Woolworths discontinues 99c foldable bag, replaces it with 'Fruit Foldies'

Woolworths has quietly pulled a popular 99-cent foldable shopping bag from sale, prompting disappointment among shoppers who had come to rely on the low-cost, compact item.

Customers first noticed the change after the product disappeared from both store shelves and the supermarket's online listings. The missing item, a cult favourite for its small price and convenience, was flagged by a shopper online and reported in national media outlets, which said the old bag will not be returning.

Woolworths has listed a replacement product online under the name Woolworths Foldable Bag Assorted, commonly referred to by customers as the 'Fruit Foldies'. A Woolworths spokesperson said the new design "is designed to be more spacious and functional with a wider opening and handles which allow them to be carried comfortably over the shoulder." The supermarket did not supply further detail on pricing or the decision to discontinue the previous foldable bag.

Social media posts and online comments reflected frustration from some shoppers who valued the old bag's low price and compact form. Others noted the larger size and shoulder straps of the new design as a functional improvement for carrying produce and heavier items.

The discontinued item was widely sold at 99 cents and had become a routine purchase for customers seeking a cheap, foldable reuse option for shopping trips. Retailers periodically refresh private-label ranges and product lines; changes to long-standing, low-cost staples can prompt rapid customer reaction when replacements differ in size, features or price.

Woolworths has been rolling out a range of own-brand bag designs in recent months as part of broader merchandising updates. Retail analysts say changes to everyday convenience items can have an outsized effect on customer sentiment because they touch frequent, low-cost purchases.

Woolworths did not provide sales figures for either the discontinued bag or the new Foldable Bag Assorted when asked. The company has encouraged customers to provide feedback through its usual customer channels.

For shoppers seeking alternatives, other retailers and online marketplaces continue to offer a variety of foldable and reusable bag designs at a range of price points. Woolworths' replacement announcement and customer response underline the sensitivity around changes to familiar, inexpensive grocery accessories that form part of routine shopping habits.