Winning Appliances CEO John Winning said he was “shocked” by the biosecurity threat that has seen one of its distribution centres close in New South Wales due to a biosecurity threat from Westinghouse refrigerators.
The closure relates to the Australian Border Force decision to shut the Electrolux distribution centre in the western Sydney suburb of Casula following an outbreak caused by the dangerous Khapra Beetle found in Electrolux refrigerators shipped from Thailand.
A statement obtained by Appliance Retailer from the Winning Group confirms that one of the company’s distribution centres has been closed.”
Australian based business, Winning Group, has had one of its NSW distribution centres temporarily closed by the Department of Agriculture due to a potential exposure to Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium). The potential exposure originated from an Electrolux Home Products (EHP) shipment from Thailand. The products of concern, Westinghouse refrigerators, have been segregated and quarantined by Australian biosecurity officials,” the statement said.
“Khapra beetle poses a significant threat to Australia’s biosecurity and could cause significant losses to the Australian agricultural industry and national economy more broadly. We have been informed that there is no threat to the health and safety of people,” the statement continued.
“The Winning Group takes Australia’s biosecurity extremely seriously and we were shocked to learn that one of our sites may have been compromised. We are working cooperatively with the Department of Agriculture. Thankfully, there is no threat to the health or safety of people. We are one of multiple retailers that have been impacted by this shipment,” said Winning Group CEO John Winning.
In its statement The Winning Group confirmed it will continue to operate as normal from a secondary distribution centre at Yenorra in NSW that has not been exposed to the EHP shipment. Based on research conducted by Appliance Retailer, we understand the following:
– The Electrolux refrigerators were manufactured in Thailand and shipped to Australia
– The container had 45 refrigerators in this consignment. Of these, 10 refrigerators have larvae on them which would indicate the presence of Khapra Beetle.
– The refrigerators were distributed to New South Wales and ACT distribution centres – Winnings and Appliances Online as well as The Good Guys (part of the JB Hi-Fi group)
– The origin of the beetle is not confirmed to be Thailand or an earlier location for the container storing the refrigerators
– The detection of the beetle was identified by someone in the community