A stoush between the manufacturer of Tim Tams and a major retailer has been resolved, ending any fears of a potential shortage of Australia’s favourite chocolate biscuit.
But reports of a “Tim Tam war” between Arnott’s and Coles appear to have been overstated.
The Australian reported on Tuesday that Arnott’s told Coles in early October it was planning to raise wholesale prices of some lines, including Tim Tams. Coles refused to pay the higher prices, and two weeks later Arnott’s stopped supplying the items.
Coles held out for 10 days, but then agreed to pay the higher price for 44 of the 54 biscuit lines and seven of the 11 stock products. The others are no longer stocked by the supermarket.
The affected varieties of Tim Tam are Royal Dark; the Adriano Zumbo range in Coconut Cream, Choc Raspberry and Salted Caramel; and the Chocolicious multipacks in Dark, Caramel and Original.
Arnott’s Twisted Faves in Salted Caramel and Strawberry Cream and the Arnott’s Cheeseboard were also culled from Coles’s range in the stoush, as were Campbell’s stock in beef, chicken, vegetable and salt-reduced 500ml varieties.
The loss of the less popular Tim Tam lines (and stock varieties) gives consumers a choice between shopping at another retailer or switching allegiance to the Double Coat variety, still reportedly in plentiful stock.
A spokesman said the supermarket chain had a commitment to bring down the cost of shopping for its customers.
“So when a major international manufacturer decides they will unilaterally force through a price hike without justification, we will resist that.
“Our average family shopper spends around $150 per week on food and groceries, and they don’t have the spare cash laying around to give to Campbell’s-Arnotts every time they decide to put their prices up.”
Arnott’s said that as a matter of policy it did not discuss its customers or its business, and would not be providing further comment.
But it did issue a statement, reassuring “concerned Aussies that there is no shortage of supply of our famous biscuits, including Tim Tam”. It confirmed that the standard wholesale price had been increased in October.
Arnott’s said that its customers – the retailers – set the price at which biscuits are resold to consumers, and reminded concerned readers that they could “currently find great Tim Tam promotions across different national retailer this week”, though it did not give specifics.
