Coles Group

As NAIDOC Week draws to a close on Sunday, we reflect on the resilience, strength, and pride of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members, customers, and communities. Our Tooronga SSC has come to life over this week, Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO officially launched Coles’ NAIDOC Week celebrations with a Welcome to Country and reflections on this year’s theme ‘Blak, Loud & Proud’. We have also welcomed musicians from our First Nations Pathways Program with Mushroom Group, Tyson, Kiwat and Canisha. While Eddie Betts, Marcus Stewart and Cristilee Houghton (she/her), Head of Indigenous Affairs participated in a lunch and learn session hosted by Sally Fielke, GM Corporate and Indigenous Affairs, and we were fortunate to play host to renowned Actor, Creative Director, Writer, Producer & Arts Consultant Rhoda Roberts AO for a weaving workshop. We again teamed up with Acknowledge This! to provide team members the foundations to create a genuine and authentic Acknowledgement of Country, as well as cultural tours in different states across the country and activations in stores. The success of NAIDOC marks a recognition of the week-long celebration and our priority to continue to build our cultural knowledge and understanding here at Coles. David Brewster / Sally Fielke / Patrick Zanetti / Cristilee Houghton (she/her) / Sam Muir / Lorraine Efeturk / Jasmine Nicholson / Dale Ernesti

With the support of Coles team members, customers and suppliers, Coles has raised more than $1.9 million in FY24 for Hospitals United For Sick Kids. Funds raised have helped eight hospitals for children, foundations and paediatric services across Australia to implement initiatives aimed at getting sick kids home to the things they miss. The initiatives in the past year have included purchasing essential medical equipment, upgrading children’s spaces in hospitals and expanding telehealth services to kids in regional areas. Funds have been raised through the sales of Mum’s Sause pasta and pizza sauces, with 50c of each jar sold going to Hospitals United for Sick Kids to support their alliance partner in the state it was purchased. Additionally, Coles team members rallied behind our annual Hospitals United for Sick Kids card campaign earlier this year to help raise further funds with the support of customers and suppliers including Swisse Wellness (part of H&H Group) and The Arnott's Group. The fundraising efforts in FY24 takes our overall donations to Hospitals United for Sick Kids to over $8.7m since 2019. Watch the video below to see a recap of our Hospitals United for Sick Kids card campaign in FY24. #ProudlyColes Sally Fielke / Gabrielle Sheehan

Empowering first and future leaders. We’re proud to say that 3.5% of Coles Group team members identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, making us one of the largest private sector employers of Indigenous Australians. In addition, we’re connected to more than 60 Indigenous businesses through our supply chain and are taking steps every day in furthering understanding and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and rights across our business. Providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an important part of our March 2024 – March 2027 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). For more information about our Stretch RAP, please visit our website here: https://lnkd.in/gkEtmg5x Coles is on the lookout for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates to join Coles as part of our Store Support Centre (SSC) Graduate Program. Our graduates will help Coles transform into a retailer of the future, leveraging global partnerships, technology and the energy and ideas of our team, to help in fulfilling our purpose of ‘helping Australians eat and live better every day.’ Based in our Melbourne SSC (corporate HQ), you'll gain a mix of technical, operational and leadership skills working with stakeholders within our business. No matter what your degree disciplines, you’re sure to find the corporate career that you’re looking for in our Graduate Program. Choose from one of the many streams available as part of our SSC program including, Technology, Digital, Customer (marketing), Operations, Own Brand, Liquor, Finance, People & Culture, and more. Applications close: Monday 5th August. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/guzBk2wK #ColesGrads #ProudlyColes #ColesCareer #ColesMob #Naidoc2024 Kris Webb / Josie Fakira / Katie Cruse / Pamela Marcou / Ashlee Loxton / Sam Muir / Hiruni Jasin Pathiranage / Cam Morgan

We’re thrilled to announce that for the second consecutive year, Coles Group is an Excellence Awardee as an Employer of Choice in the HR Awards. This award recognises the best organisation to work for in Australia with 1,000+ employees and is judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits. We’re proud of the great experience our teams, and the industry tell us we continue to provide. https://lnkd.in/gXcS_Bs2 #ProudlyColes #EmployerofChoice HRD Australia / Kris Webb / Leah Weckert

NAIDOC Week is held across the country from 7 – 14 July and celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’ honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our Reconciliation Action Plan outlines our ambition to win together with the Indigenous communities in which we operate, which includes providing more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations, communities and customers to engage with our business.   View our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://lnkd.in/gkEtmg5x   #NAIDOC2024 Cristilee Houghton (she/her) / Sally Fielke / Sam Muir / Dale Ernesti / Lorraine Efeturk / Jasmine Nicholson / David Brewster

