No Australian Chefs to be our Face of Australia's Supermarkets
So here we are a country rich in culinary expertise, amazing
produce,constantly spoke about on the
world stage for our food innovation, award winning wines, and a coffee culture
second to none.
Yet we are led to believe, among our many award winning and
world class establishments we have no home grown talent to be the forefront of
our 2 largest supermarkets chains.
Now Woolworth's which opened it’s doors in Australia some 80
years ago, has 107,000 employees Australia wide in it’s supermarkets, 12% of
Australia fruit and veg is sold at Woollies, 6% of Australia's beef and 15% of
Australia's lamb is sold to us from Woollies, so it fair to assume we feel comfortable
with the brand.
Coles was founded by George James Coles in 1914 and opened
his first store in Smith Street Collingwood, it’s assets run at a mere A$ 19
Billion has 741 stores and counting so we surely have a great deal of faith in
this operator as well.
So why among the marketing and brand standard Gurus who
constantly bombard us with has been rock bands playing red rubber hand guitars
and constantly telling us they are the” fresh food people” and “Prices are down,
down down”
Could we not source some of our amazing talent of Chef’s,
restaurateurs and Foodies like the incredibly humble Maggie Beer or such to be
the face of the Australian consumer, but no, we have to assume World stage
figures like Heston Blumenthal who has achieved world acclaim for his amazing
self taught cuisine at the famous “ The Fat Duck in Bray in Berkshire which he
opened in 2007 and has been in the top ten restaurants in the world ever since
an incredible feat but as I say he is English not Australian.
Now I know we have become a nation of obsessed foodies, glued
to any type of food, wine Travel show on any network we can find, even my old
mate Ian Hewitson with his colorful suspenders pushed to the stage of
demanding danger money for the duress they are put under from that well filmed
and well fed girth of many years of great food and wine has a huge following
for his afternoon cooking show so be it the food is very homey and comfortable.
We only have to channel surf to find any competitor who
managed to make the “top 10 in Masterchef” now has a gig somewhere, whether it
be on the “Celebrity chef bandwagon or such they seem to forge a career with
very little substance or experience due to our public demand or thirst for
food and all the tips they can muster through these social portals.
Woolworth's now has Chosen the Toupee clad Jamie Oliver to be
their face in Australia, the famous naked chef has become folklore among our
generation of cooks and Although I admire his passion he is after all English.
Could we not take someone like Neil Perry a man who has
survived in the hardest of industries for over 25 years, constantly delivering
a product which the paying public loves to embrace at many of his fine dining
Establishments.
A respected author, culinary forefather why could this man
not be our Supermarket giants face to communicate with us ?
Now my publicist said to me about 4 years ago, Mark, I am
sorry but your not “sexy anymore and your too old” to be in the marketplace for
food festivals and such although my credentials far exceed most chefs in this
country from an International standard, I got it completely it hurt, but I
understood and agreed.
Neil Perry is still groovy, so is Pete Evans, so is Shannon
Bennett the list is endless all fabulous cooks and wonderful ambassador's for
all things culinary in Australia and all present well, speak well and have
credibility.
So I ask you Australia “Why “
Markcancook.com
