Divisions and namesakes of the American F. W. Woolworth Company , and divisions of Woolworths Group (Australia) .
Similar namesake companies in South Africa and Australia were legally named after the Woolworth company as permitted by the trademark laws of the period, but never had any financial connection to the original F. W. Woolworth Company. The reorganized American company is currently known as Foot Locker.
Division | Region | Type | Relation | Period | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
F. W. Woolworth Company | North America | Five and dime | - | 1878–1997 | Main subject of this list |
Afterthoughts | North America | Accessories | Division | c. 1970s–1999 | Sold to Claire's and rebranded as Icing chain |
The Bargain! Shop | North America | Discount store | Spin-off | 1991–Present | Sold in 1999 |
Best of Times | North America | Watch store | Division | 1990s | All stores closed 1998 |
CCS | North America | Skateboards | Acquisition | 2008-2014 | Later sold to Daddies Board Shop |
Champs Sports | North America | Sporting goods | Acquisition | 1987–Present | |
Eastbay | North America | Mail order | Acquisition | 1997–present | Acquired in early 1997 |
Foot Locker | North America | Shoe Store | Successor | 1974–present | In 1989, moved from Kinney to the new Woolworth Athletic Group division. Company renamed Foot Locker in 2001. The Woolworth company eventually focused on sporting goods only and adopted this name. |
G.R. Kinney Company | North America | Shoe Store | Division | 1894–1998 | Purchased in 1963. Foot Locker originally was part of the G. R. Kinney division before the organisation of the Woolworth Athletic Group division. |
Going to the Game | North America | Sports memorabilia | Division | 1990s | |
J. Brannam | North America | Clothing | Division | 1979–c. 1997 | Short for "Just Brand Names" |
Kids Foot Locker | North America | Shoe Stores | Division | 1974–Present | |
Lady Foot Locker | North America | Women's athletic stores | Division | 1974–Present | |
Northern Elements | North America | Clothing stores | Division | 1990s | |
Northern Getaway | North America | Clothing stores | Division | 1990s | |
Warehouse Shoe Sale | North America | Athletic Shoes | Division | 2021-Present | Acquired by Foot Locker, Inc in 2021. [1] |
Northern Reflections | North America | Outerwear stores | Division | 1990s–Present | Canadian chain |
Northern Traditions | North America | Women's business wear | Division | 1990s | Canadian chain |
Red Grille | North America | Restaurant | Division | 1960s–1997 | Cafeteria style restaurant |
Rx Place | North America | Discount drug store | Division | 1980s-1990s | |
San Francisco Music Box Company | North America | Music box stores | Division | 1978–1999 | Company was sold by Venator. |
Six:02 | North America | Women's athletic wear | Division | 2012–Present | Upscale women's athletic store started in 2012. |
Venator Group | North America | Shoe Store | Successor | 1997–2001 | Renamed from F. W. Woolworth Company |
Woolco | North America | Discount store | Division | 1962–1994 | Became Walmart Canada |
Worth Mart | North America | Discount store | Division | 1960s | More down-market than Woolco |
2 Entertain | Europe | Home Video | Spin-off joint venture | 2004–Present | Partner with BBC |
Alworths | Europe | General merchandise | Spin-off successor | 2009–2011 | 18 stores, mostly taken over by Poundstretcher |
B&Q | Europe | Home improvement | Spin-off | 1969–Present | Stands for "Block & Quayle" |
Bertram Books | Europe | Book Wholesaler | Spin-off Division | 1971–Present | Bought by Smiths News |
Chad Valley | Europe | Toy Brand | Spin-off Brand | 1800s–Present | Purchased by Home Retail Group, now owned by Sainsbury’s |
Embassy Records | Europe | Record Label | Joint venture | 1954–1965 | Partner with Oriole Records |
Entertainment UK | Europe | Distributor | Division | 1988–2009 | Renamed from Record Merchandisers Limited |
Freedom Sportsline | Europe | Shoes | Successor Division | c. 2001–Present | British division does business as "Foot Locker" |
F. W. Woolworth Ireland | Europe | Retail | Spin-off | 1914–1984 | Former Irish division of F. W. Woolworth plc (later called Woolworths Group) |
Kingfisher | Europe | Successor Parent company | Retailer | 1982–Present | Became Woolworth Holdings but then spun it off in 2001 |
Ladybird | Europe | Division Brand | Children's Clothing | 1938–Present | Now part of Shop Direct Group |
Record Merchandisers Limited | Europe | Record Label | Division | 1966–1988 | Founded by EMI Records |
