NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business / Companies / Retail

Woolworths pulls Anzac campaign after internet takes it over with mocking memes

Daily Mail
14 Apr, 2015 06:52 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The campaign invited Aussies to create a profile picture and cover photo for their Facebook page, in memory of the service men and women of World War I, complete with the Woolworths logo

The campaign invited Aussies to create a profile picture and cover photo for their Facebook page, in memory of the service men and women of World War I, complete with the Woolworths logo

A recent online campaign led by Woolworths has caused outrage among customers, who accused the supermarket giant for cashing in on Anzac Day.

"Fresh in our Memories" invited Australian consumers to create a profile picture and cover photo for their Facebook page, in memory of past and present servicemen and women, complete with the Woolworths logo.

However, the supermarket has since been forced to pull its campaign after consumers branded it as "disrespectful" and "disgusting", while others flooded social media with their own versions of the Woolworths generated images.

The campaign was launched just last week in the lead up to the centenary marking the landing at Gallipoli.

Before the "Fresh in our Memories" website was taken down on Tuesday night, it had generators for Facebook profile pictures and cover photos.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

These images included the Woolworths logo along with the text: "Lest We Forget Anzac 1915-2015. Fresh in our memories".

"You could also use an image of yourself as a mark of respect to our servicemen and women. Once the generator is complete, please change to your profile picture image to fully complete the process," Woolworths explained on the campaign website.

"Download your profile picture, and then share it for others to see!"

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

#freshinourmemories pic.twitter.com/Z8sfhVIfSt

— Lew (@LewSOS) April 14, 2015

But it appears the supermarket, a partner of both the Returned and Services League (RSL) and Camp Gallipoli, has had a rather adverse effect on its customers as many took to Facebook and Twitter to vent their anger.

TWO FOR ONE ON MEMES, 50% OFF. #freshinourmemories pic.twitter.com/hWoDPmSI1r

— @NewtonMark@eigenmagic.net (@NewtonMark) April 14, 2015

#FreshInOurMemories #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/DnwGHJ2z0B

— ABC News Intern (@ABCnewsIntern) April 14, 2015

One customer, who was clearly appalled by the campaign, threatened to boycott the store.

"Hey Woolworths, my family did not fight and die in the wars for you to hijack the Anzac tradition with that tasteless promo. Take it down now please or my moneys going elsewhere," he wrote on the Woolworth Facebook page.

The supermarket has been inundated with similar comments on social media.

Discover more

Sport

How a chess cheat was caught

14 Apr 11:26 PM
New Zealand

'It could have been so much worse'

14 Apr 09:26 PM
World

RSL president denounces Woolworths campaign

15 Apr 01:33 AM
World

'Westralia' talks rebellion

17 Apr 05:00 PM

"Your latest Anzac campaign is absolutely disgusting," another consumer wrote.

"Trying to use the memory of our diggers for advertising is reprehensible! Pull the campaign and apologise!"

Others also posted memes of the Woolworths campaign, with images of Australian political figures including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd, John Howard and Jacqui Lambie.

A spokeswoman for Woolworths told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday night that "Fresh in our Memories" is not a marketing strategy.

"It is a website designed in consultation with the RSL for people to share their photos, stories and memories," she said.

"As one of Australia's largest employers, Woolworths has spent months collecting stories from our staff for the site. All profits from the sale of merchandise on the site goes to the RSL.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We are proud to support the RSL and our diggers. Like all Australians, we pay our respects to service people past and present.

"Our small logo on the site is in line with other corporately sponsored Centenary of Anzacactivity."

The spokeswoman then later confirmed the website had been taken down.

"The site was developed to give our staff and customers a place to put their stories to mark the Centenary of Anzac," she said.

"We regret that our branding on the picture generator has caused offence, this was clearly never our intention. Like many heritage Australian companies, we were marking our respect for Anzac and our veterans.

"We continue to be proud supporters of the RSL and Camp Gallipoli in this important year and look forward to working with them into the future."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Retail

Premium
Business|markets

Allbirds predicts turnaround - finally - if lucky break on tariffs holds true

09 May 12:23 AM
Freight and logistics

Inside NZ Post’s $250m facility transforming parcel delivery

08 May 05:12 AM
Retail

'Encouraging': Warehouse Group third-quarter sales up 2.2%

07 May 11:06 PM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Retail

Premium
Allbirds predicts turnaround - finally - if lucky break on tariffs holds true

Allbirds predicts turnaround - finally - if lucky break on tariffs holds true

09 May 12:23 AM

PLUS: Waterproof Allbirds - and some "professional" sneakers for the office.

Inside NZ Post’s $250m facility transforming parcel delivery

Inside NZ Post’s $250m facility transforming parcel delivery

08 May 05:12 AM
'Encouraging': Warehouse Group third-quarter sales up 2.2%

'Encouraging': Warehouse Group third-quarter sales up 2.2%

07 May 11:06 PM
'Disappointed': Briscoe Group first-quarter sales sink 2.58%

'Disappointed': Briscoe Group first-quarter sales sink 2.58%

07 May 01:16 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP