How we all helped close the Heinz factory

Australians All Let Us Keep Choice

For we are young and free. And that’s how we should keep it.

While we’re all still in the resolution-making spirit, and with Australia Day looming, wouldn’t it be nice if we could exercise our freedom and secure the future of that freedom? Nobody is asking you to bear arms – just your beliefs. And you can do it while you’re shopping, so you don’t even have to go out of your way.

2011 wasn’t a great year for many. There were floods and other natural disasters, economic fears brought on by Europe, and retail sales slumped lower than the popularity ratings of our political leaders. But in some parts of the world there was an uprising or two, propagated by people who were simply striving for a fraction of the freedom we enjoy in Australia.

One of those rights is the freedom to exercise choice.

Something that dominated the airwaves last year was the surging duopoly of the large supermarket chains. Remember the milk wars? The accusations of bullying? Now the Heinz processing plant has closed along with a chapter in the lives of its workers, because we wanted to save 20 cents on an Aussie staple – a bottle of sauce. How many more industries will we kill over loose change?

If we’re to believe the predictions and mutterings in the market, home brands will be the new black in 2012 and beyond. While I have no problem with others buying a generic brand, (provided it complies with Australian health standards – which doesn’t always appear to be the case with some recent labelling concerns), I still reserve the right to choose the brand I want, even if it costs me more.

Even with generic pharmaceuticals, you’re still given the choice of the cheaper or original brand (or you should be, if you’re not). The reason I always choose the originator brand is because they’re the people who researched and tested the drug, and if I continue to support those people, they’re the ones who’ll continue to come up with the next big life saving medicine. The copy products only care about you and that disease when the new drug comes off patent!

While we’re not talking about life saving medication with supermarket home brands, who’s going to bring us that innovative food packaging idea, improved hygiene, or better still, the next big taste sensation? Perhaps there is something better than chocolate that we don’t know about. And maybe there’s a way to produce 1 Minute Noodles.

If I wanted to lose my ability to make choices I’d move to a Communist country. And if I wanted to do my shopping Tesco-style I’d go live in England.

A fair go is the Australian way. We may have a reputation as a laid back, no worries, easy going country, but we also have a side that doesn’t take kindly to bullshit or being told what to do.

As Bob Dylan once said, the times they are a changin’. We saw it around the globe in 2011. This year, why don’t we do something closer to home, and rise up against the brands called Home. Buy brands you know and love and grew up with.

In joyful strains and checkout queues, Advance Australia Fair!

Doug Robb is  a healthcare writer and  ‘beginner blogger’ with interests in health, work-life balance and a range of other random stuff. He has no affiliations with Heinz, supermarket chains large or small, or the Australian National Anthem – he just feels passionate about a few issues. You can follow Doug on Twitter here

How are you feeling about home brand products and the choice available to you?