Camille Honey will provide Coles with 100% Australian honey. (Sydney Morning Herald)
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian supermarket chain giant Coles said it hopes to support Australian manufacturing and will no longer reserve (Capilano Honey) 's Allowrie brand, which contains Chinese and Argentine honey.
Camille Honey has come under criticism from local beekeepers for using honey from China and Argentina in its Allowrie products. Allowrie's label says the product contains 30 percent of Australian material.
McGee (Ben McKee), chief executive of Conrad Honey, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, confirmed that such a change did exist. But he said the company was working with Coles on alternatives.
"Coles is an important business partner," McGee said. Our next collaboration will be to replace the Allowrie brand with a series of new product innovations in (Capilano Brand), a Camille honey brand with 100% Australian honey. "
McGee said the Allowrie line of products containing honey from China and Argentina (depending on batches) had no quality problems.
"there has been an increase in the supply of Australian honey, which has also made it possible to provide more than 100 percent more Australian honey products to consumers," he said.
McGee says all Camille honey brands contain 100% Australian honey.
A spokesman for Coles said the supermarket had been reviewing its product line to ensure that customers' needs were met.
"We are proud to be able to support Australian producers and support Australian beekeepers in their important work of pollinating plants and food crops across the country."
Bingley (Neil Bingley), president of the New State beekeepers' Association (NSW Apiarists' Association) and supplier of Camille honey, said Coles's decision could push up prices, but could be positive for the local beekeeping industry.
"it depends on the consumers, if they buy at the price, they will be at a disadvantage," he said. Personally, I'd prefer them to buy Australian products, but (Allowrie) products are fine. "
A spokesman for Woolworths, a supermarket chain, said the Allowrie was a premium product at affordable prices and planned to keep Allowrie products on the shelves.