Former Woolworths boss Brad Banducci has admitted he avoided leaving his home for a year after his controversial Four Corners interview sparked nationwide outrage over supermarket price hikes during the Covid pandemic. 

In his first interview since stepping down as Woolworths CEO in September 2024, Mr Banducci told Joe Aston on his Rampart podcast on Sunday that the ABC interview wasn't his 'finest moment'. 

The now-infamous segment, where Mr Banducci appeared dressed as a store assistant, became one of 2024's most talked-about media moments, fuelling a national debate on supermarket price gouging.   

Reporter Angus Grigg put it to Mr Banducci that Rod Sims, former head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, had described Australia as having one of the most concentrated supermarket industries in the world.

Mr Banducci replied 'that's not true' and attempted to argue the industry was in fact 'an incredibly competitive market'.

He also pointed out that Mr Sims is 'retired'.

When Grigg asked the Woolworths boss if he was 'impugning' Mr Sims' integrity, Mr Banducci asked: 'Can we take that out? Is that OK?'

Grigg then said: 'We're on the record, you've said it. Let's just move on.'

Brad Banducci (pictured) speaking to Rampart's Joe Aston about his time as Woolworths CEO

Seconds later, Mr Banducci said, 'I think I'm done guys,' and walked out of the room.

The ABC aired the original footage anyway, cementing its place as a defining flashpoint in the debate over supermarket price gouging. 

Days after the program aired, Mr Banducci announced his departure from the supermarket retailer. 

'There was a series of things that happened that we weren't made aware of. And if I pulled out the ABC Editorial Code, I would question whether Four Corners lived the code that the ABC publishes as their manifesto of how they want to treat people,' Mr Banducci said.

'I was told we could stop. Whatever, it doesn't matter. I own it. It's not my finest hour. 

'I could have done a better job of representing Woolworths. I shouldn't have done it at seven o'clock in the morning in Parramatta on the Friday before the Australia Day long weekend. I was really tired.' 

Mr Banducci said: 'Technically, I didn't walk out.'

'I was allowed to stop it, and I stopped it to speak to our team,' he said, adding that he phoned Sims afterwards to apologise.

Woolworths boss Brad Banducci (pictured) asked 'Can we take that out? Is that OK?', then seconds later said 'I think I'm done guys,' and then walked out of the interview

Mr Banducci's final year at the helm of Woolworths was overshadowed by controversy, with public backlash effectively killing his social life. 

'I didn't go out for a year,' he said.

'I never went to a party because I felt if I went to one party, I would (then also) need to go to someone else's.