Woolworths Group (Australia)
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]
This article is about the Australian retail holding company. For its Australian supermarket chain, see Woolworths Supermarkets.
Woolworths Limited (1924–2017)
Woolworths Group (2017–present)
- ASX: WOW
- S&P/ASX 200 component
22 September 1924
Percy Christmas
Stanley Chatterton
Cecil Scott Waine
George Creed
Ernest Williams
Australia, New Zealand
Gordon Cairns (Chairman)
Bradford Banducci (CEO)
Annette Karantoni
(Chief Supply Officer)
Amanda Bardwell (New CEO, Sept 24)
A$3.19 billion (2020)
A$1.602 billion (2020)
215,000 (2020)
Supermarkets (Woolworths, Metro Woolworths NZ)
General Merchandise (Big W)
Marketplace (MyDeal, Everyday Market, Big W Market)
Finance and loyalty (Everyday Rewards, Woolworths Financial)
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.