Strategic Agenda • Current Trading & Outlook

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Strategic Agenda • Current Trading & Outlook 2 June 2011 The Manager Company Announcements Office Australian Securities Exchange Dear Sir, PRESENTATION TO BE GIVEN AT INVESTOR BRIEFING - SYDNEY Following is a presentation that is to be given today at an investor briefing in Sydney. This briefing will be webcast and can be accessed at: Investor Briefing at 8:45 am (EST) http://www.thomson- webcast.net/au/dispatching/?event_id=83f77f1450d53a3f3830ff69fce14f28&portal_id=cff2 f208e945b0c05d992e6231cc3d44 Yours faithfully, L J KENYON COMPANY SECRETARY Enc. Wesfarmers Limited Investor Briefing Day 2 June 2011 Richard Goyder Managing Director, Wesfarmers Limited Agenda 8.45 Introduction 9.00 Coles 9.55 Home Improvement & Office Supplies 10.50 Morning Tea 11.15 Target 12.00 Kmart 12.45 Lunch 1.30 Resources 2.15 Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers 2.45 Industrial & Safety 3.15 Afternoon Tea 3.30 Insurance 4.00 Capital Management 4.15 Q&A 4.30 Close 4 Wesfarmers – an overview • Eight autonomous divisions FY2010 total value created of $10,799m • Employing 207,614 individuals across: – 3,400 retail locations – Industrial operations in every state $1,080 (1) • Generating $51.8 billion in annual revenue $1,512 • Creating $10.8 billion(1) of value including: $648 – $6.5 billion in employee payments $6,479 – $1.1 billion in government taxes & $1,080 royalties – Returning $1.5 billion to shareholders – Reinvesting $1.1 billion in the business Employees Government for future growth Lenders Shareholders Reinvested in the business All values are in $m & are based on FY2010 results (1) During FY2010 5 Wesfarmers’ centenary vision A Portfolio of Quality Robust Financial Businesses Capacity Positioned for future growth Access to competitively (e.g. in fast-growth Superior Long-Term priced debt & equity. sectors/industries or with Financial Performance unexploited competitive Above market TSR over Superior People opportunities). five years. Resources Growth in ROE. Ability to attract, motivate & retain great people. A Value-Creating A Most-Admired Business Model Company Strong Corporate Ability to recognise & Superior reputation Infrastructure acquire undervalued among customers, Systems, processes & assets. employees & the culture to support Skill to turn around & grow community. innovative initiative & those assets. disciplined execution. Discipline to exit when value has been maximised. Strong sustainability focus for future 6 success Five sustainability priorities identified at a Group level with actions & accountability held at a divisional level: 1. The importance of people 2. Carbon emissions reduction & energy management 3. Community investment 4. A reduced overall environmental footprint 5. A strong economic contribution Tailored approach by division to ensure industry & business positioning Coles Ian McLeod Managing Director Coles 8 Coles’ three phase strategy Building a Solid Delivering Driving the Coles Foundation Consistently Well Difference • Create a strong top team • Embed the new culture • Culture of continuous improvement Performance • Cultural change • Team member development • Strong customer trust & • Availability & store standards • Improved customer service loyalty • Value & customer trust • Appealing Fresh food offer • Strong operational efficiency • Store renewal development • Stronger delivery of value • Innovative & improved offer • Liquor renewal • Scale rollout of new formats • New stores, new categories • IT & supply chain • Improved efficiency infrastructure • Easy ordering completed • Efficient use of capital Year 1 - 2 Year 2 - 4 Year 4 - 5 Coles 9 Building sustainable sales momentum • $4 billion incremental sales • Three year headline sales CAGR of 6.3% • Eight consecutive quarters of industry outperformance • Two million more transactions every week • Double digit increase in basket size • Australia‟s fastest growing fresh food retailer! Source: Coles data & Australian Bureau of Statistics Coles 10 Saving Australians $800 million • Investment in lower prices to help Australian families – Historical(1) market food inflation of 4.4% – Market food inflation of 3.3% since FY2007 – Coles prices flat since early 2009 • “Australia First” sourcing policy – Partnering to deliver efficient & quality supply – 96% Australian grown fresh produce – 75% of Coles