At Coles Group, we are committed to continuing our focus on making our stores more accessible and inclusive for our customers. Aligned to our values of ‘Caring for each other’ and ‘Deliver for our Customers’, we are proud to announce an exciting retail-first pilot with Medical Travel Companions. Offering assistance of a qualified Paramedic, Doctor or Nurse (like Enmarie pictured), Medical Travel Companions assists customers for their end-to-end shopping experience. Assistance can be in the form of home to in-store, navigating the store, and home again, creating independence for customers to be able to leave home to do their shopping. If you know someone who needs assistance, or you require assistance yourself, you can book by visiting the Accessibility section of Coles online: https://lnkd.in/gi65qU_N, where you’ll will be taken to a booking service. #ProudlyColes #AccessibilityFirst #CareForEachOther #DeliverForOurCustomers Kate Roff / Martin Smithson / Ben Hassing / Marta Miranda

Last month, with the help of Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army, Major Brendan Nottle and Collingwood AFL and AFLW stars Brit Bonnici and Jordan De Goey, Coles helped fill the pantries of 40 Magpie Nest homes through our support of the Magpie Nest program. These homes provide a safe place for people who are experiencing homelessness.   Run by The Salvation Army Australia Project 614 with the support of the Collingwood Football Club Foundation and Coles Group, Magpie Nest provides support services, case workers, meals and safe, affordable accommodation to the most vulnerable people in our community. The program also provides support services for women affected by the trauma of domestic violence.   Coles has been a partner of Collingwood Football Club Foundation since 2018, helping to raise vital funds to support the Magpie Nest as well as providing volunteers to help prepare and serve meals at its café in Melbourne’s CBD. More than 400 Coles team members volunteered at the Magpie Nest last year, contributing over 2,500 hours to help prepare and serve meals to vulnerable Victorians. Here you will see Brendan, Brit, Jordan and Coles team member Lucy, delivering Coles groceries to some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable people. #ProudlyColes   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gSKuye9u https://lnkd.in/ggMBsZMw

In May, our Women in Tech Mentoring Program launched with a formal event, bringing together guest speakers, mentors, and mentees to discuss the initiative. Hear from the program leads about their goals and what participants hope to achieve through this mentorship experience. At Coles Group, our commitment to gender equity and diversity empowers women in their leadership journey. Over 4 months, professionals at various stages will unite with mentors to exchange ideas and collaborate towards their mentorship objectives. This year's program supports 40 talented women in technology, each paired with 40 experienced professionals across Coles' technology and digital domains. Let's continue celebrating and championing women in tech, building a vibrant community where everyone has a seat at the table. Ready to advance your digital or tech career? Become part of our vibrant women in tech community at Coles Group and unlock new opportunities when you join: Technology careers: https://lnkd.in/g3fBFhEv Digital careers: https://lnkd.in/e9cqq-Yr   #WomenInTech #MentorshipProgram #DEI #ProudlyColes #LifeAtColes John Cox / Ben Hassing / Nick W / Usha Vinjamuri / Samantha VanDenBerg / Geetha Rodricks / Maybel Gastar / Dr. Amrita Prasad / Roslyn Mackay / Olinda Tam / Sabrina Raj / Donna-Jane Acornley

Today we’re proud to share our refreshed human rights strategy which is a recommitment to respect and support the human rights of our team members, customers, the communities we serve and workers throughout our supply chain. Our refreshed strategy provides a framework to prevent harm and foster a culture that embraces diversity, inclusion and equality. This includes fair and safe working conditions, responsible purchasing practices and protecting the rights of people across our operations and value chain, especially the most vulnerable. This strategy has evolved from an extensive period of research, learning, consultation and design, in partnership with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including NGOs, suppliers, academics, team members, survivors of modern slavery and workers in our supply chain. You can read the Coles human rights strategy here: https://lnkd.in/gYCFmEda David Brewster / Marnee Nugent / Kim Nguyen / Aaron Hill #HumanRights #Strategy #ESG #DEI #SupplyChain 

Team members across Australia have helped Coles to set a new fundraising record for FightMND with more than $9.3 million raised in just over six weeks. The funds raised with the support and generosity of customers, pork farmers and suppliers will enable FightMND to make targeted investments into projects focused on developing new treatments and driving discoveries towards a cure for Motor Neurone Disease. Coles Chief Commercial Officer Anna Croft said “We’re extremely proud of our team members who embraced this Big Freeze like never before, partnering with local communities and businesses to run DIY Big Freeze events, supporting BBQs at local sports clubs and of course, conducting their own store ice bucket challenges.” FightMND Campaigns Director Bec Daniher said “On behalf of my family, FightMND and everyone battling the Beast, I want to recognise and thank everyone who purchased Beanies, Socks and donated generously to the cause.” This year’s fundraising record takes Coles’ total contribution to FightMND to nearly $40 million since 2018. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXJB8bz2 #BetterTogether #ColesGoodThings #DontSayDo #BigFreeze10