'Dishonest': Hugely popular mattress brand Koala is slammed for moving its manufacturing to China despite boasting on its website that products are 'made in Australia, for Australia'

Much-loved Australian mattress brand Koala has been slammed after announcing it will be moving production to China.

The bedding company said it was moving manufacturing of its popular mattresses to support its growth in Asian markets.

The move will result in just one of 13 Koala items being produced domestically for a company which prides itself on its Australian-made mattresses.

The signature product is described on the company's website as 'made in Australia, for Australia'.

The Sydney-based company came under fire from Australian businessman and Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey, who said the company was 'dishonest'.

Harvey Norman boss Gerry Harvey (pictured with his wife Katie Page) has slammed Koala's decision to relocate manufacturing of its popular mattresses to China

Koala also touts itself as an ethical and sustainable company which is a big supporter of protecting Australian wildlife and the environment.

'Anyone selling imported mattresses are doing it because they can make more money,' Mr Harvey told NCA Newswire.

'The marketing is dishonest … they are pretending they are Australian.'

Koala has been inundated with negative comments on social media after its decision became public on Sunday.

'Disappointed to hear in the media today that you are moving your production to China!,' an unhappy wrote on Instagram.

Another added: 'Moving your manufacturing from Australia to China is disappointing. Will not support you anymore.'

Koala's signature and much loved mattresses will no longer be made in Australia

There was more backlash on Facebook with customers vowing to shop elsewhere.

'When I was deciding what mattress to buy out of the many that are just like yours, I chose Koala, against recommendations from others, purely based on you being Australian made and the others not. I guess it's my last Koala mattress,' one woman commented.

A man added: 'This move to manufacturing in China is a bad move for Australian jobs and with particularly poor timing. Not a company I will support in the future.'

A company spokeswoman defended the decision, insisting it will improve innovation and quality to drive continued growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

'We are always in search of the best manufacturers, suppliers, and makers around the world who meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability standards and conduct assessments to support this,' the spokeswoman said.

She added products will still be designed in Australia and that 120 additional jobs will be created by the end of 2020-21.

Just one of Koala's 13 products will be made in Australia following its move to relocate mattress production offshore to China

Comments

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce. Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home. Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...

EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced ex-congresswoman Katie Hill quietly settles divorce from 'abusive' husband after blaming him for exposing their 'throuple' sexual relationship with a young female campaign staffer

Disgraced Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill has quietly settled her divorce from husband Kenny Heslep after blaming him for exposing a ‘throuple’ sexual relationship they were having with a young female campaign staffer, DailyMail.com can reveal. Hill, 33, resigned from Congress last year after the publication of shocking nude photos of the politician cavorting with junior staffer Morgan Desjardins, who was 22 at the time, and an ethics probe was launched into her alleged affair with another aide. The freshman Democrat from California immediately accused her 'abusive' husband Heslep, 36, of trying to humiliate her and leaking the snaps to ruin her political career. But speaking to DailyMail.com about the divorce settlement, Heslep's lawyer said the former congresswoman's claims were 'all smoke and mirrors.' Disgraced Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill has quietly settled her divorce from husband Kenny Heslep after blaming him for exposing a ‘throuple’ sexual ...

Newsif Blog

Search This Blog