From a small country shop to Australia's second-largest retailer, the story of Coles Group.

Science · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1914 by George Coles in a Melbourne suburb, Coles evolved from a modest variety store into a retail titan. Over a century, it navigated complex mergers, massive acquisitions, and corporate spin-offs, ultimately shaping the landscape of Australian consumer habits through strategic pivots and intense competition with Woolworths.

The origins of Coles trace back to 1910, when George Coles purchased his father's shop in St James, Victoria, for £4500. By 1914, he established the first Coles Variety Store in Collingwood. The company’s trajectory shifted significantly in 1959 when Sir Thomas North was sent to the United States to study high-volume, self-service supermarkets. His findings led to a rapid transformation, including the 1960 acquisition of the Matthews Thompson grocery chain, which provided the footprint needed to challenge Woolworths.

The company's history is marked by a series of ambitious corporate maneuvers. In 1985, the merger between GJ Coles & Coy and Myer Emporium created the largest Australian corporation of the time, leading to the formation of Coles Myer Limited. This era saw the company experiment with diverse retail formats, including the acquisition of Bi-Lo, the launch of the 'category killer' Officeworks in 1993, and the short-lived introduction of the Chili's restaurant chain. By the early 2000s, the company faced struggles, leading to a major restructuring under CEO John Fletcher, who abolished the popular shareholder discount card to protect margins.

The modern era of Coles began with its 2007 acquisition by Wesfarmers for $22 billion, a record-breaking takeover bid. This period saw a critical assessment of the company's internal culture and a massive divestment strategy. In 2018, Coles Group was spun off from Wesfarmers, returning to the Australian Securities Exchange as an independent entity. Today, it remains a dominant force in the Australian market, continuing to refine its operations through strategic acquisitions, such as milk processing plants and pet care ventures, while maintaining its core focus on food and liquor retail.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a century of corporate mergers created and eventually erased the Somerfield supermarket brand
• How a pharmacy chain became a retail giant by rethinking the medicine cabinet
• How a pile of war-surplus groceries became a global retail empire
• From a Yankee sensation to a high-street ghost, the rise and fall of Woolworths
• How a century-long grocery leader lost its crown to a rival's loyalty card
• Why Columbia’s School of General Studies is not your typical continuing education program
• Was the 1873 Coinage Act a corrupt crime or a calculated economic shift?
• Why some games are solved while others remain mathematically unreachable
• The railway town that survived fire to become a northern hub
• The Coast Guard chief who commands both ships and strategy
• How a desert hockey team built a record-breaking franchise from scratch in California
• Why American and Canadian football are distinct games born from a single rugby match

More in Social scientists · More in Science · Latest · A–Z · All topics