Coles Supermarkets

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Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd
Coles
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Retail, supermarket and consumer services
Founded1914
Founder George Coles
Headquarters
Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia
Number of locations
846 stores (2023)
Area served
Australia
Key people
RevenueWinner of Supermarket Bowl III
Decrease2.svg A$1.414 billion (2018) [1]
Total assets A$21.644 billion (2018)
Number of employees
~120,000
Parent Coles Group
Subsidiaries
Website Coles.com.au

Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Coles, is an Australian supermarket, retail and consumer services chain, headquartered in Melbourne as part of the Coles Group. Founded in 1914 in Collingwood by George Coles, Coles operates 846 [2] supermarkets throughout Australia, including several now re-branded Bi-Lo Supermarkets. Coles has over 120,000 employees [2] [3] and accounts for around 27 per cent of the Australian market. [4] Coles' large head office site in Melbourne's inner south-east has 4,000 employees of the workforce located inside.

Contents

Coles Online is the company's online shopping ('click & collect' and home delivery) service.

Between 1986 and 2006, Coles Supermarkets was a brand of Coles Myer, later Coles Group, prior to Wesfarmers purchasing Coles Group in 2007. It became a subsidiary of Coles Group again after Wesfarmers spun-off the business in November 2018. [5]

In 2020, Coles changed its slogan to "Value the Australian way".

History

George Coles learned the retail trade working for his father's 'Coles Store' business from 1910 to 1913. (The store continued operating as "The Original Coles" at Wilmot, Tasmania until it was destroyed by a fire on 24 January 2014. [6] ) Coles itself was founded when George Coles opened the Coles Variety Store on 9 April 1914 on Smith Street in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood. Further expansion occurred and Coles' interest in food retailing was spurred in 1958 when it acquired 54 John Connell Dickins grocery stores. It then acquired the Beilby's chain in South Australia in 1959 and 265 Matthews Thompson grocery stores in New South Wales in 1960. [7]

In 1960, the first supermarket (trading under the Dickins name) was opened in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn North, at the corner of Burke and Doncaster Roads where a modernised version continues to operate. By 1973, Coles had established stores in all Australian capital cities. From 1962, its supermarkets were branded Coles New World with accompanying Space Age-themed imagery. [8] In 1991, the stores were rebranded Coles Supermarkets and from 1998, simply as Coles.

Coles headquarters site, adjacent to Toorak Road in Hawthorn East, Melbourne OIC hawthorn east Coles HQ from Tooronga Rd.jpg
Coles headquarters site, adjacent to Toorak Road in Hawthorn East, Melbourne

In 2004, the liquor division office (Coles Liquor Group), was moved from Chullora in Sydney to the company head office in Hawthorn East, Melbourne. With Coles Myer CEO John Fletcher citing the move for better efficiency between the food and liquor departments. It also resulted in Craig Watkins (35-year veteran and director of Coles Liquor) retiring from the company. [9]

From mid 2006, many Bi-Lo supermarkets were badged as Coles Supermarkets. Newmart supermarkets, under which Bi-Lo traded in Western Australia, were badged as Coles Supermarkets in 2002–2003. Newmart stores co-located with Coles in the same area or shopping centre were sold to Foodland and re branded as the now-defunct Action Supermarkets chain. The conversion program was put on hold at Easter 2007. [10] In July 2007, Wesfarmers agreed terms to purchase Coles Group for $22 billion. The purchase was completed in early 2008. [11]

In August 2007, as Wesfarmers foreshadowed its plans for the restructuring of Coles Group following its anticipated takeover, it stated that one of three planned divisions would comprise supermarkets, liquor and convenience stores. [12]

From 2008 to 2014, Coles was run by UK retailer Ian McLeod. [13]

In February 2011, Coles acquired National Australia Bank's 50 per cent interest in Australia's largest loyalty program Flybuys, giving it 100% ownership. [14] In September 2011, Coles commenced stocking private-label clothing in its stores with several stores receiving refits to accommodate the range. [15]

In 2018 Wesfarmers announced its intention to demerge the Coles business, seeking to retain only a 20% interest going forward. [16] In 2018, Steven Cain was appointed as CEO of the Coles Supermarket brand as part of the demerger of Coles from Wesfarmers.

