Woolworths to stop stocking several Tamar Valley Dairy products

Woolworths will be pulling some Tamar Valley Dairy products from its shelves next month, less than a week after the supermarket giant revealed it would no longer stock Tasmanian beef.

The supermarket will remove the dairy brand’s indulgent Creamery dessert line from its stores, but the Tamar Valley kids yoghurt range and its other products will remain.

A Woolworths spokesperson said the 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.

"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."

Woolworths said it supported Tasmanian farmers, growers, and producers.

“We stock a significant volume of local Tasmanian products, including Ashgrove Dairy milk and cheeses, Cripps Bakery bread, and fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers like R&R Smith, Cracknell Tomatoes, and Harvest Moon Farms.”

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the removal of Tamar Valley Dairy products from Woolworths was different to the supermarket’s decision to stop stocking beef from the state.

“Demand-driven decisions are a normal part of a retail market, and in this context, that appears to be what’s going on,” Mr Calman said.

“But we also want to make sure that producers that are supplying milk to that dairy are not worse off as a result.”

Tamar Valley Dairy is owned by Lactalis Australia, which bought Fonterra earlier this year.

“That probably means they have a greater ability to support and redirect milk that may have been destined for those products into other commodities that they produce,” Mr Calman said.

“It does reinforce that consumers really need to be interested and regularly check where their food comes from, and use that information to purchase products that support Tasmanian businesses that are working hard to process food from our agricultural products here on island.”

Tasmanian Labor deputy leader Janie Finlay said the decision was a big blow.

“Boag’s is winding down brewing in Launceston after 145 years; the Hawks are leaving; Liberty Bell Bay has collapsed; Bell Bay Aluminium’s future remains uncertain; and on Monday, equipment from Josef Chromy Wines went under the hammer,” Ms Finlay said.

“One by one, the things that keep northern Tasmania working are being chipped away. “Jobs are going; businesses are closing; and local production is being wound back.”

Lactalis Australia declined to comment.