Brisbane supermarkets advised to stack their own bread shelves

Posted by Editorial on 24th September 2008

Bread Shelves

The possible strike in Queensland by Tip Top vendors is on the back burner for the time being, as truck drivers instead instruct Coles and Woolworths to stack their own shelves in Brisbane.

Currently, vendors for Tip Top Bakeries, who own the Sunblest, Up, 9-Grain and Tip Top brands, usually take the bread into Coles and Woolworths stores, refill the shelves and take old bread back to their depot. The vendors, who purchase the bread from Tip Top and deliver and sell it to supermarkets, have decided the best option is to get Tip Top and the supermarkets to fight amongst themselves.

“They are now only going to take the bread to the back of the store and Woolworths and Coles can pack their own bread,” TWU Queensland Secretary Hughie Williams told AAP. “Woolworths and Coles are not going to be very happy with Tip Top. But that’s our strategy, to get the enemies fighting amongst each other.”

The decision was made following a meeting of drivers yesterday afternoon organised by the Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU). Another meeting is set down for Thursday for the drivers to discuss whether the tactic has been effective.