Vegan Australia, the Vegan Society of Aotearoa New Zealand and Doctors For Nutrition have sent a further letter to Woolworths Group, sharing the results of public feedback gathered from people in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The letter follows our earlier correspondence raising concerns about the reduction and marginalisation of vegan products in Woolworths supermarkets. Woolworths has acknowledged concerns about declining availability and welcomed further dialogue. Retail World has also reported that Woolworths said it was considering the feedback as part of its product selection and category management process.

The feedback we have received shows that this issue is not limited to one product, one store or one temporary supply problem. People described a broader pattern: vegan products disappearing, being moved, becoming harder to find or being placed where they are less visible.

A review of the feedback found that:

• around 72% of responses referred to reduced range, discontinued products or products disappearing
• around 46% raised concerns about placement, signage or difficulty finding vegan products
• around 20% indicated that people had changed where they shop, including moving some or all of their shopping to other supermarkets, independent stores or online suppliers

Commonly mentioned products included vegan cheeses, frozen meals, pies, burgers, sausages, deli-style products, tofu, chocolate, ice cream and other everyday items.

The feedback also points to what can be described as an "invisibility loop". When vegan products are reduced, poorly signed or placed inconsistently, people are less able to find them. Lower sales can then be interpreted as lower demand, even though the problem may be that the products have been made less accessible in the first place.

This matters because supermarkets do not simply respond to demand. They help shape it. Shelf space, signage, product placement, pricing and availability all influence what people recognise as normal and easy to buy.

For Vegan Australia, this is part of a wider issue. Veganism is about rejecting the use of animals and recognising that animals are not products or property. People who are trying to live consistently with that principle should not have vegan products treated as niche, temporary or difficult to access.

Woolworths has an opportunity to respond constructively. We are asking Woolworths to:

• maintain and expand its vegan product range
• keep vegan products visible and easy to find
• ensure consistent availability across stores
• avoid placing vegan products in ways that make them less accessible
• work with vegan organisations, health organisations and suppliers to better understand demand

Doctors For Nutrition has also emphasised the public health importance of access to plant-based foods, noting that supermarkets are well placed to influence healthier food environments. Retail World reported Doctors For Nutrition's view that Woolworths has a clear opportunity to demonstrate leadership by maintaining or increasing its range of plant-based products.

Vegan Australia will continue to engage with Woolworths and our campaign partners on this issue. We thank everyone who took the time to share their experiences. Your feedback has helped show that this is a real and ongoing concern for people who rely on supermarkets for everyday vegan products.

Vegan products should not be pushed to the margins. They should be visible, available and treated as a normal part of supermarket shopping.