Woolworths sees steady sales growth – especially online

Darshana Gupta

1st May 2025

Woolworths recorded a 3.6 per cent rise in total revenue of $13.952 billion in the third quarter of this year, up from $12.597 billion during the same period last year. 

The company’s e-commerce sales increased by 16.3 per cent to $1.82 billion, and e-commerce penetration was at 14.2 per cent, up from 12.5 per cent year on year. 

While its total Australian food division sales increased 3.6 per cent to $13.051 billion, the discount department store division Big W saw sales slip 1.5 per cent to $986 million, despite its e-commerce sales grew by 4.3 per cent to $87 million. 

“Clothing remains a challenge [to Big W] with Q3 growth reliant on clearance of Spring/ Summer, and a slower start to Autumn/ Winter, which has continued into April,” said Woolworths Group CEO, Amanda Bardwell.

“This has impacted Big W’s profit outlook with the loss before interest and tax for H2 (the second half of the year) now expected to be approximately $70 million.”

In New Zealand, Woolworths saw a total sales increase. Of 4.8 per cent to $2.118 billion and e-commerce growth of 24.3 per cent to $313 million, with a penetration reaching 14.8 per cent in the third quarter of this year.