Woolworths axes Australian peanut butter brand, angering shoppers

Customers have spotted a popular Australian item is missing from supermarket stores, causing a stir among Woolworths shoppers.

Don’t come between an Aussie and their favourite peanut butter – that’s the message being left for Woolworths after axing a popular homegrown brand.

Shoppers recently discovered Farmers Co peanut butter had been removed from shelves and have been hitting the supermarket giant’s Facebook page to express their disappointment.

Woolworths said removing the peanut butter – made from “at least 98 per cent Australian ingredients” – had been a “difficult decision” but had been made after a review of sales.

But it hasn’t stopped customers from airing their anger online.

Wooworths have pulled Farmers Co peanut butter from shelves. Picture: Supplied

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“What a disgraceful direction this company is taking. Under the current circumstances, I believe the Australian shopper will make a far greater effort to support our own,” one customer wrote. “Please reconsider this decision in order to support our beautiful country.”

Others agreed, writing “I hope this is not true,” and calling on Woolworths to “just stock Australian”.

One pleaded with Woolworths to “keep” the item on shelves.

“Hello Woolworths could you please keep this great tasting Aussie made/owned peanut butter from Farmers Co. on your shelves as I believe it is getting the chop.”

The move comes after the Australian peanut industry was severely affected by the ongoing drought, which meant as a result customers have seen other varieties of peanut butter made with a mix of both Australian and imported peanuts.

“We made the difficult decision to remove Farmers Co peanut butter from our stores in our most recent range review process after a sustained period of underperforming sales,” a Woolworths spokesperson told news.com.au.

Some customers are disappointed the brand is no longer in stores. Picture: Facecbook / Greg Luscombe

“While we have supported Farmers Co. over the last 18 months, it’s unfortunately not resonating with enough customers to continue stocking it.”

Woolies suggested alternative brands customers can buy, such as Bega’s Simply Nuts, which is made using 100 per cent Australian-grown peanuts and is available in the majority of Woolworths stores.

It comes after one Woolworths store in Sydney’s Double Bay was dubbed the “fanciest in Australia” by an excited TikTok user.

The hype was caused by a “secret room” in the store’s back that was filled with cheese, a feature only found in two Woolies in Australia.

Video taken inside the Woolies in Double Bay shows a chilled room stacked from floor to ceiling with various varieties of cheese.

A video shows the inside of Woolworths in Double Bay, revealing it has a dedicated ‘cheese room’. Picture: TikTok/@ryanpaturzo

The poster, Ryan Paturzo, declared it the ‘fanciest Woolworths in Australia’. Picture: TikTok / @ryanpaturzo

“The Woolworths in Double Bay is the fanciest in Australia,” the clip, shared on TikTok by user Ryan Paturzo, begins.

He then goes on to list many of the different types of cheeses on offer as the camera pans across wheels and wheels of the stuff.

“Parmesan, brie, goats, gruyère, edam, mozzarella,” he says, adding there was everything from soft to smoked and multiple blues.

“You name it, it’s in here.”

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Originally published as Woolworths axes Australian peanut butter brand, angering shoppers