Gaurav Malhotra
14 June 2011 Retail Industry Inquiry Mr Phillip Weickhardt Productivity Commission GPO Box 1428 Canberra City ACT 2601 By email: retail@pc.gov.au
Dear Mr Weickhardt Re: Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry Woolworths Limited welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into the Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry. Woolworths believes this Inquiry provides an important opportunity for the Australian community to understand the significant contribution that the retail sector provides to the Australian economy, the challenges it faces, as well as the opportunities open to it in the coming years. Operating some of Australia’s leading retail brands, Woolworths is a company committed to serving the customer - to providing Australian customers with the best possible value, convenience and choice whether they are shopping in one of Woolworths’ more than 3,100 “bricks and mortar” stores across the country or logging on and purchasing from our growing portfolio of online channels. A commitment to the customer is at the heart of everything Woolworths does, across all our business units and across all our retail formats and channels. Woolworths is also a company that makes a significant economic contribution to Australia’s economy with annual sales of more than $51 billion, a workforce of more than 170,000 team members across metropolitan and regional Australia and an annual indirect contribution to the economy that is estimated to be in excess of $96 billion and 652,400 full-time equivalent jobs. The Australian retail sector has changed considerably over recent decades with significant evolution in retail formats, the introduction of new, varied and innovative products, enhanced convenience and value and increased choice as to how, when and where to satisfy their retail needs. The key driving force behind these changes has been the evolving needs and
Dear Mr Weickhardt Re: Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry Woolworths Limited welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into the Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry. Woolworths believes this Inquiry provides an important opportunity for the Australian community to understand the significant contribution that the retail sector provides to the Australian economy, the challenges it faces, as well as the opportunities open to it in the coming years. Operating some of Australia’s leading retail brands, Woolworths is a company committed to serving the customer - to providing Australian customers with the best possible value, convenience and choice whether they are shopping in one of Woolworths’ more than 3,100 “bricks and mortar” stores across the country or logging on and purchasing from our growing portfolio of online channels. A commitment to the customer is at the heart of everything Woolworths does, across all our business units and across all our retail formats and channels. Woolworths is also a company that makes a significant economic contribution to Australia’s economy with annual sales of more than $51 billion, a workforce of more than 170,000 team members across metropolitan and regional Australia and an annual indirect contribution to the economy that is estimated to be in excess of $96 billion and 652,400 full-time equivalent jobs. The Australian retail sector has changed considerably over recent decades with significant evolution in retail formats, the introduction of new, varied and innovative products, enhanced convenience and value and increased choice as to how, when and where to satisfy their retail needs. The key driving force behind these changes has been the evolving needs and