Small Australian manufacturers are under increasing pressure to maintain their presence in supermarkets with large multinational companies’ multi-million dollar budgets to compete with for supermarket shelf space and Australian supermarkets’ continued drive to increase their private-label offers.
Andrew Chaney, Managing Director of Aware Environmental – Australian makers of environmentally responsible household products Orange Power, Aware and Actizyme – said the retail environment was tough for Australian owned brands.
“Smaller Aussie brands will only survive if they have a strong point of difference but, especially with the strong Australian dollar, private label products and multinationals are being made overseas where they can exploit cheaper labour and material costs to keep profit margins high,” he said.
“Consumers are sick of seeing their favourite products which they have bought for years disappearing from their local stores to be replaced by these products.”
Aware Environmental Ltd has organisations like Planet Ark and Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) independently audit their formulas, supplier ingredients, manufacturing methods and waste treatment to ensure the quality and eco responsibility of its products.
“We have Australian-made eco responsible products that don’t have associated imported ‘carbon miles’ and questionable raw materials. We recently eliminated all palm oil derived ingredients from our products to prove our reputation as Australia’s leading ‘green’ brand.”
Mr Chaney said Woolworths, Coles and independents like IGA had supported his company for over ten years but consumers would determine its survival.
“Unless consumers continue to support us and purchase our Australian made products the shelves will eventually fill with private label offers and be dominated by one or two multinational brands.
“We’re urging consumers to support small Australian brands wherever they can and question the quality of the products they are purchasing. It’s disturbing and unfortunate to think that one day consumers may not have these kinds of environmentally responsible options available to them.”
- Ends
About Aware Environmental Ltd.
Aware Environmental is the leading Australian ‘green’ manufacturer of household cleaning products Orange Power, laundry products Aware, and drain cleaner Actizyme. All products rely on the natural abilities of natural ingredients and are completely palm oil free.
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