Woolworths Ltd
Market Share: 38.7%
Brand Names: Woolworths, Thomas Dux Grocer
Woolworths Ltd is one of the biggest companies in Australia as measured by annual revenue. The company operates in Australia and New Zealand across a number of segments including general mechanising (Big W), home-improvement retailing (Masters) and hospitality (through its 200 hotels). Woolworths' most lucrative operating segment is food and liquor retailing where it operates over 870 supermarkets and serves more than 10 million customers each week. The company also operates in the industry through its Thomas Dux range of premium supermarkets.
Established in 1924 and listed on the stock exchange in 1993, Woolworths has been one of the fastest growing and most innovative companies in the industry. In the late 1970s, Woolworths' share of the Supermarkets and Grocery Stores industry stood at about 15%. Today, nearly 40% of all general groceries sold in Australia are purchased at a Woolworths supermarket. The company's expansion has been achieved through a mix of acquisition and organic growth, including a push into capital city CBDs since the late 1990s. Woolworths aims to open between 15 and 25 stores per year and enjoys the highest profit margins in the industry.
Financial performance
Despite significant competition from Coles and ongoing price wars over the past five years, Woolworths has maintained its market share at just under 40% of the industry. The company opened 38 new supermarkets over the past five years and launched a new marketing campaign. The push into private-label products continued, with new products launched across a variety of price points. Given that savings and prudency typified the consumer climate, in-store marketing focused on these attributes. IBISWorld estimates Woolworths' industry-specific revenue will grow by 4.7% on an annualised basis over the five years through 2012-13.
Enhanced online sales and success in brand reputation