Woolworths reveals ‘brilliant’ garlic bread hack to stop food waste

Woolworths is doing its bit to prevent food waste, sharing the “brilliant” hack one store is using to give a second life to old bread.

Woolworths has shared a hack for using up old bread and helping to prevent food waste.

In a video on TikTok that’s amassed some 216,000 views and more than 23,000 likes, staffer Liam Kirley, who runs the grocery giant’s page on the social media site, revealed what a Sydney Woolworths store does when it has an excess of day-old bread.

“We bake fresh bread daily, however sometimes we don’t sell it all. So, in our Double Bay store, we’re reducing food waste by giving these loaves another life in the form of delicious garlic bread,” he said.

“First we cut the bread, but in specific ways for each type of bread. Then, we spread the [garlic] butter on to the bread. Then we let it freeze for 12 hours. During those 12 hours, I have a shower – you gotta stay clean you know.

“And then it’s yours to enjoy.”

Shoppers were quick to praise Woolies on the move, with hundreds jumping into the comments to remark on it being “such a good idea”.

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What can you do with stale bread? Picture: TikTok

Staff stuff the bread with plenty of garlic butter. Picture: TikTok

After the butter goes on, the loaf is put in the freezer. Picture: TikTok

“This is a great idea! (That’s why I choose Woolies),” one said.

“Brilliant idea, all big grocery should be doing this,” wrote another.

“That’s amazing! Bravo,” said a third.

Dubbed Australia’s “fanciest” supermarket, the store in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has gone viral in the past for boasting a fresh pasta bar, cafe and in-house social enterprise bakery.

“[It] has to be the bougiest Woolworths in Australia,” one TikTok user said in March, posting a video tour of the store.

“When you walk in there’s a fresh bread section and all of this pick ’n’ mix, whatever you want – lollies, crackers, nuts, chocolate. Lots of vegan, sugar-free options if you’re into that.”

At the moment, the garlic bread is only available at Woolworths’ Double Bay store. Picture: Dallas Kilponen/Woolworths

Dozens of people in the comments begged Woolies to bring the garlic bread to their local stores as well.

“Can this be in every store?” one asked.

“Please do this in all stores. Love the amount of garlic butter too,” commented another.

“Best thing ever! Hope they are bringing it to all stores,” said a third.

“Amazing guys these would be delicious,” wrote another. “Encourage all stores to do this please!”

News.com.au understands the garlic bread is currently being run as a trial at Double Bay, with the potential of being rolled out elsewhere in the future.

People were quick to praise the move. Picture: TikTok

‘Best thing ever! Hope they are bringing it to all stores.’ Picture: TikTok

Price freeze on essentials

It comes after CEO Brad Banducci announced to customers in an email that Woolworths has frozen the prices on a “trolley’s worth of meaningful essentials” until the end of this year, as the cost of basic goods and amenities like petrol and fresh produce soar.

“The challenges we’ve worked through together in the last two-plus years have been unparalleled – from droughts and fires to Covid, floods and supply shortages and now inflation and the pressure on household budgets,” Mr Banducci wrote.

“As we all lean into the challenges of inflation, rest assured the whole team at Woolworths is committed to making sure you can always get your Woolies’ worth.”

He said: “Despite ongoing inflation challenges and pressures, Woolworths is committing that the prices on these essential trolley items bought regularly by Australian families will remain at the same price as they are today.”

It will apply to own-brand products including pantry essentials (like flour, sugar, eggs, canned tomatoes, coffee and tea), meal essentials (like pasta, frozen peas, cheese blocks, bread rolls and bacon), baby essentials (nappies and food pouches), and household essentials (like laundry powder, garbage bags and dishwashing liquid).

Customers can find the full list of price freeze products here.

Originally published as Woolworths reveals ‘brilliant’ garlic bread hack to stop food waste