Family-Owned Supermarket Chain Stands By Australia Day, Despite Boycott From Majors

‘Whatever Australia Day means to you, we wish you an enjoyable day,’ said Spudshed founder.

One of 17 Spudshed supermarket stores in Perth, Australia on Jan. 26, 2024. Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times

A family-owned supermarket chain in Western Australia (WA) has proudly celebrated Australia Day, with the owner saying the national holiday held a special meaning for his family and countless immigrants.

His stance comes as supermarket giants Woolworths and Aldi, as well as retailer Kmart, decided against stocking Australia Day merchandise amid an ongoing movement to boycott the event.

In a video on Facebook, Tony Galati, the founder of Spudshed in WA, can be seen standing together with his employees, waving Australian flags and other memorabilia.

The supermarket boss reflected on how Australia Day had a deep meaning for his family.

“My dad was an Italian migrant arriving in Australia in 1954, [who] built a humble home and grew vegetable crops,” Mr. Galati said while showing a document indicating that his dad arrived in the country via ship.

“Australia is our home, offering great opportunities.”

Mr. Galati also noted that his team and customers reflected the diversity of Australia.

“Whatever Australia Day means to you, we wish you an enjoyable day,” he said.

Spudshed, which started as a small farmer’s market in 1998, has grown into a chain with 17 stores in Perth.

According to Spudshed’s website, the majority of the produce at the supermarket comes from the Galati farms, and its business philosophy is to reduce shopping costs and provide affordable and fresh produce to consumers in Perth.

Spudshed was also among several supermarkets and retailers that vowed to continue stocking Australia Day-themed products including The Reject Shop, Drakes Supermarkets, and Silly Sollys.

Major retailer Coles committed to stocking a “limited” range of merchandise, while hardware giant Bunnings allowed store managers to decide whether to commemorate Australia Day.

Spudshed has enjoyed a successful 2022-2023 financial year with its net profit tripling to $5.4 million (US$3.56 million) despite pressure from supply chains, workforce shortages, and high living costs.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) shakes hands with Spudshed's founder, Tony Galati, in Perth, Australia, on May 20, 2022. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Woolworths, Aldi, and Kmart were not the only major brands to subtlely move away from Australia Day.

The country’s biggest sporting codes have also entered the fray with the National Rugby League calling the nation’s founding a “sorrowful day,” and several Australian Football League clubs either commiserated about the negative aspects of the public holiday, or even called for a date change.

Woolworths Say It Is Not Trying to ‘Cancel’ Australia Day

Mr. Galati’s messages come as Woolworths tried to explain to consumers that it was not involved in any campaign to cancel the holiday.

The supermarket giant has faced fierce criticism after announcing that it would not stock Australia Day-themed products this year due to a decline in sales, while also pointing to sensitivities surrounding the national holiday.

In an interview with 9 News, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci said the decision was made almost 12 months ago, when management looked at the data on Australia Day sales.

However, he acknowledged that the supermarket did not do well in communicating the message to consumers.

The CEO also said that Woolworths was a proud Australian brand that supported the country and its people.

“We’ve been around for 100 years. We have 178,000 hard-working team members who are going to be in-store doing the right thing for our customers on Australia Day, and we’re passionate about this country,” Mr. Banducci said.

Rex Widerstrom contributed to this article.