The 2021 Coles Supplier Awards recognised the efforts of 15 food and beverage manufacturers in sustainability, community and innovation.
Coles CEO Steven Cain congratulated the winners and expressed the company’s appreciation for long-held partnerships with some if its suppliers.
“COVID-19 has certainly proven to be tough on businesses around the country, but it is heartening to see examples of remarkable resilience and passion from suppliers who have continued to achieve amazing feats, despite the challenges,” Cain said.
He added that the sustainability efforts and ingenuity of its suppliers were integral to the success of Coles’ sustainability strategies, Together to Zero and Better Together.
The winners
Mars Petcare, which won the Coles Sustainable Supplier of the Year Award for its initiatives to reduce agriculture and land-use-based emissions. The supplier of pet food, including popular brands like Pedigree and Whiskas, also supported a number of community initiatives in 2021 such as The Lion’s Share: Animals supporting Animals and Dine Hope Reef projects.
Mitolo Family Farms, which won the Coles Fresh Produce Supplier of the Year Award for its continued investment in innovation and sustainability which has resulted in a 60-tonne reduction of plastic in packaging, water saving projects and improved freshness of its potatoes to customers.
Rivalea Australia, a pork supplier in Victoria and the Riverina region, which won the Coles Meat Supplier of the Year Award for its collaborative innovation with Coles in 2021, including the launch of the first-to-market ‘Female Pork’ range in Australia, methane-capture projects and recycled packaging initiatives.
Manildra Group, which won the Coles Bakery, Deli and Seafood Supplier of the Year Award for its commitment and innovations to provide healthier bread lines to customers. The Australian owned company operates the country’s largest flour mill in central west NSW and has reduced sodium by as much as 25 per cent of almost 40 Coles bread items.
PMFresh, which won the Coles Dairy, Freezer and Convenience Supplier of the Year Award for its customer-focused innovation and improved sustainability in product packaging and delivery of its convenient and healthy ready-to-eat salad kits and meals.
H&H Asia, which was recognised for its work with Coles to remove single-use plastics in its picnic range by receiving the Coles Own Brand Supplier of the Year Award. In 2021, H&H Asia developed a new range of responsibly sourced tableware with alternatives materials such as timber, paper and cardboard.
Henkel, who supply laundry and home care products to Coles, which won the Coles Non-Food Supplier of the Year Award. In 2021, Henkel implemented several sustainability initiatives such as removing plastic scoops in laundry powders and introducing a 100% recyclable tub for its Somat Auto Dishwashing capsules.
Nestlé, which won the Coles Grocery Supplier of the Year Award for its range of new and unique coffee, pantry, confectionery and cereal products to inspire and delight customers in 2021. Nestlé has also been working proactively with Coles to explore new possibilities for recyclability and packaging.
Cleanaway, which won the Coles Service Champion of the Year Award for its leading role with Coles to reduce waste and support resource recovery. Cleanaway manages 55,000 pick-ups of waste and recycling each month from stores and is supporting Coles to reach our 85 per cent diversion from landfill target by 2025 through continued education and infrastructure investment.
Kimberly-Clark Australia, which won Supply Chain Supplier of the Year Award for their consistent supply of products including tissues and toilet paper. Kimberly-Clark Australia has gone over and above to support Coles’ customers over the past two years during COVID-19 and have also supported Coles’ sustainability ambitions by reducing the kilometres travelled on the road which has saved 164,000 kilograms in C02 emissions.
Carlton & United Breweries, which won the Coles Liquor Supplier of the Year Award for a range of initiatives. This includes pack differentiation through 8-packs on iconic brands such as VB, Carlton Dry and Great Northern and reinvigorating heritage brands such as KB Lager. In addition, there was a range of exciting new releases on local craft beers such as Pirate Life, 4 Pines, Mountain Goat, Balter, Green Beacon and Matilda Bay.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners which won the Coles Express Supplier of the Year Award for its exciting activations to inspire customers throughout the year including promotions for Easter, AFL season, Christmas and Movember which helped raised funds for men’s health.
Procter and Gamble, which won E-Commerce Supplier of the Year Award for its collaboration with Coles Online to improve and simplify the online shopping experience for customers. Over the past 12 months, Procter and Gamble have supported Coles Online to bring events and campaigns to life across the Health, Beauty and Home category with multi-brand partnership on programs like MasterChef knives as well as dedicated brand campaigns on Oral B, Olay, Gillette, Fairy and more.
Australian Garlic Producers, a Mildura-based business which won the Coles Community Champion of the Year Award for its initiatives with the Warrabri Aboriginal community at Ali Curung in the Northern Territory. The company is in the process of developing a viable and sustainable garlic industry resulting in future employment opportunities for the community and early season garlic for customers.
Muscle Nation, which won Coles Product Launch of the Year Award for the launch of its Custard Protein Bar range. The Brisbane-based supplier of health supplements launched seven exclusive products to Coles in 2021 including three innovative Custard Proteins and four Custard Protein Bars.
