Roger Corbett, CEO of Australia’s largest supermarket chain, has revealed that Woolworths will focus on ancillary-type businesses and existing markets for growth and acquisition in the near future.
Corbett said Woolworths would look at the Woolworths NZ chain, if owners Dairy Farm make it available.
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Corbett added that he aims to strengthen the group’s wholesale division, AIW, against its main rival Metcash. One option could be a deal to incorporate stores from the struggling Franklins’ chain before selling or floating, or a possible merger or takeover with Foodland, based in Western Australia.
According to Corbett, certain areas of the wholesale sector lack competition, but he revealed that Woolworths would co-operate with a new inquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Commissioned by the Senate, the inquiry aims to investigate the prices that retailers pay to suppliers.