brand Australia sourced – Coles brand has most “Australian made” products in the country Source: Coles data & Australian Bureau of Statistics (1) FY2002 – FY2007 average Coles 11 A five year turnaround plan • Multi-faceted challenge • Complex issues to fix Fresh Value Range Efficiency Service Culture Store Capability Infrastructure Formats Coles 12 A five year turnaround plan • Multi-faceted challenge • Complex issues to fix Fresh Value Range • Converted to a comprehensive six point plan • Delivering far-reaching Efficiency Service Culture change across Coles Store Capability Infrastructure Formats Coles 13 A five year turnaround plan Renewed, • Multi-faceted challenge Right Stores, Clean, Easy to Right Place Shop Stores • Complex issues to fix Deliver Great • Converted to a Service with Value Great People comprehensive six point plan • Delivering far-reaching Marketing / change across Coles Brand Better Buying Re-build • Underpinned by 10 detailed cross-functional Customer Led Fresh and programs Supply Chain Only at Coles • Consistent direction Working Smarter Working over three years Support Centre Smarter Stores “Fresh” Produce doom loop before Coles 14 2008 Variable sourcing Cost cutting Inconsistent De-skilling Supplier QC De-motivation Lower sales Systematic Lower margin Over-ordering Higher prices Higher waste Lower stock-turn Poorer quality Older product Coles 15 Fresh Produce at Coles now Outcomes so far Partnership sourcing • $300 million Better presentation Diligent QC incremental sales Improved efficiency • Double digit growth in basket size • Better availability of Higher sales Demand led fresher produce Stronger profit ordering • Better quality • 50% reduction in waste & markdowns Lower waste Lower prices Better quality Faster stock turn • Double digit growth in profitability Coles 16 Bakery & Deli at Coles now Driving freshness & quality Outcomes so far • Stronger pricing Value • Improved promotions • $400 million Better Buying • Development of supplier partnerships incremental sales • Stronger QC • Double digit growth Fresh and Only • Baked today, sold today • Slice on demand in customers at Coles • NPD • Better availability Working • Improved production planning Smarter Stores • Investment in skill & hours • Better quality Customer Led • Late night & weekend focus Supply Chain • Development of consistent standards • 50% reduction in waste & markdowns Deliver Great Service with • Craft skills programs Great People • Customer interaction encouraged • Double digit growth in profitability Renewed, Clean, Easy to • $50m invested in bakeries, $80m in delis Shop Stores • Open bakeries – lower deli counters Coles 17 Meat & Seafood at Coles now Driving freshness & quality Outcomes so far • Better prices Value • Better customer communication • $700 million Better Buying • Stronger upstream control • Improved quality incremental sales • Better supplier support • Double digit growth Fresh and Only • Sustainable husbandry • RSPCA chicken in customers at Coles • HGP-free beef • Sow stall-free pork • Better availability Working • Improved in-store packaging & operating standards Smarter Stores • Better yield • Better quality Customer Led Supply Chain • Integration of meat through DCs • 40% reduction in waste & markdowns Deliver Great Service with • Higher calibre team Great People • Training program development • Double digit growth in profitability Renewed, Clean, Easy to • $50m investment in refrigeration for meat alone Shop Stores • Open meat & seafood counters (renewal) Coles 18 Grocery, Dairy & General Merchandise • Prices customers can trust – 5,000+ prices reduced by more than 10% – 2,100 price increased by 4% – State-based pricing • Customer-driven ranging – Better choice through improved availability & reduced duplication – Greater availability through demand led ordering – Double digit Coles brand growth • Investing in under-indexed categories – $50 million investment in improving 675 Health & Beauty & Baby departments – 115 upgraded entertainment & paper shops Coles 19 Only at Coles – Coles brand • $800 million incremental sales You’llColes love brand Coles in inFY2011 FY2007 • Double digit growth in participation • Reinvigorating the Coles brand ranges – Three tier brand positioning – Quality, value & innovation focus – Trialling pool of 2,500 „Mums‟ Coles brand in FY2011 – Investment in test kitchen & food science – Packaging redesign – 28 quality awards in