Retail Company of Germany | Europe | Department | Division | 1927–1998 | German division that became Woolworth GmbH |
Wellchester (originally Wellworths) | Europe | Stationery | Spin-off successor | 2009–2012 | 1 store in Dorchester |
Woolworth GmbH | Europe | Department | Spin-Off | 1998–Present | Formerly Retail Company of Germany, founded in 1927 |
Woolworths Group | Europe | Retail | Spin-off | 1909–2009 | Former British division |
Woolworth (Cyprus) | Europe | Department | Division Spin-off | 1950s–2003 | Now a Debenhams franchise |
Woolworth (Cyprus) Properties | Europe | Retail Developer | Spin-off | 2005–Present | |
Woolworths.co.uk | Europe | Online retailer | Spin-off successor | 2009–2015 | Now part of Shop Direct Group |
Runners Point | Europe | Athletic Clothing | Division | 2013–Present | German athletic stores acquired by Foot Locker in 2013. [2] |
Atmos | Asia | Athletic Clothing | Division | 2021-present | Japanese athletic stores acquired by Foot Locker in 2021. [3] |
South African namesake | |||||
Woolworths South Africa | Africa | Department | Namesake | 1931–Present | Named after Woolworth's without any financial connection |
Café W | Africa | Restaurant | Namesake Division | 2000s–Present | |
Country Road | Oceania | Clothing Store | Namesake Division | 1998–Present | Owned by Woolworths South Africa |
Australian namesake | |||||
Woolworths Group (Australia) | Oceania | Retail company | Namesake | 1924–Present | Named after Woolworth's without any financial connection |
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group | Oceania | Hotel Chain | Namesake Division | 1974–Present | |
Big W | Oceania | Discount | Namesake Division | 1976–Present | |
BWS | Oceania | Liquor | Namesake Division | 2001–Present | Stands for Beer, Wine & Spirits, spun-off into Endeavour Group 2021 |
Caltex Safeway | Oceania | Petrol station | Namesake Joint venture | 2003–2014 | Rebranded Caltex Woolworths in 2014 |
Caltex Woolworths | Oceania | Petrol station | Namesake Joint venture | 2003–Present | Partner with Caltex |
Countdown | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake Division | 1981–2005 | Under Progressive Enterprises |
Dan Murphy's | Oceania | Liquor | Namesake acquisition | 1878–Present | Purchased 1998 by Woolworths, spun-off into Endeavour Group 2021 |
Dick Smith | Oceania | Consumer electronics | Namesake acquisition | 1968–Present | Woolworth bought from Dick Smith in 1980, sold to Anchorage Capital Partners on 26 November 2012, and was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 4 December 2013 |
Everyday Rewards | Oceania | Loyalty program | Namesake division | 2007–Present | |
Flemings | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake acquisition | 1930–Present | Purchased by Woolworth Limited in 1960 |
Food For Less | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake acquisition | c. 1980s–Present | Discount Australian division |
Foodtown | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake division | 1958–Present | Part of Progressive Enterprises |
Masters Home Improvement | Oceania | Grocery | Joint venture with Lowe's | 2011–Present | |
Progressive Enterprises | Oceania | Grocery | Spin-off then acquisition | 1949–Present | Now the New Zealand division of Woolworth Group (Australia) |
Safeway | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake acquisition | 1963–2014 | Being converted to Woolworths brand |
Tandy | Oceania | Consumer electronics | Namesake acquisition | 1973–Present | Woolworth purchased in 2001 |
Thomas Dux | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake division | 2008–Present | Upscale health oriented chain |
Woolworths @ Gull | Oceania | Petrol station | Joint venture with Gull Petroleum | 2001–Present | |
Woolworths (New Zealand) | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake Division | 1929–Present | Part of Woolworths Group (Australia) |
Woolworths Petrol | Oceania | Petrol station | Namesake Division | 1996–2003 | Replaced by Caltex Woolworths joint venture |
Woolworths Supermarkets | Oceania | Grocery | Namesake division | 1929–Present | Largest grocer in Australia |
Frank Winfield Woolworth was an American entrepreneur, the founder of F. W. Woolworth Company, and the operator of variety stores known as "Five-and-Dimes" which featured a selection of low-priced merchandise. He pioneered the now-common practices of buying merchandise directly from manufacturers and fixing the selling prices on items, rather than haggling. He was also the first to use self-service display cases, so that customers could examine what they wanted to buy without the help of a sales clerk.
