Woolworths plans new Disney Ooshies collectables series with characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar

Collectables are big business for supermarket operators with promotions, toys and giveaways important in boosting sales.

Woolworths fires back with Disney Collectibles. Photograph: Supplied

Woolworths has fired back in the supermarket miniature collectables war.

Just weeks after Coles launched its 13-Storey Treehouse books giveaway, Woolworths plans to roll out Disney Ooshies collectables, featuring characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar from later this month.

However Woolworths’ Victorian customers will miss out on the move for now given the stage 4 lockdown restrictions on the back of the state’s COVID-19 crisis.

Collectables are big business for supermarket operators. Promotions, toys and giveaways have proven important in boosting supermarket sales.

When Coles launched its Little Shop collectables program in 2018, it helped the retailer beat arch-rival Woolworths in quarterly sales growth for the first time in two years.

For the Woolworths Disney Ooshies promotion, customers are required to spend more than $30.

The latest promo follows the last year’s Lion King partnership between Woolworths and Disney.

Woolworths’ new Disney collectables. Picture: Supplied

Woolworths Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said: “We’re thrilled to offer a new level of excitement to Woolworths customers with some of the most iconic characters in the Disney+ universe”.

“It’s been a difficult year as Australians navigate the challenges of the pandemic, so our goal by partnering with Disney once again is to bring more magic, surprise, and delight to our customers. From Frozen’s Elsa or The Mandalorian, there’s a Disney Ooshie for everyone in the family to enjoy,” Mr Hicks said on Sunday.

He acknowledged some customers in Victoria will be disappointed by the delayed roll out but “the safety and wellbeing of our customers, team members, and community remains our number one priority”.

“The delay will allow our team to focus on operations and supplying customers with their everyday essentials during this challenging period. Once restrictions ease and we can safely roll out the program, we look forward to sharing the Disney magic with our Victorian customers,” Mr Hicks added.