the last six months Coles 20 Only at Coles – Coles brand • $800 million incremental sales Smart Buy in FY2007 • Double digit growth in participation • Reinvigorating the Coles brand ranges – Three tier brand positioning – Quality, value & innovation focus – Trialling pool of 2,500 „Mums‟ – Investment in test kitchen & food science Smart Buy in FY2011 – Packaging redesign – 28 quality awards in the last six months Coles 21 Marketing / brand re-build Coles in FY2008 Industry average • Previously uncoordinated use of a large Coles in FY2011 number of smaller campaigns • Shift to fewer, bigger & better campaigns with a unique Coles personality • More effective advertising expenditure • Significant increase in TVC cut-through Coles 22 Marketing / brand re-build Did they know it was Coles? 100% Coles in FY2008 80% 81% 81% 84% 60% 71% 40% 20% 41% 43%
Recommended publications
  • 2017 First Quarter Retail Sales Results 362 KB
    2017 First Quarter Retail Sales Results 26 October 2016 First Quarter Sales ($m) 2017 2016 Variance % Food & Liquor1,2 7,850 7,631 2.9 Convenience1,3 1,549 1,795 (13.7) Total Coles 9,399 9,426 (0.3) Bunnings Australia & New Zealand 2,659 2,476 7.4 Bunnings UK & Ireland 554 n.a. n.a. Home Improvement4,5 3,213 2,476 29.8 Kmart1 1,249 1,123 11.2 Target6 643 776 (17.1) Department Stores 1,892 1,899 (0.4) Officeworks4 461 429 7.5 Refer to Appendix Three for footnotes. Wesfarmers Limited today announced its retail sales results for the first quarter of the 2017 financial year. Managing Director Richard Goyder said that the sales performance of the Group’s retail businesses, with the exception of Target, built on the strong sales growth achieved in the prior corresponding period. “Coles’ headline food and liquor sales increased by 2.9 per cent for the quarter, building on the strong growth achieved in the previous corresponding period,” Mr Goyder said. “Coles continues to invest in value, service and quality, supported by ongoing efficiency improvements across the business. “Bunnings Australia and New Zealand achieved total sales growth of 7.4 per cent during the quarter, extending its very strong performance despite an impact from the stock liquidation activities of the Masters business. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, good progress continues to be made to reshape the business, with sales of £320 million ($554 million) for the quarter, in line with expectations. “Kmart recorded strong sales growth of 11.2 per cent, with a continued focus on lowest prices and the customer experience delivering growth across all categories.
    [Show full text]
  • Coles Operations Graduate Program Streams
    Distribution Centres Our Coles Distribution Centres play an important role moving quality products through our supply chain, to provide extraordinary shopping experiences for our customers. We work hard to make life easier, safer and more sustainable across our network, as well as maintain the availability and quality of our products for our customers. Working with our logistics partners, we are reducing our environmental footprint through more efficient fleet movements. We are also ensuring customers are provided with quality, safe products by conducting selected quality checks when produce arrives at our fresh produce distribution centres, with additional checks for chilled products. What's in it for you? The Distribution Centre offers you the opportunity to learn new skills in various departments, broadening your understanding of how our business works on a larger scale. Most importantly, your skills of communication, leadership, responsibility, resilience, flexibility and teamwork will be heightened from being part of our diverse team, setting you up for a successful career in supply chain. Coles Supermarkets Coles Supermarkets is a national full-service supermarket retailer operating more than 800 stores across Australia. Our purpose is to sustainably feed all Australians to help them live healthier, happier lives. We’re an essential part of communities right across the country, with our family of 120,000 team members helping 21 million customers every week. With such a big responsibility, we rely on our brilliant team to operate with pace and passion and drive a people first culture, focussed on delighting our customers. Coles Supermarkets has an Australian-first sourcing policy to provide our customers with quality Australian-grown fresh produce.
