Commerce Case Study: Woolworth's Trade of Old and Expired Supermarket Food Products

This case-based study focuses on Woolworth's trade of old and expired supermarket food products. It explores the importance and role of any business, including consumer choice, retail business operations, profit and loss policies, and regulations. The study aims to help Commerce students understand the foundation of using case studies as research tools and explore the topic in depth.

Running head: COMMERCE CASE STUDY
COMMERCE CASE STUDY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1COMMERCE CASE STUDY
Commerce is a vital part of any business as it attempts to accomplish human needs and
requirements. It also aims to contribute in linking producers of specific products and services
with consumers who require them. Since commerce necessitates a substantial amount of
processes to be completed, it easily produces various employment prospects in other areas of
business such as retail, banking, transport and logistics (Alsaad, Mohamad & Ismail, 2017). Thus
commerce overall is identified as an imperative component of national growth and wealth
creation. In order to comprehensively understand this subject, the following paper will present a
case-based study for Commerce students about Woolworth’s trade of Old and Expired
Supermarket Food Products’ in order to critically explore the importance and role of any
business.
According to the assigned case study project, Commerce students will have to go through
comprehensive fictional case study regarding Organizational Canteen of renowned retail
organization in Australia. The case study lesson will primarily comprise of a series of lessons
and activities. Each lesson of the case based study on Woolworth’s Trade of Expired Food
Products’ which will contain important activities inside and outside the school. Furthermore, an
inclusive range of resources with original case study examples regarding the previously dated
products are provided to students in order to aid them with successful completion of the
assignment. On the other hand, each lesson of the case-based study will facilitate the Commerce
students to get hold internet resources, journals, charts in order to accomplish the allocated
assignments.

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The series of lessons are assigned as per the syllabus of Commerce student
Class: Commerce Time: 90 minutes per class session
Key Learning Area: Economics & Business Lesson Topic: 1.1 Consumer Choice
Key Terms and Concepts: Students will obtain strategies to identify, evaluate and learn options
which result to consumer purchase decisions.
Syllabus Outcome(s):
1.1 related to consumer, economic,
commerce, legal and service
concepts along with concepts
associated with varied contexts.
1.2 critically analyse the privileges
and responsibilities of individuals
in a series of purchaser, financial,
commerce, legal as well as
employment situations.
1.3 Evaluation of varied
commercial as well as legal
information by means of variety
of sources
Learning Outcomes
With the conclusion of this case-
based study students will be able
to identify commercial and legal
decisions on the quality of
consumer lives and the
environment. Furthermore, by
the end of students will be able
to explain the factors influencing
consumer decisions and choices.
Assessment:
Consumer decisions:
 buying decisions
 store location and source
 finance, product price,
product manufacturing
date, promotion,
expediency

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Lesson One: Consumer Preference
Lesson Material Duration Teaching Strategies / Learning
Experiences
Learning
Materials
INTRODUCTION
Attendance Call 5 mins settle the class
Westfields Sports
High School Video
15 min Analysing the video
(Woolworths ordered
to compensate $3 million penalty for selling
unsafe or expired food products)
https://
www.smh.co
m.au/
business/
companies/
why-retail-
companies-
are-
struggling-
there-are-
fewer-
DEVELOPMENT
Read 1.1 Consumer
and Choice Chapter
25 min Thorough reading of Commerce and
Consumer choice materials
Textbook
Chapter 1.1 35 min Introduce the chapter, discuss main terms and
concepts, theories
Textbook
Unscramble words 10 min Get introduced to new terminologies from the
chapter
Worksheet
CLOSURE
Homework 10 min Assign Homework; aid the students how to
search case studies online
Enable students to make a note of key ideas
from the subject; answer questions if there is
any.
News
Article by
Kathy

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Sundstrom
Lesson Two: Advertising, Pricing, Safety Control, and Food Allergy
Lesson Material Durati
on Teaching Strategies / Learning Experiences
Learning
Materials
INTRODUCTION
Roll Call 5 min Settle the class
Healthy food
consumption
Advertising
20
min
Discuss Teenagers and healthy eating https://
www.betterh
ealth.vic.govDEVELOPMENT
Read journal and
articles about
Commerce
15 min Discuss role of Commerce in retail business Printed
articles
Safety Control
Regulations
20 min Divide the class with two different
assignments, on whether Woolworths notify
consumers about health and safety
If Woolworths businesses follow safety
regulations
Printed
articles
Food Allergy
Video
20 min Discuss what consumers need to know about
food allergy while choosing a product
Journals

