‘Disgusting’: Leaked messages from fed-up Woolies staff

Woolworths staff have slammed the supermarket’s “unbelievable” and “disgusting” decision to not sell Australia Day merch, in a series of leaked messages.

Fed-up Woolworths staff have hit out at the supermarket’s controversial Australia Day decision, slamming the “unbelievable” and “disgusting” move in a series of leaked messages.

The supermarket giant has come under fire after it was revealed earlier this month it would stop selling Australia Day merch following a “gradual decline” in sales.

Several staff members have since taken aim at the decision in leaked messages posted to a private online forum managed by Woolworths, obtained by the Daily Mail.

According to the publication, workers expressed outrage over the supermarket’s refusal to sell Australia Day merchandise while promoting cultural celebrations like Chinese New Year and Diwali.

“Unbelievable that Australia Day was cancelled but we will celebrate Halloween and Chinese New Year just to name a couple,” one person wrote in the forum.

“ … Can you imagine a Chinese supermarket chain cancelling Chinese New Year but celebrating Australia Day?” they continued.

“Australian CEOs need to stop playing politics/activism and get on with running the business.”

A female staff member also questioned why the company supports “all other diversity ways in our lives” but has suddenly chose not to “support the community that celebrates Australia Day”.

“I don’t get it,” she wrote.

Others called out the company’s “woke stance”.

“They’re bringing in year of the dragon 2024 Lunar New Year gear, loads of it, but no Aussie stuff, disgusting, go figure, go woke, go broke,” one wrote.

“I cannot believe that Woolworths … have taken this woke stance about our national day, a day when we should come together as one,” another said.

Staff members called out the company’s “woke stance”. Picture: Obtained by the Daily Mail

Another called the move “unbelievable”. Picture: Obtained by the Daily Mail

‘Out of touch’

The leaked messages come after a letter sent to staff by Woolworths Chief Executive Brad Banducci came to light on Thursday.

In the letter, shared by the Daily Mail, Mr Banducci explained the reasoning behind the decision and apologised to staff for the “aggressive” backlash they have received.

“I want to personally apologise to all of you for the way our merchandising decision has been received – and how this has resulted in hurtful and inappropriate reactions directed at you, our team member,” Mr Banducci wrote in the letter.

“I know that many of you have received negative and aggressive comments – and in some cases acts. I am deeply sorry that you are being subjected to that.”

Two Woolworths stores have been vandalised in Brisbane, with messages spray-painted on windows urging others to boycott the supermarket.

Defending the announcement, Mr Banducci said the supermarket is not “trying to ‘cancel’ celebrating the Australia Day Long weekend”.

“We are a proud Australian and New Zealand retailer and, like so many others across Australia, I am proud to be an Australian citizen and deeply grateful for the opportunities that Australia has afforded me and my family,” he said.

Woolworths has apologised to staff or the “aggressive” backlash they have received following the decision. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Nikki Short

The South African born CEO also addressed why stores have decided to display banners for Lunar New Year or Diwali “but not our own national day”.

“Celebrations like Diwali and Lunar New Year are often centred around connection over food, and as a business we are committed to supporting events and occasions like this for our customers and team,” Mr Banducci wrote, despite some arguing Australia Day is often celebrated with barbecues. “We know that not every Australian marks Australia Day, in the same way and it’s important to us that all customers and team feel safe and a sense of belonging when they are in our stores.”

The letter also reiterated that sales of Australia Day merchandise had been dropping in recent years.

“Our commercial decision to not stock specific Australian Day general merchandise was made on the basis of declining sales. In recent years these sales have declined to less than $1000 per Supermarket over the month of January.

“BIG W has not sold Australia Day merchandise for a number of years,” the letter continued.

“Rather than stocking those imported products, Woolworths Supermarkets is focusing on continuing to celebrate the best of Australian fresh food for Australia Day long weekend gatherings with family and friends.”

Mr Banducci said sales of Australia Day merchandise had been dropping in recent years. Picture: Today

Mr Banducci also confirmed Woolworths had engaged with the Australia Day Council “to seek guidance on the evolved meaning on Australia Day 26 January” as well as their First Nations Advisory Board and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team.

He listed “numerous ways” the company is encouraging customers and their team to celebrate Australia including allowing staff to dress up on the day and selling Australian and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags all year round in Big W.

The letter was later met with backlash online, with some arguing Mr Banducci is “out of touch” and has “failed” in his damage control.

“Astoundingly Banducci’s reasoning behind the decision is because ‘Celebrations like Diwali and Lunar New Year are often centred around connection over food’ … This bloke is so out of touch with Aussies he fails to recognise that we celebrate our national day with barbecues, family picnics and parties. His hollow argument is a joke and the hole he is digging for himself and Woolworths is getting deeper,” one person wrote.

“Failed damage control,” another commented online.

“A gaslighting letter from Brad,” another wrote.

Aldi and Kmart have also announced they will not be stocking Australia Day merch this year, the latter of which has not stocked merchandise for the last two years.

News.com.au has contacted Woolworths for comment.