    [Show full text]
  • COMPANY INTRODUCTION Coles Group Ltd (CGL) Is Australia's
    COMPANY INTRODUCTION Coles Group Ltd (CGL) is Australia’s dominant retailing company with an estimated market share of more than 20 percent of all retail sales in Australia. Its major businesses include Australia’s largest department store chain, largest grocery-supermarket chain, and the largest discount chains. In addition, it is a major player in food and liquor retailing, office supplies and apparel. The Product Portfolio of Coles Group include – (Source: Goggle Images viewed on 6th January 2007) - 1 - Food and Liquor: The Food division includes full-line Coles Supermarkets, Bi-Lo discount Supermarkets which are increasingly being merged into Coles supermarkets. The Liquor division includes First Choice Liquor Superstores, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars and Liquorland Hotel Group. Liquorland also operates an online liquor shopping service, Liquorland Direct. (Source: www.coles.com.au) Kmart: Kmart offers an extensive range of products such as apparel, toys, sporting goods, bedding, kitchenware, outdoor furniture, barbecues, music, video, car care, electrical appliances and Kmart Tyre & Auto Service business. Kmart operates 185 stores and 275 Kmart Tyre & Auto Service sites across Australia and New Zealand. (Source: www.coles.com.au) Target: Target has an extensive range of apparel and accessories, home wares, bed linen and décor, cosmetics, fragrances, health and beauty products and a full range of toys, games and entertainment. Target has 259 stores located across Australia. (Source: www.coles.com.au) Officeworks: Officeworks caters specifically for the needs of small to medium businesses, home offices and students, with over 7,000 office products all under one roof, located in 95 stores across Australia. (Source: www.coles.com.au) Coles Express: CML has a network of 599 Coles Express locations across Australia in an alliance with Shell.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Sustainability Report Su
    WESFARMERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 CONTENTS Our Report 3 Sustainability at Wesfarmers 4 Our material issues 5 Managing Director’s welcome Our Principles Our Businesses People Bunnings 6 Safety 41 Bunnings 8 People development 11 Diversity Coles 45 Coles Sourcing 15 Suppliers Department Stores 18 Ethical sourcing and human rights 54 Kmart 58 Target Community 26 Community contributions Officeworks 29 Product safety 63 Officeworks Environment Industrials 31 Climate change resilience 67 Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers 34 Waste and water use 70 Industrial and Safety 73 Resources Governance 37 Robust governance 74 Other businesses This is an edited extract of our 2018 Sustainability Report. Our full sustainability report contains numerous case studies and data available for download. It is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiatives Standards and assured by Ernst & Young. It is available at sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au Sustainability Report 2018 2 Our Report SUSTAINABILITY AT WESFARMERS At Wesfarmers we believe long-term value creation is only possible WESFARMERS CONSIDERS SUSTAINABILITY if we play a positive role in the communities we serve. Sustainability is about understanding and managing the ways we impact our AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE STRONG AND community and the environment, to ensure we continue to create LONG-TERM SHAREHOLDER RETURNS value in the future. Wesfarmers is committed to minimising our footprint and to This Sustainability Report presents Wesfarmers Limited delivering solutions that help our customers and the community (ABN 28 008 984 049) and its wholly owned subsidiary companies’* do the same. We are committed to making a contribution to the sustainability performance for the year ended 30 June 2018, how we communities in which we operate through strong partnerships performed, the value we created and our plans for the future.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 Annual Report
    19 September 2017 The Manager Market Announcements Office Australian Securities Exchange Dear Manager, 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Attached is the Wesfarmers Limited 2017 Annual Report. A copy of the report will be sent by mid-October 2017 to those shareholders who have elected to receive a copy. The report is also available on the company’s website www.wesfarmers.com.au. Yours faithfully, LJ KENYON COMPANY SECRETARY For personal use only Wesfarmers Annual 2017 Report 2017 Annual Report Delivering value today and tomorrow For personal use only The primary objective of Wesfarmers is to provide a satisfactory return to its shareholders. About Wesfarmers About this report From its origins in 1914 as a Western This annual report is a summary Wesfarmers is committed to reducing Australian farmers’ cooperative, of