Coles acknowledged its most outstanding suppliers across the country at the 2023 Coles Supplier Awards, recognised for their demonstrated quality, value and an unwavering commitment to managing environmental impacts and supporting the communities in which they operate.
Hosted in Melbourne on 27 July, the Awards recognised 16 businesses for excellence in a variety of categories, each one acknowledged for their service to Coles’ customers and its team members.
Third-generation family business Pirrone Brothers — which supply Coles with eggplants, cucumbers and zucchinis from its Northern Queensland farm — came away with Fresh Produce Supplier of the Year and was acknowledged for creatively solving a supply gap, ensuring customers were able to shop abundant, excellent quality Aussie vegetables.
Peters Ice Cream took out Dairy, Frozen and Convenience Supplier of the Year thanks to their reliable performance and significant contribution to the community through Coles’ initiatives with FightMND and Clean Up Australia.
Campari Australia Ltd was announced as Liquor Supplier of the Year for their customer offering, partnering with Coles on its glassware loyalty campaign to offer customers great shopping bonuses, while driving awareness and education of its products and pairings.
Coles Group CEO Leah Weckert congratulated the winners and finalists and thanked all suppliers for their commitment to providing customers with best-quality products, and supporting Coles’ purpose to help all Australians lead healthier, happier lives.
“I want to express my appreciation – and that of our 120,000 team members and millions of customers – for the support of our suppliers. We’re delighted they’ve chosen to partner, build and grow their organisations with us,” Ms Weckert said.
“We’re committed to working together with our suppliers to help our customers come together for a meal with delicious food and drink with friends and family. Right now, we have the great opportunity to help our customers do this whilst finding value, making healthy choices and being a little more sustainable every day.”
Additional winners of the 2023 Coles Supplier of the Year Awards are:
- Mars Wrigley Mars, which won Product Launch of the Year for its support of Coles’ sustainability strategy, bold transition from plastic to paper-based packaging and market-wide PR campaign.
- Grove Juice, which won Own Brand Supplier of the Year for consistent high-quality, trusted value for customers, and commitment to delivering exceptional products and experiences.
- Manildra, which won Bakery Supplier of the Year for its commitment to product innovation and formulation amends, providing healthier options while prioritising a consistent and stable supply chain.
- Cobram Estate Olives Limited, which won Sustainability Partner of the Year for its cutting-edge focus on nature and biodiversity through mapping, fencing existing groves and planting 1000ha of natives, and developing wetlands and low-impact pest reduction strategies.
- ABC Tissues, which won Health and Home Supplier of the Year for increased sales and strong growth, as well as its commitment to sustainability, including removing plastic on tissue boxes.
- Witron, which won Supply Chain Partner of the Year for its close work with the Coles team to deliver Coles’ first Automated Distribution Centre while mitigating challenges with creative solutions.
- The Arnotts Group, which won Grocery Supplier of the Year for its excellent customer outcomes through proprietary and Own Brand, and leading innovation in the health area, including the launch of Joyful bars.
- Hazledenes, which won Meat, Seafood and Deli Supplier of the Year for its innovative investment in growth and shared value, including investment into VSP capability and carbon neutral poultry, strong supply chain performance and support of Coles.
- Australian Vintage, which won ELB Supplier of the Year for its consumer-centred communications including partnerships with Justine Schofield and The Butcher’s Cellar and Meatstock association, and its commitment to sustainability through repurposing alcohol removed from non-alcoholic products.
- Ive, which won Service Innovation Partner of the Year for its key role in an award-winning magazine and innovative solutions to resolve supply chain disruption.
- Reckitt Benckiser, which won Community Champion of the Year for its incredible financial contribution of $1.2 million in products donated to Foodbank following the month-long $1 per product donation on every Dettol, Nurofen, Strepsils or Lemsip product purchased at Coles.
- Mondelez, which won eCommunity Partner of the Year for its willingness to innovate, such as an Easter Egg spend stretch promotion which has been a major step forward in offering online customer-exclusive value.
Coles Supplier Partner Awards at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne on 27/7/2023. Photography: Sam T / Event Photos Australia.
