Woolworths will pull several Tamar Valley Dairy dessert products from its shelves next month, in the latest blow for Tasmanian food producers.
The supermarket has confirmed to Pulse it will remove several of the Launceston-made brand’s indulgent dessert products, including its Creamery range of strawberries and cream and vanilla bean yoghurts.
The move comes just days after Woolworths announced it would end its Tasmanian beef supply arrangement with JBS Longford in 2027.
A Woolworths spokesperson said the Tamar Valley decision was based on customer demand.
“Launceston-made Tamar Valley yoghurt will continue to be available to customers in our stores in Tasmania and across Australia,” the spokesperson told Pulse.
“It is a much loved brand by our customers in our range of dairy products.”
“As with all products on our shelves, we regularly review customer demand for different products in a range and we work with our supplier partners to adjust our range based on that demand.”
The popular Tamar Valley kids yoghurt range will remain available in stores nationally.
In defence of the announcements this week, the supermarket said it stocks a significant volume of Tasmanian products, including Ashgrove Dairy milk and cheeses, Cripps Bakery bread and fresh fruit and vegetables from growers like R&R Smith, Cracknell Tomatoes and Harvest Moon Farms.
The spokesperson said the value of fresh food and other products sourced from Tasmania had grown by more than 13% over the past two years.
The yoghurt range changes follow the supermarket’s decision to exit its beef processing arrangement at JBS Longford, which TasFarmers chief executive Nathan Calman described as a “further wake-up call” for industry and government.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was “very deeply disappointed” by the beef decision and used Question Time on Tuesday to call on the federal government to act on Bass Strait freight costs.
“Woolworths has long promoted its support for rural and regional communities and this decision most certainly goes counter to that,” Rockliff said.
Lactalis Australia, who own Tamar Valley Dairy, were approached for comment but did not respond.
