Food supply chain businesses can now click-and-collect rapid antigen tests at two Bunnings stores as part of an Andrews Labor Government pilot.

As part of the program, more than 100,000 rapid antigen tests are being made available for businesses in critical industries like meat and poultry processing, as they grapple with staff shortages due to coronavirus infections.

Eligible businesses will buy their tests through the Business Victoria website before picking them up at the Bunnings’ Geelong North and Shepparton – when their allocation is available.

Bunnings’ customer service experience team members will be assisting business customers along the way to help to make the process as simple and convenient as possible and will notify them when their tests are ready for pick-up.

The tests come at a cost $8.25 including GST per unit, in packs of five and businesses can order 10, 50 or 100 packs per ABN. The unit price is wholesale, plus a small admin fee and neither the Government nor Bunnings is making a profit.

The test kits are not part of Bunnings’ general stock supply and are not available for purchase by store customers.

The pilot is one of many Labor Government initiatives to support the food supply chain sector in securing enough tests to sustain their workforces. The Government is also investing in long-term solutions including manufacturing testing kits here in Victoria.

Applications to purchase test packs for the pilot are open until 24 February or when the allocation is exhausted, whichever comes first.

Details of how to apply can be found at business.vic.gov.au.