Jaya Grocer ties up with Aussie-based supermarket

PETALING JAYA: Australia-based supermarket chain operator Coles Supermarkets, owned by Coles Group Ltd, has officially launched its presence in Malaysia through an exclusive partnership with Jaya Grocer Holdings Sdn Bhd, introducing a diverse collection of 200 products.

Simultaneously, this deal will enable Jaya Grocer to broaden its Australian product offering by incorporating over 1,000 products from various Australian-based brands, including Coles.

Jaya Grocer deputy chief executive officer Daniel Teng said this partnership is a strategic decision by the groceries chain operator to serve the large Australian expat community.

“We are happy to have a great selection of quality Australian products made available to our customers in addition to our already wide range of offerings,” Teng said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Coles general manager for exports and fresh commercial Will Mulholland said Coles currently exports to over 30 countries around the world and is proud to serve the Malaysian market.

“We are delighted with our product portfolio. We invest significant time and effort into developing delicious, high-quality Australian products under the Coles brand and we are thrilled to be here in Malaysia to share our offerings,” Mulholland said at the sidelines of the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between both supermarket chain operators yesterday.

When asked about the choice of Malaysia, he stated that it was primarily due to the considerable demand for high-quality products in the country.

With no specific figure, Mulholland said Coles expects to expand its product offerings gradually in the future.

“Our product range currently is predominantly in the grocery aisles. We hope to grow it to a broader range of products, including Australian dairy products and many others,” Mulholland further explained.

According to him, Coles has well over 1,000 products under its portfolio, giving it ample room to expand its offerings in Malaysia. Mulholland said this partnership with Jaya Grocer is seen as a long-term investment of about five to 10 years.

“Our approach is to choose a quality partner and work with them to grow our brand. That is what we have done here and in other markets around South-East Asia.”

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia Clare Gatehouse.

Coles, which operates over 800 supermarkets in Australia, is an omni-channel retailer selling products including fresh food, groceries and liquor.