Woolworths mini supermarkets program expansion to help more students, people with specific needs

Woolworths has announced a new feature in their stores - but some might find it difficult to spot.

Woolworths’ mini supermarkets program is being extended to schools across the nation to help students and people with employment opportunities.

The supermarket chain doubled down on its commitment to help others through its program by opening 25 of its specialty stores across states and territories by June 2023.

Each mini supermarket replicates a usual Woolworths store with baskets for fresh food, supermarket shelves, a fully operational check out and the staff uniform.

Students use fully operational Fujitsu registers and learn how to scan grocery items, handle money and process sales as well as customer service skills.

Team members from local Woolworths supermarkets help with register training and the set up of each store.

Woolworths will extend its mini supermarkets program across the nation. Picture: Dallas Kilponen/Woolworths

Under the expansion, an additional 25 stores will open. Picture: Supplied/Woolworths

The major retailer first launched the program at St Edmund’s College, Castle Hill, in 2018 and has since established a further 11.

Since its launch, the program has been used by more than 1000 students and candidates and has been built into schools curriculums or used as credit recognition with TAFE retail certification courses.

It has also successfully placed candidates from Omnia Inclusive Solutions in work-experience roles in nearby Woolworths supermarkets in NSW and in Queensland.

The program aims to help school students and people with specific needs with social accessibility and employment opportunities. Picture: Supplied/Woolworths

Each mini store has shelves, baskets for fresh produce and fully operation check out systems. Picture: Supplied/Woolworths

The national expansion was announced as the most recent Mini Woolies opened at Clarke Road School in Hornsby.

Built into a storage unit at the school, the team also replanted ab outdoor fruit and vegetable patch so students could learn the importance of harvesting fresh produce.

Principal Rebecca Saunders said the Mini Woolworths shop provided a real-world experience for students and would help them build skills in sorting, categorising, communication, independence and using money in a real-life context to purchase goods.

“The Mini Woolworths shop would enable our students to practice their skills in communication, exchanging money for goods in a secure and known environment before moving out into the wider community,” she said.

The most recent Mini Woolies opened at Clarke Road School in Hornsby. Picture: Supplied/Woolworths

Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Natalie Davis said the company had received a positive community response to the program from students, candidates, parents, teachers, and principals.

“Inclusion plays a significant role within the Woolworths Group and we look forward to expanding the program to every State and Territory in Australia and continuing our partnership with Fujitsu to make this happen, creating better experiences together for a better tomorrow.”

Fujitsu’s Graeme Beardsell said the company believed in using technology to create a society where all people could participate to their full potential.

“We are thrilled to work with Woolworths on the Mini Woolworths program and to have the opportunity and privilege to enrich the lives of students.” he said.

“We look forward to the expansion of the program reaching even more students across the country.”

For more information, go to the Woolworths website.

Originally published as Woolworths mini supermarkets program expansion to help more students, people with specific needs