FoodWorks
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources
Independently owned supermarket network run by Australian United Retailers.
There's no proof FoodWorks pays more than the legal minimum, which in Thailand is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- 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
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in Thailand, India and Vietnam.
- 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 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
These are Australian United Retailers' countries across all its brands; FoodWorks doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where own-brand and fresh food is usually grown or made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 55% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Vietnam | Not given | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Egypt | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Philippines | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | Not given | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| United States | Not given | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | 4% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| New ZealandUsual for the industry | 1% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| ItalyUsual for the industry | 1% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
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.
- Modern slavery statement
- Requires Fair Farms certification or ethical audits of the Australian farms and meatworks that supply its fruit, vegetables and meat
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- It requires ethical audits or Fair Farms certification of its Australian suppliers, but doesn't publish what the checks find and what workers were repaid, so it can't show that farm and labour hire workers get what they're owed.
Research notes FoodWorks stores are independently owned and supplied by Metcash, whose FY25 modern slavery statement names the FoodWorks network. Metcash says it sources food from Australia, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia and the US, with no split for FoodWorks, audits about 340 private label food sites (SMETA) and checks 30 key fresh suppliers. No FoodWorks or AUR statement of its own, supplier list or labour-standards findings were found.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Metcash's joint FY25 modern slavery statement names Australian United Retailers as the operator of the FoodWorks network that Metcash Food supplies; independent retailers are outside its scope. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- FoodWorks (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Independent supermarket group owned by Australian United Retailers, supplied by Metcash; not rated
Published by FoodWorks or its owner
- Metcash FY25 Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Names Australian United Retailers' FoodWorks network as supplied by Metcash Food; private label sourcing countries; 161 SMETA audits at about 340 food sites; independent retailers outside scope
- FoodWorks Supermarkets · search the archive · Official FoodWorks site, linking to Australian United Retailers (AUR)
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is FoodWorks ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/foodworks, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Other supermarkets brands
Nothing we've rated in supermarkets is better than Lacks transparency yet.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent FoodWorks.