Woolworths (WOW)

Stock Code

WOW

Stock Exchange

Australian Securities Exchange

Woolworths Limited (WOW) is an Australian-based retail group specialising in the general merchandise, food and specialty retailing through its operations in different chain stores. This company has a widespread operation in Australia and New Zealand managing around 3,000 stores located in the two countries. Included in these 3,000 stores are the 965 supermarkets solely operated and managed by the Woolworths and Safeway brands in Australia. Stores under the brands Foodtown, Woolworths and Countdown in New Zealand are also under the activities and operations of Woolworths Limited. WOW was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange on the 12th of July 1993. Its average annual revenue reaches approximately $42 billion out of its issued capital of approximately $600 million. Its headquarters is located in New South Wales, Australia and to date; around 180,000 employees are employed in the company. Woolworths Limited operates mainly in five business segments: Supermarket segment, Liquor Segment, Petrol Segment, General Merchandise segment and Consumer Electronics segment.

The Supermarket segment of Woolworths (WOW) is composed of five famous brands: Woolworths, Safeway, Food For Less, Flemings. Woolworths is the premier supermarket chain under the management and operation of Woolworths Limited. Safeway is among the Victorian supermarkets. Food For Less is the discount supermarket chain situated in New South Wales and in Queensland. Flemings is the ensemble of four supermarkets located in Central Coast and Sydney.

The Liquor segment of Woolworths Limited is composed of the brands Woolworths Liquor, Safeway Liquor, BWS, Dan Murphy’s and AHL Group. For the petrol segment, Woolworths operates the Caltex Woolworths/Safeway with petrol stations adjacent to the Safeway and Woolworths supermarkets. For the general merchandise, WOW operates the Big W, a chain of discount department stores selling a wide variety of general merchandise. The consumer electronics segment involves Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Powerhouse, Tandy and Croma/Tata Group Venture.

For the New Zealand enterprises, Woolworths Limited operates Woolworths, Foodtown, Countdown, Woolworths@Gull.

Woolworths Limited Company History

Woolworths Limited (WOW) had its first store opened on the 5th of December 1924. Woolworths Stupendous Bargain Basement was located along the old Imperial Arcade in Sydney. At the start of the business, Woolworths had to manage its 25,000 pounds nominal capital. 15,000 shares were made public and 11,707 shares were bought by 29 people including the company’s founders: Scott Waine, Stanley Chatterton, Percy Christmas, Ernest Williams and George Creed. After earning enough funds, the group decided to restructure the system of WOW. The new store of Woolworths was ground-breaking specially that it was the very store worldwide to use cash register.

Percy Christmas set up a general merchandise operation in Wellington, New Zealand in 1929. It was in 1956 when the first food store in Auckland, New Zealand was opened. The first supermarket in Auckland was also opened in 1971 until Woolworths New Zealand was converted to Lion Nathan after it was sold in 1971. In 1990, it was again sold to the Dairy Farm International and it is now owned by the Progressive Enterprises.

In 2005, Woolworths Limited (WOW) and Metcash Holdings demerged the Foodland and the Progressive Enterprises. This resulted to WOW’s 23 additional supermarkets of Foodland’s Action. This acquisition contributed to the 750 stores in Australia.