Advertising and branding

A Coles supermarket in a shopping centre in Warwick, Western Australia Coles Warwick entrance.jpg
A Coles supermarket in a shopping centre in Warwick, Western Australia
A Coles store in Glenfield Park, New South Wales SouthCity Shopping Centre.jpg
A Coles store in Glenfield Park, New South Wales
A Coles store at a shopping centre in Hawthorn, Victoria Stockland Tooronga Coles entrance NW.jpg
A Coles store at a shopping centre in Hawthorn, Victoria
A Coles store in Engadine, New South Wales. Coles, Engadine - panoramio.jpg
A Coles store in Engadine, New South Wales.

Coles' original slogan was "nothing over 2/6", when it was primarily operating variety stores. The slogan "You'll find the best value is at Coles New World" was used in the 1980s. The red/orange orb was used from 1991 to 2005, although store signs continued to use the orb up until the early 2010s. "Serving you better" was used as a slogan from 1998 to 2003, replaced by "save everyday", endorsed by actress Lisa McCune. A circled tick was used as a logo device from 2003 to 2007, replacing the orb as a primary device in 2005.[ citation needed ] "Save everyday" was later changed to the grammatically-correct "save every day". [17]

In 2007, the slogan and circle tick were discontinued with simply the Coles name used in preparation for a new red ball logo to match proposed Coles Group livery, which was shelved later in the year as the business was sold. A number of tag lines were employed in the next few years: "Something better every day", "Proudly Australian since 1914" (introduced with its TV sponsorship of the 2008 Summer Olympics), [18] "Cutting the cost of your shopping", "Quality food costs less at Coles" and "It all counts". [19] The slogan "Good things are happening at Coles" was rolled out in 2018, and its current slogan "Value the Australian way" was employed in 2020.

In the 1960s, Coles sponsored a general knowledge quiz show, Coles £3000 Question (later Coles $6000 Question and Coles $7000 Question) which aired on Channel 7. [8]

In 2010, Coles launched a new sub-slogan, "Down Down, Prices Are Down", featuring a large red cartoon hand pointing downwards to symbolise the chain's low price policy. The slogan incorporated the tune of "Down Down", a 1975 hit by British rockers Status Quo. [20] In 2011, the campaign was revised to the fit the tune of Petula Clark's 1964 hit "Downtown". [21] but reverted to "Down Down" later in the year. In 2012, it used Status Quo, which originally recorded the song in 1975, singing and speaking in the newest ad in the series. In February 2016, Coles updated the "Down Down" campaign again, to the tune of That's Amore ("it's a Down Down"). In May 2017 the "Down Down" campaign was again refreshed with Australian Idol and reality TV contestant Casey Donovan with a new disco version of the advertisement. [22] This was ultimately dropped in March 2018, with Coles commercials (mostly on its in-store radio known as Coles Radio) using Best of My Love by The Emotions, a hit disco song from 1977, instead. [23]

Radio

Coles Radio is the brand name for the in-store radio station heard across all Coles' supermarkets. It is owned and operated in partnership with broadcaster Nova Entertainment and adopts a hot adult contemporary format, featuring a playlist consisting of pop hits from the 80s, 90s, 00s and current hits. The station is also available outside stores via Coles' website, the Nova Player app and on DAB+ digital radio, making it accessible in many newer car models.

Internet retailing

Accusations of anti-competitive practices

Coles has been accused by suppliers of using heavy-handed tactics when dealing with its suppliers. [24] A 2004 investigation by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission did not result in any action being brought against Coles and Woolworths. A 2012 investigation in which suppliers were offered anonymity is believed to have uncovered unethical practices. [25] In 2013, the ACCC was investigating both Coles and Woolworths over accusations that they used improper market practices to force down prices from suppliers. [25] These accusations further intensified on a February 2024 episode of news program Four Corners which exposed the accusations of price gouging with both Coles and their competitor Woolworths Supermarkets, forming an alleged duopoly colloquially known as Colesworth. [26]

A 2014 Federal Court of Australia case ruled that Coles "threatened harm to suppliers if they didn't meet their demands," and ordered the chain to pay $10 million in penalties. [27]

In 2015, the Federal Court of Australia fined Coles $2.5 million for making misleading claims in relation to the sale of its par-baked bread products. [28]

