Woolworths Holdings news 

South Africa-based Woolworths has announced that it will acquire Australia-based department store chain David Jones for ZAR21.4 billion (US$2.0 billion). Acquisition will create ‘ a leading southern hemisphere retailer ’ Woolworths, in its statement announcing the acquisition, said that the purchase of David Jones will create a ‘ leading southern hemisphere retailer with pro-forma combined FY...

The latest news from leading players in the region: South Africa-based Shoprite and Woolworths, Botswana’s Choppies and Kenya-based Nakumatt. Shoprite signs up dunnhumby South Africa-based Shoprite has announced that it has signed a multi-year contract with Dunnhumby. The agreement will see dunnhumby apply its customer centricity solutions across Shoprite’s grocery businesses to help Shoprite...

South Africa-based Woolworths has announced a trading update for the 26 week period ending December 2013, saying comparable sales rose 8.8%. Positive results across all operations Woolworths said that in its home market food sales grew by 15.3%, aided by prices rising 7.2%, while comparable sales grew by 11.8%. In its operations outside South Africa the retailer said that it had grown its sel...

In two separate announcements, South Africa-based Woolworths highlighted the opportunities and difficulties being faced by retailers looking to expand within Africa. Woolworths plans to exit Nigeria… Without setting a timeframe to complete it by, the retailer’s chief executive, Ian Moir, announced that Woolworths was looking to close its three stores in Nigeria. Woolworths opened its first st...

Woolworths (South Africa) has reported group operating profit up 29.1% for the full year ended June 2013, and confirmed the 23.2% rise in turnover reported at its preliminary announcement in July. Woolworths Food sales grow ahead of market In the second half, despite pressures on South African consumers, group sales continued the strong sales trend begun in the first half. They were ad...

After enjoying a period of strong online growth – that has seen the number of shoppers using the service double – Woolworths (South Africa) has announced that it is improving its digital offer. New site to offer retailer’s full range The retailer’s new web site is said to provide ‘a fresh look and a number of new features’. Commenting on the revamped site, Woolworths’ head of online, Nikki Co...

Announcing preliminary full year results for the 53 weeks ending 30 June 2013, South Africa-based Woolworths said that sales rose by 23.2% to ZAR35.2 billion (US$3.6 billion). The retailer noted, though, that excluding the additional week, sales rose only 21.3% to ZAR34.7 billion (US$3.5 billion). Food is driving growth in sales Woolworths, which is predominantly a general merchandise retaile...

South Africa-based Woolworths has announced plans to expand the range of products it carries at its supermarkets as part of a wider enhancement of the retailer’s stores. New initiatives to support on-going strategy The retailer said that it was looking to extend its ranges, add 2,000 new SKUs, offer more branded goods, invest in price and expand space in order to better meet the needs of its ...

Woolworths has announced that despite operations outside its home market of South Africa accounting for only a small share of its sales in 2013, it is looking to invest in regional growth as part of a ‘long play’ on Africa’s continued economic expansion. Expansion to be driven by company-owned stores Woolworths’s expansion strategy will focus on adding company-owned stores or through operatin...

South Africa-based Woolworths has announced that during the first half of its financial year it enjoyed total sales growth of 18% and a rise in like-for-like sales of 9.4%. Grocery sales see strong growth The company said that food sales had risen by 11.1%, aided by an increase in price of 7.4%. Like-for-like sales were up by 7.8%, underlining the strength of Woolworths’s performance. Clothin...