Australian grocery Coles has announced a new supply deal with fruit preserving business SPC Ardmona which is expected to bring a welcome boost to Aussie fruit growers.
The latest deal will see SPC supply Coles with an additional 1.8 million Australian fruit cans for its Coles Brand every year.
As part of the new deal Coles has introduced a new range of preserved fruit in cans – including 100 per cent Australian peaches, pears and apricots. Head of Coles Brand, Mark Field, said its Coles’ Australia-first sourcing policy to work with Australian food growers and manufacturers so Aussies can get the best produce in the market.
“Coles is proud to work with an iconic Australian company such as SPC and local growers to offer products with Aussie-grown fruit. We know our customers want top quality food, and equally they want to know that they are helping to support Australian farmers and Australian jobs,” said Field.
SPC managing director Reg Weine said the new partnership with the supermarket giant is a great boost for SPC.
“It is great to see Coles continue to support local businesses and growers. The Coles brand volume will improve our factory utilisation and will also provide our growers with an additional outlet for their quality fruit.”
Shepparton grower John Poulos added in a statement that the latest deal will pave way for growers to sell fruits sourced from more than 36,000 trees.
“Each peach tree represents a seven-year commitment until they’re producing fruit, and it’s even longer for pears – you plant pears for your heirs – so to have a commitment from Colesfor this fruit makes life so much easier,” said Poulos.
“It takes a while to get a tree cropping and there’s not really any fresh market demand for the fruit, as these varieties are especially grown for canning. So, to be able to maintain these trees and not have to think about replanting new varieties is very important to us.”
