Eleven small and medium-sized Australian businesses receive grants from latest round of Coles Nurture Fund
This World Environment Day, Coles has awarded A$3.5mn in grants to 11 small and medium-sized businesses at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, as part of the latest round of the Coles Nurture Fund.
Now in its eleventh year, the Coles Nurture Fund has awarded more than A$40mn in financial support to 119 Australian producers across a wide range of industries.
The latest round of Coles Nurture Fund recipients have been awarded grants of up to A$500,000 to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions.
Western Australian chilli supplier Blazing Saddles has been awarded A$250,000 to introduce new cardboard punnets that will see the business remove up to 98 per cent of its plastic waste. The grant will be used to purchase specialised packing machinery and equipment that will help make sustainable choices more accessible for consumers.
Blazing Saddles director and owner Lance Fitzgerald said the innovation was a first for the category and a major step for the family-run business.
“As a small grower, we never thought we’d be leading the charge on packaging innovation, but this grant will help us invest in the right equipment and drive positive change in the industry,” he said.
“This kind of technology has been used in fruit and veg here, but never in herbs. The move to recycled cardboard punnets will significantly reduce plastic packaging and we thank Coles for supporting this step forward – for the environment, our business and to give customers a more sustainable option.”
Coles Group chief commercial and sustainability officer Anna Croft said this year’s recipients stood out for their forward-thinking projects that drive innovation across the industry.
“We’re proud to support these businesses that are pioneering smart and practical solutions that will help to create a more sustainable future,” she said.
“It’s exciting to see such a strong pipeline of ideas with the potential to make a real impact, not just on production methods here in Australia, but on the communities and environments they are part of.
“At Coles, we know sustainable growth needs collaboration and the Coles Nurture Fund plays a vital role in helping producers bring these ambitious ideas to life.”
Dates Farms Australia will use a grant of A$500,000 to build a solar-powered date processing facility and expand its planting of Medjool dates.
Cudgen Road Farms, a family-owned sustainable sweet potato farm, was awarded A$450,000 to build and design a new harvester that reduces crop damage, extends shelf life and reduces waste.
Topsoil Organics will use a grant of A $500,000 to build a compost bagging facility that turns Coles’ non-edible food waste into nutrient-rich compost, helping reduce landfill, improve soil health and accelerate our transition to a circular economy.
Foodbank SA & NT will use a grant of $250,000 to install cyclone-proof food lockers in remote Northern Territory communities, ensuring essential supplies are accessible during natural disasters and helping to build resilience in regional communities.
