Coles launches BYO container trial in South Australia

The BYO container trial will take place at eight South Australian stores and will be optional, meaning those who forget to arrive with containers can still have their deli items wrapped and scanned by staff.

A full list of the eight participating stores can be found below.

The radical new trial comes with its own terms and conditions.

Containers brought in by customers must be clean and “intact,” must have a resealable lid, and must not be glass or ceramic.

They also cannot be used for deli salads, frozen shrimp, barbecue products, hot food or self-service cheese products.

Those who qualify can simply hand their container over to a Coles Deli staff member, who will weigh it and fill it with the requested number of deli meats or small items.

Coles bakery, deli and seafood general manager Andy Mossop said the test was trying to balance environmental impact with food safety standards.

“As part of our Together to Zero Waste ambition, Coles is always looking for ways to reduce reliance on unnecessary packaging, while providing customers with sustainable options to help complete their store,” he said.

“We are testing bring-your-own containers at a handful of Coles supermarket delicatessens in South Australia to understand how best to provide this option to customers while continuing to meet strict food safety standards.

“We will be closely watching how our South Australian customers respond, and feedback and ideas will inform our consideration to potentially roll this out to more stores in South Australia or around Australia.”

Last week, Coles announced that all single-use plastic produce bags, also known as barrier bags, will be removed from all ACT stores, following in the footsteps of main competitor Woolworths.

Two days ago, Coles reported a 4.3 percent rise in profit to $1.05 billion, noting that many customers had switched to ground beef and frozen items as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. of the nation.

“As Australian families face increased pressure on household budgets, our commitment to reliable value remains more important than ever,” said Coles Group CEO Steven Cain.

“As examples, we are starting to see our customers buying significantly more $1 Coles pasta and our $1 coffee at Coles Express has never been more popular.”

South Australian stores participating in the Coles BYO Container Trial: