Woolworths Group (Australia)

Woolworths Group Limited
Woolworths Limited (1924–2017)
Woolworths Group (2017–present)
Company typePublic
IndustryRetailing
Founded22 September 1924; 100 years ago (1924-09-22)
FoundersPercy Christmas
Stanley Chatterton
Cecil Scott Waine
George Creed
Ernest Williams
Headquarters,
Australia
Area served
Australia, New Zealand
Key people
Amanda Bardwell (CEO)
Scott Perkins (Chairman)
RevenueIncrease A$67.92 billion (2024)[1]
Decrease A$1.62 billion (2024)
Decrease A$117 million (2024)
Total assetsIncrease A$33.94 billion (2024)
Total equityDecrease A$5.57 billion (2024)
Number of employees
Increase 201,000 (2024)
DivisionsSupermarkets (Woolworths, Metro Woolworths NZ)
General Merchandise (Big W)

Marketplace (MyDeal, Everyday Market, Big W Market)
Finance and loyalty (Everyday Rewards, Woolworths Financial)

[2]
SubsidiariesList of subsidiaries
Websitewww.woolworthsgroup.com.au
Logo used until 2017

Woolworths Group Limited is an Australian multinational retail and finance company, primarily known for the operation of its retail chain Woolworths Supermarkets across Australia, Woolworths (previously known as Countdown) in New Zealand and its discount department store Big W. Headquartered in Bella Vista, Sydney, it is the largest company in Australia by revenue and number of employees, and the second-largest in New Zealand.[3]

Founded in Sydney in 1924 as variety retailer Woolworths Limited, the company entered the New Zealand market in 1929 and has traded in every Australian state and territory since 1960. Woolworths experienced steady growth throughout the 20th century and began to diversify its business, closing the last of its variety stores in the 1980s to focus on its portfolio of other retail brands. Since 2012, Woolworths has undergone significant consolidation, divesting its shopping centre, electronics retailing, home improvement, fuel retailing, liquor retailing and hospitality businesses to concentrate on supermarket retail.

Woolworths currently owns Woolworths Supermarkets, customer loyalty program Everyday Rewards and discount department store Big W in Australia and the Woolworths NZ, SuperValue and FreshChoice supermarkets in New Zealand.

  1. ^ "2024 annual report" (PDF). Woolworths Group. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Woolworths under fire from anti-poker machine groups for introducing gambling rewards card in pubs". ABC News. 17 September 2015.
  3. ^ NZPA (26 October 2007). "Commission: Red Shed takeover would create a 'pure duopoly'". Business story. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2006. Commerce Commission lawyer Stephen Kos told the court the market essentially consisted of a single acknowledged price leader and other price followers. 'The effect of the merger would be a creation of a pure duopoly.' ... Now Woolworths and Foodstuffs had roughly equal market shares, Kos said.