New app helps Woolworths and Coles shoppers find Aussie-made items
A new phone app designed to make it easier for supermarket shoppers to support Australian producers has been launched.
Detailed manufacturing information for almost a quarter of a million products available at Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA can be accessed at the click of a button on the Strayan app.
Curious consumers just need to scan the barcode of a product and wait for the app to give it a score between one and 100 based on how Australian it is.
The score is a cumulation of figures drawn from where a product's ingredients are sourced, where it’s made, and what company owns it.
A colour-coded score will then appear on a diagram of a wombat, leaving shoppers with the decision to add the item into their trolley, or leave it on the shelf.
All products loaded onto the app come with a score, regardless of where they're from, removing any question marks surrounding Aussie favouritism.
A low score also doesn't necessarily mean a brand is doing the wrong thing by Australia, according to a statement released by Strayan this week.
"In some cases, the result may merely provide a means of comparison, and a low score may even be a consequence of unavoidable circumstances, such as the ingredients not being produced in Australia," it read.
"Strayan presents the information as simply as possible and leaves it to the user to decide."
There are two versions of the app available for download, one is free and allows consumers access to the app's basic functions, including the "Speedy Scanner".
The "MAX!" subscription costs $12 a year and gives shoppers the ability to customise scores according to their personal preferences, and adjust the importance of Australia owned, Australian ingredients, and Australian made.
Ploy to help farmers
Consumers are also able to favour certain countries over others, create lists of their favourite items, view an unlimited number of items in the app and removed advertising.
The app's founder Alex Black said it was created to support Australian businesses, farmers and families.
"Aussies love to support Australian businesses, and that support is growing. I wanted to develop an app that made it very easy for people to put Aussie products at the top of their shopping lists," he said.
"This app is for those committed to buying Australian, and thus helping Aussie businesses, farmers and families. We have many features planned to materially move the needle to Aussie businesses, this is only the start."
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