Woolworths Group Limited net worth and retail businesses success


Woolworths Group Limited’s net worth emerges from its multiple business networks. It is an Australian multinational retail services company, headquartered in Bella Vista, New South Wales, Australia. 

Woolworths Group Limited net worth 

The estimated Woolworths Group Limited net worth/market capitalisation is $46.70 billion, as of 21 September 2026, according to Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Its latest recorded revenue for 2026 is A$71.53 billion. Additionally, for the financial year 2025, it made a revenue of A$69.077 billion. 

Its major sources of revenue and business value include Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand, BIG W, Petstock, Healthylife and its digital, loyalty, advertising, logistics, payments and data businesses. 

The Group generates substantial cash flow from the sale of groceries, fresh food, household products, general merchandise and other retail goods, while its broader portfolio provides additional income through services such as advertising, loyalty programs, e-commerce, logistics, payments and data analytics. 

Company overview 

Woolworths Group Limited is one of Australia’s largest retail groups, tracing its origins to 5 December 1924, when Woolworths Stupendous Bargain Basement opened in Sydney’s Imperial Arcade.  

Founded under the leadership of Percy Christmas, the business initially focused on offering a broad range of affordable goods. Its second store, opened in Brisbane in 1927, marked the beginning of its expansion into a retail chain. 

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By 1930, Woolworths had 16 stores across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand. It also became an early adopter of retail technology, introducing receipt printing cash registers in 1926.  

During the following decades, Woolworths transformed from a variety retailer into a major supermarket and retail group. It introduced self-service stores in 1955 and opened its first dedicated food store in Dee Why, Sydney, in 1957.

In 1960, it developed its first purpose-built supermarket in Warrawong, New South Wales, combining food, general merchandise and customer parking. The company also expanded into liquor retailing, electronics, discount department stores and other areas. 

Its acquisitions included Safeway’s 126 Australian stores in 1985, while BIG W became a major discount retail operation after its launch in 1964. Woolworths also acquired Dick Smith Electronics, eventually expanding its presence in consumer electronics. 

The company continued developing its supermarket business through quality control, private-label products and fresh-food marketing. In 1964, Woolworths established its own Quality Assurance Laboratory to test food and general merchandise.  

It introduced its first comprehensive Own Brand range in 1973, later developing Home Brand and Woolworths Select products. Its well-known “Fresh Food People” campaign was launched as part of a broader investment in fresh-food buying, merchandising and staff training. 

Woolworths experienced a major corporate change in the late 1980s when Industrial Equity Limited acquired the company. After acquiring 98.4% of Woolworths’ shares, IEL proceeded with compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares in 1989, and Woolworths was delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange.  

The company returned to public ownership in 1993 through a major share float, with approximately 19,000 Woolworths employees offered shares under an employee share plan.  

Over subsequent decades, Woolworths expanded through acquisitions and new ventures, including Australian Leisure and Hospitality, New Zealand supermarket businesses, Cellarmasters, Quantium and various digital and e-commerce operations. 

Woolworths increasingly developed into a diversified retail and services group. In 2017, the company changed its name from Woolworths Limited to Woolworths Group Limited and established WooliesX to bring together its digital, e-commerce, data and customer operations.  

In 2018, Woolworths and BIG W stopped using plastic checkout bags nationwide. The Group also expanded its sustainability and community initiatives, including its partnership with OzHarvest, through which it became a major food donor.  

More recently, Woolworths acquired an 80% stake in MyDeal for approximately $243 million in 2022, acquired a 55% stake in Petstock for $586 million later that year, and acquired Milkrun in 2023. It also began rebranding New Zealand’s Countdown supermarkets as Woolworths. 

Woolworths reached another major milestone in 2024 when it celebrated its centenary, marking 100 years since the opening of its first store. The Group reported that more than 200,000 team members were working across the business at the time. 

Woolworths businesses

Today, Woolworths Group operates across food retail, specialty retail, everyday services and supporting businesses. Its portfolio includes Woolworths Supermarkets, Woolworths New Zealand, BIG W, Milkrun, Healthylife, Petstock, Everyday Rewards, Everyday Insurance, Everyday Mobile, Cartology, Quantium, Primary Connect, Wpay and PFD.  

The Group’s scale extends across Australia and New Zealand, with more than 190,000 team members working across its stores, distribution centers and support offices. 

Achievements and recognitions 

Among Woolworths Group Limited’s notable achievements is its long history of retail innovation, including pioneering self-service supermarkets, early adoption of electronic retail technology, expansion of private-label products and development of large-scale fresh-food retailing.  

Its sustainability and community programs have also received external recognition. In 2025, Woolworths received the Marine Stewardship Council Community Champion award for its work supporting sustainable seafood and engagement with suppliers and communities. The company said this was its third time receiving the award since 2022.  

In 2026, Woolworths Group was named the Marine Stewardship Council’s National Community Champion at the Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia for the fourth time. 

The Group was also recognised by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council as an Aquaculture Champion for its work promoting responsible aquaculture practices.  

The company has additionally reported significant sustainability achievements, including more than 165 million equivalent meals provided to food-rescue partners, more than 20,000 tonnes of virgin plastic removed from own-brand packaging since 2018, and 84% of food waste diverted from landfill in the financial year 2025.  

Woolworths also completed its five-year Sustainability Plan 2025, with the Group reporting that its initiatives generated an estimated A$2.6 billion in net societal benefit over the five-year period, based on an Oxford Economics assessment.  

Conclusion on Woolworths Group Limited net worth 

In conclusion, the economic value of the Group is primarily generated through its large retail and services operations. Its scale is reflected in its financial year 2025 group sales of A$69.1 billion, while its first half of the financial year 2026 generated A$37.1 billion in sales and A$859 million in net profit before significant items.  

Featured image: Woolworths Group Limited on woolworthsgroup.com.au
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