EXCLUSIVE Coles has come under fire over its decision to dump a popular brand of 100 per cent Australian milk from most of its stores. The supermarket giant will now stock Gippsland Jersey milk in just 16 of its stores, in a move that has been branded as “disgusting” by the brand’s loyal supporters. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The dairy company is “proudly independent and Australian-owned”, and its Gippsland Jersey Full Cream Milk was judged the best milk overall in Victoria by the Dairy Industry Association of Australia for 2024.
But while Coles once stocked Gippsland Jersey in about 200 stores, it has been now been dropped in the “vast majority” of its supermarkets. A Coles spokesperson has told 7NEWS.com.
au it was committed to selling Gippsland Jersey in stores “where we see most demand for this local brand from customers” (see full statement below). Steve Ronalds is the co-founder of Gippsland Jersey and a fourth generation dairy farmer, and says “it’s daunting to witness the unhealthy control that large corporations have over our food”. In an interview with 7NEWS.
com.au , he said the dairy company has had a challenging run with the supermarket giant. “If I’m being brutally honest, our dealings with Coles have been challenging right from the start,” he said.
“They haven’t really taken on board much we’ve said. Originally we said we just need to be in the Gippsland and southeast Victoria and perhaps Melbourne stores,.
