Storm surge sinks supermarket: Coles tosses thousands in perishables after power outage

The power of nature is undeniable, and its impact can be felt far and wide, even in the seemingly mundane routines of our daily lives.

This was starkly illustrated as a major retailer faced significant losses after a recent storm caused a power outage, resulting in the disposal of a substantial amount of perishable goods.

The incident highlights the impact of severe weather on businesses and the challenges they face in managing such unexpected disruptions. As the community recovers from the storm's effects, the retailer's actions underscore the broader implications of power failures on food safety and waste.


A large quantity of discarded food, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, was observed in a skip bin behind a Coles store in Victoria.

On Tuesday, September 3, the skip behind the Drouin outlet in West Gippsland was filled to a height of 1.5 metres with items the store had to dispose of.

The waste included pizzas, juices, dips, ice creams, pasta, smoked salmon, cookie dough, and various cheeses.


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A Coles supermarket in Drouin, Victoria, had to discard a large amount of produce due to power outages from severe storms. Credit: Facebook / 7 NEWS Melbourne


The supermarket was forced to discard all its perishable items due to power loss caused by the severe storms that struck the state on Sunday and continued into Monday.

It was reported that a generator was unavailable on-site when the power outage occurred, resulting in food spoiling before the generator could be set up.


The impact of the storm was felt across Victoria, with more than 28,000 residents left without electricity as gale-force winds wreaked havoc, downing power lines in towns including Newborough, Drouin, Cockatoo, and Warragul, east of Melbourne.

The devastation began on Sunday night and continued into Monday, even leading to the tragic death of a 63-year-old woman when a tree fell on her cabin in Moama.

The Victorian government has been actively working with the federal government to secure funding under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to support those affected by the storm.

The damage to property was extensive, with more than 660 homes damaged on Monday alone, including a home that was completely destroyed in the Dandenong Ranges and another in Corio.


The storm's reach extended to the coast, where beach boxes across Mornington, 60km south of the Melbourne CBD, were tipped over and damaged after being dislodged from their bases by the strong winds.

In a heartening display of interstate cooperation, a crew of 29 SES volunteers from NSW arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday morning to assist with the clean-up efforts, highlighting the community spirit and resilience in the face of natural disasters.
Key Takeaways
  • A Coles supermarket in Drouin, Victoria, was forced to dispose of a significant amount of produce following power outages caused by severe storms.
  • Items including pizzas, juices, dips, ice creams, pasta, smoked salmon, and various cheeses were seen piled in a skip bin.
  • The power outage occurred before a generator was on site, leading to perishable items being spoiled and necessitating their disposal.
  • The storms caused significant damage and power outages across Victoria, affecting over 28,000 residents and leading to the government considering disaster relief funding.
Have you ever faced a similar situation where you had to discard food due to a loss of power? What steps do you take to minimize waste and ensure food safety during such times? Let's discuss in the comments below and learn from each other's experiences.
 
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The food wouldn't have gone off straight away so they could have rang some of these charitable places and had it picked up.
l heard the bins were all padlocked here in Kingston Tas Woolies and Coles
It's against the law because they leave themselves wide open to all kinds of law suits...common sense really..
 
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Who said it was a storm surge? It was a blackout. I guess your opinion is more important than mine.
Lol read the real story it did include a storm surge and lots of rain ! storms usually do...but I guess you didn't think of that
 
It's against the law because they leave themselves wide open to all kinds of law suits...common sense really..
Wouldn't be off if they gave it away the same day and l'm sure the ones feeding these poor hungry people would know if it was before giving it to anyone.
 
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