Ruqayyah Snyder
Coles Group Limited and Woolworths Group Limited are two of the largest companies in Australia by revenue and number of employees. Coles was founded in 1914 by George Coles in Victoria, Australia, and Woolworths was founded in 1924 by five Australian entrepreneurs in Sydney, Australia. Both companies have grown significantly over the years and have expanded their operations beyond supermarkets into other retail brands, including liquor outlets and discount department stores. They have also been involved in legal issues, such as investigations into price gouging and unethical practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Woolworths Group is Australian-owned and publicly traded. Coles Group is also Australian-owned and publicly traded. |
| Founding | Woolworths was founded in Sydney in 1924. Coles was founded in Collingwood, Victoria in 1914. |
| Business Type | Woolworths Group is a retail and finance company. Coles Group is a retail chain. |
| Operations | Woolworths Group operates supermarkets, department stores, and other retail brands. Coles Group operates supermarkets, liquor outlets, and other retail chains. |
| Market Share | Woolworths Group held a market share of 35-37% in 2023, while Coles Group held a market share of around 25-28%. |
| Locations | Woolworths Group has 1,125 supermarket locations across Australia as of 2025. Coles Group has a presence in every state and territory in Australia. |
| Diversification | Woolworths Group has diversified into petrol retailing, hospitality, and other businesses. Coles Group has diversified into liquor retailing, fuel operations, and other areas. |
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What You'll Learn
Woolworths Group is an Australian company
Woolworths Group is an Australian multinational retail and finance company, 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. Woolworths Group was founded in Sydney in 1924 as a variety retailer and has traded in every Australian state and territory since 1960.
The company has a diverse range of retail brands under its umbrella, including well-known names such as Woolworths Supermarkets, Big W, and Countdown. Woolworths Group has a strong presence in the grocery retail market, holding the largest share in Australia in the 2023 financial year, at 37%.
Woolworths Group has a long history of expansion and diversification. It entered the New Zealand market in 1929 and has since expanded its portfolio to include hotels, petrol stations, liquor retailing, and consumer electronics. The company has also established joint ventures, such as Woolworths Ezy Banking with the Commonwealth Bank in 1999 and an acquisition of a majority stake in the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group in 2004.
Woolworths Group is committed to creating better experiences for its customers, communities, and employees. The company has initiatives such as the Group Refugee Employment Program, which has welcomed over 290 refugees into its teams. Woolworths Group also supports various appeals, such as the RSL's ANZAC Appeal, raising funds for veterans and their families.
With its strong Australian roots, diverse brands, and focus on community and employee initiatives, Woolworths Group plays a significant role in the Australian retail landscape.
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Coles Group is an Australian public company
Coles Group Limited is an Australian public company that operates several retail chains. It was founded in 1914 by George Coles, who opened the first "Coles Variety Store" in Collingwood, Victoria. Over the years, Coles has expanded its operations and diversified its offerings, becoming the second-largest retailer in Australia after its main rival, Woolworths.
Coles Group's primary business is the sale of food and groceries through its flagship supermarket chain, Coles Supermarkets. It also has a significant presence in the liquor market through its Coles Liquor outlets, including Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, and First Choice Liquor. Additionally, Coles Group has expanded into other areas such as retail fuel operations with Coles Express, and it owns a 50% stake in Queensland Venue Co.
Coles Group has a strong history in Australia, with the Coles family running the business from its founding in 1914 until the mid-1970s. In 1986, Coles merged with Myer, forming "Coles Myer Limited." This merger created the largest Australian corporation at the time. In 2007, Wesfarmers acquired Coles Group, and in 2018, it was spun off once again as an independent public company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Coles Group plays a significant role in Australia's grocery retail market, competing closely with Woolworths. In the 2023 financial year, Coles Group held a market share of over 25%, just behind Woolworths' 37%. Both companies have a strong presence across Australia, with Woolworths having 1,125 supermarket locations as of April 2025 and Coles Group continuing to expand its reach.
The competition between Coles Group and Woolworths has driven innovation and diversification in the Australian grocery retail market. Both companies have expanded into related industries, such as liquor retailing and fuel retailing, to enhance their market positions. Their rivalry has also led to a focus on providing value to Australian shoppers, with both companies offering deals and specials to attract customers amid rising grocery costs and increasing price inflation.
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Woolworths' expansion into New Zealand
Woolworths Group, founded in Sydney in 1924, is an Australian-owned company. It entered the New Zealand market in 1929, with its first store on Cuba Street, Wellington. The company expanded into a chain of stores, initially selling general merchandise.
In 1963, Woolworths formed a joint venture with Milne & Choyce and Farmers Trading Company to establish New Zealand's first shopping mall in New Lynn, Auckland. Woolworths opened its first supermarket in Hastings in 1965. By 2002, Woolworths New Zealand consisted of 83 supermarkets, including the Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper chains. It was the country's third-largest supermarket group, with a market share of about 20%.
