger have been the recipient of the odd carrot or two to base operations in Australia's own Seattle.

Napthine was keen to talk up the deal but reluctant to spell out how much the good people of Victoria had paid to secure the facility. "What we have made is a modest investment for a great return," Napthine said.

Melbourne should have had the inside running - given Jetstar's HQ is based there and Sydney Airport is basically full. Even so, Victoria had beaten other states to win the new facility, Qantas boss Alan Joyce said, without being specific. More star jumps are expected in October when Jetstar welcomes the first of 14 of the giant planes.

Rubbery figures

One can never accuse Church & Dwight, the company behind Dencorub, Arm & Hammer baking soda, Trojan condoms and Selsun Blue shampoo, as standing still.

James Craigie, the chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange-listed company, after reporting a double-digit quarterly sales growth this month outlined to Wall Street analysts about what's new. This includes "a new line of sexual lubricants under the Trojan brand name, a new Spa Clay line of products under the Nair brand" as well as a new single-dose cold sore treatment. Elsewhere there was a new "dishwashing booster product", a range of gummy vitamins and CBD's favourite, the new toothbrush that plays music by boy band One Direction.

bbutler@fairfaxmedia.com.au