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AUSTRALIAN MADE BERTOCCHI UPHOLDS AUSSIE VALUES Australian made is important to Bertocchi, according to Marketing and Merchandise Manager Tony Rapone, as it not only supports the livelihood of the Australian manufacturing industry and promotes employment in the country, but also “resonates with our pride, that all Australians should stand and uphold our country’s value with the production of the highest quality foods on this planet”. “Keeping Australians employed is vital to the future of our country,” he said, adding that “the true value of quality products should prevail over time” and that “the outlook on the Australian manufacturing industry is well positioned”. “This is due to our higher biosecurity standards, clean and greener pastures, level of technology and capabilities to innovate.” " \[Australian made\] resonates with our pride, that all Australians should stand and uphold our country’s value with the production of the highest quality foods on this planet." FROM PAGE 32 Other policies and initiatives Beyond the Australian-first sourcing policy, retailers are implementing a range of other strategies to promote and source Australian made. As part of Woolworths’ local sourcing strategy, the supermarket works directly with a number of small businesses across each state, often regionally based, to stock their products in the Woolworths stores in their region. “As part of the model, it’s not uncommon for these often family run businesses to deliver their produce and products directly to the stores from their own farm – offering customers local goods and produce at its very freshest,” the retailer said. “Not only does the program allow Woolworths to support small businesses, but it responds to the growing number of customers interested in supporting their local farmers, producers, and economy, or reducing food miles. The program works with suppliers across a range of categories including eggs, dairy, honey, smallgoods, and baked goods.” Woolworths has also established the Woolworths Organic Growth Fund (WOGF) in recent years to support investment in organic farming projects by eligible Australian farmers. “Through the WOGF, Woolworths has committed and will invest up to $30 million over a five-year period,” the retailer said. “Not only does this support the production of locally-grown produce, but also the growth of it in a more environmentally-friendly manner.” On further initiatives, Woolworths notes its partnership with The Bread and Butter Project, said to be Australia’s first social enterprise bakery. “This was particularly important during a time when a number of small suppliers had avenues dry up due to the closure of restaurants and cafes,” Woolworths said. “The Bread and Butter Project supplies Woolworths Metro stores directly, and even opened its first project bakery at our new Park Sydney store that opened in November.” Woolworths also launched a $5 million Dairy Innovation Fund in November which will deliver grants up to $100,000 to dairy farmers in the retailer’s supply chain over the next three years. “Designed with peak industry groups, the fund will help dairy farmers innovate and increase on-farm efficiency, sustainability and resilience to manage seasonal variations through investments in technology and infrastructure,” Woolworths said. Another recent initiative from Woolworths was an announcement in December that the retailer had partnered with South Australian manufacturer Detpak to offer customers locally made paper bags in South Australia and Northern Territory. Woolworths has partnered with Detpak to offer customers locally made paper bags. According to Woolworths, the move comes ahead of a progressive national roll out of Australian-made paper bags over the next 12 months. The new SA-made carry bags, says the retailer, offer a “welcome boost” for local manufacturing as a result of the multi-million-dollar partnership between Woolworths and family-owned Detpak. The partnership is expected to create at least 12 new jobs at the manufacturer’s Adelaide plant and with a further 12 roles nationally as Woolworths moves to Australian production for its paper bags nationwide over the next year. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Foodland helped its local brands launch new products into the market, with the retailer’s Fill the Factories Project. “This has spanned bigger, well- 34 CONVENIENCE WORLD JAN/FEB, 2021 The latest Coles Local store opened in Sydney’s Manly in December. Read more about this store on page 12.