AUSVEG welcomes Coles deal with Simplot

The announcement of a new five-year contract that will see orders of Australian vegetables and potatoes from supermarket Coles to processor Simplot increase by 12 per cent by volume has been welcomed by the national peak industry body for growers, AUSVEG.

The announcement, made by Coles today, will see the supermarket’s Smart Buy frozen vegetable and potato products sourced from 100 per cent Australian-grown produce by early 2014. “Coles’ commitment is welcome news for the hundreds of Australian vegetable and potato growers supplying Simplot with quality produce,” said AUSVEG spokesperson, Andrew White.

Coles has said that its new offer will increase the total annual volume of produce sourced from Australia to over 19 million kilograms, an increase of around 2.4 million kilograms. “It is encouraging to see the retail sector working closely with the food processing industry which is important for the viability of Australian vegetable and potato growers. With $908 million of vegetable imports flooding our shores in 2011-12, it is imperative that processing operations like Simplot’s in Australia are kept afloat for the sake of Australia’s food security.”

For more information:
Andrew White - Manager of Industry Development and Communications
AUSVEG
Tel: (03) 9882 0277
Mobile: 0409 989 575
E-mail: andrew.white@ausveg.com.au