Who owns Woolworths NZ?

Woolworths NZ is owned by Woolworths Group Limited, the Australian publicly listed parent company. Woolworths NZ operates Woolworths supermarkets in New Zealand and is also connected with the FreshChoice and SuperValue supermarket businesses.

Who owns Woolworths and BIG W?

Woolworths Group Limited owns and operates both Woolworths supermarkets and BIG W in Australia. The two retail brands belong to the same Australian publicly listed parent group.

Who owns Woolworths and Coles in Australia?

Woolworths is owned by Woolworths Group Limited. Coles is a separate Australian supermarket business and is not owned by Woolworths Group. Woolworths Group and Coles compete in the Australian grocery market.

Is Woolworths the same in the USA, Australia and the UK?

No. Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand belong to Woolworths Group Limited, while Woolworths businesses that used the name in the United States or United Kingdom are separate businesses. The Australian Woolworths brand originated in Sydney in 1924.

Is Woolworths coming back to the UK?

The Australian Woolworths Group operates supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand, not a returning British Woolworths supermarket chain. The former British Woolworths business was separate from the Australian Woolworths Group.

Does Woolworths still do Ooshies?

Ooshies were a Woolworths promotional collectible range, rather than a separate Woolworths company. Whether a promotion is currently available depends on Woolworths' current promotional schedule and store terms.

Can customers shop with Woolworths online or through delivery services?

Customers can shop with Woolworths through the Australian Woolworths online service at woolworths.com.au. Delivery availability, including any third-party delivery options, depends on the customer's location and the service operating at the time of purchase.

Who owns Woolworths?

Woolworths

Ultimate ownerAustraliaWoolworths Group Limited

Brand origin: Australia
Main production: Several countries, incl. Australia

Share 𝕏

About Woolworths

What is Woolworths?

Woolworths is an Australian supermarket brand operated by Woolworths Group Limited. Woolworths Group is an Australian multinational retail and financial services company headquartered in Bella Vista, New South Wales, Australia. The group operates Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand, as well as other retail businesses including BIG W and the Woolworths NZ, FreshChoice and SuperValue supermarket businesses. Woolworths Group is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code ASX: WOW. Woolworths Group changed its trade name from Woolworths Limited to Woolworths Group in 2017. The supermarket brand remains known as Woolworths in Australia and New Zealand. Woolworths is not the same business as Woolworths stores that previously operated in the United Kingdom or Woolworths Holdings Limited in South Africa. The Australian Woolworths supermarket brand belongs to Woolworths Group Limited, which is headquartered in Australia.

Who owns Woolworths?

Woolworths is ultimately owned by Woolworths Group Limited, according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Woolworths Group Limited is headquartered in Bella Vista, New South Wales, Australia, and is a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange. Woolworths Group does not have a single publicly disclosed controlling owner. Its shares are held by institutional investors, superannuation funds and retail shareholders. Shareholder positions change over time. Recent ownership information identifies State Street Corporation and its subsidiaries, BlackRock Group and The Vanguard Group among the largest disclosed shareholders. The supermarket business in New Zealand is a subsidiary of Woolworths Group Limited. Woolworths New Zealand describes itself as part of Woolworths Group Limited and as a subsidiary of the publicly listed Australian company. Woolworths Group therefore owns the Woolworths supermarket operations in Australia and New Zealand through its corporate group.

Where does Woolworths come from?

Woolworths originated in Australia. Woolworths Limited was founded in Sydney on 22 September 1924 by Percy Christmas, Stanley Chatterton, Cecil Scott Waine, George Creed and Ernest Williams. The company was established with nominal capital of £185,000. Woolworths opened its first store, named Woolworths Stupendous Bargain Basement, in Sydney's Imperial Arcade on 5 December 1924. The business initially operated as a variety retailer rather than as the supermarket chain associated with the Woolworths name today. Woolworths opened its first store in New Zealand in 1929. By 1930, Woolworths had 16 stores across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand. Woolworths expanded through acquisitions during the second half of the twentieth century. Woolworths acquired 60 percent of Dick Smith in 1981 and purchased the remaining 40 percent in 1983 for $25 million. In 1985, Woolworths purchased 126 Safeway supermarkets in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The transaction made Woolworths the largest food retailer in Australia at that time. As part of the 1985 Australian Safeway-stores transaction, Safeway acquired a 20 percent interest in Woolworths Limited. Industrial Equity Limited later acquired Woolworths Limited in 1989 through a consortium comprising Adelaide Steamship Company, David Jones and Tooth & Co. Industrial Equity Limited made an unconditional offer of $3.65 cash per Woolworths share in 1989. By 28 April 1989, Industrial Equity Limited had acquired 98.4 percent of Woolworths shares and then compulsorily acquired the remaining shares. Woolworths Limited's shares were delisted later in 1989. Woolworths returned to public ownership through a later relisting, and the business is now Woolworths Group Limited, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Woolworths purchased Progressive Enterprises in New Zealand in 2005, giving the group a 45 percent share of New Zealand's grocery sector. The transaction also included 22 Action supermarket stores in Western Australia. Woolworths launched the Thomas Dux gourmet grocer and deli format in April 2008. Woolworths purchased the Macro Wholefoods organic grocery chain in May 2009 and converted eight of its stores to Thomas Dux stores. Woolworths announced the planned acquisition of Cellarmasters for $340 million in February 2011. Countdown supermarkets in New Zealand began rebranding to Woolworths in 2024. Woolworths Group therefore has Australian origins, while its current supermarket operations extend across Australia and New Zealand.