Wesfarmers and its subsidiary the environmental footprint associated Wesfarmers has grown into one of companies’ operations, activities and with the production of the annual Australia’s largest listed companies. financial position as at 30 June 2017. In report and printed copies are only With headquarters in Western Australia, this report references to ‘Wesfarmers’, posted to shareholders who have its diverse business operations ‘the company’, ‘the Group’, ‘we’, ‘us’ and elected to receive a printed copy. This cover: supermarkets, liquor, hotels ‘our’ refer to Wesfarmers Limited (ABN report is printed on environmentally and convenience stores; home 28 008 984 049) unless otherwise stated. responsible paper manufactured under improvement; department stores; ISO 14001 environmental standards. References in this report to a ‘year’ office supplies; and an Industrials are to the financial year ended division with businesses in chemicals, 30 June 2017 unless otherwise stated.
    [Show full text]
  • COL ASX Release
    18 August 2020 The Manager Company Announcements Office Australian Securities Exchange Dear Sir or Madam Coles Group Limited – 2020 Full Year Results Release Please find attached for immediate release to the market the 2020 Full Year Results Release for Coles Group Limited. This announcement is authorised by the Board. Yours faithfully, Daniella Pereira Company Secretary For personal use only Coles Group Limited ABN 11 004 089 936 800 Toorak Road Hawthorn East Victoria 3123 Australia PO Box 2000 Glen Iris Victoria 3146 Australia Telephone +61 3 9829 5111 www.colesgroup.com.au 18 August 2020 2020 Full Year Results Release First year strategy delivered whilst supporting team members, suppliers and community through droughts, bushfires and COVID-19 Performance summary (retail non-IFRS basis)1 ▪ Full year sales revenue increased by 6.9% to $37.4 billion with sales revenue growth across all segments ▪ 51st consecutive quarter of Supermarkets comparable sales growth, increasing by 7.1% in Q4 ▪ Liquor comparable sales growth of 20.2% in Q4 ▪ Express convenience (c-store) comparable sales growth of 8.3% in Q4 ▪ Achieved Smarter Selling cost savings in excess of $250 million ▪ Group EBIT growth achieved for the first time in four years, increasing by 4.7% ▪ Strong earnings per share growth of 7.1% ▪ Cash realisation of 111% and net debt of $0.4 billion, providing significant capacity for future growth ▪ Fully-franked final dividend of 27.5 cents per share declared, a 14.6% uplift on the prior year final dividend ▪ Delivered a total shareholder
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Annual Report 1 2019 the YEAR in REVIEW
    Wesfarmers Annual Report Annual Wesfarmers 2019 2019 WESFARMERS ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT WESFARMERS ABOUT THIS REPORT All references to ‘Indigenous’ people are intended to include Aboriginal and/or From its origins in 1914 as a Western This annual report is a summary Torres Strait Islander people. Australian farmers’ cooperative, Wesfarmers of Wesfarmers and its subsidiary Wesfarmers is committed to reducing the has grown into one of Australia’s largest companies’ operations, activities and environmental footprint associated with listed companies. With headquarters in financial performance and position as at the production of this annual report and Perth, Wesfarmers’ diverse businesses in this 30 June 2019. In this report references to printed copies are only posted to year’s review cover: home improvement; ‘Wesfarmers’, ‘the company’, ‘the Group’, shareholders who have elected to receive apparel, general merchandise and office ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ refer to Wesfarmers a printed copy. This report is printed on supplies; an Industrials division with Limited (ABN 28 008 984 049), unless environmentally responsible paper businesses in chemicals, energy and otherwise stated. manufactured under ISO 14001 fertilisers and industrial safety products. Prior References in this report to a ‘year’ are to environmental standards. to demerger and divestment, the Group’s the financial year ended 30 June 2019 businesses also included supermarkets, unless otherwise stated. All dollar figures liquor, hotels and convenience retail; and are expressed in Australian
    [Show full text]
  • Your Rights to Return Goods Bought Online—A Scan of the Return Policies of Online Retailers in Australia
