Today
Wesfarmers CEO says trade friction could cut prices for shoppers
Wesfarmers boss says his company is well-placed to weather any fallout from the US-China trade war.
April
Can engine oil be Bunnings’ next big break? Auto rivals hope not
The Wesfarmers-owned hardware giant has already expanded into pet care and cleaning. Now it sees a $1.5 billion opportunity too good to pass up.
February
Wesfarmers boss: rate cut good for consumers but inflation persists
The Perth-headquartered conglomerate delivered better than expected profit for the first half of the financial year, powered by Kmart and Bunnings.
December 2024
Bunnings hits back over market share claims
The Wesfarmers-owned retailer says assertions that it controls 70 per cent of plant sales in Australia are wrong.
November 2024
Retail veteran calls out Bunnings ‘monopoly’
Former Woolworths chairman John Dahlsen wants large-format retailers including hardware giant Bunnings to be covered by a mandatory code of conduct.
3D printing outfit AML3D in $25m raise via Bells, Shaws
The $87 million market cap company kicked off the $25 million placement on Wednesday morning.
Bunnings defends facial recognition after privacy breach
The privacy commissioner rules Bunnings breached its customers’ privacy, but retailer says the technology was to protect staff and stop theft.
Why retail was the Bunnings MD’s third career choice, and why he stayed
Michael Schneider found doing the thing he was passionate about helped make his career much more worthwhile than seeing it as a job with a fortnightly pay.
August 2024
Shareholders move against Metcash as hardware spin-out hopes fade
Street Talk understands influential shareholders harbouring concerns about Metcash’s Independent Hardware Group as Wesfarmer’s Tool Kit Depot ramps up its national expansion.
May 2024
Victa lawnmower brand hits the block via 333 Capital
US-based Briggs & Stratton is seeking to exit the region, carving out its Australasia division in a sale led by 333 Capital.
Wesfarmers flaunts its growth record, hopeful of lithium fortune
From hardware giant Bunnings and retailer Kmart, to the emerging lithium business and health unit, Mr Scott says Wesfarmers is well-placed amid a slower economic environment.
February 2024
Metcash in $300m raise, will pay 6.9-times earnings for Superior Food
Metcash is also acquiring South Australian hardware supplies business, Bianco, for $82 million, and Alpine Hardware for $64 million, sources said.
Retailers need to be smart about casual conversion
Retailers are up in arms over plans to change casual conversion rights, but there are benefits in having more permanent staff, as IKEA and Bunnings have found.
January 2024
Metcash appoints former JB Hi-Fi CEO to run tools franchise
Richard Murray abruptly left Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments in August and was previously chief executive at JB Hi-Fi. He starts at Total Tools this month.
November 2023
Metcash moves to take full control of Total Tools
Total Tools chief executive Paul Dumbrell will step down after more than five years in the top job.
September 2023
Metcash says higher living costs, illicit tobacco trade dent sales
Revenue at the food, liquor and hardware divisions is up 1.7 per cent so far this year, but consumers are seeking discounts and spending less at bars and pubs.
August 2023
This $3.5b company CEO says optimism is a requirement of the job
Metcash CEO Doug Jones is unfazed by current economic conditions: “To run a business where 96.5 per cent of your customers have jobs is a blessing.”
June 2023
Rates, wages play havoc on Wesfarmers. Can it survive the storm?
Between the company’s investor day on Tuesday and the Fair Work Commission’s retail award decision on Friday, last week was a busy one.
March 2023
Metcash accuses Bunnings of being ‘anti-competitive’
The food wholesaler says the hardware giant has sought to buy at least seven of its Mitre 10 stores this year.
October 2022
Wesfarmers says retail trade remains robust, but warns on costs
CEO Rob Scott says some customers are becoming more price sensitive as they seek to manage their budgets.