Woolworths Limited

From IntFX

See also: WOW for realtime information.

Woolworths Limited is large retail company with operations in Australia and New Zealand. It provides goods of good quality, range, value and low prices which attract customers.

The Company has following five business segments:

• Supermarkets : Covers supermarkets, retail liquor outlets and petrol outlets

• General Merchandise Group : It covers BIG W discount department stores

• Consumer Electronics Group: It covers Dick Smith Electronics, Tandy and Dick Smith Electronics Powerhouse stores

• Hotels Group: It covers on-premise liquor sales, food, accommodation, gaming and venue hire

• Wholesale: It covers Statewide Independent Wholesalers (SIW)

Woolworths Limited’s liquor retailing services different customer needs through BWS, Dan Murphy and its Woolworths/Safeway attached liquor outlets.

The Company’s principal brands are –

• Woolworths and Safeway Supermarket – both is Australia’s leading food retailer.

• BIG W – It offers the lowest possible price from the brands.

• Dick Smith Electronics – It is a dynamic, leading force in the electronics retail industry.

• Dick Smith Power House – In these stores one can try out the latest electronic goods before buy.

• Tandy – It is one of the Australia’s leading electronics retailers.

• BWS – It is local bottle shop. It stands for Beer, Wine and Spirits.

• Dan Murphy’s – It is a liquor shop which offers guaranteed lowest prices.

The Company has its head office in Sydney and operates approximately 3000 stores, petrol sites and hotels in Australia and New Zealand It operates 965 supermarkets under the Woolworths and Safeway brands in Australia, and under Woolworths, Foodtown and Countdown brands in New Zealand. The Company also involved in consumer electronics joint venture with the Tata Group in India. Woolworths Limited has around 175,000 employees and over 300,000 shareholders, plus around 50,000 employee shareholders. The Company is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange under ticker WOW.

[edit] History

On 5 Dec. 1924, the first store of Woolworths was opened in old imperial Arcade in Pitt Street, Sydney. The founders of the Company are Percy Christmas, Stanley Edward Chatterton, Cecil Scottwaine, George William Percival Creed and Ernest Robert Williams.

[edit] Strategy

The Company’s focus is on maximizing the benefits from new technology, supply chain and recent acquisitions. The Company maintains and enhances their long term cost advantages. Company continually enhancing the customer by offering rewards with value, range, freshness, service and convenience.

[edit] Financial and operational performance

In 2007, 25.4% increase in dividend Per Share to 74 cents from 59 cents in 2006.These results shows that in future there is an increase in shareholders returns. In 2007 the total sales of the company, compared with last year up 12.6% to $42,477 million.Net operating profit after tax is up 27.5% to $1,294 million and earnings per share is up 19.7% to 108.8 cents.