Woolworths will go ahead with plans to move its New Zealand customer care operation to Sydney, affecting over 100 roles.
The supermarket giant said it would proceed with the move after completing a formal consultation process with staff and union representatives. The Workers First union said around 130 staff could lose their jobs.
The supermarket giant first proposed integrating with the Sydney customer support network earlier this month.
"This has been a difficult decision, and we recognise the significant impact it has on our customer care team members who have served our Kiwi customers with dedication for many years," Woolworths NZ director of digital & eCommerce Mark Wolfenden said.
"We have taken on feedback received during the consultation process, and adjusted our approach accordingly; however, we will progress with the core elements of the proposal."
He said the company's priority would be to support impacted staff.
"We are working one-on-one with each team member to explore genuine redeployment opportunities across our supermarket network, supply chain, and broader business, including ring-fencing vacant roles."
Woolworths said the move was part of a broader effort to simplify operations, remove duplicated overheads, and ensure long-term sustainability.
Woolworths reported $163 million in earnings before interest and tax for the year to June 2026, an 8.8% lift on the year before.
Rudd Hughes, Workers First deputy secretary, called the decision "short-sighted" and an "insult" to both workers and customers.
"Woolworths has just banked $163 million in earnings from Kiwi shoppers, and its response is to put 130 New Zealanders out of work to save pocket change," he said.
"It's short-sighted, it's greedy, and it’s a company turning its back on a country it has extracted mega-profits from."
The union said it would now focus on ensuring Woolworths lives up to its redundancy obligations, pursues redeployment where possible, and "does right by every worker affected".
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