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CLOSURE
Homework 10
min
Students need to choose particular topic and
write a research paper using case studies
Wrap up by creating interactive session with
students on consumer choice, policies and
food safety
Case studies
and links to
resources
Following the lessons of consumer choice, major retail organization, profit or loss policies,
organizational values, standards and regulations, Commerce students will require the subsequent
details in order to successfully accomplish the
case based study on Woolworths trade of old or outdated manufactured food products as the last
project of the series of lessons on Consumer Choice (Woolworthsgroup.com.au, 2019):
 Target Audience: Students who purchase supermarket products
 Market Requirements: Supermarket food products of retail organizations
 Analysis of Case: Woolworths food products sold in the supermarket
 Key issues and objective: consumer choice about healthy and unhealthy foods
 Recommended suggestions: strategies to involve parents or carers with sensitivity and
confidentiality to guide or direct students in proper buying decisions.

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The primary aim of the case based assignment is to guarantee Commerce graduate students to
comprehend the foundation of using case studies as research tools and exploration of the topic.
At this point of discussion, it is important to note that this particular subject of Woolworths has
been chosen as increasing number of students and youths have been emerging as frequent and
consistent buyers of the company. Thus, through this case study based lesson, graduate students
will be able to learn about the effectiveness of case studies to investigate any social issue related
to consumption of outdated or stale packaged food items from renowned retail organization.
In addition to this, the case-based study primarily aims to teach:
 Consumer preference
 Retail business operation
 Issues related to profit and loss
 Policies and regulations such as pricing, promotion, safety control and allergic reaction
for consuming outdated packaged frozen food items
Consumer Choice and its relation to business and commerce
Consumer choice mainly refers to the decisions which consumers make in relation to
products and services (Hajli et al., 2017). Customers have an extensive range of options which
further can influence the way businesses attract and expand their customer base, construct
elevated value as well as loyal consumers and influence the way buyers make purchasing
decisions. Kor, Prabhu and Esposito (2017) have noted that retail environment has observed a
continual change signified by elevating level of competition and emergence of new retailing
strategies and formats. However, although the consumer choice theory has influenced all aspects

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from government policy to commercial promotion to academia it has been criticized for not
showing utmost accuracy in description related to ways which individuals make buying choices.
Moreover, commercial judgments can be related to customer, commerce, and financial services
along with factors related to social, legal as well as environmental factors. These vital decisions
tend to directly influence the quality of consumers’ lives. Schanes, Dobernig and Gözet (2018)
have noted that with the increasing complication of marketplace, overflowing with extensive
range of products and services, buyers in recent times are likely to encounter severe challenges
while making any decision related to buying products. Additionally, it has been noted that youths
in recent times have been buying wide range of packaged food products from renowned
supermarkets in Australia. Thus, parents, guardians along with government lawmakers are highly
accountable to provide healthy food options to the public specifically to youths (Jeewon et al.,
2017).
Consumers may have inadequate or incorrect information while purchasing food items and
are likely to waste edible food due to uncertainty on the meaning of date labels. Such a scenario
frequently happens with young customers below 18 years who do not have sufficient information
about food safety or packaging and are often tempted by fancy product packaging and
appearance. Reports of Alm and Olsen (2017)have revealed that the most obvious increase in
consumer value for expired products occurred for expired around 1 or over 7 days ago frozen or
recently expired semi-perishable products. Heffernan (2017) has noted that a critical gap in
information related to the link between manufacturing label confusion, food waste in addition to
environmental impacts which have been addressed by policy-makers and profit aware food
retailers indicate an assurance for elevating the assessment to consumers of expired or outdated
food products reliant on their perishability. Reports of Schanes, Dobernig and Gözet (2018) have

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revealed that the longer the time that exceeds between a food appearing in the supermarket and
being identified as a possible source, the less possibility is related to the recovery of that food
items. Around 25% of youths in Australia between ages 15-20 years have been experiencing
severe food poisoning due to consumption of outdated frozen food items (Alsaad, Mohamad &
Ismail, 2017). Furthermore, reports of Hajli et al. (2017) have noted the increasing rate of youths
have been making individual buying choices in supermarkets which has led Woolworths to
constitute a huge customer base of youths of 15-20 years of age. However, food poisoning can be
related to social factors as food poisoning is typically related to Problems and their prevention
comprise of a number of aspects related to environmental, food processing, storage space,
distribution of food as well as socio cultural conditions particularly to the developed or
developing nations. For example, in Australia, rapid urbanisation development along with
accessibility of diverse range variety of foods and establishment of several types of food services
has all contributed to the food borne diseases (Jeewon et al., 2017).
Policies and regulations: Pricing, Advertising, Safety Control, and Food Poisoning and Infection
In Australia, all States and Territories perform inspection of highly contagious diseases,
which involves illnesses related to food poisoning and infection for consuming outdated frozen
packaged food items. Alm and Olsen (2017) have noted that medical reports of individual cases
of disease to the appropriate state or territory health department, which has consecutively passed
on a summary of all cases. According to Heffernan (2017), the Board of Food Standards
Australia New Zealand (FZANZ) will primarily consider adjustments to the Food Standards
Code, having in relation to these policy guidelines and subsequent to the procedure outlined in
the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. Furthermore, at a minimum, Food Safety
Standard 3.2.1 introduces Food Safety Programs must be applies in the Australian retail sector