In 2005, Woolworths re-entered the New Zealand market by purchasing Progressive Enterprises, which owned supermarket brands including Countdown, giving Woolworths a 45% share of the New Zealand grocery sector. In 2006, Woolworths began operating fuel discount vouchers for Z Energy and Gull New Zealand. By 2008, it had 61 full-format stores and 18 mini-supermarkets at Gull New Zealand petrol stations.
In 2009, it was announced that most Woolworths stores in New Zealand would be rebranded as Countdown over a five-year period. By 2011, the Woolworths brand had ceased to exist in the South Island, and all but one store in the North Island had been rebranded as Countdown. In 2023, it was announced that all Countdown stores would revert to the Woolworths brand as part of a $400 million transformation, with the rebranding expected to be completed in early 2024.
In 2024, thousands of Woolworths supermarket workers in New Zealand went on strike to demand better wages and working conditions. Woolworths subsequently signed a new collective bargaining agreement with First Union, giving union-affiliated employees a 6.8% pay rise over a two-year period.
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Coles' shareholder discount card abolished
Coles Group Limited is an Australian public company that operates several retail chains. Its primary operations are concerned with the sale of food and groceries through its flagship supermarket chain Coles Supermarkets, and the sale of liquor through its Coles Liquor outlets. Coles was founded in 1914 and has since become the second-largest retailer in Australia after its principal rival, Woolworths, in terms of revenue.
In 1985, Myer Emporium Ltd and GJ Coles & Coy Ltd merged, becoming the largest Australian corporation at the time. The official name change to "Coles Myer Limited" followed in 1986.
In 2001, John Fletcher was appointed chief executive of Coles Myer. Fletcher abolished the shareholder discount card, citing that it had eroded margins while providing little benefit and was unpopular with institutional investors. The card, which was introduced in the early 1990s, had induced a tenfold increase in the number of Coles Myer's shareholders, with most owning small parcels of shares.
Since the abolition of the shareholder discount card, Coles has introduced other membership and loyalty programs such as Coles Plus Saver and Coles Plus, which offer members benefits like 10% off one Coles shop every calendar month (up to $50 off) and free 90-minute rapid delivery.
Today, Coles continues to be a major player in the Australian grocery market, competing with Woolworths for the largest share.
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Woolworths' acquisition of PFD Food Services
Coles and Woolworths are two of the largest supermarket retailers in Australia. Woolworths Group was founded in Sydney in 1924 and has traded in every Australian state and territory since 1960. The company has since expanded into New Zealand and owns Woolworths NZ, SuperValue, and FreshChoice supermarkets.
In August 2020, Woolworths announced a deal to purchase a majority stake in PFD Food Services, a privately owned wholesale food distribution business in Australia. The A$552 million deal included a 65% stake in the company and the entirety of PFD's property portfolio. Woolworths aimed to expand into the business-to-business wholesale market through this acquisition.
PFD Food Services supplies and delivers a wide range of fresh, frozen, and dry goods to various business customers across Australia. Its customers include quick-service restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, petrol stations, convenience stores, bakeries, airlines, and institutions.
The acquisition of PFD Food Services by Woolworths raised concerns about its potential impact on competition in the market. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) conducted a review and considered the acquisition's effect on various markets, including the acquisition of food products from manufacturers and suppliers. The ACCC concluded that the acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any market, including the wholesale supply and distribution of food products. The ACCC noted that the wholesale food distribution channel was less concentrated than the supermarkets channel and that PFD faced competition from other national distributors and smaller privately owned businesses. Additionally, non-price aspects such as relationships, level of service, and product range were considered important in this market, allowing PFD's competitors to differentiate themselves.
While Woolworths' acquisition of PFD Food Services sparked debates, with some independents expressing concerns, the ACCC's review and subsequent approval allowed the deal to proceed without opposition.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Coles and Woolworths are Australian-owned companies. Coles Group Limited is an Australian public company, founded in 1914 in Collingwood, Victoria. Woolworths Group Limited is an Australian multinational retail and finance company, founded in 1924 in Sydney.
As of 2023, Woolworths is Australia's largest supermarket chain with a market share of 32.5%. Coles is the second-largest retailer in Australia, with a market share of around 27%. Together, they control over two-thirds of the market share.
Both Coles and Woolworths have faced scrutiny for their alleged collaboration in price gouging and the use of heavy-handed tactics with suppliers. In 2019, Woolworths admitted to underpaying 5,700 employees by up to 300 million dollars from 2010 to 2019. Additionally, in 2020, Woolworths was fined for breaching spam laws and failing to unsubscribe customers from mailing lists when requested.
The Coles Group operates several retail chains, including Coles Supermarkets, Coles Online, Coles Express (fuel outlets), Coles Liquor, and Flybuys.
