The Fresh Food People?
Why Woolworths is not my favourite anymore
Why Woolworths is not my favourite anymore
Fresh Food People. I don't know about you but I like to serve my family the freshest food possible for maximum health and taste impact. Whilst I try to grow as much produce as I can, not everything grows in the outback. That is why it is important to me to find the best shops to get the best products but these days it is getting very hard to find stores with great service and products. It is getting even harder to find ones that actually support Australian farmers.
Having watched 4 Corners on ABC last night, after been given the heads up from another disgruntled Woolies shopper in Port yesterday I am even more disgusted with the tactics of big retail chain stores.
When you discover that the farmer is forced to cut his profits for a sale and not the 'mega stores' you wonder about justice, you wonder about the Aussie standard of a "fair go"? And how about their tactics of making the farmer pay a rebate so they can get paid on time. SHAME SHAME SHAME.
I also discovered something whilst do a survey of Woolies this week, their supposedly fresh food is cut into pieces days before arriving in my store. This was discovered when I tried to find a whole pumpkin but couldn't. I had to make a special request to get one. Did you know that once you have cut into a pumpkin it's shelf life is dramatically reduced and you start to loose vitamins too. People who live remote and only shop fortnightly or monthly need produce that will keep.
Buying local?
A few years ago I lived in Carnarvon WA, which is half way between Perth and Broome on the coast.. Carnarvon then was a market garden paradise. In Carnarvon they could grow almost every veggie and fruit, known to the average Australian. Bananas, mangos, star-fruit, oranges, tomato, brocolli etc etc. Now with all of this produce available within a 20 km radius you would think that Woolworths being 'Fresh food people' would source their produce from this plentious harvest. Well think again. I tell you it was like selling ice cubes to the eskimos, they would bring bananas in from Queensland, thousands of kilometers away and sell them to the locals and it was the same with the rest of the produce. I know this to be true for two reasons
Firstly we had friends who owned plantations/market gardens. Secondly I personally asked the staff at Wooworths where the produce came from and that more than once.
In this day and age of carbon emission issues etc you would think it more logical to buy from the locals. I know the Foodland store in that town did and so too with the Foodland store in Nuriootpa, where I later lived.
The we get the packaged items like tinned fruit etc which is mostly sourced from overseas, I know because I read the labels. Think how much fossil fuel went into shipping this item to you! Obviously there may be a couple of products which are not made or grown in Australia but when you know we have the ability to grow over 70% of the worlds variety you would think that over 70% of tinned items could be manufactured here.
I lament over all those growers I know who in past years had to let fruit and veggies rot because big companies such as Woolies would not source their products from them, nor offer them a fair price. Perhaps if they did then the growers would have been able to pay decent wages to Australian workers which could possibly mean we wouldn't have to 'import workers'.
I have friend with a Dairy who can't get a decent price for milk and they wonder just how long they can continue to produce milk for our Australian market. Not getting a fair price also means they are not in a position to offer high wages to attract and retain Aussie workers.
Serving our needs?
I thought that it would make good commercial sense for stores such as Woolworths to carry lines that consumers actually need and want. I was wrong on this too! Over the last year I have seen the deletion of quite a few items that were regular needs on my grocery list. (What have they got against Aim toothpaste anyway??)
Take for example the needs of diabetics. We have been using Cottee's diet jam for years due to diabetes in the family. There used to be 3 varieties available on the shelves and I used to be able to get it from Woolworths but not any more. (Does anyone know what happened to the Weight watchers brands.?) Well I discovered that Weight Watchers has now been placed on top shelves at Woolies and being 5ft I can't see it, so that is my fault, however since it is a small range you would think they could share some "Home Brand" shelf space with it so small people like myself can actually access it!
It seems every time I go there I find yet another 'product or line' deletion and it being replaced with a homebrand item, which is more often than not an 'overseas' product anyway.
Speaking about serving our needs how about the service we get at the checkout. Now before I go on I want to say the girls that serve me are usually great. The problem lies with management and staffing levels. When I used to shop in Foodland - Nuriootpa I noticed that when lines formed at the checkout the manager would quickly get floor staff to man the checkouts until the lines diminished. Not so with the big retailers, Coles and Woolworths both fail here. On most shopping trips there are less than half the available check-outs operating and I often have to wait much longer than I ever did in Foodland. I must also give credit to my local IGA store in Quorn, they are the quickest to open the other checkout when there is more than two people lined up.
