Definition

Woolworths Group (Australia)

Woolworths Group Limited is an Australian multinational retail and finance company. It is best known for operating the Woolworths Supermarkets chain across Australia and the Countdown supermarket brand in New Zealand. The company is headquartered in Bella Vista, Sydney and is the largest company in Australia by revenue and number of employees.

Woolworths was founded in 1924 as a variety retailer in Sydney. It expanded across Australia and into New Zealand in the following decades. In the 1960s, Woolworths began diversifying beyond variety stores, opening supermarkets and department stores under the Big W brand. Over the next several decades, Woolworths continued to grow and acquire other retail chains, including electronics retailer Dick Smith and liquor stores like Dan Murphy's.

In more recent years, Woolworths has undergone significant consolidation, divesting its shopping centers, electronics, home improvement, fuel, liquor, and hospitality businesses to focus on its core supermarket operations. In 2021, Woolworths demerged its alcohol, hotel, and gambling businesses into a separate listed company called Endeavour Group. Today, Woolworths' main consumer brands include Woolworths Supermarkets, Big W, Everyday Rewards loyalty program, and online marketplace MyDeal. The company also has a growing business-to-business division, including food service distributor PFD Food Services.

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