Albany & Tiger ride roughshod over customers and stockists

Albany, owned by Tiger Brands, has just discontinued the only kilojoule-controlled brown bread on the market - and it has done so without even informing the stores that stock Albany breads. Albany Ultima was a fantastic product for anyone who is being careful about their diet, and it tasted very nice as well. Suddenly, it became impossible to find. I tried all the big chains, and nobody knew what was going on. I spoke to store managers, who did not know what was going on. They thought it might have been related to the current big push with Albany specials on its standard white and brown breads, but had no idea if and when Ultimate might return. I have just spoken to the Tiger customer line, and been informed that it has been discontinued! I am appalled that a major South African company does not know when it has a superb product on its hands. It could have - should have - marketed Ultima properly. Even without that, it was an incredibly popular product. So what is the excuse for discontinuation? And how can a Tiger company discontinue a major product without informing stores? This is yet another example of shocking South African so-called business practice, and of lack of understanding (or caring about) customers.