A Countdown staff member, who did not want to be named, said business on Sunday was "absolutely dead".
"But at least the place is spotless."
As far as the staff member was aware, there had been no official correspondence from management to staff about the rat problem.
"Staff morale is pretty good considering what has happened."
His comments come after the company confirmed a photo of a rat in the supermarket deli at Dunedin South Countdown, in Andersons Bay Rd, was taken in November 2023.
Last week, staff contacted the Otago Daily Times about rats running rampant at the supermarket.
Several photos documenting rat activity in the store were alleged to have been taken.
There have also been reports from staff and customers about rat infestations at the store, staff telling the newspaper they had warned management about the issue months ago.
The complaints triggered a Ministry for Primary Industries investigation, which wrapped up yesterday.
New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said the team visited the store at the weekend as part of the ongoing monitoring of Woolworths’ actions.
Actions have included: regular store cleaning and further deep cleaning, additional bait stations, daily visits by a pest control contractor and increased staff monitoring of any pest activity, Mr Arbuckle said.
"We concluded that the problem is being managed appropriately by the store, Woolworths New Zealand and pest control company Rentokil.
"The company is subject to routine checks by independent verifiers. We have required the verifier to keep an active watch on the store’s pest management."
If the MPI found evidence of immediate risk to food safety, it would take action, including recalls where appropriate.
The ODT asked Woolworths New Zealand for a copy of its pest management strategy.
It declined to release this.
"We are experienced in managing the risk of pests and assure our customers that no food affected by pests would be put on or left on shelves," a spokeswoman said.
"We have comprehensive pest management plans in place in all of our stores, including Dunedin South Countdown.
"We work closely with our specialist pest control contractors to address pest issues as they arise, and our contractors also work proactively to prevent pests emerging in the first place."
First Union organiser Angus Wilson said he was encouraged by the MPI’s findings but concerned the company had not addressed the issues sooner.
"It sounds like management is now taking the right steps, but it does seem like they should have kept staff in the loop much earlier than they did.
"If the management had been more open with staff, maybe staff would not have felt the need to go to the media, and maybe the issue would never have got to this stage."
The union would keep a close eye on the situation, he said.
