Zoos SA wants to escape from ice cream deal
Zoos SA has moved to renegotiate its ice cream deal which dumped local “palm oil free” supplier Golden North in favour of global group Streets.
The decision sparked a public relations nightmare for the organisation which had promoted its association with a “palm oil free” campaign aimed at protecting the habitat or the Orangutan.
Opposition to the Zoos SA decision swamped talkback radio, was criticised by a State Government Minister and saw a petition launched by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon for a special general meeting of the Royal Zoological Society of SA.
Today, the society wrote to its members and supporters advising it was looking for a way out of its deal.
“As a member-based society we respect the opinions of our members and supporters, and acknowledge the feedback and genuine concern that has been raised,” said the letter, signed by society president David Sanders and chief executive Elaine Bensted.
“We are pleased to advise that we have begun negotiations with Golden North and Streets, this may allow us to extend the current stocking of both brands of ice cream beyond June 2015.
“We’re seeking a solution that is in keeping with our conservation approach, our need for sustainable income and one that is in line with the views held by our members, supporters and the wider South Australian community.”
The letter then repeated the proposition that Zoos SA had given up on the notion that anti-palm oil campaigns were effective.
“Over the last four years Zoos SA had been promoting a ‘palm oil free’ conservation message,” it said.
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“… however many globally recognised conservation organisations, including the World Wildlife Fund, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other major Australian zoos, now believe avoiding palm oil completely can be damaging in its own right and the use of sustainable palm oil is the better approach to take.”
While the negotiations with Streets and golden North have started, InDaily undertsands the commercial value of the Sreets deal was based on exclusivity.
Any new deal might come at a cost.
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