Woolworths

ABOUT US

OUR HISTORY

The first Woolworths store opened its doors to the public in Cape Town in October 1931. And it was founder Max Sonnenberg who captured the public’s imagination with dynamic store policies that set Woolworths apart from its competitors.

Three years later, a second branch opened in Durban, with another two in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg a year later. And since then we’ve been building on our reputation for superior quality, exciting innovation and excellent value.

FIRST TO OFFER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Keen to attract and retain the best retail professionals, Woolworths was among the first local retailers to offer employees a pension fund, medical aid and maternity leave.

FIRST IN ADVANCING TECH

Not just a forward thinking employer, Woolworths was also an early adopter of technology. A lease agreement for the first computer was agreed to with National Cash Registers (NCR) in the late 60s and Woolworths was already using a computerised merchandising system by the early 1970s.

FIRST TO INTRODUCE SELL BY DATES

This dynamic thinking extends to Woolworths product offering. In 1974, Woolworths became the first South African retailer to introduce ‘sell by’ dates on food packaging. Convenience, too, has long been a watchword at Woolworths - we were the first South African retailer to offer pre-washed lettuce and machine-washable wool clothing to consumers.

OUR GOOD BUSINESS JOURNEY

In April 2007, we launched our Good Business Journey – a bold plan to make a difference in eight key areas on our journey towards sustainability: Energy, Water, Waste, Sustainable Farming, Ethical Sourcing, Transformation, Social Development and Health and Wellness.

OUR VALUES

At Woolworths we take our business values seriously. They aren’t just words in an annual report - they are the foundation of our business. They give us direction and guide our behaviour, actions and choices. In fact, our values are so important to us that we’re measured not only on our performance, but also by how well we live up to them.

QUALITY AND STYLE - DELIVER THE BEST

It means giving 100%, 100% of the time. Whether it’s making sure that a supplier is delivering to the standards we set or preparing a report, it all boils down to one thing: there’s no compromising on quality, because ‘good enough’ just isn’t good enough.

VALUE - A SIMPLE AND FAIR DEAL

Offering real value goes beyond offering our customers quality at a good price: it also means offering value to each other, from sharing our knowledge with colleagues and suppliers to being able to evaluate how the decisions we make affect the business.

SERVICE - WE ALWAYS THINK CUSTOMER

At Woolies, we know that we have to go that bit further to really make a difference. Putting the customer first is what service is all about. Whether your customer is a shopper in our stores or the store manager who needs a vital delivery, service is about understanding others’ needs, being willing to do more than is expected, and being a good ambassador for the Woolies brand.

INNOVATION - DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE

We do it for our customers. We love discovering new ideas, new products and new processes. We enjoy thinking ‘out of the box’ and finding solutions that benefit the business.

INTEGRITY - DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO

Keeping our promises is important to us, whether it’s maintaining confidentiality, not accepting gifts from suppliers, or simply listening to what others have to say with an open mind. By being true to ourselves, we earn the trust of our colleagues and our customers.

ENERGY - BE PASSIONATE AND DELIVER

When you’re passionate about what you do, when you really care, your enthusiasm and belief rub off on others. At Woolies, you’re part of a 23 000-member team. Being part of a team means being an inspiration to others and being inspired by their successes and triumphs.

SUSTAINABILITY - BUILD FOR A BETTER FUTURE

While you may be familiar with some of our environmental and conservation projects, for us in a South African, and African, context, sustainability isn’t just about being ‘green’. It’s about sharing expertise, helping local enterprises to grow, and contributing to a prosperous, secure future for our country.

SERVICES