Woolworths Group

The Woolworths Spring Water 24 pack is getting a fresh new look! At Woolworths Group, we recognise the far-reaching impact we have on the communities in which we serve. In our 100th year of operation in Australia, we’re launching the Woolworths Group Foundation with an initial focus on providing natural disaster relief. When a natural disaster hits, we want the ability to swiftly distribute funds to multiple charities on the ground, through our existing Supporting Those Affected by Natural Disasters (S.T.A.N.D) program and its partners; The Salvation Army, Foodbank, Rural Aid and Lifeline. The Woolworths Foundation will make this easier by providing direct, rapid and impactful support, to those responding to the specific needs of their community. Donations to the Foundation will come directly from Woolworths Group or from our cause-related water range, which raised over $2.4 million from the sale of Woolworths Spring Water in FY23. With the funds raised, the Salvation Army was able to purchase a new fleet of catering trailers, trucks and other equipment to be prepared to assist and serve the community when needed. We understand the role we can play in driving positive change. In addition to the Woolworths Group Foundation, the Group businesses will continue to support various charities and community organisations as we work together for a better tomorrow. You can learn more about the Woolworths Group Foundation here https://lnkd.in/g_-gd-Pw Stevie Wring, Bill Reid, Jeanette Fenske, Kate Langford, Kate Eastoe, Stephen Harrison

We’re proud to be the fresh food partner of the Aussie team heading to the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, and today marks the launch of our “Fresh Fuels the Best in All of Us” campaign. The campaign is inspired by the true story of Paralympic swimmer Col Pearse, whose family helped him create a training pool in the dam on their family farm outside of Echuca, Victoria to train for the Paralympics. “Providing our customers with the best of Australian fresh food is at the heart of who we are and we hope Col’s story and our support for Australia’s athletes at the Games helps inspire the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic champions,” says Woolworths Group Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks. “Since Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Woolworths has been the proud fresh food partner of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams. It’s a role we are honoured to play, and we wish all of our athletes every success.” Col Pearse, Andrew Hicks, Jane Saleh, Caroline Squire, Sarah De La Mare, Hayley Mein, Zoe Meredith, Trent Sullivan, Kirsty Mould, Nathan Farebrother, Simone Scoppa, Steve Coll, Lisa Milner, Richard Morgan, Shelley Parsons, Niccola Phillips, Tara Goh, Vanessa Graham, Paralympics Australia, Australian Olympic Committee, M&C Saatchi Group AUNZ

Meet Woolworths Group’s Aimee Wills a merchandising leader at Brisbane’s BIG W, Mount Gravatt, and proud Kukatj Tribe member. Aimee, who started her career with Woolworths Group 17 years ago, celebrated NAIDOC Week with her State Manager, Courtney Palmer, North 1 Area Manager Rina Gibbons and fellow BIG W team members at the Logan City event held at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct in Queensland on July 9. For Aimee, NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the culture, spirituality and rich history of First Nations peoples. “NAIDOC is a way of showing all the beautiful and creative sides of our culture and steering away from the stereotypes,” says Aimee. “Being able to ground and surround ourselves in the art, culture and people is an amazing experience to connect and share it with mob and allies from all over.” Coming from a First Nations family, Aimee says she’s proud of how far Woolworths Group have come in making a meaningful contribution for future generations and driving our employment roadmap forward. “Woolworths Group has particularly made a movement within the workplace when it comes to our BIG W and Woolworths Group First Nations Gathering meetings,” she says. “I love the continuous support from the higher leadership team, who take the time to attend our meetings, have a yarn with us about our ideas and give us the opportunity to be creative within the Group.” Read more about Aimee’s story here https://lnkd.in/gra-sKsC

To mark the start of NAIDOC Week celebrations, more than 100 of our team members came together at our National Support Office in Sydney for a creative collaboration and workshop with Dalmarri Aboriginal art. We have a longstanding partnership with the Indigenous culture and art organisation, and our team members took turns contributing to Dalmarri co-founder Jason Douglas’ latest work, Tree of Knowledge, and sharing their own stories and learnings. “This is a beautiful way to connect people,” says proud Murri Man, Jason. “The Tree of Knowledge is a way to explain how we can all come together as one mob to gain wisdom and continually build on our knowledge base, understanding and empathy.” Committed to facilitating deep connection and engagement between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people, Dalmarri’s very first creative project was for our Group back in 2018. Since then, Woolworths Group has had the pleasure of working on many projects with Dalmarri, including the 12 metre-long mural, Bunga Nuru, installed at the front entrance of Norwest. To learn more about Jason and Dalmarri, read more here https://lnkd.in/gyKR4-Gq Jason Douglas, Dionne White, Laura Patton, Adam Bray, Jacinta Stuckey

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Woolworths Group is committed to making a positive impact on First Nations Communities. This week with our amazing team members we are putting together Happy Boxes, filled with essentials to support First Nations women in remote communities.

