Australia’s largest grocery retailer Woolworths Ltd today (21 July) posted a 4.8% increase in annual sales, excluding petrol, for the financial year ended 30 June.
Turnover reached A$51.7bn (US$45.71bn) on the back of higher revenues and same-store sales from its divisions in Australia and New Zealand.
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The retailer’s Australian Food and Liquor division posted the most significant gains, increasing 5.1% on the previous year to reach AU$34.67bn.
Woolworths’ New Zealand Supermarkets division booked a 2.4% gain in sales (in Australian dollars) to reach AU$4.13bn.
The group’s Australian Food and Liquor division posted a 3.3% increase in comparable sales, which the company said was impacted by continued low food inflation of 1.1% due to deflation in produce and perishables.
During the fourth quarter, sales in the division increased 3.4%. Comparable sales were up 1.8%.
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By GlobalDataThe company’s New Zealand Supermarkets division saw comparable sales grow 4% over the year. It said the result continues to demonstrate the benefits of a transition to a single brand as well as its hard work in developing new formats, improved ranges and growing its private label.
During the fourth quarter, sales in the New Zealand Supermarkets division increased 5.2% (in NZ$) and comparable sales were up 4.1%. The results were impacted by deflation, falling 1.4% over the quarter, a decrease on the positive 5.6% in the same period of the previous year.
Commenting on the results Woolworths CEO Michael Luscombe said: “Our business-wide strategy to deliver optimum value for our customers has resulted in solid sales at a time when consumers are doing it tough and tightening the purse strings.”
