Perishable goods: Australia Post backflips on delivery ban

Foodies, artisans and producers around Australia are breathing a sigh of relief after a change of heart from Australia Post in their controversial delivery ban.

Foodies, artisans and producers are breathing a huge sigh of relief after Australia Post reversed a devastating decision to stop shipping perishable food products.

Small businesses across Australia were horrified by Australia Post’s decision to stop shipping perishable foods in early April – leaving artisans unable to deliver their products by mail.

Just weeks later, Australia Post has backflipped on their decision following an outcry from producers across the nation.

Pepe Issa of Pepe Saya Butter Co.

Pepe Issa from Caringbah artisan cultured butter brand Pepe Saya said the fight to save his business and others like it went all the way up to Prime Minister Scott Morrison – who is also his local member.

“During COVID, the only thing that kept us alive was Australia Post,” Mr Issa said.

“To take that away was horrible.”

Like many small businesses across Australia, Mr Issa lost his wholesale clients during the harshest COVID lockdowns which felled in-person dining at cafes, bars and restaurants.

Pepe Saya’s pivot to an online business secured their future – but Australia Post’s momentary plans to stop shipping perishables signalled a catastrophic potential loss for Mr Issa and his fellow artisans along with their customers.

Pierre Issa of Pepe Saya, an artisan cultured butter business based in Caringbah.

“Australia is a big country, with smaller regional and rural towns that don’t necessarily offer everything that you can buy if you can shop at a Harris Farm in Broadway,” Mr Issa said.

“If you live out in Mudgee and Australia Post doesn’t ship perishables, you can’t buy my butter – it just wasn’t thought through properly.”

After a determined national appeal to federal MPs from Mr Issa and his artisan colleagues around the country, Australia Post announced it would reverse its much-maligned plans to discontinue shipping perishables.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson said small business food producers could breath a huge sigh of relief with Australia Post’s recommitment to their existing perishable shipping service.

Who’s up for bread?

“Australia Post has positioned itself as the delivery partner to small businesses and family enterprises, particularly to those businesses that moved to selling their products online as a result of the COVID crisis,” Mr Billson said.

“It was not right to unilaterally declare an end to vital delivery services to the detriment of these small businesses and the customers who depend on them and Australia Post is doing the right thing for its small business customers by reversing this decision.”

Mr Billson will now also co-chair an industry working forum that collaborates to resolve issues experienced by Australia Post to support small business food producers.

Pierre Issa of Pepe Saya, an artisan cultured butter business based in Caringbah.

Mr Issa said he was extremely grateful for Australia Post’s change of heart.

“We don’t take this service for granted, producers see this as an extremely valuable asset and it’s even more important for the customers,” Mr Issa said.

“I must say, this whole week I’ve been praying for a positive outcome, that they would actually see our point of view – I’m absolutely so grateful, it’s amazing and it’s a great outcome.”