Woolworths announces major change to operating hours
Woolworths has announced a shake-up to its store and fresh service counter trading hours following a trial earlier this year.
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo News Australia on Tuesday morning store trading hours and service counter trading hours had been altered due to customer behaviour.
Trading hours for Woolworths' deli, meat and seafood service counters have changed and store operating hours have been standardised across the network.
The changes come after a handful of Woolworths stores in NSW trialled the changes in May this year.
The changes came into effect on August 1.
Changes to store trading hours
To offer a consistent customer experience across Woolworths stores throughout Australia, operating hours have been standardised.
"We’ve also moved to standardise our overall operating hours so we can offer a consistent customer experience across our store network," a Woolworths spokesperson said.
Yahoo News Australia understands 7am to 9pm will be somewhat of the standard for opening hours going forward, however, several stores will still close later. Customers should check opening hours online to confirm their local store's trading hours.
Changes to Woolworths trading hours include:
Select stores opening one hour later to align with other stores in Australia
Select stores closing one hour earlier to align with other stores in Australia
Changes to opening hours came into effect on August 1
A Woolworths spokesperson said the new opening hours were brought in to "better match customers shopping patterns".
Over the next few months, Woolworths will monitor feedback regarding the changes from customers and team members.
Service counter hours reduced
Trading hours for fresh service counters have also changed across Australia. The Woolworths spokesperson said the shift was also due to customer shopping behaviour.
The changes impact Woolworths' meat, seafood and deli counters.
Changes to the service counters include:
Fresh Service Deli trading from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week
Seafood Service Counter trading from 9.30am to 7pm on weekdays, 9am to 7pm on weekends
Meat Service Counters trading from 9.30am to 7pm on weekdays, 9am to 7pm on weekends
Select stores will have longer fresh service counter hours due to high demand
Products similar to those sold at service counters within Woolworths' Fresh Convenience range will still be available in-store
To alert customers to the change in service counter trading hours, signs have been placed at the front of supermarkets and at the counters.
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