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company and one of the pioneers of the five-and-dime store. It was among the most successful American and international five-and-dime businesses, setting trends and creating the modern retail model that stores follow worldwide today.
Woolworth, Woolworth's, or Woolworths may refer to:
David Jones Pty Ltd, trading as David Jones, is an Australian luxury department store. The brand was owned from 2014 to 2023 by the South African retail group Woolworths South Africa. In December 2022, David Jones was sold to private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners for approximately $100m.
Woolworths Group Limited is an Australian multinational retail and finance company, primarily known for the operation of its retail chain Woolworths Supermarkets across Australia, Woolworths in New Zealand and its discount department store Big W. Headquartered in Bella Vista, Sydney, it is the largest company in Australia by revenue and number of employees, and the second-largest in New Zealand.
Foot Locker, Inc. is an American multinational retailer of footwear, sportswear, urban youth apparel and accessories headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and operating in over 40 countries.
Big W is an Australian chain of discount department stores, which was founded in regional New South Wales in 1964. The company is a division of the Woolworths Group and as of 2024 operated 179 stores, with around 18,000 employees across mainland Australia and Tasmania. Big W stocks clothing, health and beauty, garden, manchester, kitchenware, toys, pet items, office items, books, televisions, gaming consoles, video games, some furniture items, snack food and small electrical household appliances both on their website and in retail stores.
Woolworths Supermarkets is an Australian chain of supermarkets and grocery stores owned by Woolworths Group. Founded in 1924, Woolworths is currently Australia's largest supermarket chain with a market share of 32.5% as of 2023.
Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African multinational retail company that owns Woolworths, a South African luxury department store chain, and Australian retailer Country Road Group.
Woolworth GmbH is a German discount retailer, founded in 1927. It is currently headquartered in Unna, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Eastbay was an American supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment, selling through direct mail and the internet. In 1997, it became a subsidiary of the F. W. Woolworth Company, later known as Foot Locker, Inc.
Thrift Drug was a U.S. pharmacy chain founded in 1935 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Australian Safeway Pty Ltd was a chain of supermarkets in Australia from 1963 to 2017. The supermarkets were initially part of Safeway Inc. but were absorbed by Woolworths Limited in 1985. On 22 August 2008, Woolworths Limited announced it would discontinue the Safeway name, and former Safeway stores were rebranded to Woolworths or closed. The final Safeway store to be rebranded was Wodonga, occurring on 6 June 2017.
Champs Sports is an American sports retail store, it operates as a subsidiary of Foot Locker. Products sold at Champs Sports include apparel, equipment, footwear, and accessories. As of June 2019, there were 540 store locations found throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The stores are mainly located in shopping malls, and are 3,500 square feet (330 m2) on average.
Webber Wentzel is an African law firm headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The firm operates in a collaborative alliance with global law firm, Linklaters.
The G.R. Kinney Company was an American manufacturer and retailer of shoes from 1894 until September 16, 1998. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in March 1923, with the symbol KNN. The shoe concern was started by George Romanta Kinney whose father ran a general store in rural Candor, New York. The father became indebted and George vowed to repay his debts. In 1894, at the age of 28, he had saved enough to purchase a Lester retail outlet in Waverly, New York. Lester Shoe of Binghamton, New York was the predecessor to the Endicott Johnson Corporation. Kinney succeeded by selling affordably priced shoes to working Americans.
Charles Sumner Woolworth, was an American entrepreneur who went by the nickname of "Sum", opened and managed the world's first five-and-dime store in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was founder of the "C. S. Woolworth & Co" chain of 5¢ & 10¢ stores. Sum's brother, Frank Winfield Woolworth, was first to venture into the retail business with his own store, and soon after, he asked Sum to join him. Frank founded "F. W. Woolworth & Co", which later merged with other Woolworth affiliate stores to be the F. W. Woolworth Company. After the death of his brother, Sum became the longest serving Chairman of the F. W. Woolworth Company. During the early years, Sum also partnered with a long-time friend, Fred Kirby, to open a "Woolworth and Kirby" store in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. When Fred bought out Sum's share, that store grew to become a "friendly rival" affiliate store, in close alliance with the two Woolworth brothers.
E. P. Charlton & Company, also known as E. P. Charlton Company, E. P. Charlton, or simply Charlton's was an American chain of five and ten cent stores owned by Earle Perry Charlton, which merged with several associated brands to create the F. W. Woolworth Company in 1912.
Afterthoughts was a chain of accessory and jewelry stores in the United States, from the 1980s to 2002.