How to pass your Coles, Woolworths
or Aldi supplier audit
What each retailer asks for, the records auditors check first, and a plan that gets you ready without the last-minute scramble.
To supply Australia’s major supermarkets, most food manufacturers need a GFSI-recognised certification — usually SQF, BRCGS or FSSC 22000 — plus the retailer’s own requirements on top. Coles adds its Coles Supplier Requirements, Woolworths runs its Supplier Excellence program, and fresh produce suppliers add HARPS. Passing comes down to one thing: being able to show current, complete records for every requirement, on the day.
Retailer programs at a glance
The base is usually a GFSI certification. Each retailer then adds its own layer.
| Retailer | Program | How it works | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coles | Coles Supplier Requirements (CSR) | Food suppliers hold a GFSI-recognised certification (such as BRCGS, SQF or FSSC 22000) and are audited against the Coles addendum by an approved certifier. | Your GFSI records plus Coles-specific evidence, ready for the same audit. |
| Woolworths | Woolworths Supplier Excellence (WSE) | For own-brand and fresh food suppliers, by invitation. Suppliers are audited to GFSI or the Woolworths Base Standard, plus codes of practice and product specifications. WSE replaced the earlier WQA program. | Specification compliance and product records matter as much as the food safety system. |
| Aldi, Costco, Metcash / IGA | Retailer-specific supplier requirements | Generally expect a GFSI-recognised certification. Requirements vary by product category. | Confirm the exact standard with your buyer before you choose a scheme. |
| Fresh produce (all of the above) | HARPS | A bolt-on to a GFSI-benchmarked base scheme such as Freshcare, GLOBALG.A.P., SQF or BRCGS. Used by Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Costco and Metcash. | One extra audit layer, without duplicating what your base scheme already covers. |
Programs change. Always confirm current requirements with your buyer or certifier. Sources: SGS on Coles CSR, SGS on Woolworths WSE, Fresh Produce Safety Centre, Hort Innovation on HARPS.
The records auditors ask for first
Most findings aren’t about missing procedures. They’re about missing proof that the procedures ran.
CCP monitoring
Every reading against its critical limit, signed and dated, with any deviation linked to a corrective action.
Supplier approval
A current certificate for every approved supplier, and evidence you check them before they expire.
Corrective actions
Root cause, action taken, and verification that it worked — closed out, not just opened.
Traceability
A recent one-up, one-down trace test, completed within the time your scheme expects.
Allergen control
Allergen matrix, changeover validation, and label checks against current recipes.
Cleaning and sanitation
Schedules, sign-offs and verification such as swabs or visual checks.
Training
Induction and competency records for everyone on the floor, including casuals.
Internal audits and review
Your own internal audit schedule, findings, and management review minutes.
Your audit prep plan
A planning guide, not a rule. Start earlier for a first certification.
Confirm the standard and gap-check
Get the exact standard and version from your buyer or certifier. Walk the clauses and list every record you can’t produce today.
Fix the records, not just the procedures
Chase expired supplier certificates, close open corrective actions, and complete overdue verification such as calibration and trace tests.
Run a mock audit
Have someone who didn’t write the system audit it. Time how long each record takes to find.
Brief the team and organise evidence
Line up who answers what, and group your evidence by clause so nobody hunts through binders mid-audit.
Close findings on time
Respond to every non-conformance with root cause, action and evidence within the deadline your certifier sets.
Not sure where you stand?
The free assessment shows which records an auditor would question today.
Retailer audit guides
Each guide goes live as it’s published.
Supermarket supplier audits: common questions
What certification do I need to supply Coles or Woolworths?
What is HARPS?
What do supermarket auditors check first?
How long does it take to prepare for a supplier audit?
What happens if I get a non-conformance?
Walk into your next audit ready.
EthicalHub keeps every record a retailer auditor asks for in one place, and exports your audit pack in one click.