Coles Group Limited

Is Coles Group publicly traded?
Yes, Coles Group Limited trades on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol COL. The company became an independent public entity following its spin-off from Wesfarmers in November 2018. It is a constituent of the S&P/ASX 20 index.

Who owns Coles Group?
Coles Group is owned by its shareholders. The company has more than 400,000 shareholders, including institutional investors (such as BlackRock and Vanguard), Australian superannuation funds, and individual investors. No single shareholder has a controlling stake.

When was Coles Group founded?
The current corporate entity, Coles Group Limited, was created in 2018 when Wesfarmers spun off its supermarket and retail operations. The original Coles business was founded in 1914 by George Coles in Collingwood, Victoria.

What is Coles Group's annual revenue?
For FY2025 (52 weeks to 29 June 2025), Coles Group reported total sales revenue of AUD 44,352 million, up 1.8% from AUD 43,571 million in FY2024. On a normalised 52-week basis, sales growth was 3.6%.

How many stores does Coles Group operate?
As of 29 June 2025, Coles Group operates 862 supermarkets and 998 liquor stores across Australia. The liquor stores operate under the Liquorland, First Choice Liquor, and Vintage Cellars brands.

How many people does Coles Group employ?
Coles Group employs more than 115,000 team members across its supermarket, liquor, and corporate operations. The company is one of Australia's largest private sector employers.

Who is the CEO of Coles Group?
Leah Weckert serves as Chief Executive Officer of Coles Group. She leads the company's executive team from its headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria.

What is Coles Group's market share?
Coles Group holds approximately 27-28% of the Australian grocery market. Its primary competitor, Woolworths, holds approximately 37-38%. Aldi holds approximately 12%, with the remainder held by independent retailers and Costco.

Does Coles Group pay dividends?
Yes, Coles Group pays fully franked dividends. For FY2025, the company declared total dividends of 69.0 cents per share, returning more than AUD 925 million to shareholders. The final dividend was 32.0 cents per share.

The Coles business traces its heritage to 1914, when George Coles opened the first Coles Variety Store in Smith Street, Collingwood, Victoria. The business expanded throughout Australia over the following decades, becoming one of the country's most recognized retail brands.

Coles entered the supermarket business in 1960 with the opening of its first supermarket in Balwyn, Victoria. The company expanded rapidly through the 1960s and 1970s, acquiring and opening stores across Australia. In 1985, Coles acquired Myer, creating Coles Myer Limited, one of Australia's largest retail groups.

In 2007, Wesfarmers acquired Coles Group for approximately AUD 20 billion, at a time when Coles was underperforming relative to Woolworths. Wesfarmers invested significantly in improving Coles' store formats, supply chain, and private label offerings. Under Wesfarmers ownership, Coles regained market share and improved its competitive position.

In November 2018, Wesfarmers spun off Coles Group as an independent publicly traded company on the ASX. The spin-off allowed Coles to focus exclusively on grocery and liquor retail, while Wesfarmers retained its other businesses including Bunnings, Kmart, and Officeworks. At the time of the spin-off, Coles Group was valued at approximately AUD 16 billion.

Since becoming independent, Coles has invested in digital capabilities, supply chain automation, private label expansion, and sustainability initiatives. The company has navigated competitive pressures from Aldi and Costco, changing consumer preferences, and the disruption of COVID-19.

In 2023, Coles sold its Coles Express fuel and convenience business to Viva Energy Group for approximately AUD 300 million, while retaining a Product Supply Arrangement that allows Coles to continue selling fuel and convenience products through the sites. The Other segment, which includes the PSA, reported revenue of AUD 698 million in FY2025.

In FY2025, Coles opened two new automated distribution centers as part of its supply chain transformation. The company also achieved its highest ever team member engagement score, reflecting five years of consecutive improvement.

Coles Group has committed to science-based emissions reduction targets. The company's climate targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Coles is not a Certified B Corporation.

In FY2025, Coles reported progress on its sustainability strategy, which focuses on reducing emissions, minimizing waste, and sourcing responsibly. The company has invested in renewable energy, with solar installations on supermarket rooftops and power purchase agreements for renewable electricity.

Food waste reduction is a key priority. Coles partners with food rescue organizations including SecondBite and Foodbank to divert edible food from landfill. In FY2025, the company donated millions of meals to food rescue organizations. The company has also implemented food waste diversion programs for non-edible food, including composting and anaerobic digestion.

Packaging sustainability targets include reducing virgin plastic use and increasing recycled content in private label packaging. Coles has phased out single-use plastic shopping bags and is working toward making all private label packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable.

On animal welfare, Coles has committed to cage-free eggs for its private label range and has sourcing policies for pork, chicken, and beef. The company reports annually on its sustainability performance through its sustainability report, which aligns with GRI standards.

Coles' workforce of more than 115,000 team members is predominantly employed under enterprise agreements negotiated with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA). The company achieved its highest ever team member engagement score in FY2025, placing it in the top quartile of companies.

Coles Group and its brands have received recognition from multiple organizations:

• Australian Retailers Association Awards: Recognition for retail innovation and customer experience
• Supply Chain Awards: Recognition for the automated distribution center transformation
• Sustainability Awards: Recognition for food waste reduction and packaging sustainability initiatives
• Employer Awards: Recognition for workplace diversity and inclusion programs
• Customer Experience Awards: Recognition for the flybuys loyalty program and Coles Online platform

Coles Group operates under significant regulatory and public scrutiny as one of Australia's largest retailers:

Market Concentration: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has scrutinized the market dominance of Coles and Woolworths. In 2024-2025, the ACCC conducted a major inquiry into supermarket pricing practices and competition, examining whether the duopoly structure harms consumers and suppliers. The inquiry focused on whether retailers passed through cost savings to consumers and whether supplier relationships were fair.

Supplier Relations: Coles has faced criticism from suppliers regarding trading terms, category management fees, and the balance of power in retailer-supplier negotiations. The Australian Food and Grocery Council has raised concerns about the impact of retailer power on food manufacturers. The Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, which Coles has signed, governs retailer-supplier relationships.

Pricing Practices: Coles has faced regulatory action regarding pricing practices. In 2015, the ACCC fined Coles AUD 10 million for unconscionable conduct toward suppliers. The company has also faced scrutiny over "was/now" pricing representations and unit pricing compliance.

Labor Practices: As a major employer, Coles faces scrutiny regarding wages, conditions, and casual employment practices. The company has been involved in enterprise agreement negotiations and legal proceedings regarding penalty rates and overtime. In 2016, the Fair Work Commission terminated an old Coles enterprise agreement after a challenge from the SDA, leading to new negotiations.

Tobacco Sales: Coles faces ongoing scrutiny regarding the sale of tobacco products. While tobacco sales are declining, the company continues to sell cigarettes and tobacco, which conflicts with its health and wellness positioning. Regulatory restrictions on tobacco display and sales have increased.

Environmental Impact: As a large retailer, Coles' environmental footprint includes packaging waste, food waste, and energy consumption. The company has been criticized for plastic packaging use, though it has committed to reduction targets. The shift away from single-use plastic bags in 2018 generated both praise and customer frustration.

Data Privacy: Coles' flybuys loyalty program collects significant customer data. The company must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles regarding data collection, use, and sharing.