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Un-Australian? ‘Cheap’ Woolies claims imported products are ‘superior’

Aug 01, 2018

They issued an apology the following day. Source: Shutterstock.

Woolies has left customers reeling after claiming that some of the imported veggies they stock are “far superior” to those grown here on home soil.

The comment was made on Twitter on Monday after a disgruntled shopper, named Emma, complained about the fact that the range of tinned beans and peas available in store were all imported from overseas.

Woolies responded by saying: “Hi Emma, we’re sorry to hear about disappointment towards our tinned beans. We aim to provide the best quality products to our customers and sometimes this means supplying imported products as they’re far superior.”

And customers were quick to slam the supermarket giant, questioning their policy on chemicals used in imported products and suggesting that Aussie grown lentils and pulses are “unsurpassed by any other country in quality and safety”.

Hi Emma, we're sorry to hear about disappointment towards our tinned beans. We aim to provide the best quality products to our customers and sometimes this means supplying imported products as they're far superior. 1/2

— Woolworths (@woolworths) July 30, 2018

One angry shopper wrote: “‘Far superior’…insult to Australian Farmers. Cheap food made with cheap wages.”

Another said: “I really hope you do pass this onto your procurement team. Lentils grown in AUS are amongst the best in the world, a quick chat to any pulse marketer will confirm. They can be traceable and providence guaranteed. I would have thought many of your customers would want that.”

Have a look at this one for a disgrace. Made in China. pic.twitter.com/5V4bQnZoDZ

— Brian Fitzpatrick (@fitzpatrick80) July 30, 2018

While another wrote: “Woolworths you would have to be joking in saying they are “far Superior”, why not be honest and say they are cheaper for you to purchase?”

Following the outpouring of frustration, Woolies were quick to say sorry for the gaffe and posted an apology on Twitter on Wednesday. They wrote: “We apologise for yesterday’s Tweet – it does not reflect our view of Australian grown products. In fact, 96% of all our fresh fruit and vegetables are proudly sourced from Australia.

“Sometimes we do need to source products from overseas, but it’s always our first preference to source locally. We’ll pass on your feedback to our buying teams.”

It comes after Dick Smith shut down his food company and lashed out at Aussie shoppers for choosing affordability over homegrown pride.

Appearing on Sunrise recently, the entrepreneur told host David Koch that Aussies who chose to buy whatever was cheapest rather than buying local were to blame for Dick Smith Foods going under.

Dick Smith has announced the closure his food company and says that ALDI is to blame! pic.twitter.com/HLTVwbyHrz

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) July 26, 2018

“I don’t really blame Aldi, they’re just extreme capitalists,” he said. “What they’ve done is worked out a way of selling products where they have lower costs.

“When we get a bit of publicity for Dick Smith foods, everyone buys our product. Then everyone just buys the cheapest product. A product from Australian farmers using Australian labour, we share the wealth better here, will never be cheap. So basically what I found out, and this is why Aldi is so successful, they know the lowest price, the more people will buy from them.”