Foodland (South Australia)
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Network of over 90 independently owned supermarkets across South Australia.
Until Foodland (South Australia) has the farms and labour hire firms behind its food checked independently and publishes what it finds, it can't show that the people who grow and pack it are paid what they're owed.
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Nothing we've rated in supermarkets is better than Lacks transparency yet.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It sells fresh and own-brand food from farms and labour hire firms it hasn't shown it checks. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to check them.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Farm and labour hire checks published
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain: no certification, independent audits or supplier list
- Red flag: Sells food from farms and labour hire firms it doesn't check
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Foodland (South Australia) names some of the countries it makes in: Australia. The rest is shown as where own-brand and fresh food is usually grown or made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| New ZealandUsual for the industry | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| ThailandUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ItalyUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: fresh and own-brand food relies on Australian farms and meatworks where labour hire firms have underpaid migrant workers, and on imported ingredients such as tomato paste, palm oil and seafood linked to forced labour.
- Being made in Australia doesn't count towards a living wage or audit here: Australian farm and meat work, where a NSW parliamentary inquiry, the Fair Work Ombudsman and the supermarkets' own audits have found labour hire firms underpaying migrant workers. It would need to publish its suppliers or have them independently audited.
- Relies on fresh and own-brand food from farms and meatworks where labour hire firms have underpaid migrant workers, paid them in cash and charged them for crowded housing, often out of sight of supermarket audits. It hasn't shown any checks on the farms, meatworks and labour hire firms behind its fresh and own-brand food, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes Foodland is the banner of over 90 independently owned South Australian stores, supplied mainly through Metcash. It says over half its Foodland-brand range comes from South Australian manufacturers and the rest from other Australian makers, but names no suppliers, countries for fresh food, farm checks or modern slavery statement. Pay compliance rests with each store owner.
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- Eudunda Farmers Limited, which runs 23 regional South Australian supermarkets mostly under the Foodland banner, settled a union claim in July 2025 for $5.5 million for more than 500 current and former workers who were allegedly misclassified as casuals and denied allowances and overtime (HC Online, 2025). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Underpaid supermarket workers to get $5.5 million in backpay (HC Online, 2025) · search the archive · Eudunda Farmers Limited: 23 regional SA supermarkets mostly Foodland; over 500 workers; $5.5 million; announced 7 July 2025
- Metcash long-term supply agreement in South Australia (ASX release, 27 Aug 2018) · search the archive · Foodland retailers to be supplied from Metcash's SA distribution centre for ten years; stores owned by independent retailers
- Millions in wage theft alleged at regional SA supermarkets (SDA) · search the archive · SDA Federal Court claim alleging misclassified casuals and denied allowances and overtime at Eudunda Farmers' Foodland and IGA stores
Published by Foodland (South Australia) or its owner
- About Foodland · search the archive · Over 90 SA stores plus one in Broken Hill; independently owned; over 50% of Foodland brand range from SA manufacturers, the rest from other Australian makers
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Foodland (South Australia) ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/foodland-sa, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Foodland (South Australia).