Supermarket chains lied to their customers

Australians are familiar with the big supermarket chains being "economical with the truth" when it comes to the prices of their weekly specials.

It turn out that Coles and Woolworths are also happy to lie to their customers about their commitment to selling cage-free eggs.

Australia’s leading animal protection organisations this week united to urge Woolworths and Coles to honour long-standing commitments to go cage-free by the end of 2025.

An open letter has been sent to Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell and Coles CEO Leah Weckert ahead of the supermarkets’ upcoming Annual General Meetings on October 30 and November 11, respectively.

Approximately 5 million hens continue to be farmed in battery cages in Australia rather than free ranging (above).

The supermarket giants first committed in 2013 to phasing out cage eggs from their supply chains, pledging that by 2025 all shell eggs and egg ingredients in own-brand products would be cage-free.

Earlier this year, however, both companies walked back those commitments - with Coles delaying its target to 2030 and Woolworths leaving the timeframe open ended.

Australian Alliance for Animals Policy Director Dr Jed Goodfellow said the move undermines consumer trust and prolongs unnecessary animal suffering.

“Woolworths and Coles were rightly applauded when they made their cage-free commitments, and they’ve enjoyed years of positive publicity for the decision,” Dr Goodfellow said.

“To turnaround now, at the 11th hour, and say ‘sorry we can’t do it,’ is deeply disappointing - and it’s being met with growing frustration from consumers,

“Battery cages are cruel and outdated. They confine hens to a space smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and cause the highest rates of disuse osteoporosis, fatty live disease, and bone breakages of all egg farming systems,

“Modern cage-free systems, including fully indoor barn systems, can produce a reliable, affordable supply of eggs, without inflicting this level of suffering,

“Breaking these promises means millions more hens will continue to live in misery for longer,

“We urge customers and shareholders alike to raise their concerns with the supermarkets about this backward step – and we call on their leadership to uphold their promises to customers and Aussie hens."

A copy of the letter can be found here: http://allianceforanimals.org.au/ourwork/open-letter-to-coles-woolworths-cage-free-promise

Hotel brand shows it has a heart

 

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is running its annual Kilo of Kindness campaign for the month of October, collecting community donations of clothes, food, toys, and school supplies in support of charitable organisations.

Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer and Mövenpick Hotel Hobart are inviting guests, visitors, and members of their local communities to bring in one or more kilos of pre-loved and soon-to-be-reloved donations.

“Mövenpick believes in the power of food as a force for good and a medium for positive change, so we invite you to bring a bag of donations to one of our participating hotels,” said Kishan Chandnani, global vice president, premium brands, for Accor.

“Each year, Kilo of Kindness gives us the opportunity to weave the warm Mövenpick spirit of generosity more deeply throughout our communities. The campaign allows us to reach beyond our hotel walls and share our food - along with clothing, toys, and school supplies – with those most in need, bringing more smiles to the faces in our communities.”

This year, Mövenpick's Kilo of Kindness aims to gather 25,000 kilos of donations, across 77 participating Mövenpick hotels around the world - a record number of destinations.

“Acts of kindness really do hold weight," says Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer general manager Cory Norris-Jones.

"Our team is delighted to receive donations on behalf of our local charity, Food For Families, throughout October.

"Simply load a bag with a kilo or more of donations, drop it off at our hotel and leave with a warm smile and a lighter heart.

"It's an easy way to do good, feel good, and keep the good vibes going around Melbourne.”

In Hobart, GM Andrew Walling says: "Our team is proud to support Kilo of Kindness again this year. Hobart is a large community and this is one of many opportunities where we can give back to our amazing city.

"“We are humbled to work with the Hobart Women's Shelter as our charity this year, assisting them in supporting women and children in need. Hotel guests and locals alike are welcome to drop off goods to the hotel lobby throughout October. Every kilo counts.”

Kilo of Kindness donations may be delivered to Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer and Mövenpick Hotel Hobart throughout October.

See www.movenpick.com/en/kilo-of-kindness.

Smoke a major threat to wine vintage in Tasmania

The 2023 vintage is well under way in Tasmania - but this is an anxious time for grape growers and winemakers.

Not only is there the risk of early season frosts, but this is also the season when the forestry industry - which gets millions of dollars of state government support can threaten another of Tasmania's primary industries. Farm burn offs also pose a threat.

Wine Tasmania has issued an urgent reminder of the potential devastating impact smoke can have on vineyards.

Vineyards are particularly susceptible to smoke exposure, which can cause irreparable damage and destroy the livelihood of the island’s wine producers.

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies said that wine grape growers have worked tirelessly over the past year to manage their vineyards up to harvest time. Consequently, the remaining harvest period through to approximately the end of May is crucial.

“It has been another challenging and varied season, including some cooler and wetter weather which has contributed to a delayed harvest," Davies said.

"Pleasingly, early reports of wine quality are very positive, with overall wine volumes likely to be slightly below the long-term average.

“One of the greatest concerns for wine producers at this time of the year is the potential impact of smoke from nearby fires. We encourage anyone planning to light a fire on their property in the weeks ahead to consult with nearby vineyards before igniting their burn to ensure they don't inadvertently cause major damage.

“Smoke can travel some distance from a fire and still cause damage to vineyards, and a short postponement of a fire may be all that is needed to prevent irreparable damage to this year's vintage.”

Wine Tasmania is encouraging land holders to get in touch directly with nearby vineyards to discuss proposed timing of burn offs, the vineyard’s progress on harvesting and potential risks.

They can also contact Wine Tasmania on (03) 6223 3770 for further information and details of nearby vineyards.

See https://winetasmania.com.au/tasvine