Woolworths Group

A heartfelt thanks to our wonderful team in Southport who have been working hard to support customers in the local community as we continue to re-stock our shelves.

Our teams continue to make a difference in their local communities that have been affected by ex-Cyclone Alfred’s severe weather conditions. Our Port Macquarie store remains fully stocked despite challenging conditions which has allowed the team to support local organisations. This week the team visited the Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services and the St Thomas Port Macquarie Soup Kitchen, delivering much-needed product donations to help these incredible organisations continue their crucial work.

Meet Jamie, the Store Manager of Burleigh Heads, who praised the resilience and dedication of his team, many of whom were directly impacted by Cyclone Alfred. When the Burleigh store had to close on Sunday, 50 team members, including Faye, who had a tree fall through her own property - showed up to restock shelves and get the store ready to serve their tight-knit community the following day. We can’t thank you all enough for your hard work and dedication 💚

Meet Justin and Geoff at our Pacific Fair store. At our impacted stores across QLD and NSW, we are baking as much bread in-house as possible for our customers. We continue to open our stores across the area, please check our website for updates on your local store.

Meet Mark, affectionately known as the ‘Grandpa’ of the Mermaid Plaza store. Loved by customers and team alike, Mark came out of retirement to work at his local Woolies as he missed the social connection - and hasn’t looked back since.

We are blown away by the ongoing support and community spirit of our Far North Queensland team members such as Wayne Bull and Elspeth Martin in the wake of the floods in Far North Queensland. When the main bridge between Townsville and Ingham washed away and the flood-hit community cut off, Operations Excellence Coach Wayne volunteered to travel from Townsville to help out his former teammates in their time of need. “I managed the Ingham store for two or three months two years ago and felt personally connected to the team,” says Wayne. “I wanted to be there to help.” Wayne, who has been with Woolworths for 32 years, and Elspeth, eCom Zone Operations Business Lead, drove to Rolling Stone, 45 minutes north of Townsville, where they caught a bus to Ollera Creek Bridge. “From there, we got into a little white rail truck which took us across the train tracks as they were luckily still intact,” he says. “From there, we were picked up and driven back into town. We came straight to the store and went to work.” Despite the absolute devastation that surrounded them, with many team members’ homes damaged or destroyed by the flooding, Wayne and Elspeth say spirits are high. “The team here have been sensational,” says Elspeth. “They have been really looking out for each other - and us - while we’ve been here. There have even been a  few home-cooked meals brought in for us.” We wholeheartedly thank Wayne, Elspeth and our team and partners for their unwavering care and support in times of natural disasters like these.

Our long-time food relief partner, Foodbank Australia, recently opened a new Food Hub and Warehouse operation in Darwin, which has already proven to be a genuine lifeline for communities experiencing food insecurity in the Northern Territory. Since opening the doors, Foodbank SA & NT regional manager, Jack Barrett, and his team have helped put more than 650,000 meals on the table and supported 40 agencies and community groups, and more than 30 school programs. The facility also includes a dedicated Food Hub, which provides food relief directly to local families who can access free fruit, vegetables and bread, and other low-cost groceries in a dignified environment. “We are expecting to provide enough for 900,000 meals for those in need this calendar year,” says Jack. “More than 30 per cent of this distribution is fresh fruit and vegetables, which are completely free to our community. “This is a lifeline for these people. So many would not be able to eat without this site, so to know that we are helping families in my own community brings me so much pride.” Woolworths NT Group Manager, Daniel Palumbo, says he’s proud to help our partner  Foodbank support communities across the Top End. “Our store teams in the NT and I feel a strong sense of purpose knowing we can contribute to our community by working in conjunction with Foodbank,” says Daniel. Read more about the Foodbank Food Hub here: https://lnkd.in/gYEGTBQr

We are so proud of our 20-year partnership with Foodbank Australia, who, together with our supply chain arm, Primary Connect, are helping families experiencing food insecurity in the Top End. As well as donating food and household items from our distribution centres across the nation, Primary Connect, is one of Foodbank SA & NT's biggest pro bono transport providers, regularly delivering pallets of food and essentials to the new Foodbank Food Hub and Warehouse operation in Darwin. As a result, Foodbank SA & NT CEO Greg Pattinson, Regional Manager Jack Barrett, and their devoted team have been able to distribute more than 342,980kg of food relief across the Northern Territory, including remote First Nations communities. “Partnering with Jack and the Foodbank team has been incredibly rewarding,” says Woolworths NT Group Manager, Daniel Palumbo. “They’re making a real difference in their quest to end hunger in the Top End.” Watch the inspiring video here:

From tradition to innovation, Wandin Valley Farms is setting the standard for Australia’s cherry industry – one perfect cherry at a time. For them, growing cherries is more than a business – it’s a family legacy spanning over 130 years. Siblings Paris and Reuben are the youngest of the three generations of family members currently working on the farm, and also the fifth generation of the family to grow cherries. From the Sebire family’s first orchard in 1893 to today’s state-of-the-art operations, their passion for quality fruit is matched by a drive to embrace innovation. “With our new orchard coming into production, we will harvest from over 1000 acres across the cherry season, which runs for about 100 days,” says Paris, who helps lead operations at Wandin Valley Farms. “Picking at the perfect moment – when the colour and sugars are just right – is critical, and the team has done a first-class job this season.” That team effort is supported by world-class technology. “We’ve installed sensors on tree trunks that measure their expansion and contraction in minute microns,” Paris shares. “It helps us monitor moisture uptake and decide exactly when to water, ensuring the trees thrive.” In their advanced packing facility, cherries are hand-picked and meticulously sorted. Reuben, who helps manage production, explains: “Our innovative system takes 30 high-definition photos of every cherry using colour, black-and-white and infrared cameras. Combined with AI, we can sort by size, colour and defects to ensure only the best cherries make it to Woolworths shelves.” Speed is also key. “Cherries are delicate,” says Reuben. “We pick them today, cool them down to two degrees within seven minutes, and pack them the next day. They’re on trucks that night, so customers receive fruit at its freshest.” The Sebire-Jones family are proud of their long-standing partnership with Woolworths. “For over 10 years, Woolies has supported us in delivering the best cherries to Australian families year after year,” says Paris.

Meet Zachary from Woolworths Cabramatta! For the past 9 years, Zachary has been an integral part of the team, sharing his journey as he navigates life with autism. He highlights how the store’s inclusive initiatives, like the quiet room and Quiet Hour every Tuesday, create a welcoming shopping experience for everyone. 🛒💚 Jeanette Fenske, Con Poulos, Geoff Trappett OAM