Woolworths Supermarkets

From the deli counter to ‘I do’! 💚 Mel & Isaac’s love story started 17 years ago at Woolies, and it’s been an adventure ever since — two kids, big moves, and always having each other’s backs. Proof that love can bloom anywhere… even in the supermarket aisles! 🛒 Happy Valentine’s Day to all the lovebirds out there! Mel Toombs

We are blown away by the ongoing support and community spirit of our Far North Queensland team members such as Wayne Bull and Elspeth Martin in the wake of the floods in Far North Queensland. When the main bridge between Townsville and Ingham washed away and the flood-hit community cut off, Operations Excellence Coach Wayne volunteered to travel from Townsville to help out his former teammates in their time of need. “I managed the Ingham store for two or three months two years ago and felt personally connected to the team,” says Wayne. “I wanted to be there to help.” Wayne, who has been with Woolworths for 32 years, and Elspeth, eCom Zone Operations Business Lead, drove to Rolling Stone, 45 minutes north of Townsville, where they caught a bus to Ollera Creek Bridge. “From there, we got into a little white rail truck which took us across the train tracks as they were luckily still intact,” he says. “From there, we were picked up and driven back into town. We came straight to the store and went to work.” Despite the absolute devastation that surrounded them, with many team members’ homes damaged or destroyed by the flooding, Wayne and Elspeth say spirits are high. “The team here have been sensational,” says Elspeth. “They have been really looking out for each other - and us - while we’ve been here. There have even been a  few home-cooked meals brought in for us.” We wholeheartedly thank Wayne, Elspeth and our team and partners for their unwavering care and support in times of natural disasters like these.

Our store and supply chain teams across Far North Queensland are coming together to support each other through the ongoing floods. Meg and Kerry from Gordonvale Woolworths made up some care packages for our supply drivers who are travelling long distances through flood-affected areas, working hard to bring stock back onto shelves in-store. The drivers were stoked to receive care packs with essentials, water, and plenty of snacks and treats. Thank you to our team all over FNQ for your kindness and compassion, looking out for each other and hard work during a challenging time. Thank you to our customers for your continued patience and as we start to get food and groceries back into stores and work towards recovery.

Our store teams across Far North Queensland are supporting their communities through the ongoing floods. Our team in Charters Towers have been lending a hand donating groceries and their own time to support local initiatives. With so many roads closed, there are lots of stranded truck drivers, so the team has been busy preparing meals and hygiene packs to donate. The Pajingo Mine workers were flooded in and the team also donated food to the BBQ they had after they were flown to safety. We know there will be similar stories all over FNQ so thank you to all our teams for their hard work during this time. Thank you to our customers for their patience and understanding as we continue to work hard to get essential supplies to the region.

Thank you to our teams working to get groceries into Cairns, which has been affected by the floods in Far North Queensland. Our team has delivered over 40,000 cartons of essential food and groceries into the Cairns region in the past 24 hours, via both road and air. These deliveries have reached communities including Mission Beach, Innisfail, Mossman, Atherton, and Weipa, despite limited access and changing conditions. Thank you to our team for going above and beyond to make this happen. And also a big thanks to our customers for your patience with our team doing their best. Danny Baldwin Mark Mc Naught Glenn Schreiber

Thinking of everyone in Far North Queensland impacted by the devastating floods. Our team has been working around the clock to support our customers and each other, especially in Ingham. We're committed to ensuring residents have access to the essentials they need, and we're so grateful for our team that has made that happen. With road access cut off, we've partnered with the federal government and the Australian Defence Force to deliver vital supplies like water, fresh food, baby formula, and toilet paper by helicopter. We're also working really hard to replenish stock in our impacted stores, with cargo flights and trucks ready to go as soon as roads reopen. Thank you to our team in FNQ who continue to work tirelessly to help our customers.

From tradition to innovation, Wandin Valley Farms is setting the standard for Australia’s cherry industry – one perfect cherry at a time. For them, growing cherries is more than a business – it’s a family legacy spanning over 130 years. Siblings Paris and Reuben are the youngest of the three generations of family members currently working on the farm, and also the fifth generation of the family to grow cherries. From the Sebire family’s first orchard in 1893 to today’s state-of-the-art operations, their passion for quality fruit is matched by a drive to embrace innovation. “With our new orchard coming into production, we will harvest from over 1000 acres across the cherry season, which runs for about 100 days,” says Paris, who helps lead operations at Wandin Valley Farms. “Picking at the perfect moment – when the colour and sugars are just right – is critical, and the team has done a first-class job this season.” That team effort is supported by world-class technology. “We’ve installed sensors on tree trunks that measure their expansion and contraction in minute microns,” Paris shares. “It helps us monitor moisture uptake and decide exactly when to water, ensuring the trees thrive.” In their advanced packing facility, cherries are hand-picked and meticulously sorted. Reuben, who helps manage production, explains: “Our innovative system takes 30 high-definition photos of every cherry using colour, black-and-white and infrared cameras. Combined with AI, we can sort by size, colour and defects to ensure only the best cherries make it to Woolworths shelves.” Speed is also key. “Cherries are delicate,” says Reuben. “We pick them today, cool them down to two degrees within seven minutes, and pack them the next day. They’re on trucks that night, so customers receive fruit at its freshest.” The Sebire-Jones family are proud of their long-standing partnership with Woolworths. “For over 10 years, Woolies has supported us in delivering the best cherries to Australian families year after year,” says Paris.

Meet Zachary from Woolworths Cabramatta! For the past 9 years, Zachary has been an integral part of the team, sharing his journey as he navigates life with autism. He highlights how the store’s inclusive initiatives, like the quiet room and Quiet Hour every Tuesday, create a welcoming shopping experience for everyone. 🛒💚 Jeanette Fenske, Con Poulos, Geoff Trappett OAM

Meet the team at Newman Woolworths in WA! Led by store manager Steven, the entire team shows their passion and dedication by looking out for their local community. We couldn't be prouder to name them out SA/NT/WA Community Store of the Year! Steven Blair, Stars Foundation - Australia, Clontarf Foundation

WOW! Before we say goodbye to 2024, we have the BEST news to share – we have raised more than 7.5 MILLION MEALS for those in need through this year’s Annual Woolworths Christmas Appeal! 💛💚 Every year we are blown away by YOUR generosity – to every Woolies shopper who clicked YES to round up at the till and bought gift tag, THANK YOU! And to our wonderful friends and National Partner of 10 years Woolworths Supermarkets who continue to support our mission to ‘Nourish our Country,’ we are so incredibly grateful. Thank you for another incredible year. 👏🏻✨