    Your rights to return goods bought online—a scan of the return policies of online retailers in Australia December 2011 Overview In December 2011, Consumer Action Law Centre looked at the refund and return policies of 12 leading online businesses operating in Australia.i The purpose of this research was to investigate whether online retailers understood their obligations under the Consumer Guarantees provisions of the Australian Consumer Law (which protect consumers if they are sold goods or services that are faulty) and whether they reflect that understanding in the information they provide to consumers. We sorted the policies into three categories: . Good practice: policy does not mislead consumers and sets out consumer rights clearly and comprehensively; . Pass: policy is ok, but has minor problems or could be clearer; and . Fail: policy seriously departs from good practice, risks misleading consumers regarding their rights or places unreasonable barriers to returning faulty goods. What we found was pretty disappointing. In our assessment: . only two of the retailers we looked at, Deals Direct and Crazy Sales, met the good practice standard, with refund and return policies that were both compliant with the Consumer Guarantees and demonstrate good practice; . Target and Big W had passable policies, but still need improvement; and . the remaining eight businesses, including some big names like Apple, Coles Online and Officeworks, had policies with many serious deficiencies. Since reviewing the policies in December 2011, some of these companies have said that they will review or change their policies. Be aware that the problems we identify below may have been addressed. What this document contains .
    [Show full text]
  • FY20 Results Presentation
    18 August 2020 The Manager Company Announcements Office Australian Securities Exchange Dear Sir or Madam Coles Group Limited – 2020 Full Year Results Presentation Please find attached for immediate release to the market the 2020 Full Year Results Presentation for Coles Group Limited. This announcement is authorised by the Board. Yours faithfully, Daniella Pereira Company Secretary Coles Group Limited ABN 11 004 089 936 800 Toorak Road Hawthorn East Victoria 3123 Australia PO Box 2000 Glen Iris Victoria 3146 Australia Telephone +61 3 9829 5111 www.colesgroup.com.au SecondBite CEO Jim Mullan accepts donations from Coles during the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of FY20, Coles had donated the equivalent of 116 million meals to SecondBite since 2011 and the equivalent of 32 million meals to Foodbank since 2003. This is the equivalent of 148 million meals to people in need since 2003. 2020 Full Year Results Presentation 18 August 2020 Disclaimer This presentation contains summary information about Coles Group Limited (ACN 004 089 936) and its related bodies corporate (together, Coles) and Coles’ activities as at the date of this presentation. It is information given in summary form only and does not purport to be complete. It should be read in conjunction with Coles’ other periodic corporate reports and continuous disclosure announcements filed with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), available at www.asx.com.au This presentation is for information purposes only and is not a prospectus or product disclosure statement, financial product or investment advice or a recommendation to acquire Coles shares or other securities. It has been prepared without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of individuals.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Annual Report 1 Overview
    Wesfarmers Annual Report Annual Wesfarmers 2018 WESFARMERS ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CONTENTS Overview 2 2018 year in review 4 Primary objective 5 Group structure 6 Performance overview 8 Chairman’s message 10 Managing Director’s report 12 Leadership Team Operating and financial review 14 Operating and financial review 26 Retail businesses 26 Bunnings 32 Coles 40 Department Stores 42 – Kmart 44 – Target 46 Officeworks 50 Industrials 52 – Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers 54 – Industrial and Safety 56 – Resources 57 Other activities Sustainability 58 Sustainability Governance 66 Board of directors 68 Corporate governance overview Directors’ report 72 Directors’ report 77 – Remuneration report Financial statements About Wesfarmers About this report 97 Financial statements From its origins in 1914 as a Western This annual report is a summary Wesfarmers is committed to reducing Australian farmers’ cooperative, of Wesfarmers and its subsidiary the environmental footprint associated 103 Notes to the financial statements Wesfarmers has grown into one of companies’ operations, activities and with the production of this annual Australia’s largest listed companies. financial performance and position report and printed copies are only Signed reports With headquarters in Perth, its as at 30 June 2018. In this report posted to shareholders who have diverse business operations references to ‘Wesfarmers’, ‘the elected to receive a printed copy. This 145 Directors’ declaration cover: supermarkets, liquor, hotels company’, ‘the Group’, ‘we’, ‘us’ report is printed on environmentally 146 Independent auditor’s report and convenience stores; home and ‘our’ refer to Wesfarmers Limited responsible paper manufactured under improvement; department stores; (ABN 28 008 984 049), unless ISO 14001 environmental standards.
