Mersey Valley residents are being encouraged to back local beef producers following Woolworths’ decision to stop stocking Tasmanian beef in its stores from 2027. The supermarket giant has cited rising production and Bass Strait shipping costs as reasons for the change, according to ABC News.
Launceston butcher Rob Perry, owner of Casalinga Gourmet Meats, has publicly promoted the importance of shopping local in the wake of the announcement. Mr. Perry told ABC News that while the decision is a blow to farmers, it presents an opportunity for consumers and businesses to increase their purchases of local produce. He affirmed his business has consistently had access to Tasmanian beef and plans to further focus on sourcing and selling it, stating, “At the end of the day, we need to keep these producers alive.” Mr. Perry also highlighted the need for more meat carters and operational abattoirs to support the local supply chain.
Woolworths is expected to continue selling Tasmanian beef until the end of 2026. The supermarket’s decision means it will exit its relationship with JBS Foods’ Tasmanian abattoir at Longford from 2027, ABC News reported.
Scottsdale farmer Jerrod Nichols, who previously supplied 40 cattle fortnightly to Woolworths, expressed to ABC News that the security of such a contract was “paramount” for investment in the fluctuating market. However, Mr. Nichols was not surprised by the move, explaining that the absence of a contract kill abattoir in Tasmania forced Woolworths to use JBS, which he said charged “exorbitant” prices. He added that shipping carcasses to Victoria for processing and then back to Tasmania made the model unsustainable.
The broader challenges facing Tasmania’s meat processing sector have also been highlighted. Sprout Tasmania chief executive Jennifer Robinson told ABC News she was “gutted” by Woolworths’ decision, noting that farmers require choices and market access but face a shortage of service-kill processing facilities. Much of the beef currently sold in Tasmania undergoes processing on the mainland. George Shea, Chair of TasFarmers’ Livestock Council, acknowledged that farmers are under pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and must be proactive in marketing their stock, despite having fewer options than their mainland counterparts.
Liberal MP Nick Duigan described Bass Strait freight as a “substantial barrier” for Tasmanian businesses and has called for the federal government to release its review of the Freight Equalisation Scheme, ABC News reported. The state government intends to engage with TasFarmers regarding discussions with Woolworths. The ABC understands Woolworths does not currently utilise the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme.