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Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd, doing business as Coles, is an Australian supermarket, retail, and consumer services chain. Coles was founded in 1914 in the suburb of Collingwood by Sir George Coles. As of August 2025, there are 861 Coles Supermarket locations in Australia. New South Wales has the highest number of stores, with 255 locations, followed by Victoria and Queensland. In 1973, Coles had established stores in all Australian capital cities, and as of 2024, there were 857 Coles grocery stores in operation across Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Coles Supermarkets in Western Australia | Unknown, but there are 846-861 supermarkets throughout Australia, including some in Western Australia |
| Number of Coles Group stores in Australia | 1,857 as of August 5, 2025 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne |
| Year founded | 1914 |
| Founder | Sir George Coles |
| Number of employees | 120,000 |
| Market share | 27% of the Australian market |
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What You'll Learn
Coles Supermarkets in Western Australia were previously Bi-Lo stores
Coles Supermarkets is the second-largest supermarket chain in Australia, with 846 stores across the country. It was founded in 1914 by George Coles, who opened the "'Coles Variety Store' in Smith Street, Melbourne. Over the years, Coles has expanded and rebranded, and today it operates under various formats, including Coles Local, small-format grocery stores, and Liquorland, a liquor chain with some outlets attached to Coles supermarkets.
In Western Australia, Coles Supermarkets have a strong presence and a unique history. Many of the Coles stores in this state were previously Bi-Lo supermarkets. Bi-Lo was a discount supermarket chain that operated in Western Australia under the name Newmart. In 1996, Bi-Lo acquired Newmart, which had 18 stores in Perth and offered discount groceries, bulk foods, fresh produce, meat, and delicatessen sections. The acquisition allowed Bi-Lo to expand its presence in Western Australia, and it continued to open new stores and complete refurbishments under the Newmart name until the early 2000s.
In 2006, Coles Myer, the parent company of Coles Supermarkets at the time, announced a strategy to progressively rebrand Bi-Lo stores under the Coles banner. This decision was made to create a unified brand presence and streamline operations. The rebranding process began in 2006, with the expectation that it would be completed by mid-2007. During this transition period, some Newmart stores co-located with Coles were sold to Foodland and rebranded as Action Supermarkets.
By 2007, Wesfarmers had purchased the Coles Group and continued the rebranding efforts. The last Newmart stores in Western Australia to open before the full conversion to Coles were at Garden City, Booragoon, and Ocean Keys, Clarkson, in 2000 and 2001, respectively. These stores, along with others, became Action Supermarkets outlets and eventually Woolworths outlets. The process of rebranding Bi-Lo stores as Coles Supermarkets in Western Australia was completed by 2008, with the new Coles stores retaining some Bi-Lo product lines.
Today, the former Bi-Lo stores in Western Australia have been fully integrated into the Coles Supermarkets brand, offering the same products and services as other Coles locations across the country. This transformation reflects the dynamic nature of the Australian retail landscape and Coles' strategy to consolidate its market presence.
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Coles has 846 supermarkets across Australia
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd, doing business as Coles, is an Australian supermarket, retail, and consumer services chain. It was founded in 1914 in the suburb of Collingwood by Sir George Coles. The company currently operates 846 supermarkets throughout Australia, including several now-rebranded Bi-Lo stores.
Coles is the second-largest supermarket chain in Australia, with stores in all Australian capital cities. It has over 120,000 employees and accounts for around 27% of the Australian market.
As of October 2024, New South Wales was home to the highest number of Coles supermarkets, with 253 stores, closely followed by Victoria. In total, 857 Coles grocery stores were in operation across Australia, with the company's supermarkets segment generating the highest revenue across all segments, followed by liquor.
As of August 2025, there were 861 Coles Supermarkets locations in Australia, with New South Wales still having the highest number of locations at 255. Coles Group, of which Coles Supermarkets is a part, had 1,857 stores in Australia as of the same date.
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Coles is the second-largest supermarket chain in Australia
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd, or Coles, is the second-largest supermarket chain in Australia. It was founded in 1914 by George Coles, who opened the "Coles Variety Store" in Smith Street, Collingwood, Melbourne. The company has grown significantly since its early days as a variety store, and now operates 846 supermarkets across Australia, including rebranded Bi-Lo stores.
Coles has a strong presence in Western Australia, where it has expanded through the acquisition of other supermarket chains. In 2006, many Bi-Lo supermarkets in Western Australia were rebranded as Coles supermarkets. Bi-Lo had previously traded as Newmart in the state until 2001. This expansion allowed Coles to increase its market share and compete with other major supermarket chains in the region.