    [Show full text]
  • The Australian Grocery Sector: Structurally Irredeemable?
    THE AUSTRALIAN GROCERY SECTOR: structurally irredeemable? Alexandra Merrett and Rhonda L Smith1 By all appearances, the grocery sector in Australia is less than ideally competitive and indeed less competitive than most other advanced economies. It may be that the size of the Australian economy imposes a natural limit on the market structure whereby the available economies of scale and scope mean that there is only room for two large players. The evidence suggests that, while Coles and Woolworths may have substantial market power, they do not take advantage of such market power by systematic monopoly pricing. Rather, any uses of market power are episodic and appear largely related to non-price conduct. Indeed, it seems the biggest impact for Australian consumers of our present market structure is reduced choice and innovation as sources of supply are rationalised. Australians may therefore need to consider the extent to which they prefer increased choice over lower prices and the convenience of one-stop shops. In considering these issues, this paper attempts to assess anecdotal claims – particularly in relation to ‘must have’ brands and private labels – by reference to available data. In doing so, we highlight several potential uses of publicly available information which may go some way to proving or disproving market power problems in the Australian grocery sector. 1 Alexandra Merrett is a competition lawyer and Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, and may be contacted on [email protected]. Rhonda Smith is an economist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne. She may be contacted on [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Information About Coles Group
    6 Information about Coles Group 6.1 Background Information Coles Group (ASX:CGJ) is one of Australia’s largest retailers with approximately 3,000 stores, revenue of $34.7 billion (FY2007) and market capitalisation of approximately $18.0 billion as at 25 September 2007. Coles Group is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and employs approximately 170,000 people nationally. A brief history of Coles Group is set out below. • The fi rst Coles Group variety store was opened in Melbourne, Victoria in 1914 and the fi rst Coles Group supermarket was opened in 1960. At the end of the 2007 fi nancial year, 674 Coles and 71 Bi-Lo supermarkets were open. • The fi rst Kmart opened in Melbourne, Victoria in 1969, and as at the end of the 2007 fi nancial year, there were 182 Kmart stores in Australia and New Zealand, making it Australia’s largest discount department store operator. • In 1985, Coles Group merged with The Myer Emporium Limited to create Coles Myer Limited. • The merger with the Myer Emporium brought Target into the brand portfolio which, as at the end of the 2007 fi nancial year, had 268 locations in metropolitan and country areas offering on-trend apparel and soft home-wares. • Through the 1980s and 1990s Coles Group acquired a number of liquor businesses and over the past six years it has continued to expand its liquor business by acquiring hotels and rolling out superstores. • In 1994 the fi rst Offi ceworks store opened, with the chain having grown to 107 stores and nine Harris Technology Business Centres as at the end of the 2007 fi nancial year.
    [Show full text]