The Woolworths Thread (16 Viewers)

[Otacon2009]

Does Woolworths regularly buy out smaller supermarkets and convert them into their own? Because one of my transfer candidates was nothing like the uniform Woolworths design I've been accustomed to. It had the 2010 aisle signage, but the 10 registers were red and green and there was none of those Fresh Bakery/Deli signs that hang. It had early 1990's paintings instead. Overall, it felt like Woolworths bought it out but didn't bother with finishing the job. Or are there a lot of Woolworths stores that are nothing like the late 90's/early 2000's format?

 

[wixxy2348]

I have no idea - I'll have a look tomorrow if I remember.

Last weekend though our freezers died and we threw out ten cages worth of prop bakery stuff (in addition to ALL ice cream and deli/seafood overstocks), so the last few days haven't been very good.

Wow, there reeeally shouldn't be that much probake stock!:jaw:
Unless they don't have their own individual instore freezer??

 

[babikakez]

Wow, there reeeally shouldn't be that much probake stock!:jaw:
Unless they don't have their own individual instore freezer??

I'm not sure what happened tbh, all I did was throw it in the skip But its not just our stock, we were storing some of the refit store's stock as well I think.

We filled like six skips on Sunday with damaged stock.

 

[PyroTek]

Why didn't you just date code all the prop bakery stuff you could and put it out, even at RTC prices?
Might as well get rid of stock through customers than dump it..

 

[lordtopcat]

Does anyone know much about the Woolworths Graduate program?

Has anyone done it or doing it?

Anyone applying for it?

If so would you recommend it?

whatashotbyseve applied for the marketing program if I recall, however he was turned down, went to Coles and got accepted.

So maybe Woolworths Grad programs are harder to get in to.

 

[whatashotbyseve]

I wouldn't say it was harder from what I have heard, I would say WoW HR are just incompetent. In fact I assume it was a HR error that they rejected me early because they practically begged me to stay for the resulting nine months, guaranteeing me a job in this or that. But when push came to shove they couldn't even table an offer.

If you want to do a grad program, I would seriously not choose WoW. They are a market leader who will be under immense pressure in two years (where can they go from here? Only down) and I just don't rate their culture. But I am slightly biased towards Coles these days given the way WoW treated me.

 

[whatashotbyseve]

Btw I'm happy not to be in their marketing department atm. I wouldn't want to put my hand up and say I was responsible for their current marketing campaign! The only reason the shelf prices are lower than a year ago for 80% of those prices is that the supplier has downsized them and Woolworths hasn't cut the price relative to the downsize! Customers are not that stupid!

 

[yoddle]

But they are actually.

 

[NNS7]

Does Woolworths regularly buy out smaller supermarkets and convert them into their own? Because one of my transfer candidates was nothing like the uniform Woolworths design I've been accustomed to. It had the 2010 aisle signage, but the 10 registers were red and green and there was none of those Fresh Bakery/Deli signs that hang. It had early 1990's paintings instead. Overall, it felt like Woolworths bought it out but didn't bother with finishing the job. Or are there a lot of Woolworths stores that are nothing like the late 90's/early 2000's format?

there aren't heaps, too my knowledge, but there are some, particularly in regional areas. They do also regularly buy out smaller supermarkets, but usually make some effort to convert them, dependent on what needs to be done of course.

 

[babikakez]

But they are actually.

Customer: "Oh, (x product with a green arrow) is on special. Better get a few of them"

Me: *facepalm*

 

[babikakez]

Why didn't you just date code all the prop bakery stuff you could and put it out, even at RTC prices?
Might as well get rid of stock through customers than dump it..

I don't know, but the majority of it was in no possible state to be sold by the time I got to it.

 

[TG Fan]

The only reason the shelf prices are lower than a year ago for 80% of those prices is that the supplier has downsized them and Woolworths hasn't cut the price relative to the downsize! Customers are not that stupid!

Very true. Being an ex-systems operator I'd be disgusted when the supplier would downsize but Woolworths pricing wouldn't. But then that's how you become a big ass company....who doesn't pay overtime.:mad1:

 

[PyroTek]

I don't know, but the majority of it was in no possible state to be sold by the time I got to it.

you mean like soggy boxes etc.?

 

[SS-champion]

I wouldn't say it was harder from what I have heard, I would say WoW HR are just incompetent. In fact I assume it was a HR error that they rejected me early because they practically begged me to stay for the resulting nine months, guaranteeing me a job in this or that. But when push came to shove they couldn't even table an offer.

If you want to do a grad program, I would seriously not choose WoW. They are a market leader who will be under immense pressure in two years (where can they go from here? Only down) and I just don't rate their culture. But I am slightly biased towards Coles these days given the way WoW treated me.

So are you currently doing the Coles graduate program? how's it going?

I have a friend doing the coles one and would say that you have been brain-washed to think that Coles is so much better than Woolworths.

But fair enough you can't like both companies at the same time!

 

[babikakez]

you mean like soggy boxes etc.?

Pretty much, also stock that hadn't been cooked yet - ie the croissants and danishes.

We were in the unfortunate position to have also recieved the prop bakery stock of another store just two days beforehand.

 

[PyroTek]

Hmm, I was referring to the prop bakery lines like the cakes and BAH rolls etc. They don't need to be cooked... Just datecoded and put out..

 

[babikakez]

Hmm, I was referring to the prop bakery lines like the cakes and BAH rolls etc. They don't need to be cooked... Just datecoded and put out..

I'm not sure why they didn't put it out then. We did have our Bakery Specialist in store supervising everything that got dumped, so it must have been his call.

 

[yoddle]

Hey with the Area Office, is there a specialist for every single department?

I know there are specialists for: deli, services (store services, customer service), bakery & produce, but I've never heard of specialists for longlife, perishables or meat.

Also, can someone be a specialist and also a SM, STM, SSM? Because when I worked in the AO store there were always a couple of SMs from other stores that were in and out at odd times on weekends and stuff, so I don't think they were having meetings with the AM or anyone.

If I ever decided to take up a career with Woolies I think I'd aim for HRS over SM. You are like, the gossip-creator.

 

[wixxy2348]

Why didn't you just date code all the prop bakery stuff you could and put it out, even at RTC prices?
Might as well get rid of stock through customers than dump it..

Probably got scanned off under insurance, in which case no money would have been lost.

Pretty much, also stock that hadn't been cooked yet - ie the croissants and danishes.

Croissants and danishes are not probake, they're classed as instore.

Hey with the Area Office, is there a specialist for every single department?

I know there are specialists for: deli, services (store services, customer service), bakery & produce, but I've never heard of specialists for longlife, perishables or meat.

There is a meat specialist.

 

[yoddle]

Croissants and danishes are not probake, they're classed as instore.



There is a meat specialist.

They can be. We have Prob bake crossaints.

Ok cool (re: meat specialist)