--- title: Tasmanian business groups urge Woolworths to reverse decision to drop Tasmanian beef date: 2026-09-01T00:00:00+10:00 author: Mikala Grosse canonical_url: "https://tcci.com.au/news/tasmanian-business-groups-urge-woolworths-to-reverse-decision" section: News --- NEWS# Tasmanian business groups urge Woolworths to reverse decision to drop Tasmanian beef --- Media Release Date 01 September 2026 Category [Media Releases](https://tcci.com.au/category/media-releases) ![Photo by Cindie Hansen](https://tcci.com.au/volumes/images/Unsplash/_1280x720_fit_center-center_70_none/24733/photo-709471214.webp) 1. [ Home ](https://tcci.com.au/) 2. [ News ](https://tcci.com.au/news) 3. Tasmanian business groups urge Woolworths to reverse decision to drop Tasmanian beef ![Joint Media Release](https://tcci.com.au/volumes/images/News/2026/_600x215_fit_center-center_70_none_ffffff/24734/Joint-Media-Release.webp) The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), Launceston Chamber of Commerce (LCC), Business NorthWest (BNW) and Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) have jointly called on Woolworths to reverse its decision to stop buying Tasmanian beef, warning the move threatens the livelihoods of Tasmanian farming families and undermines confidence in the state's agricultural sector. Woolworths confirmed on 28 August 2026 that it will cease purchasing Tasmanian beef from 2027, ending its long-standing supply relationship with the JBS Foods abattoir at Longford. The retailer cited rising production and shipping costs across Bass Strait, saying the model of freighting cattle to Victoria for processing and returning the product to Tasmania was no longer sustainable. Business groups say the decision sends the wrong signal about the value of regional supply chains, and comes at a time when Tasmanian producers already have fewer processing and marketing options than their mainland counterparts. “This is a significant blow to Tasmanian farming families and to confidence in our state’s agricultural sector. Woolworths has built its brand on supporting Australian producers, and we are asking them to sit down with Tasmanian industry and find a way to keep Tasmanian beef on Tasmanian shelves,” said Colleen Reardon, Acting CEO of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “This is a significant issue for farmers and for the entire supply chain that depends on them. Woolworths’ decision highlights the unsustainable cost of moving goods across Bass Strait and threatens the viability of Tasmania’s abattoirs, along with the supply of local beef to restaurants, butchers, hospitality businesses and food producers. These businesses have built their brands around premium Tasmanian produce. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Launceston’s identity and visitor economy depend on food that is grown, processed and served locally. We need Woolworths, industry and government to address the freight and processing challenges before Tasmania loses vital capability and businesses lose access to products that are integral to their brands,” said Alina Bain, CEO of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce. “We’re urging Woolworth to consider on island solutions for Tasmanians to eat locally growth Tasmanian beef”, said Ian Jones, President of Business NorthWest. Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) stands firmly behind TCCI, LCC and Business NorthWest on this issue. Our members include a great number of businesses connected to primary production, from farming families through to the transport, logistics and service operators that support them, and this decision has real consequences up and down that supply chain. We'd encourage Woolworths to look closely at the practical options for keeping that network intact, including working through the freight and processing costs that make Bass Strait trade genuinely difficult," said Claire Connelly, President of the DCCI Business groups are calling on Woolworths to reverse its decision, and are urging the retailer to work constructively with Tasmanian farmers, processors and the Tasmanian Government to address freight and processing costs rather than removing Tasmanian beef from its shelves altogether. Business Groups are calling for renewed attention to the freight-cost burden facing all Tasmanian exporters across Bass Strait, and stand ready to work with Woolworths, the Tasmanian Government and industry bodies including TasFarmers on a solution that keeps Tasmanian beef on Tasmanian – and national – shelves. [ ![Photo by Eyestetix Studio](https://tcci.com.au/volumes/images/Unsplash/_600x600_crop_center-center_none/17718/photo-1409296156.webp) Prev post ### News & Events - 1 September 2026 eNewsletter ](https://tcci.com.au/news/news-events-1-september-2026-2) [ #### Next post ### News & Events - 18 August 2026 eNewsletter ![Photo by Eyestetix Studio](https://tcci.com.au/volumes/images/Unsplash/_600x600_crop_center-center_none/17718/photo-1409296156.webp) ](https://tcci.com.au/news/news-events-18-august-2026)