Storm-Induced Power Outages Lead to Food Wastage at Coles and Woolworths in Melbourne
Source: The DairyNews
In the aftermath of a severe storm that caused widespread power outages across Melbourne, an unfortunate incident of food wastage has come to light at a Coles store.
A concerned shopper discovered an industrial bin overflowing with whole bottles of milk and discarded meat products behind the Melbourne-based supermarket.
The image of the "skip full of milk" shared online sparked a conversation about the impact of such events on food wastage. While some Reddit users expressed their dismay at the sight, a person claiming to work in the dairy industry noted that significant amounts of milk are wasted daily.
Despite differing opinions on the extent of the waste, retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer contradicted the claim that milk is rarely wasted. Mortimer emphasized the importance of minimizing waste at various stages, from farm gate to consumer, as it affects the profits of farmers, logistics companies, and producers.
Responding to the incident, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that around 30 stores in Victoria experienced power outages during the recent storm. They assured the public that all stores are now operational and efforts are underway to restock shelves.
In a similar vein, Woolworths reported power outages at more than 30 of its stores, with six currently operating on generators. Due to the storm's impact, both supermarkets anticipate the need to discard refrigerated products, including dairy, poultry, milk, and frozen food, adhering to strict food safety protocols.
The unforeseen storm not only disrupted the normal functioning of supermarkets but also highlighted the challenges faced by the industry in managing perishable products during such extreme weather events.
Source: Reddit
The image of the "skip full of milk" shared online sparked a conversation about the impact of such events on food wastage. While some Reddit users expressed their dismay at the sight, a person claiming to work in the dairy industry noted that significant amounts of milk are wasted daily.
Despite differing opinions on the extent of the waste, retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer contradicted the claim that milk is rarely wasted. Mortimer emphasized the importance of minimizing waste at various stages, from farm gate to consumer, as it affects the profits of farmers, logistics companies, and producers.
Responding to the incident, a Coles spokesperson confirmed that around 30 stores in Victoria experienced power outages during the recent storm. They assured the public that all stores are now operational and efforts are underway to restock shelves.
In a similar vein, Woolworths reported power outages at more than 30 of its stores, with six currently operating on generators. Due to the storm's impact, both supermarkets anticipate the need to discard refrigerated products, including dairy, poultry, milk, and frozen food, adhering to strict food safety protocols.
The unforeseen storm not only disrupted the normal functioning of supermarkets but also highlighted the challenges faced by the industry in managing perishable products during such extreme weather events.
Source: Reddit