Personal service also seems to be lacking when it comes to interaction with management or department managers - butchers excluded because mostly I have found that they are accessible and quick to help. But how about finding someone to ask about that product they just don't stock anymore?? I can't seem to find someone who is either able to satisfy the query at Woolworths or someone who even cares. You can't blame the check-out staff because they don't carry this burden.
However when it comes to smaller independant stores such as IGA or Foodland the story is different. They will write my request down and see if the product is available. Sometimes if they are too small to carry and extra line they will still order a case in for me. The service is personal, caring and usually efficient. So how come the Big Retailers can't match the service?
By and large I have found that special needs diet items are more readily supplied by Independant stores because they are more connected to the community in which they live and operate. They know it makes good commercial sense to keep the customer happy.
Future shopping trends?
When you watch the latest trends of big Grocery retailers such as Woolworths and Coles you begin to wonder how much longer we will be able to purchase the items we want and need. How much longer too will we be able to buy Australian? The trend at present is to go homebrand, they seem to be feathering their own nest. At the current rate of product transfer to generic labels it is easy to see that Australian companies will be forced out of the market place.
Add to this the rising cost of fuel and the comming carbon trading and you can join the dots to see that the cheap overseas brands will soon cost more than the Australian equivalent, but by then it will be too late because dairy farmers, orchardists etc will have had to sell up. Fresh milk will be almost impossible to get, cheese, ice-cream, yoghurt and all dairy associated products will be so expensive you and I will only have faint memories of thier taste. (Will this be the end of Farmers Union Ice Coffee - only South Australian's get it!)
The future however should not lie in the hands of Woolworths, Coles or any large company - it should lie with us. We do have the power to make a difference. Just look at how the South Australian rural community stood up to the government over the latest Health plan. The government has had to back down.
What can we do???
Well we can make a difference firstly we can email or write to these companies and tell them our opinion, the more letters they get the more attention this issue will get. Secondly vote with your feet. Where possible shop at the 'farm-gate', producer's markets and local independant Grocery stores such as Foodland, IGA, Foodtown etc.
Buy Australia where possible. I know it is not always cheaper but the few cents saved today will pale in comparision with the high price you are going to pay for overseas products in a few short years.
We must think long term sustainability and availability.
Remember the squeaky wheel always gets the most oil and that is why I post this webpage and blog, it is my way of making the most noise possible.
If Woolworths really want to be the "FRESH FOOD PEOPLE" then they need to change their ways.
Feel free to link to this page and pass the message on.
Having watched 4 Corners on ABC last night, after been given the heads up from another disgruntled Woolies shopper in Port yesterday I am even more disgusted with the tactics of big retail chain stores.
When you discover that the farmer is forced to cut his profits for a sale and not the 'mega stores' you wonder about justice, you wonder about the Aussie standard of a "fair go"? And how about their tactics of making the farmer pay a rebate so they can get paid on time. SHAME SHAME SHAME.
I also discovered something whilst do a survey of Woolies this week, their supposedly fresh food is cut into pieces days before arriving in my store. This was discovered when I tried to find a whole pumpkin but couldn't. I had to make a special request to get one. Did you know that once you have cut into a pumpkin it's shelf life is dramatically reduced and you start to loose vitamins too. People who live remote and only shop fortnightly or monthly need produce that will keep.
Buying local?
A few years ago I lived in Carnarvon WA, which is half way between Perth and Broome on the coast.. Carnarvon then was a market garden paradise. In Carnarvon they could grow almost every veggie and fruit, known to the average Australian. Bananas, mangos, star-fruit, oranges, tomato, brocolli etc etc. Now with all of this produce available within a 20 km radius you would think that Woolworths being 'Fresh food people' would source their produce from this plentious harvest. Well think again. I tell you it was like selling ice cubes to the eskimos, they would bring bananas in from Queensland, thousands of kilometers away and sell them to the locals and it was the same with the rest of the produce. I know this to be true for two reasons
Firstly we had friends who owned plantations/market gardens. Secondly I personally asked the staff at Wooworths where the produce came from and that more than once.
In this day and age of carbon emission issues etc you would think it more logical to buy from the locals. I know the Foodland store in that town did and so too with the Foodland store in Nuriootpa, where I later lived.
The we get the packaged items like tinned fruit etc which is mostly sourced from overseas, I know because I read the labels. Think how much fossil fuel went into shipping this item to you! Obviously there may be a couple of products which are not made or grown in Australia but when you know we have the ability to grow over 70% of the worlds variety you would think that over 70% of tinned items could be manufactured here.
