Woolworths has come under fire over a controversial plan to make major changes to a popular store.
Residents in the inner Sydney suburb of Alexandria have lashed out at the retail giant over a move to convert a local full-size Woolies supermarket into a Metro store.
Outraged locals have even started a Change.org petition to fight the proposal to Alexandria Woolworths, attracting more than 700 signatures.
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“Don’t downgrade our Woolies Alexandria to the Metro format,” reads the petition, started by Andrew Wong.
“The residents demand better! We already have three Metros in the immediate area (Redfern, Erskineville, Park Sydney). We can see their higher prices and decreased selection. We see they have no seafood or meat counter.
“We want the existing Woolworth Alexandria supermarket to be maintained and improved, not downgraded to Metro!”
A Woolworths Metro spokesperson has told 7NEWS.com.au that the Metro conversion is suited to smaller stores, allowing them ”to tailor the local range by introducing new product lines that are based on what the local community wants”.
The spokesperson added: “There is no change to the size or footprint of the stores converting to our Neighbourhood store and in fact each store will be redesigned over time with a new layout to provide even more space for all the things people love to buy at Woolworths.” (Read Woolworths’ statement below.)
Despite Woolworths’ claims that it’s a positive move for the store, locals aren’t convinced.
Many have flooded local community Facebook groups and the petition itself to share their concerns.
“Alexandria deserves better. We already have three Metros surrounding us. The closest real supermarket is not Marrickville Metro. Give us a break, Woolies,” said one.
Another wrote: “Shame Woolworths, shame.”
A third stated: “This is just an excuse to justify charging convenience store prices in a supermarket.”
One more responded: “No to a Metro price hike when people are already struggling hard.”
Added another: “I’m a regular user of this Woolworths. I don’t drive and it’s great having a supermarket so close. Many people in the vicinity don’t have cars and it’s really convenient to have a cheaper supermarket close by that you can walk to and get quick home delivery from.”
Woolworths responds
A Metro spokesperson said Woolworths plans to consult with the community further on the proposal.
“In our big full service supermarkets we can offer more of everything because we have the space,” the spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.
“In some smaller supermarkets where we cannot easily expand the store, Metro conversions allow us to tailor the local range by introducing new product lines that are based on what the local community wants.
“It allows us to be more thoughtful in what we stock, so for example, in Alexandria we have reduced the number of products in what’s called general merchandise, things like batteries, light globes and stationery where sales are lower.
“We’ll still stock them, just not as many varieties.
“We’ve been then able to reuse this shelf space to put in more products that meet our customer needs, generally increasing the range in food.
“An example in Alexandria is a significant increase in our Asian food range which has been requested by the local customer base.”
The spokesperson said there were “two types of Metros” – smaller city ones and suburban ones with “a far wider range”.
“There is no change to the size or footprint of the stores converting to our Neighbourhood store and in fact each store will be redesigned over time with a new layout to provide even more space for all the things people love to buy at Woolworths,” the spokesperson said.
“Our neighbourhood stores will still have the same number of products, what is changing is the mix based on what is popular and also what the local community wants.”
The spokesperson added that the Woolworths ‘Picked by You’ program allowed shoppers to “effectively crowdsource” local range decisions.
“So far we’ve added more than 4000 products into Metro stores based on customer feedback through Picked by You and it’s an always on program so we’re constantly stocking products shoppers would like to see,” they said.
The spokesperson has also disputed claims the range will be more expensive.
“Metro Neighbourhood stores continue to have our seasonal Prices Dropped, Low prices program, all the catalogue specials and the same proportion of own brand products as well as a range of specials that are only available in Metros.”
7NEWS.com.au understands that Woolworths has 93 Metro stores and 1002 supermarkets.
Metros make up nine per cent of Woolworths’ footprint in Australia and in the medium term it plans to roll out up to 20 full range supermarkets and between five and 15 Metro stores per year.
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