Coles has announced it will source all of its private label canned peaches, pears from struggling processor SPC Ardmona in place of imported produce.
The deal, which kicks off in November, will see canned fruit volumes sourced from SPC Ardmona rise by 600,000 kilograms a year, bringing the total volume of fruit sourced by Coles, from the Goulburn Valley, to over four million kilograms annually.
Coles said 100 per cent of its private label canned peaches, pears and apricots will be Aussie grown and made by SPC Ardmona from early 2014.
SPC Ardmona managing director Peter Kelly welcomed the retailer's commitment to bring Australian packaged fruit products to their customers over imported produce.
“This is a fantastic result for our passionate fruit growers and the Goulburn Valley community,” he said.
John Durkan, Coles chief operating officer said: “SPC Ardmona and the fruit growers of the Goulburn Valley have been supplying Coles with great quality products for over 70 years and we have being working hard to find innovative ways to build the relationship."
Woolworths struck a similar deal with SPC Ardmona in August on its private label apricots, peaches, apples and pears.
Woolworths also recently announced a similar deal with Simplot for its private label frozen vegetables, in a move that will see the retailer source all of its frozen vegetables from Australia by May next year.
Both companies have struggled in the face of cheap imports, and the big two retailers have sought to use these announcements to spruik their local sourcing credentials as Australian consumers increasingly opt for local produce.
“This new offer, including the sourcing of 100 per cent Australian grown Coles brand canned peaches, pears and apricots from SPC Ardmona, as well as our investment in national marketing campaigns, is a demonstration of Coles’ commitment to local sourcing and the growers of the Goulburn Valley,” Durkan said.