Coles has a diverse range of private label brands, including "Coles," a mid-price line designed to match established branded products, "Coles Finest," a premium brand offering gourmet foods, and "Coles Green Choice," an environmentally-conscious household product line. The company also operates Liquorland, a liquor chain with some outlets attached to Coles supermarkets, and Vintage Cellars, which specialises in fine wines and premium liquor.
In recent years, Coles has shown its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. It actively supported the Yes case for the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. Additionally, the company deployed its first electric truck in April 2022 and introduced fully electric delivery vans in August 2023. With over 120,000 employees and a market share of around 27%, Coles is a significant player in the Australian supermarket landscape.
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Coles' headquarters are in Melbourne
Coles Supermarkets Australia, headquartered in Melbourne, currently operates 846 supermarkets across Australia, including Western Australia. The company was founded in 1914 by George Coles, who opened the "Coles Variety Store" in the suburb of Collingwood, Melbourne. The company's headquarters are located in the city's Docklands area, in a 30,000-square-metre space in the Cbus Property-owned 720 Bourke Street building. This move from the suburban location in Hawthorn East, Melbourne, was intended to boost the CBD's traditional role as a workplace.
Coles has a strong presence in Western Australia, with an extensive network of stores. While the exact number of Coles stores in Western Australia is unclear, the company's reach extends across the state. As of August 2025, there are 861 Coles Supermarket locations in all of Australia, making it the second-largest supermarket chain in the country.
Coles has undergone several rebrandings over the years. Initially known as "Coles Variety Store," the supermarkets were branded as "Coles New World" in 1962, adopting a Space Age theme. By 1973, Coles had established a presence in all Australian capital cities. In 1991, the stores were renamed "Coles Supermarkets," and in 1998, the name was simplified to just "Coles."
Coles has a significant market share in Australia, accounting for around 27% of the market. With over 120,000 employees, the company has a strong presence in the Australian retail and consumer services industry. The success of Coles can be attributed to its ability to adapt to changing market demands and trends, as evidenced by its history of rebranding and acquisitions.
The headquarters of Coles in Melbourne serves as a central command for the company's operations across Australia, including Western Australia. The Melbourne headquarters plays a crucial role in strategic decision-making, supply chain management, and coordinating the company's various divisions, such as the liquor division and the online shopping service, "Coles Online."
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Coles was founded in 1914 by George Coles
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd, also known as Coles, is an Australian supermarket, retail, and consumer services chain. It was founded in 1914 by George Coles, who opened the "'Coles Variety Store' on Smith Street in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood. George learned about the retail trade while working for his father's 'Coles Store' business from 1910 to 1913.
Coles was initially run by members of the Coles family, including the "famous five knights": brothers Sir George, Sir Arthur, Sir Edgar, Sir Kenneth, and Sir Norman. They were known by their initials: GJ, AW, EB, KF, and NC. Under their leadership, the company expanded, and by 1960, the first Coles supermarket was opened in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn North. This supermarket traded under the Dickins name and continues to operate today in a modernised version.
In the early 1960s, Coles supermarkets were branded as "Coles New World" and featured Space Age-themed imagery. By 1973, the company had established stores in all Australian capital cities. This expansion into new cities was accompanied by a shift in leadership. In 1975, Sir Thomas North was appointed as the first Managing Director of Coles who was not a member of the Coles family.
Over the years, Coles has undergone various changes and expansions. Between 1986 and 2006, Coles Supermarkets were a part of the Coles Myer brand, and in 2007, the company was acquired by Wesfarmers. In 2018, Wesfarmers spun off the business, and Coles once again became an independent public company. As of 2025, there are 846 to 861 Coles supermarkets throughout Australia, including rebranded Bi-Lo stores, with over 120,000 employees.
Coles has a significant presence in Western Australia, although the exact number of stores in this state is not specified. The company has expanded its reach in Western Australia by acquiring and rebranding other supermarket chains. For example, in the early 2000s, Newmart supermarkets, under which Bi-Lo traded in Western Australia, were badged as Coles Supermarkets. Additionally, Bi-Lo itself was acquired by Coles in 1987 and gradually rebranded to Coles from 2007 onwards.
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Frequently asked questions
As of August 2025, there are 1,857 Coles Group stores in Australia. However, the number of stores in Western Australia specifically is unclear.
As of August 2025, there are 861 Coles Supermarket locations in Australia.
Coles is an Australian supermarket, retail, and consumer services chain. It was founded in 1914 in Collingwood, Melbourne, by Sir George Coles.
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