This Month
- Opinion
- Business People of the Year
Weckert stamps her mark on Coles amid tumultuous year for supermarkets
Leah Weckert, one of the Business People of the Year for 2024, has fared well amid a barrage of criticism from politicians over grocery prices.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Business Person awards celebrate founder success
AirTrunk and Chemist Warehouse’s founder stories underline the importance of innovative and risk-taking entrepreneurship, perceptiveness, and persistence to build wealth- and job-creating enterprises.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Business People of the Year
Humble starts, billion-dollar deals unite Business Person of the Year winners
Founders of Chemist Warehouse Jack Gance, Sam Gance and Mario Verrocchi, and AirTrunk’s Robin Khuda take the top prize for 2024.
- James Thomson
November
If you want the top job, say so: Coles CEO
Leah Weckert has some refreshingly honest career advice for aspiring executives, particularly women.
- Patrick Durkin
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Weckert and Wikramanayake paint a bigger picture on profits
Big business deserves big scrutiny. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture that the Coles and Macquarie bosses are painting on why profits are important.
- James Thomson
Coles CEO warns Canberra on profit blame game
Leah Weckert has backed warnings by Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney that “profit has become a dirty word” as she urged greater collaboration to tackle food inflation.
- Patrick Durkin and Hannah Wootton
October
Home brands have had a makeover - and customers love it
As families faces stubbornly high mortgage and utilities bills, they are increasingly turning to Woolworths and Coles’ own brands. It is a lucrative sale.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
What a $9.50 block of cheese says about Coles’ big squeeze
The supermarket giant is using hefty discounts to woo increasingly disloyal customers. It’s just one element squeezing the company’s profits.
- James Thomson
September
- Opinion
- ACCC
Coles and Woolworths score own goal on dodgy discounts
The big supermarket chains have already lost the public relations war over the ACCC’s allegations of fake discounts. What’s the next move?
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Coles, Woolies go ‘Down Down’ in the court that matters
Lawyers may tell Coles and Woolworths to fight the ACCC. But this is much more than a legal battle.
- Anthony Macdonald
August
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How Coles stopped the thieves and beat the petty politics of profits
Populist politicians will probably claim Coles is price gouging. But its results tell a more nuanced story that’s resonating with investors, if not voters.
- James Thomson
Coles boss banks on efficiency gains from new warehouse
Leah Weckert says better product availability will translate to higher sales following the opening of a major distribution centre in western Sydney.
- Carrie LaFrenz
April
Coles wants suppliers’ help in cutting prices as shoppers seek deals
The supermarket chain’s sales rose 5.1 per cent in the third quarter but liquor sales fell as consumers cut spending by looking for cheaper alcohol options.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Balance sheet quirks skew supermarket returns measures: MST Marquee
The concept became a political football this week after it was used by Greens senator Nick McKim to accuse Woolworths and Coles of “making off like bandits”.
- Tom Richardson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
After Woolies brawls, Coles busts supermarket profit myths
Political theatre and business bashing won’t deliver a magic bullet for bringing down grocery prices - because there isn’t one.
- Updated
- James Thomson
March
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why Coles will put some cost-of-living heat back on suppliers
Leah Weckert says Coles worked with suppliers when their costs were soaring. Now inflation is coming down, the conversation needs to change.
- James Thomson
Bringing prices down a ‘joint effort’ with suppliers: Coles CEO
Chief executive Leah Weckert defended the retailer’s profitability, while also saying the Australian market is hugely competitive.
- Carrie LaFrenz
February
Men dominate top pay quartiles at biggest companies
Men were far more likely to earn more than women the further up in organisations they moved, new data shows.
- Hannah Wootton and Cindy Yin
- Updated
- Earnings season
Coles closes in on Woolies over sales, costs
The supermarket chain’s CEO, Leah Weckert, says competition is “very robust” as the retailing giants face intense political scrutiny over rising prices.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
January
Coles names new arbiter as Jeff Kennett resigns from post
As renewed scrutiny comes to the grocery sector, Coles has appointed experienced lawyer Jenny Linsten to the role dealing with supplier disputes.
- Carrie LaFrenz