Woolies boss grilled for scrapping Aus Day merch
Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci has shared the reason why the retailer chose to drop Australia Day merchandise.
The supermarket giant copped some backlash after they announced that they would stop selling the merch, with even opposition leader Peter Dutton calling for a boycott for their decision.
They have since issued a full-page advertisement insisting the supermarket giant is not anti-Australia Day, which Banducci was grilled for in his latest appearance on the Today show.
“We aren’t trying to ‘cancel’ Australia Day, rather Woolworths is deeply proud of our place in providing the fresh food that brings Australians together every day,” Banducci wrote in the letter.
“So you’re not anti Australia today as a company?” Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked in reference to the letter.
“Karl, we are a very proud Australian company. We’ve been around for 100 years.
"We have 178,000 hard working team members who are going to be in store doing the right thing for our customers on Australia Day, and we’re passionate about this country,” the Woolworths chief executive replied.
“But you’re not anti Australia Day?” Stefanovic asked again.
Banducci replied saying that the day “means different things to everyone” and that he supports Aussies to commemorate the day in whatever way they wish.
He added that while customers won't be able to buy Australia Day merch at their stores, they will decorate their stores across the country in “green and gold” to commemorate the day.
“You must have serious regrets about this?” Stefanovic grilled.
“I think we could clearly have done a better job of explaining our decision, that’s why I’m here,” Banducci replied.
“I do feel anxious about the impact that this is having on our team. They are proud, hard working Australians, and for them to be seen as anti-Australian or woke is fundamentally unfair.”
He added that this decision was made 12 months ago when they found that there was “gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise.
Images: Today