- Woolworths Metro in Teneriffe, Brisbane, vandalised
- Spray-painted message read: ‘boycott Woolies’
- Retailer decided not to sell Australia Day merchandise
A Woolworths store has been vandalised with offensive graffiti urging Aussies to boycott the retailer after it decided against selling Australia Day merchandise.
Woolworths Metro, in the Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe, was closed on Monday morning after vandals spray-painted a pro-Australia day message on its facade.
The vandalism comes as 2GB Ray Hadley launch a scathing takedown of the supermarket chain’s South African-born CEO.
Police were called to the store at about 5am following reports of vandalism and found ‘5 days 26 Jan Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Woolies f*** u,’ on the store’s windows.
The words ‘Boycott Woolies’ were also spray-painted on the supermarket’s entrance doors.
Three Queensland Fire and Emergency Services were also attended the scene after the vandals set off a flare under the store’s door, triggering the fire alarm.
The store has since reopened to the public, with police launching an investigation into the vandalism.
Woolworths told Daily Mail Australia no one was hurt as the vandalism occurred before the store opened.
‘Thankfully no team members or customers were injured as this occurred before the store opened,’ a Woolworths spokesperson said.
‘We’re grateful to the police and fire brigade who attended. There’s no reason for vandalism and we’ll continue to liaise with Queensland Police.’
Woolworths announced last week it would no longer sell specific Australia Day merchandise due to a ‘gradual decline in demand’ for the products.
The supermarket giant, which also owns Big W stores, confirmed in a statement that items related to January 26 celebrations will not be stocked on shelves.
‘There has been a gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores over recent years,’ Woolworths said.
‘At the same time there’s been broader discussion about 26 January and what it means to different parts of the community.
‘We know many people like to use this day as a time to get together and we offer a huge variety of products to help customers mark the day as they choose.’
The decision has outraged many Australians, with 2GB host Ray Hadley labelling the move by the supermarket’s CEO Bradford Banducci as ‘brain dead’.
Hadley slammed Mr Banducci using a sexual euphemism to describe his treatment of farmers.
‘Here’s a tip for the South African born CEO of Woolies, stop bending over the farmers and I do mean bending them over, and making record profits,’ Hadley said.
‘Worry about your staff, your customers and your supplies and stay out of everything else.
‘You’re a supermarket, you sell bread, fruit, frozen food and veggies but apparently not Australia Day memorabilia.’
He added the retail giant is not a form of government and should not involve itself in Aussie lives.
Hadley said he agreed with Opposition Peter Dutton who urged Aussies to boycott Woolworths after its shock Australia Day product announcement.
‘I’ll keep shopping at Coles, while this CEO carries on like a raving lunatic and wants to stick his head in on a range of issues that have nothing to do with selling articles in a supermarket,’ Hadley said.
‘Worry about pilfering, worry about paying your staff the right money, worry about making sure the farmers get bang for their buck instead of stealing off them and inflating the price while they’re getting bugger all.’
‘Worry about that, instead of this woke nonsense.
‘Who made you king, coach, captain and sole-selector of whether Australia Day is relevant? P*** off back to South Africa and leave us alone.’