I lament over all those growers I know who in past years had to let fruit and veggies rot because big companies such as Woolies would not source their products from them, nor offer them a fair price. Perhaps if they did then the growers would have been able to pay decent wages to Australian workers which could possibly mean we wouldn't have to 'import workers'.
I have friend with a Dairy who can't get a decent price for milk and they wonder just how long they can continue to produce milk for our Australian market. Not getting a fair price also means they are not in a position to offer high wages to attract and retain Aussie workers.
Serving our needs?
I thought that it would make good commercial sense for stores such as Woolworths to carry lines that consumers actually need and want. I was wrong on this too! Over the last year I have seen the deletion of quite a few items that were regular needs on my grocery list. (What have they got against Aim toothpaste anyway??)
Take for example the needs of diabetics. We have been using Cottee's diet jam for years due to diabetes in the family. There used to be 3 varieties available on the shelves and I used to be able to get it from Woolworths but not any more. (Does anyone know what happened to the Weight watchers brands.?) Well I discovered that Weight Watchers has now been placed on top shelves at Woolies and being 5ft I can't see it, so that is my fault, however since it is a small range you would think they could share some "Home Brand" shelf space with it so small people like myself can actually access it!
It seems every time I go there I find yet another 'product or line' deletion and it being replaced with a homebrand item, which is more often than not an 'overseas' product anyway.
Speaking about serving our needs how about the service we get at the checkout. Now before I go on I want to say the girls that serve me are usually great. The problem lies with management and staffing levels. When I used to shop in Foodland - Nuriootpa I noticed that when lines formed at the checkout the manager would quickly get floor staff to man the checkouts until the lines diminished. Not so with the big retailers, Coles and Woolworths both fail here. On most shopping trips there are less than half the available check-outs operating and I often have to wait much longer than I ever did in Foodland. I must also give credit to my local IGA store in Quorn, they are the quickest to open the other checkout when there is more than two people lined up.
Personal service also seems to be lacking when it comes to interaction with management or department managers - butchers excluded because mostly I have found that they are accessible and quick to help. But how about finding someone to ask about that product they just don't stock anymore?? I can't seem to find someone who is either able to satisfy the query at Woolworths or someone who even cares. You can't blame the check-out staff because they don't carry this burden.
However when it comes to smaller independant stores such as IGA or Foodland the story is different. They will write my request down and see if the product is available. Sometimes if they are too small to carry and extra line they will still order a case in for me. The service is personal, caring and usually efficient. So how come the Big Retailers can't match the service?
By and large I have found that special needs diet items are more readily supplied by Independant stores because they are more connected to the community in which they live and operate. They know it makes good commercial sense to keep the customer happy.
Future shopping trends?
When you watch the latest trends of big Grocery retailers such as Woolworths and Coles you begin to wonder how much longer we will be able to purchase the items we want and need. How much longer too will we be able to buy Australian? The trend at present is to go homebrand, they seem to be feathering their own nest. At the current rate of product transfer to generic labels it is easy to see that Australian companies will be forced out of the market place.
Add to this the rising cost of fuel and the comming carbon trading and you can join the dots to see that the cheap overseas brands will soon cost more than the Australian equivalent, but by then it will be too late because dairy farmers, orchardists etc will have had to sell up. Fresh milk will be almost impossible to get, cheese, ice-cream, yoghurt and all dairy associated products will be so expensive you and I will only have faint memories of thier taste. (Will this be the end of Farmers Union Ice Coffee - only South Australian's get it!)
The future however should not lie in the hands of Woolworths, Coles or any large company - it should lie with us. We do have the power to make a difference. Just look at how the South Australian rural community stood up to the government over the latest Health plan. The government has had to back down.
What can we do???
Well we can make a difference firstly we can email or write to these companies and tell them our opinion, the more letters they get the more attention this issue will get. Secondly vote with your feet. Where possible shop at the 'farm-gate', producer's markets and local independant Grocery stores such as Foodland, IGA, Foodtown etc.
Buy Australia where possible. I know it is not always cheaper but the few cents saved today will pale in comparision with the high price you are going to pay for overseas products in a few short years.
We must think long term sustainability and availability.
Remember the squeaky wheel always gets the most oil and that is why I post this webpage and blog, it is my way of making the most noise possible.
If Woolworths really want to be the "FRESH FOOD PEOPLE" then they need to change their ways.
Feel free to link to this page and pass the message on.
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How do you feel about this topic? I would love to hear from you and post your response. Email
jackie@outbackjack.info
Here is a response from one of our readers.
Hi mate,
I’ve lived outback now and then over the years too – so I know how hard it is to get decent fresh food!!
