Woolworths has confirmed it will once again sell Australia Day flags and paraphernalia after being accused of cancelling the national day last year.

The supermarket giant sparked outrage in 2024 when it announced it would not be selling themed products due to a decline in sales.

The backlash included Opposition Leader Peter Dutton calling for a boycott and eventually led to the resignation of CEO Brad Banducci.

This year, however, Woolworths has confirmed the Oz Day flags are back in store.

An array of merchandise will only be sold from online marketplace websites —  My Deal, BIG W Market and Everyday Market.

Taking it one step further, the Australian flags for sale will be made in this country — not China.

“We also now have Aussie-made flags available for sale in our stores — both Supermarkets and BIG W — while our online marketplaces have a range of Aussie-themed merchandise for customers to choose from,” said a Woolworths statement.

Woolies will allocate shelf space themed ‘Perfect for Australia Day’ with a range of food for celebrating.

“Our store team members are also welcome to celebrate the day in-store,” said the statement.

“We respect everyone’s choices in how they choose to spend the day.

“Our position is aligned with the theme for the day from the National Australia Day Council — reflect, respect and celebrate.”

Woolworths said it had listened after last year’s outrage and recognised that “many customers and teams wanted us to do more to help them celebrate the day”.

“We will be celebrating Australia Day as a team, and with our customers,” a Woolworths spokesman said.

“In our supermarkets we will do this through the lens of great Australian food that is perfect for the day.

“Big W will also showcase products perfect for family and friends coming together over the Australia Day long weekend.”

Woolworths staff copped abuse from customers after its decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise last year.

The retail giant was forced to take out full-page newspaper ads explaining its move.

“We aren’t trying to ‘cancel’ Australia Day. Rather Woolworths is deeply proud of our place in providing the fresh food that brings Australians together every day,” Woolies chief executive Brad Banducci wrote in the ad.

The move followed similar decisions by other big retailers, including Kmart, Big W and Aldi.

Woolies’ move prompted a backlash, and even calls for a boycott from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Banducci did the media rounds to explain the decision, reiterating that sales of Australia Day merchandise had fallen for several years and the space it took up on shelves had already begun to shrink.

He denied the big retailer had joined any campaign to “cancel” the public holiday.

“We are celebrating Australia and what it means to be Australian, with the way we can celebrate it best – which is with food,” Banducci said.

“We could have done a better job of explaining the decision. Clearly that’s true. I feel the weight on myself and the impact that this is having on our team.

“They are proud, hard-working Australians, and for them to be seen as anti-Australian or woke, is fundamentally unfair.”