Yaru becomes Westpac's 'water of choice'

Yaru Water, an Australian Indigenous bottled water business, is set to become the "water of choice" across Westpac's main offices, as it joins the growing number of Indigenous businesses within the Group's supply chain.

Yaru is a unique partnership between an Aboriginal family of the Bundjalung Nation and family owned Mount Warning Spring Water Company.  Its vision is to act as a vehicle for change, with proceeds generated from the sale of Yaru Water facilitating indigenous leadership programs, imparting Bundjalung cultural teachings while utilising Mount Warning Spring Water facilities and resources.

Simon LeGear, Westpac's Chief Procurement Officer, said he was pleased to have placed Westpac's first order for the supply of Yaru Water through catering partner Compass.

"As sales of Yaru Water grow across Westpac, we know we are supporting the Bundjalung Nation and Mount Warning Spring Water to continue their great work, acting as an agent of positive change," Simon said.

"It also enables Westpac to continue to grow the number of products and services we source from Supply Nation Accredited Businesses.   This is an important commitment of our Reconciliation Action Plan as we look to direct at least $3 million of our supply chain spend to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers by 2017.

"By supporting Indigenous suppliers we know we are indirectly supporting Indigenous employees and their communities," Simon said.

Yaru Water was one of the businesses called out in Enabling Prosperity, a report commissioned by Westpac which explored success factors for Indigenous economic development, to illustrate factors that contribute to individual and community business success as well as the different ways in which Indigenous individuals and communities are creating new and innovative ways of doing business.

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