Brad Banducci, the chief executive of Woolworths, has been criticized after it was revealed that the company would no longer sell Australia Day merchandise due to a lack of sales.
The company responded by releasing a full-page advertisement defending its decision.
In a letter to customers, Mr Banducci stated that the company is not trying to “cancel” Australia Day. Instead, it is focused on providing the best possible food and services to Australians.
During an interview with 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, Mr Banducci was surprised by a customer’s feedback.
One of the customers who spoke out against the company was 57-year-old Michael, who lives in Sydney’s north shore. He said that he didn’t go to the supermarket after learning about the decision.
He also criticized Mr Banducci for interfering with Australian politics.
In response, Mr Banducci said that the company is focused on providing the best possible food and services to its customers. He urged them to avoid politics and continue to sell groceries.
During the interview, Ben Fordham, a 2GB radio host, asked Mr Banducci why he decided to remove Australia Day merchandise from the company’s shelves.
He said that 200 of his listeners had told him that they would not be shopping at Woolworths again. Mr Banducci was then asked by the hosts of a breakfast television program if there was more to the company’s decision than just business.
Karl Stefanovic, the host of the Today show, asked Mr Banducci if the company was anti-Australia Day. He then said that the company was proud of its country and that its 178,000 workers would still be in stores on Australia Day to provide the best possible service to its customers.
Stefanovic continued to ask Mr Banducci if the company was anti-Australia Day. He then clarified that the company supports the country’s tradition of celebrating the day in various ways.
Despite the company’s decision to remove Australia Day merchandise, he noted that the company would still decorate its stores in green and gold to commemorate the holiday.
Mr Banducci admitted that the company could have done a better job in explaining its decision. He also said that he was worried about how the situation had affected the company’s workers.
He noted that the employees were being unfairly viewed as anti-Australian. The decision to remove Australia Day merchandise was made almost a year ago, when the company’s leadership reflected on the sales of the holiday.
The host of the Sunrise program, Natalie Barr, asked the company’s Mr Banducci if it was the job of the supermarket to tell Australians what they could buy. He said that the company made the decision based on the feedback from its customers. She then asked why the company decided to run full-page advertisements this week.
Banducci noted that the company’s decision not to sell Australia Day merchandise has not gone down badly. He praised the company’s workers and customers for standing up to unelected corporate elites. Liberal Senator Matt Canavan responded to the comments made by Banducci, saying that Brad is under pressure and that Australians should thank the company’s workers and customers for standing up to these unelected officials.
Liberal Senator Matt Canavan accused the supermarket of being disingenuous and displaying political statements regarding Australia Day.