Today
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.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Yesterday
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.
- Paul Smith
This Month
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.
- Sally Patten and Lap Phan
August
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.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
May
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.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
February
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.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Opinion
- Retail
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.
- Sue Mitchell
January
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.
- Updated
- Kylar Loussikian
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
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.”
- Sally Patten
June 2023
- Analysis
- Bulls & bears
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Brad Thompson
September 2022
- Exclusive
- Wesfarmers
Bunnings hones in on tradies with growth plan
The hardware giant is looking for a bigger share of the back of the ute to drive sales as the DIY market slows after a two-year COVID-19 induced boom.
- Carrie LaFrenz
August 2022
Delta Ag farms in UBS for investor search
Australia’s third-biggest rural supplies group Delta Agribusiness has hired UBS to help find a deep-pocketed new investor, who will be able to replace its private equity backer
- Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood
Canny shoppers to help Bunnings, Kmart weather downturn
The company said retail trading conditions had remained robust through the first seven weeks of fiscal 2023 and increased its final dividend.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
July 2022
Wesfarmers pauses using facial recognition at Bunnings, Kmart
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has opened investigations into the personal information handling practices of the two retail chains.
- Carrie LaFrenz
June 2022
Wesfarmers boss says consumers holding up, warns on macro risks
Rob Scott says broad-based inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and labour shortages will need to be navigated carefully.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz