For team member Robert Carratt, working for Woolworths Group is a true family affair! Robert, our head of manufacturing at Woolworths Group’s end-to-end fresh meat supply chain business, Greenstock, has followed in the footsteps of his grandma, mother and siblings. He also paved the way for his twin daughters.
Meet the team: Robert Carratt
2:14 min read
“My nan worked for Woolies for 44 years and my mum worked for Woolies for 28 years,” says Robert, who recently celebrated 40 years with Woolworths Group after starting in 1984 packing groceries before beginning his butchery apprenticeship with Woolworths Supermarkets. “I love what I do, it's an exciting job. Every day is different!"
Robert’s mum Dorothy, or Dot as she’s known to many, shares the same sentiment – as did her late mum, Bessie. “She just loved working for Woolworths,” says Dot. “After she retired the first time, Woolworths asked her to come back. And she did, happily!”
Dot fondly recalls her own 28-year tenure at Woolworths, starting in 1964 as a checkout operator at the Blacktown store on Main Street, NSW, and working her way up to service supervisor and area trainer for the front end. “I just loved the people,” says Dot. “It was just like working with your family. I did a lot of organising of social events and Christmas parties for the team and everyone knew each other. It really was a good place to work.”
All five of Dot’s kids followed her lead. “We all started as 15-year-olds at Woolworths and so did nearly most of our street,” says Robert’s sister Leanne, who worked in store for 15 years. “All of the kids on our street used to come knocking on the door to ask Mum for a job!”
Now the baton has been passed to the grandkids. Dot’s twin grandsons worked with Woolworths for 25 years each and her twin granddaughters, Robert’s daughters, had seven years of service each. "They learnt so much during that time,” says Robert. “They learnt how to deal with people, work ethic, efficiency … Woolworths really gives you good foundations for life which school can’t teach.”
And fortunately, Robert has no plans to leave anytime soon. “I’ll be here for as long as they’ll have me,” he says. “We take care of each other at Woolworths Group. We really do try to do what’s right and everyone in my space is always trying to do the right thing.
“Above all, we always take care of each other.”
