Minister goes in to bat for cookies
Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford has won an agreement from Woolworths to review a decision to remove Donaldproduced Kooka’s Country Cookies products from its supermarket shelves.
Representatives from the supermarket giant confirmed after a meeting with Ms Pulford they would review the move to withdraw the products from Australian stores outside Victoria and Tasmania.
Ms Pulford launched a fight on behalf of Kooka’s after the business posted details of Woolworths’ plans, based on product sales targets, on social media.
Ms Pulford, who declared she was a ‘big’ fan of Kooka’s cookies, quickly wrote a letter to Woolworths managing director Brad Banducci, arguing the decision would hurt the Kooka’s business and its Donald workforce.
She said Kooka’s was a regional food-manufacturing success story and changes sent the wrong message to other small producers.
“I am concerned that such a decision by Woolworths puts at risk jobs in Donald and also sends an unsupportive message to the Victorian food manufacturing sector from one of Australia’s largest retailers,” she wrote.
The letter prompted a quick response from Woolworths and a subsequent meeting.
Ms Pulford said Woolworths representatives confirmed they would continue to stock the biscuits in Victoria and Tasmania and had since agreed to review the decision to withdraw cookie sales in stores in other states and territories.
She added that small country businesses were worth fighting for.
“Kooka’s is a small business success story in my electorate and they are not getting a fair go. I hope we can change that” – Jaala Pulford
“Kooka’s is a small business success story in my electorate and they’re not getting a fair go,” she said. “I hope we can change that. “About 28 jobs in Donald is like a thousand jobs in Melbourne or Geelong and we need to maintain and grow businesses like Kooka’s.
“I’m pleased Woolworths were prepared to meet with me and I hope our lobbying will convince them to continue stocking Kooka’s products and give them better shelf placement in stores.”
Kooka’s estimates it will lose $150,000 a year if Woolworths removes the products from interstate stores.
The business has told media outlets it was difficult to meet sales targets when given poor positions on supermarket shelves, such as ‘right up the top or at the bottom, behind poles or laying flat so shoppers can’t see the label’.
A Woolworths spokesperson said the supermarket chain stocked its shelves in response to consumer demand.
As an added gesture of support, Ms Pulford arranged a morning tea with Premier Daniel Andrews, Deputy Premier James Merlino and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Danielle Green at Parliament House featuring Kooka’s cookies.