The first Australian grown frozen berries will be available in Coles from next week. The berries will come from Victorian-based Matilda’s Australian Frozen Fruit, which was launched in December last year, following a Hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported frozen berries.
Matilda’s is owned by third-generation strawberry farmers Matt and Ruth Gallace and includes hand-picked and graded berries and mangoes, snap frozen in a new, purpose-built factory in the Yarra Valley.
The products have already launched in IGA supermarkets and green grocers.
“We’re really proud to provide a product that clearly states where the produce originates from, and where it is packaged,” Ruth Gallace said.
“At present, we have enough berries to supply Coles in Victoria, but if the customer response is similar to what we’ve experienced in other channels, we expect it won’t be long before Matilda’s is available in Coles nationally.”
Already available in more than 700 independent retailers, Matilda’s frozen strawberries, blueberries, mixed berries and mango will now be available in 100 Coles stores across Victoria from Tuesday 23 August.
Matilda’s berries are mostly sourced from Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm — owned by Matt’s family — which has been in the Gallace family for 50 years and has sites in Victoria and Queensland.
Matilda’s sources mangoes and additional berries from a network of Australian farms.
