Brands to scratch
from your shopping list

Saputo, the Canadian outfit which owns Coon cheese, has decided to “retire” the brand lest it give offence to … who exactly? Here’s the company’s statement:

At Saputo, one of our basic principles as an organization is to treat people with respect and without discrimination and we will not condone behaviour that goes against this.

As such, we performed a careful and diligent review of a sensitive situation involving one of our brands. We wanted to ensure we listened to all the concerns surrounding the COON® brand name, while also considering comments from consumers who cherish the brand and recognise the origin of its founder Edward William Coon, which they feel connected to.

After thorough consideration, Saputo has decided to retire the COON® brand name. We are working to develop a new brand name that will honour the brand-affinity felt by our valued consumers while aligning with current attitudes and perspectives.

We believe we all share in the responsibility to eliminate racism in all its forms and we feel this is an important step we must take to uphold this commitment.

Some readers, thoroughly sick and tired of virtue-signalling corporations, may well be inclined to reflect this sentiment by leaving Coon, or whatever new brand name the company comes up with, in the supermarket freezer cabinet.

If so, it would be a mistake to put any of the cheesy brands below into the shopping trolley, as they are also owned by Saputo. For future refence:

Cracker Barrell

Devondale

Great Ocean Road

King Island Dairy

Liddells

Mersey Valley

Millell Parmesan

South Cape

Sungold

Tasmania Heritage

Warrnambool Heritage Cheddars

— roger franklin