Four workers have a combined 139 years of service at the historic Town Hall store: Emilio Zandona (40 years), Michael Wells (37 years), Michael Hatzipanagiotis (33 years), and Ann Chetcuti (29 years).
The store employs 300 team members, serves 6.3 million CBD customers annually, and makes a sale every 3.5 seconds when open.
Emilio Zandona joined in 1986 on a supported Jobseeker program and received an award for his service in 2025 from then Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Four dedicated team members at Sydney’s historic Town Hall Woolworths have notched up a remarkable, combined 139 years of service between them. These long-serving staff members work at the busy CBD store, bringing decades of experience and passion to their roles.
Who Are the Four Workers Behind 139 Years of Service?
Emilio Zandona, Michael Wells, Michael Hatzipanagiotis, and Ann Chetcuti have a combined 139 years of retail experience at Woolworths Town Hall. Working across dock logistics, night freight, customer service, and fresh food, each has spent decades keeping the busy Sydney store moving.
Emilio Zandona has clocked on at 5:00 am at the Town Hall loading dock for 40 consecutive years. Arriving every morning from Campsie, Emilio joined Woolworths in 1986 and has since become known as the "heart of the store". In 2025, his service was officially honoured with an award presented by then Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek.
"When I reached 40 years in my job here at Town Hall I said I wanted to go for 100. That’s how much I love being here every day, right in the centre of the city where our store serves more customers than any other Woolworths in Australia. I am proud of what I do here.”
Ann Chetcuti works in the online team and customer service area. Ann travels for work from Penrith, starting at 5:00 am to prepare the service area and begin processing online orders. She has been travelling to Town Hall for 29 years and enjoys it, with no intention of leaving for stores closer to home.
“I get asked why I haven’t relocated my work to Woolworths closer to home in Penrith. No thanks, I love coming into Town Hall every day and working in this iconic and historic store. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Michael Wells works on the back dock at night unloading the supply trucks off busy Park Street. Michael unloads the trucks from 10:00 pm and has been with Woolworths and the Town Hall store for 37 years.
Michael Hatzipanagiotis works in the very busy hot food section. He has been at Town Hall for 33 years, and was working at the store when it had service counters where customers could walk up buffet-style and pay at the end.
Why is Woolworths Town Hall such an important store?
The Town Hall store has become a central part of the lives of its 300 team members and the 6.3 million customers served in the CBD every year. When the store is open, it makes a sale every 3.5 seconds.
It is the busiest Woolworths store in Australia.
One of only two full-line supermarkets in the Sydney CBD, it plays a vital role for city workers, travellers and commuters. Smaller, metro formats,which focus on convenience and smaller basket sizes, can't replace the service and convenient location of ourTown Hall store.