Notable promotions

A Coles Express petrol station Coles Express Burwood Highway Vermont South.jpg
A Coles Express petrol station

Private label brands

In the past Coles had a variety of private labels, most notably Farmland and Embassy. Currently Coles has eight levels of generic or private label brands, although they plan to consolidate these into the basic Coles brand. [36] They also have a private clothing brand.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "2011 Full Year Results" (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 "FY23 Results Release" (PDF). Coles Group. 22 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Red spot special: Coles up for sale". Sydney Morning Herald . 24 February 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  4. ↑ "Looking beyond the panic-buying, Australia's big supermarket story is Aldi's growing market share". Roy Morgan . Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Chau, David (21 November 2018). "Coles debuts with $18b market value; Australian shares tumble after global sell-off". ABC News . Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ↑ "North-West store gutted in blaze". The Examiner. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Coles Myer Limited". Encyclopedia of Business. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Coles". eMelbourne – The Encyclopaedia of Melbourne Online. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Coles Myer re-locate liquor group office to Melbourne". The Age . 10 March 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Coles Supermarket Sales Drop". Sydney Morning Herald . 17 May 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  11. ↑ "Coles sold for $22 billion". Herald Sun. 2 July 2007. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  12. ↑ "Wesfarmers plans Coles investment, restructuring". Reuters. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  13. ↑ Greenblat, Eli (18 February 2014). "Coles boss Ian McLeod steps down". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Coles buys out FlyBuys". Inside Retail. 16 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  15. ↑ Collier, Karen (25 August 2011). "Coles fashion line revealed". Herald Sun. Melbourne. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Coles is being spun off for what could be a billion less than it was bought for". ABC News . 16 March 2018.
  17. ↑ admin (13 April 2023). "Latest Coles Catalogue - Discounts & Savings". Finder Hub. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  18. ↑ Downes, Stephen (12 August 2008). "Coles and Red Rooster lead Olympics cash in". Crikey . Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  19. ↑ "Plan to replace axed shopping site". The Australian. 29 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  20. ↑ "Woolworths sees shake-up in discretionary retail". Business Spectator. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  21. ↑ Collier, Karen (6 July 2011). "Coles' annoying 'Down Down' jingle here to stay". Herald-Sun . Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  22. ↑ "Casey Donovan latest celeb to front Coles' Down Down campaign". Mumbrella . 3 May 2017.
  23. ↑ Dawson, Abigail (6 March 2018). "Coles moves strategy away from 'Down, down' to 'Good things' platform". Mumbrella. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  24. ↑ "ACCC takes action against Coles for alleged unconscionable conduct towards its suppliers". Australian Competition & Consumer Commission . 5 May 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  25. 1 2 Greenblat, Eli (14 February 2013). "ACCC to investigate Coles and Woolies". SMH. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  26. ↑ The cost of living with Coles and Woolworths | Four Corners . Retrieved 30 March 2024– via www.youtube.com.
  27. ↑ "Coles ordered to pay $11.2 million in penalties, legal fees for mistreating suppliers". ABC News. 22 December 2014.
  28. ↑ "BarNet Jade - Find recent Australian legal decisions, judgments, case summaries for legal professionals (Judgments and Decisions Enhanced)".
  29. ↑ Janda, Michael (16 October 2009). "Coles withdraws petrol discount at ACCC's behest". ABC News. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  30. ↑ Noric Dilanchian (24 June 2002). "Developing and Protecting Brands and Trade Marks in Globalising Markets". Intellectual Property: Protection, Enforcement & Commercialisation 4th Annual National Conference, IES Conferences. Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  31. ↑ "Sports For Schools".
  32. ↑ "Coles Supermarkets". sportsforschools.coles.com.audate=11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  33. ↑ "Woolworths blames plastic bag ban and Coles' Little Shop for drop in sales". Yahoo!7 news. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  34. ↑ "Leaked email appears to reveal a limited Christmas edition". NewsComAu. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  35. ↑ "Majority of ASX 20 companies publicly support Voice". Australian Financial Review. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  36. ↑ "Why home brands are the way of the future". news.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  37. ↑ "Gluten Free". Coles Supermarkets. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  38. ↑ "Mix Apparel". Coles Supermarkets. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
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