BIG W is privileged to have partnered with budding young artists around the country, inviting the nation to give with heart and support families in need by purchasing a $2 Heart Fundraising Token. The national fundraising campaign will run across our 178 stores during our Big Whopping Toy Sale until 12 July, with 100% of donations contributing to vital life saving and life changing programs at Children’s Hospitals and Research Institutes around the country. This year’s Heart Tokens are particularly special as they have been designed by children who have been supported by BIG W’s hospital and research partners. For every $2 Heart Token purchased, we will also be matching donations up to $100,000. We invite our customers to give with heart while shopping with us this Toy Sale and help us make a real difference for Australian families.

The Primary Connect team at the Townsville Distribution Centre know first hand what it means to stand by their community in times of crisis. The team, including Supply Chain Manager, Shane Kerr, and Safety Lead, Erin Mealey, look after 39 regional supermarkets across far North Queensland and have a deep understanding of the importance of future-proofing the site and being prepared with essential lines for efficient support in the wake of natural disasters like Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the Townsville floods. Listen to Shane and Erin talk about proudly serving their regional community here https://lnkd.in/g8pq2v_Y

Audrey Nable and the Lomandra Community Project team are lifelines for their entire community in south-western Sydney. Every week, community liaison officer Audrey and her team coordinate and distribute 5000 kilograms of food and healthcare essentials provided by Woolworths Group’s partners and food rescue organisations, such as Foodbank Australia, to more than 2000 people. “These donations are so important as we are able to alleviate some of the pressures,” says Audrey. “Everybody has a story. We are here to support without judgement.” The organisation, based in Leumeah in south-western Sydney, was first set up by the Lomandra School 12 years ago to ensure the students had access to nutritious food. Four years ago, the organisation became the Lomandra Community Project and now offer weekly support to 25 schools and community members experiencing food insecurity. “The pantry means so much to the community,” says Fay, a local beneficiary. “This is the only food a lot of families have access to. Without it, they wouldn't eat. Audrey and the staff and volunteers really care about people in need.” Watch the incredible impact of the Lomandra Community Project below.

Queensland-based Erin Mealey worked in management roles at Big W and Woolworths supermarkets before applying for a position with Primary Connect at the Townsville Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) three years ago. Following the 2019 floods, the RDC underwent a $12 million expansion to deliver a more resilient supply chain network for Woolworths Group’s customers in Far North Queensland. Erin and the devoted RDC team can now futureproof against severe weather events; better service the region’s 39 Woolworths supermarkets; and build rewarding careers within the Primary Connect business. “Woolworths Group has helped regional north Queensland by providing stable jobs and a greater service for our customers,” says Erin, who celebrates 15 years with the Woolworths Group this year. “The investment was a confidence boost for everyone in this region and us here at the DC.” Having started as a picker, Erin’s passion and dedication was noticed by Supply Chain Manager Shane Kerr, who promoted her to safety lead 12 months ago. “It was really nice to have someone like Shane give me the opportunity to prove myself,” says Erin. “There is so much room to grow a career with Woolworths Group. “Just because you start out in one position, you’re by no means stuck in that position forever. There are so many opportunities – you just have to say yes to them!” Read more of Erin and the Townsville DC team here https://lnkd.in/g8pq2v_Y

Get to know Christine Faulkner, our Head of Commercial for Play (Toys and Leisure). After many years at BIG W and in particular the toys and leisure team, Christine loves the fast paced team environment, the value of affordable quality, and exciting products that her team gets to discover in their Toy Sale planning. “Toy Sale is one of the biggest events of the year and we start planning 10 months out, reviewing data and insights from the previous year, taking feedback from our customers and then planning with our partners on what will be important for the following year’s toy sale.” When it comes to BIG W’s Big Whopping Toy Sale in 2024 Christine highlights Somersault as a range to check out; “The must haves on every kid’s wishlist this year can be found in our Somersault range. The team have been on a journey to develop BIG W’s own toy brand and customers are loving the range’s value and quality with over 50 new products landing in store for the toy sale and many more to come!” #BIGWAustralia #OurPeople