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involved in operations recognized as high risk and where the profit to cost ratio tends to explain
the implementation of food safety programs. As per the Health Department, food poisoning and
infection has been severely affecting the health of around 2.4 million Australian youths every
year. Meanwhile, there different types of contaminations in frozen or packaged food items which
tend to cause cases of food infection and poisoning. However, it is quite challenging for food
inspectors to detect the source of the disease. Youths who have inadequate knowledge and
expertise of food safety often fail to identify the freshness of food they are consuming, but prefer
its packaging and taste along with the popularity among its peer group. Thus media plays a
decisive role in promoting these food products thus persuading young consumers’ choices thus
resulting to be exposed towards unhealthy food selections. Furthermore, renowned retailers such
as Woolworths inaccurate manufacturing labelling tends to deceive young consumers
(Woolworthsgroup.com.au, 2019). Thus, it is highly important for food security and prevention
sector to prevail over any type of health-related costs. In the view of Bourdieu’s theory of social
capital young consumers have the ability to exert influence and access resources in the society.
With uncontrolled resources, young consumers are able to attain a significant position in
Woolworths’ customer base (Brown, 2018). Therefore, it is highly important to endorse and
support health beneficial food choices to youths and teenagers who are identified as potential and
current customers to expand and sustain healthy eating choices throughout their lives.
On a concluding note, this inclusive series of case-based study plan will facilitate
students of Commerce graduation year to proficiently recognize appropriate purchaser choice,
profits and revenues generated by major retail companies in addition to loss issues along
policies, laws and regulations related to promotion, safety control and diseases related to food
poisoning and infections. With the increasing number of youths emerging as regular buyers in

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supermarkets in Australia such a comprehensive case-based study will successfully help the
Commerce students to comprehend the advantages of healthier food choices. Lastly, this case
based study will aid students to work as a team and analyse other relevant case studies as a tool
and research method for future Commerce subjects.

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References
Alm, S., & Olsen, S. O. (2017). Coping with Time Pressure and Stress: Consequences for
Families’ Food Consumption. Journal of consumer policy, 40(1), 105-123.
Alsaad, A., Mohamad, R., & Ismail, N. A. (2017). The moderating role of trust in business to
business electronic commerce (B2B EC) adoption. Computers in Human Behavior, 68,
157-169.
Betterhealth.vic.gov.au. (2019). Teenagers and healthy eating. Retrieved from
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Teenagers-and-healthy-eating
Brown, A. C. (2018). Understanding food: principles and preparation. Cengage learning.
Hajli, N., Sims, J., Zadeh, A. H., & Richard, M. O. (2017). A social commerce investigation
of the role of trust in a social networking site on purchase intentions. Journal of
Business Research, 71, 133-141.
Heffernan, M. (2017). Why retail companies are struggling: there are
fewer shoppers going inside. Retrieved from
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/why-retail-
companies-are-struggling-there-are-fewer-shoppers-going-inside-
20170516-gw5szd.html
Jeewon, R., Nouvishika, S., Kumar, D. S., & Jheelan-Ramchandur, A. (2017). An
Investigation Into How Far Do Residents Adopt Measures to Reduce Microbial
Hazards During Food Handling. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science
Journal, 5(1), 06-14.

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Kor, Y. Y., Prabhu, J., & Esposito, M. (2017). How large food retailers can help solve the
food waste crisis. accessed December, 21, 2017.
Schanes, K., Dobernig, K., & Gözet, B. (2018). Food waste matters-A systematic review of
household food waste practices and their policy implications. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 182, 978-991.
Woolworthsgroup.com.au. (2019). Woolworths Group: Quality Brands and Trusted Retailing.
Retrieved from https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/
Yngfalk, C. (2016). Bio-politicizing consumption: neo-liberal consumerism and
disembodiment in the food marketplace. Consumption Markets & Culture, 19(3), 275-
295.