A regional grocery store proprietor has lamented a damaged relationship with a key distributor as a preferred flavoured milk drink was not provided to his retailer.
Norris Park IGA Plus Liquor proprietor Gary Evans put up indicators round his retailer apologising to prospects and saying his provider of Dare iced espresso “has had his feelings hurt” when the beverage vanished from cabinets earlier this week.
The grocery store in North Albury close to the Victoria-NSW border had had provide points with its native dairy merchandise distributor since October, Mr Evans instructed 2GB Radio.
Lavington-based The Juicy Cow had the only rights to promote Dare iced espresso, which is owned by Bega, to the realm, Mr Evans stated.
“Even if we’ve gone to a different distributor or a different dairy, we can’t get it because they also have to buy it from him (The Juicy Cow),” he stated.
“The biggest issue with all this is communication. We will ring, we will email, but we don’t get any return phone calls or anything like that.”
The rift started in October when flavoured milk was not provided to the IGA in time for its weekend deliveries, with out prior warning, Mr Evans stated.
It is known provide chain points and short-staffing have been behind among the issues with distribution of the drinks.
Norris Park IGA instructed NCA NewsWire the deadlock “had been sorted out” and its cabinets would once more be stocked with iced espresso subsequent week.
Mr Evans stated the drinks had been “really popular with the tradies and the locals”.
“Again, it’s a good milk, he’s the only distributor, and he won’t even talk to us,” he stated.
“Look, he has exclusive rights and, really, he can do what he wants when he wants to.”
NCA NewsWire has reached out to The Juicy Cow for remark.
