Multinational companies have shunned a Busselton based business to ship frozen bags of ice from Perth and Queensland.
Busselton Ice Supply were stocking their frozen bags of ice to retail outlets in the region when they were told their service was no longer required because the product would now be shipped from Perth.
Busselton Ice Supply owner Darren Maisey said after the franchises were bought back by a multinational company they were told the decision was based on “corporate supply chain streamlining.”
“Generally speaking, when people pick up a bag of ice – it is a bag of ice as far as they are concerned - but in Busselton we have ice being brought down some 250 kilometres away,” he said.
“We are here making it, this is ridiculous they should be looking at regional based suppliers, we just want to see our product in local stores.”
Co-owner Damian O’Shea said they would not mind losing the business if they were being out priced, but their bags of ice were priced much better.
“We are coming into the summer school holidays which is the busiest time of year and the roads are crazy, it is just another couple of trucks on the road coming down this way,” he said.
A Caltex spokesperson said they used two major suppliers of ice in WA which were both WA based and had the capacity to supply to 112 stores.
“We attempt to use local suppliers for our WA operations where possible and currently have long-term relationships with a number of local organisations,” the spokesperson said.
Busselton Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer Jodie Richards said it was a well-documented fact that buying local has long term repercussions for the entire community.
Ms Richards said supporting local businesses created employment, opportunities for growth, social services and community experiences.
Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said it was disappointing to hear a local business was not supporting a local product such as Busselton Ice in favour of ice produced several thousand kilometres away.
“While a business has every right to make a commercial decision on what products they choose to sell in their business,” she said.
“Locals similarly have the right to choose businesses and products that favour local products and jobs.”
