‘I guarantee you, we’ll sell out of Australia Day merchandise’, says Drakes supermarket boss

A South Australian retailer is doubling down on his war on wokery, saying he’s proudly selling Australia Day merchandise because it’s what most customers want.

South Australian retail boss John-Paul Drake says his daily interaction with customers provides “a street level idea of what people are thinking” – and most want to celebrate Australia Day.

The director of Drakes Supermarkets hit out at Woolworths on social media at the weekend in a post titled “My Wokeworths post is about choice” over its decision to pull Australia Day merchandise from its shelves in 2024.

“I just thought to myself, once you start ‘taking out this and taking out that’ … where does it all end?” he said.

John-Paul Drake with an Australia Day flag in his Wayville store – he says he’s proud to support the national celebration. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“I am a proud Australian, proud South Australian … and I know when I speak to friends of mine, we just want a day we can support Australia Day, to support this beautiful country of ours.

“In general, the majority of people are agreeing with what I am saying.”

Mr Drake likened the national supermarket giant’s decision to that of taking away people’s ability to buy dairy products because some people were lactose-intolerant.

“As a retailer, it’s my responsibility to let my customers choose if a product is suitable for them,” he said.

And he said everyday people were fed up with being told what to think and how to feel.

“I am lucky to be on the shop floor speaking to customers a lot, as is our entire executive team, hence we are grounded with our customers … I get a bit of a street level idea of what people are thinking.

“People are being railroaded into feeling, ‘I have to think this way’ (but) I don’t look at it like that, people have to have the ability to choose what they want to purchase and what they don’t … it is all about choice.”

He tips his store will sell out of Australia-themed party products this year.

“I can say a lot of our stores have sold huge amounts of Australia Day products and I guarantee you, we will be selling out of all our Australia Day merchandise … and we ordered in extra once we heard Woolworths had decided not to support (the celebration),” he said.

“That just goes to show it is hugely popular.”

John-Paul Drake tips Australia Day merchandise will sell out across his SA stores. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Drake said his post was not intended to be political, nor make a statement about the day in which the celebration ought to be held.

“For me, this isn’t a political post, it is more that someone needs to be talking about these things that are going on because (at the moment) it's a one-way transaction … you start to get pigeonholed into hearing only what you want to hear,” he said.

Mr Drake said moving forward he believed sensible, open debate was needed to land on a date that people could agree on.

“I understand January 26 is not a great day for First Nations … we can’t change what has happened in the past (but) as a community we should be able to pick a date that all Australians are proud to call Australia Day, so we can support that date,” he said.

SA Independent Retailers chief executive Colin Shearing backed the stance being taken at Drakes.

“We are not going to tell people how to shop at Christmas, we are not going to tell them how to shop at Easter, this is no different ... John-Paul is right, it is not up to retailers, that is not our role,” Mr Shearing said.

Leading national demographer Mark McCrindle said “corporates and commentators” could misread Australians.

“People want to celebrate this country … you find with most Australians, new arrivals or long-termers, that they are proud of this place,” he said.

“We are a nation of people of diverse cultures but we do gather around what it means to be Australian and want to protect and champion that for the future.”