Coles Group
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AUS |
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Retailing
Coles Group was spun-off from Wesfarmers in November 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers for $20 billion in 2007. The new Coles group operates over 2,500 retail outlets around Australia across three divisions: Supermarkets, Liquor and Convenience. Coles was founded in 1914, publicly listed in 1929, merged with Myer in 1986 and sold Myer in 2006.
Company Ownership
Coles Group Ltd | AUS | website | ||||
Wesfarmers Ltd ![]() owns 10% of Coles Group Ltd |
AUS | website | ||||
Retail, energy, insurance, chemicals Founded in WA in 1914 as a farmers' cooperative, today Wesfarmers operations include department stores; home improvement and office supplies; insurance; chemicals, energy and fertilisers; and industrial and safety products. Acquired Coles Group in 2007 for $20 billion in the biggest takeover in Australian corporate history. Coles was spun-off in November 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers. |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Coles Group Ltd | ||||
The 2019 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 3, "Established but work to be done", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW (2019)
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 60/100 in the Food & Staples Retailing category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2019) |
In 2019 this company agreed to pay Norco around $5.25 million for distribution to its dairy farmer members. The payments follow an ACCC investigation into whether Coles fully passed on to Norco a 10 cents per litre (cpl) price rise it charged consumers for Coles branded fresh milk, as it claimed it would do in ColesÂ’ marketing materials. The ACCC was "fully prepared to take Coles to court over what we believe was an egregious breach of the Australian Consumer Law."
Source: ACCC (2019)
This company is 10% owned by Wesfarmers, which has criticisms in the Shop Ethical database.
Source: Shop Ethical (2019) |
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $165,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)
This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website under the headings ethical sourcing, responsible sourcing, environment, health and nutrition, community and suppliers, and our people. Coles also outlines 10 key commitments in the area of food waste and packaging.
Source: company website (2018)
In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 43/100.
Source: KnowTheChain (2018) |
Company Details
Type | Public company |
Employees | 112,000 in 2018 |
Subsidiaries | Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd ![]() Supermarkets and liquor stores Coles was spun-off from Wesfarmers in November 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers for $20 billion in 2007. The new Coles Group operates over 2,500 retail outlets around Australia across three divisions: Supermarkets, Liquor and Convenience. Coles exited the hotels and poker machine business in 2019, but still operates bottle shops. - Eureka Operations Pty Ltd ![]() Fuel & convenience stores operator There are more than 650 Coles Express stores located across Australia. Coles Express operates the retail side of the business and Viva Energy is their exclusive fuel supplier. - Queensland Venue Co (50% owned) ![]() Hotel operators This joint venture began in 2019 when the KKR controlled Australian Venue Company took over Coles' hotels business which operates mainly in Queensland. Under the deal KKR runs the hotels (and poker machines) while Coles runs the liquor stores. |
Contact Details
Address | 800 Toorak Rd, Hawthorn East, VIC, 3123, Australia |
Phone | 03 9829 5111 |
Website | www.colesgroup.com.au |
Products / Brands
Coles SupermarketsColes Express
Coles Express Fuel & Convenience Stores
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