What products does Woolworths make?

Woolworths sells groceries, fresh food, household products and other everyday retail goods through supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand. Woolworths is primarily a retailer, so products sold under the Woolworths name include products sourced from manufacturers as well as Woolworths private-label products. Woolworths Group also operates retail formats and services beyond the main Woolworths supermarket brand. These include Woolworths supermarkets in Australia, Woolworths supermarkets in New Zealand, the Woolworths Metro format, BIG W discount department stores, and the FreshChoice and SuperValue supermarket businesses in New Zealand. The group has also operated or acquired businesses in specialist retail and related services. Its historical businesses and formats have included Dick Smith, Safeway supermarkets in Australia, Thomas Dux, Macro Wholefoods and Cellarmasters. These transactions form part of Woolworths Group's corporate history and should not be treated as current Woolworths supermarket product lines.

Is Woolworths Australian, American or British?

Woolworths is Australian when the name refers to Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand. The brand originated in Sydney in 1924 and is ultimately owned by Woolworths Group Limited, an Australian publicly listed company headquartered in Bella Vista, New South Wales. Woolworths is not an American company. Woolworths is also not a British company, although a separate Woolworths retail business operated in the United Kingdom. The Australian Woolworths Group and the former British Woolworths business are distinct corporate businesses. Woolworths in Australia and Woolworths in New Zealand are connected through Woolworths Group Limited. Countdown supermarkets in New Zealand began changing their name to Woolworths in 2024.

Is Woolworths owned by a South African company?

Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand are not owned by a South African company. Woolworths is ultimately owned by Woolworths Group Limited, an Australian publicly listed company headquartered in Bella Vista, New South Wales. The name Woolworths is also used by Woolworths Holdings Limited in South Africa. Woolworths Holdings Limited is a separate South African retail company. Its use of the Woolworths name does not make the Australian supermarket brand South African, and the two businesses should not be treated as the same owner.

Is Woolworths still in business and open?

Woolworths is still in business as an operating supermarket brand in Australia and New Zealand. Woolworths Group continues to operate Woolworths supermarkets in both countries. Whether a particular Woolworths store is open today depends on the store's location, local trading hours and public-holiday arrangements. Store opening times can differ between locations. Woolworths also provides online shopping services through its Australian website, woolworths.com.au. Woolworths has not returned as the former British Woolworths chain. The Australian Woolworths supermarket business continues under Woolworths Group Limited, while the former British business was separate.

Is Woolworths only in Australia?

Woolworths is not only in Australia. Woolworths Group operates Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand, Countdown supermarkets began rebranding to Woolworths in 2024. Woolworths New Zealand also franchises or operates the FreshChoice and SuperValue supermarket businesses. Woolworths New Zealand describes those businesses as part of Woolworths Group. The Australian and New Zealand Woolworths operations belong to the same Australian parent group. Woolworths in Australia and Woolworths in New Zealand are therefore connected, although they operate in different national grocery markets.

Who are Woolworths' biggest shareholders?

State Street Corporation and its subsidiaries are identified among the largest disclosed shareholders of Woolworths Group Limited, alongside BlackRock Group and The Vanguard Group. Woolworths Group Limited is widely held, so no single shareholder is identified as the owner of the group in the available ownership information. Recent shareholder records list State Street Corporation and subsidiaries with 8.19 percent, BlackRock Group with 6.43 percent and The Vanguard Group with 6.01 percent in one substantial-shareholder compilation. These percentages are dated ownership figures and can change as investors buy or sell shares. Shareholders own shares in the listed parent company. They do not separately own individual Woolworths supermarkets. Woolworths Group Limited owns and operates the relevant businesses through its corporate structure.

Frequently asked questions about Woolworths

Who owns Woolworths in Australia?: Woolworths in Australia is ultimately owned by Woolworths Group Limited, an Australian publicly listed company headquartered in Bella Vista, New South Wales. Woolworths Group operates the Australian Woolworths supermarket business.
Who owns Woolworths NZ?: Woolworths NZ is owned by Woolworths Group Limited, the Australian publicly listed parent company. Woolworths NZ operates Woolworths supermarkets in New Zealand and is also connected with the FreshChoice and SuperValue supermarket businesses.
Who owns Woolworths and BIG W?: Woolworths Group Limited owns and operates both Woolworths supermarkets and BIG W in Australia. The two retail brands belong to the same Australian publicly listed parent group.
Who owns Woolworths and Coles in Australia?: Woolworths is owned by Woolworths Group Limited. Coles is a separate Australian supermarket business and is not owned by Woolworths Group. Woolworths Group and Coles compete in the Australian grocery market.
Is Woolworths the same in the USA, Australia and the UK?: No. Woolworths supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand belong to Woolworths Group Limited, while Woolworths businesses that used the name in the United States or United Kingdom are separate businesses. The Australian Woolworths brand originated in Sydney in 1924.
Is Woolworths coming back to the UK?: The Australian Woolworths Group operates supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand, not a returning British Woolworths supermarket chain. The former British Woolworths business was separate from the Australian Woolworths Group.
Does Woolworths still do Ooshies?: Ooshies were a Woolworths promotional collectible range, rather than a separate Woolworths company. Whether a promotion is currently available depends on Woolworths' current promotional schedule and store terms.
Can customers shop with Woolworths online or through delivery services?: Customers can shop with Woolworths through the Australian Woolworths online service at woolworths.com.au. Delivery availability, including any third-party delivery options, depends on the customer's location and the service operating at the time of purchase.