And now living in Adelaide – I still go to woollies sometimes, when the specials tempt me. But I try really hard to not buy fruit and veg from them – they are criminals!
You can’t beat going to a market somewhere/anywhere – just see how much longer stuff lasts.
The only way I feel I can try to at least try to match them at their game is to buy up on specials and avoid normal priced products, wherever possible.
Cheers and thanks for the chance for a whinge!
Glenda Spry
New Flash - 19th Aug 08
Food so fresh they forgot to cook it?!
I know I shouldn't have done it after vowing to not shop there again but silly me thought I would grab a quick and cheap lunch by purchasing some cheese topped rolls from Woolies bread dept. They claimed to be super soft rolls and I now know why.
They were not cooked in the middle, soft as dough. I had noticed lately a yeasty smell and taste to the bread which tells of incompleate rising time and baking but this was beyond the joke.
So stupid me for going back. They asked me if I wanted a replacement, now I am not that stupid, I took a refund.
Food so fresh they forgot to cook it?!
I know I shouldn't have done it after vowing to not shop there again but silly me thought I would grab a quick and cheap lunch by purchasing some cheese topped rolls from Woolies bread dept. They claimed to be super soft rolls and I now know why.
They were not cooked in the middle, soft as dough. I had noticed lately a yeasty smell and taste to the bread which tells of incompleate rising time and baking but this was beyond the joke.
So stupid me for going back. They asked me if I wanted a replacement, now I am not that stupid, I took a refund.
Is your sea food fresh?
Years ago I used to work in Carnavon (Western Australia) at a Sea Food factory where we processed prawns and scallops.
Whilst working there I discovered how to tell if a prawn was fresh or if it had been thawed and re-frozen a tad too many times.
Black-spot is how you tell. If you see black, almost sooty black spots on the shell near the edges then you know it has been thawed and frozen and thawed and frozen a few times.
With whole fish the proof is in the eye clarity. If the eye has a shiney, glassy look it should be fresh. If the eye is very cloudy then I would probably choose another fish.
I have questioned a few workers in large supermarkets with sea-food coutners if they knew a fresh prawn from a not so fresh prawn and I don't think to date I have found one that knows how to tell. Maybe they could get some training.
Years ago I used to work in Carnavon (Western Australia) at a Sea Food factory where we processed prawns and scallops.
Whilst working there I discovered how to tell if a prawn was fresh or if it had been thawed and re-frozen a tad too many times.
Black-spot is how you tell. If you see black, almost sooty black spots on the shell near the edges then you know it has been thawed and frozen and thawed and frozen a few times.
With whole fish the proof is in the eye clarity. If the eye has a shiney, glassy look it should be fresh. If the eye is very cloudy then I would probably choose another fish.
I have questioned a few workers in large supermarkets with sea-food coutners if they knew a fresh prawn from a not so fresh prawn and I don't think to date I have found one that knows how to tell. Maybe they could get some training.
Fresh Veggies!
Have you ever been tempted to buy those ready bagged veggies and fruit at your supermarket? I mean the bags of food that have been bagged by the supermarket and price reduced. My husband has and I had to ditch the lot. You see they put in the old fruit and veg that has passed it's best by date.
When fresh produce is bagged or wrapped as such it is harder for you to tell just how fresh it is.
Take for example snow peas and beans if they are 'wobbly and limp' and have lost their snap they are hanging around too long. They need to be firm and should 'snap' when bent over.
Fresh Grapes?
Be aware that some companies are now spraying grapes with Sulphur dioxide to improve shelf life and not all supermarkets are providing this information. I can usually smell it as I worked in Wineries for years and know it's distinct smell. If in doubt ask the store manager and ask them to put up signs if SO2 is being used.
Have you ever been tempted to buy those ready bagged veggies and fruit at your supermarket? I mean the bags of food that have been bagged by the supermarket and price reduced. My husband has and I had to ditch the lot. You see they put in the old fruit and veg that has passed it's best by date.
When fresh produce is bagged or wrapped as such it is harder for you to tell just how fresh it is.
Take for example snow peas and beans if they are 'wobbly and limp' and have lost their snap they are hanging around too long. They need to be firm and should 'snap' when bent over.
Fresh Grapes?
Be aware that some companies are now spraying grapes with Sulphur dioxide to improve shelf life and not all supermarkets are providing this information. I can usually smell it as I worked in Wineries for years and know it's distinct smell. If in doubt ask the store manager and ask them to put up signs if SO2 is being used.