Woolworths

On 9 December our Director of Corporate Social Justice, Zinzi Mgolodela, spoke to 919FM about how Woolworths is proving that corporate support can transform more than just bottom lines—it can change lives. Over the past year, we have increased our procurement spend on SMMEs by 42%, contributing R4 billion to small businesses across South Africa. This isn't just an investment in business; it's an investment in communities, job creation, and a more inclusive economy. Listen to the 9 December episode of The Social Impact Show with Samm Marshall for the full conversation: https://919.co.za/podcasts

Last week, we had the incredible opportunity to be part of two inspiring events in Johannesburg — the Moshal Program - South Africa Summit and the GradStar Awards & Solutions Summit. From connecting with students at Moshal Elevate through to witnessing the determination and resilience of South Africa’s youth, at Gradstar, we were reminded of the power of connection, storytelling, and leadership. Jo Blake, from our Talent team, gave an impactful talk on the Future of Work, and represented on our judging panel at the Gradstar Solutions Summit. At Woolworths, we are committed to empowering the next generation of leaders, changemakers, and innovators. These events not only showcased bright young minds but also reinforced the importance of engaging, inspiring, and shaping the future of work. Here’s to continuing to invest in future talent and building a community where potential knows no bounds!

We received a message on social media thanking our Dash drivers for helping a vulnerable, elderly man during a crisis. We contacted his family, and the two Dash drivers, and the story they shared was quite remarkable... Look out for each other, South Africa, and we’ll keep looking out for you ❤️ #WooliesChristmas

Have you heard? We've opened six new stand-alone WCellar stores, the latest expansion of our premium liquor offering! 🎉 These new stores bring an elevated shopping experience to customers, featuring a carefully curated range of wines, spirits, ready to drink beverages, and beers. Find our new WCellar locations at; 📍 Jean Crossing Shopping Mall, Centurion 📍 Glenvista Shopping Centre, JHB 📍 Village View Shopping Centre, Bedfordview 📍 Eastgate Shopping Mall, JHB 📍 Macrovest Centre, Wilkoppies 📍 Market Square Shopping Centre, Plett   Our customers can look forward to exclusive products, expert guidance from in-store consultants, and wine tastings on certain days. Some of our WCellar stores can be shopped with Woolies Dash for same day delivery, and a 10% discount on wine by the case applies when shopping online in Gauteng and the Western Cape.   “WCellar’s expansion strengthens our position as the premium liquor destination, offering a curated selection of our best ever, for every occasion, just in time for the festive season,” says Tanya Mogotsi, MBA, General Manager for WCellar.    See you in store 🥂

We're thrilled to announce that eight interns have graduated from the Living Soils Community Learning Farm! This partnership between Woolworths, Spier Wine Farm and The Sustainability Institute focuses on empowering young farmers, especially women, in regenerative farming to grow nutritious food, enhance community food security and build sustainable livelihoods. Seven graduates earned Farming for the Future (FFF) certificates, with one young farmer, Yolisa Mathumbu, achieving the prestigious Gold award for her exceptional work. The students were assessed on several essential skills in sustainable agriculture, from soil and water management to reducing carbon footprints. Their hard work has already made an impact as they produce fresh vegetables for at-risk families. Congratulations, graduates! We’re so proud of you and look forward to seeing your impact on South African agriculture in the future as well 💚

Reducing waste to landfill and supporting local businesses is at the heart of our Good Business Journey. This summer, we're excited to bring you a range of responsibly sourced products made from recycled materials and crafted locally, supporting job creation across Southern Africa 💚 https://lnkd.in/dcFre7Zr

Our teams had a lot of fun with this new range 🍫 When customers asked us to make our April Fools joke a reality, our teams jumped at the opportunity to innovate. And now, the new WBeauty Chuckles range is available online and in store! Find out more about how this came to be: https://lnkd.in/d6bVS2M2

Say hello to South Africa's coolest grocery store 👋 At the Sunday Times Gen Next awards last night Woolworths won first place in the "Coolest Grocery Store" category! Through the competition process, over 7000 school learners across nine provinces were asked to respond to the survey, and we are so pleased to have walked away with an award. We also placed in the top five for Coolest Loyalty Programme, Coolest Online Store, and Coolest Beauty Store. The kids are alright 😉

Our Chief Sustainability Officer, Feroz Koor, was a key speaker at The Economist’s Sustainability Week Africa. On the topic of Africa’s Green Industrial Revolution, Feroz unpacked the complexities around the Woolies supply chain, traceability, accountability, and how relationship building is critical to our sustainability journey.   Award-winning journalist Vijay Vaitheeswaran asks, “how are you paying for this?”   Find the answer when you watch the full segment, and learn more about how we inspire and incentivise sustainability on the continent.

At Woolies, we’re passionate about making a difference in the communities we work in. Our IT team hosted a Women in Tech event, “Tech Carnival” in partnership with our Data & Analytics and Online departments. We were supported by Microsoft, Deloitte and Salesforce. 50 girls from high schools in Cape Town were invited to engage with industry professionals who inspired them to consider careers in STEM, they interacted with various interactive booths and could attend informative talks encouraging more women to join the industry.   CIO, Dr Christie Koorts, Executive Sponsor of the Women in Tech community said “We are very excited for our Woolies women in tech to lead the way and inspire current and future generations.”   Feedback about this event was exceptional, and we’re excited to expand next year. Improving the representation of women in this industry is important, and events like this help to move the needle and create meaningful change.