Woolworths Group Limited

What does Woolworths Group own?
Woolworths Group owns Woolworths Supermarkets (Australia's largest supermarket chain), Woolworths New Zealand (formerly Countdown), and Big W (general merchandise). The company demerged Endeavour Group (Dan Murphy's, BWS, hotels) in 2021. Woolworths also operates the Everyday Rewards loyalty program and a range of private label brands.

Is Woolworths Group publicly traded?
Yes, Woolworths Group Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under ticker WOW. The company has been publicly listed since 1924. Woolworths has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no single controlling shareholder.

Who founded Woolworths?
Woolworths was founded in 1924 when the first store opened in the Imperial Arcade in Sydney, New South Wales. The founding team included Percy Christmas, Stanley Chatterton, Cecil Scott Waine, and Ernest Williams. The store was modelled on the American Woolworth's variety store concept, though the Australian company had no formal connection to the US chain.

Where is Woolworths Group headquartered?
Woolworths Group is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company was originally founded in Sydney, New South Wales, and has maintained significant operations in both cities. Woolworths operates stores across every Australian state and territory, as well as in New Zealand.

How many stores does Woolworths operate?
Woolworths operates more than 1,000 Woolworths Supermarket stores across Australia, plus stores in New Zealand, and approximately 170 Big W stores. The company employs approximately 200,000 people across its businesses.

Who owns Woolworths Group?
Woolworths Group Limited is publicly traded on the ASX with a broad institutional and retail shareholder base. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. Amanda Bardwell serves as Managing Director and CEO and Scott Perkins chairs the board.

Woolworths was founded in 1924 when the first Woolworths store opened in the Imperial Arcade in Sydney, New South Wales. The founding team included Percy Christmas, Stanley Chatterton, Cecil Scott Waine, and Ernest Williams. The store was modelled on the American Woolworth's variety store concept, though the Australian company had no formal connection to the US chain.

Woolworths expanded rapidly through the 1930s and 1940s, establishing stores across New South Wales and other states. The company listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange in 1924 and grew to become one of Australia's largest retailers.

The company diversified into supermarkets in the 1960s and 1970s, eventually making grocery retail its core business. Woolworths acquired the Safeway supermarket chain in Victoria in 1985, operating those stores under the Safeway name until rebranding them as Woolworths in 2008.

Woolworths acquired Dan Murphy's, the liquor destination retailer, in 1998, and BWS (Beer, Wine, Spirits) in 2001, establishing a dominant position in Australian liquor retail. The company also operated a large hotels and gaming business, which was demerged as ALH Group and subsequently sold to Bruce Mathieson Group.

In 2012, Woolworths acquired a 50% stake in the Masters Home Improvement chain, attempting to compete with Bunnings in the home improvement market. The venture was unsuccessful and Woolworths exited Masters in 2016, writing off approximately A$3 billion.

Woolworths demerged its Endeavour Group (Dan Murphy's, BWS, and hotels) as an independent listed company in June 2021, retaining a significant but declining stake. The demerger allowed both companies to focus on their respective businesses.

For fiscal year 2025, Woolworths reported revenue of approximately A$67 billion. The company has faced significant public and political scrutiny over supermarket pricing practices, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and a Senate inquiry examining allegations of price gouging during the cost-of-living crisis.

Woolworths has faced significant public and political scrutiny over supermarket pricing practices during the 2023 to 2025 cost-of-living crisis. The Australian Senate conducted an inquiry into supermarket pricing, and the ACCC launched an investigation into pricing practices at Woolworths and Coles. Former CEO Brad Banducci's conduct during a Senate hearing, where he initially refused to answer questions about profit margins, generated significant negative media coverage and contributed to his departure.

The company's Masters Home Improvement venture (2012 to 2016) resulted in approximately A$3 billion in losses and write-offs, representing one of the largest retail failures in Australian corporate history.

Woolworths has also faced criticism regarding its treatment of suppliers, with allegations that the company used its market power to extract unfavorable terms from smaller suppliers.