Wesfarmers
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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.
Wesfarmers Ltd | AUS | website |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Wesfarmers Ltd | ||||
The 2019 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 200 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world from the Agricultural Products, Apparel, Extractives and ICT Manufacturing sectors on 100 human rights indicators. This company's score was in the 40-50 band range. The overall average score was a disappointing 24%.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2019)
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of A.
Source: Monash University (2021)
Oxfam Australia's Company Tracker compares the big clothing brands on their efforts to pay a living wage to the women working in their factories. This company has released the names and addresses of at least 70% of their supplier factories, has taken some action towards paying a living wage within a set timeframe in the supply chain, and has made a commitment to ringfence wages.
Source: Oxfam Australia (2021)
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 62/100 in the Retailing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). 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 (2022) |
In 2023 seven subsidiaries of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety Pty Ltd (WIS) back-paid more than $4.8 million to more than 3,400 underpaid employees nationally and signed an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman. The company was also ordered to make a $100,000 contrition payment.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman (2023) |
This 2013 report by The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) investigates the labour and human rights risks in supply chain sourcing. This company is identified on page 21 as a company which sources products from countries with known systemic labour and human rights concerns.
Source: ACSI (2013)
This company received a score of 35.3/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $638,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: put a price on carbon; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
Between 2015 and 2018 this company paid $3 billion tax on a total income of $199 billion, earning the number 8 spot on Michael West's Top 40 Tax Payers 2020. West calculated which of Australia's largest companies have paid the most tax using three years of tax transparency data published by the Australian Tax Office.
Source: Michael West (2018)
This company has sustainability claims on its website in the areas of sourcing, community, environment and indigenous engagement.
Source: company website (2019)
This company used to operate coal mines, but sold off its last coal asset in 2018.
Source: Reuters (2022)
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2021) |
Company Details
Type | Public company |
Revenue | 67.2 billion AUD (2018) |
Employees | 217,000 (2018) |
Aus Manufacturing | Yes |
Subsidiaries | Officeworks Ltd ![]() Office supplies retailer Established by Coles Myer in 1994. Today they operate over 160 stores across Australia, and is part of Wesfarmers' Home Improvement and Office Supplies division. Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd ![]() Healthcare services API has four core business operations - pharmaceutical distribution, manufacturing, retail pharmacy brands and hospital and medical distribution. API was established as a chemists' co-operative in 1910 and listed on the ASX on 16 June 1997. The API retail pharmacy banner groups are Priceline, Soul Pattinson, and Pharmacist Advice. Almost 90 per cent of the 1579 pharmacies, health and beauty stores and beauty salons supplied by API are owned and operated by franchisees. Acquired by Wesfarmers in 2022. - API Consumer Brands ![]() Healthcare, pharmaceuticals & skin care New Zealand based manufacturer of health & beauty products. Owned by Australian-based pharmaceutical company, API, owner of Priceline. Catch Group Pty Ltd ![]() E-commerce Acquired by Wesfarmers for $230 million in 2019. Bunnings Group Ltd ![]() Hardware retail Australia's largest hardware retailer. Bunnings operate 211 Bunnings Warehouse stores and 63 smaller format Bunnings stores across Australia and New Zealand. Kmart Australia Pty Ltd ![]() Department stores Kmart and Target were part of the Coles Group when it was bought by Wesfarmers in 2007. Wesfarmers divested Coles (supermarkets and liquor) in 2018, but kept Kmart and Target, which were merged into Kmart Group in 2023. Kmart Group operates 324 Kmart and 128 Target stores across Australia and New Zealand. Wesfarmers also owns Bunnings, Officeworks and Priceline. Gresham Partners Ltd (50% owned) ![]() Investment and advisory house Gresham focuses on four key business areas: Corporate Advisory, Private Equity, Property and Asset Finance. 50% owned by Wesfarmers. Its private equity division specialises in mid-market leveraged buy-outs in Aust and NZ. Acquisitions include Witchery Fashions. Workwear Group ![]() Workwear This former division of Pacific Brands was established in 2010 after acquiring King Gee and Stubbies in 2001, and Hard Yakka, Stylecorp and NNT in 2007. Sold to Wesfarmers in August 2014. Manufacturing occurs in Australia, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Fiji. |
Contact Details
Address | Level 14, Brookfield Place, Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia |
Phone | 08 9327 4211 |
info@wesfarmers.com.au | |
Website | www.wesfarmers.com.au |
Products / Brands
Officeworks
Officeworks Electronics Stores Officeworks Stationery Stores PPS Envelopes |
API Consumer Brands
Health Basics Body Wash
Only Good Body Wash Only Good Hand Wash/Sanitiser |
Catch Group
Catch E-commerce |
Bunnings
Bunnings Hardware Stores Click Heating & Cooling |
Kmart Group
Anko Everyday Apparel Anko Small Kitchen Appliances Anko Dishwashers Anko Washing Machines & Dryers Anko Fridges & Freezers Anko Irons K hub Department Stores Kmart Electronics Stores Kmart Department Stores |
Kmart Toy Stores Kmart Homewares Stores Target Electronics Stores Target Department Stores Target Toy Stores Target Everyday Apparel Target Homewares Stores |
Workwear Group
Hard Yakka Workwear Hard Yakka Work Boots King Gee Workwear King Gee Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear King Gee Underwear & Socks King Gee Work Boots NNT Uniforms Workwear Stubbies Workwear |