Woolworths says it will mark the Australia Day holiday in-store this year, after it stopped stocking themed merchandise last year amid a “broader discussion” of what 26 January meant to the community.
The supermarket chain, which also owns department store Big W, said it would offer Australian flag-themed merchandise such as hats, sunglasses, bunting and a “clip-on ribbon” through its online stores.
Its physical stores would highlight Australian produce aimed at long-weekend barbecues.
Last January, Woolworths said its supermarkets and Big W would no longer stock Australia Day merchandise in the lead-up to 26 January. It said the decision was ultimately a business one, with a “gradual decline in demand” for merchandise throughout previous years.
On Wednesday, a Woolworths spokesperson said the company would be “celebrating Australia Day as a team, and with our customers” – a change from last year’s position.
“While we did make changes to our merchandise range last Australia Day due to decline in demand in our stores, we listened and recognised that many customers and teams wanted us to do more to help them celebrate the day,” the spokesperson said.
The supermarket, as well as Big W stores, will create “Perfect for Australia Day” sections in-store with a focus on food and produce for barbecues, as well as showcasing “products perfect for family and friends coming together over the Australia Day long weekend”.
It will also have Australian-made flags available in store, which are offered year-round. It began selling Australian flags last July, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in November.
“Our store team members are also welcome to celebrate the day in-store,” the Woolworths spokesperson said. “We respect everyone’s choices in how they choose to spend the day.”
Woolworths’ decision to stop selling Australia-themed merchandise in the lead-up to 26 January last year led to calls for a boycott of the supermarket by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who at the time accused it of “peddling woke agendas” and “trying to cancel Australia Day”.
“If [customers] don’t want to celebrate Australia Day, well that’s a decision for them, but I think people should boycott Woolworths,” Dutton told 2GB last year. “I would advise very strongly to take your business elsewhere and go to IGA or Coles or Aldi.
“I think until we get common sense out of a company like Woolworths, I don’t think they should be supported by the public.”
About the same time, analysis found conservative politicians were dominating Facebook advertising lobbying against changing the date of Australia Day. The Liberal MP Andrew Hastie had spent hundreds of dollars running 11 ads on the Woolworths decision, calling for people to “defend our day”.
Liberal MPs Jason Wood and Phillip Thompson also each spent hundreds of dollars on ads targeting Woolworths at the time.
A Roy Morgan poll conducted last January found more than two-thirds of Australians (68.5%) believe 26 January should remain as “Australia Day”, up 4.5% on the previous year. A total of 58.5% said the date of Australia Day should remain the same, while 41.5% were in favour of moving the date.
Article by:Source Emily Wind
