Wesfarmers today (18 February) posted a sluggish profits gain, boosted by the performance of its Coles supermarket business.
The coal-to-groceries conglomerate said that profits in the first six months of the year edged up 1% to A$879m. Sales for the period, ended 31 December, increased to A$26.53bn, up from A$26.36 last year.
Wesfarmers said that its Coles supermarket unit had booked a strong sales performance.
Revenue from its Coles supermarket business was A$15.16bn, compared to A$14.62bn for the half-year of last year.
Like-for-like food and liquor sales rose 6% and total food and liquor sales increased 7.5% to A$12bn, in spite of the economic downturn.
Coles’s earnings before interest, tax and corporate overheads increased to A$486m, up from A$431m previously.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“Performance across the retail business was strong, with earnings increasing 22.6% compared to the previous corresponding period,” Wesfarmers said in a statement.
“The Coles division’s performance over the period was pleasing. This result reflects the significant amount of work under way on the long-term turnaround of that business.”
Click here for the full results release, or check back later for just-food’s post conference call analysis.