Retail, energy, insurance, chemicals
Founded in WA in 1914 as a farmers' cooperative, today Wesfarmers operations include department stores; home improvement and office supplies; insurance; chemicals, energy and fertilisers; and industrial and safety products. Acquired Coles Group in 2007 for $20 billion in the biggest takeover in Australian corporate history. Coles was spun-off in November 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Aug 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Wesfarmers Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Efforts to pay a living wage
Oxfam Australia's Company Tracker compares the big clothing brands on their efforts to pay a living wage to the women working in their factories. This company has released the names and addresses of at least 70% of their supplier factories, has taken some action towards paying a living wage within a set timeframe in the supply chain, and has made a commitment to ringfence wages.
Source: Oxfam Australia
(2021)
49.1% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2023 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 55 companies in the apparel sector on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 49.1%. The overall average score was a disappointing 18.2% and the highest score was 53.4%.
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of A.
Source: Monash University
(2021)
12.5/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2024 and received a score of 12.5/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
62/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 62/100 in the Retailing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global
(2022)
Underpaying workers
In 2023 seven subsidiaries of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety Pty Ltd (WIS) back-paid more than $4.8 million to more than 3,400 underpaid employees nationally and signed an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman. The company was also ordered to make a $100,000 contrition payment.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman
(2023)
35.3% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 35.3/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek
(2017)
Political donations
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $638,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale
(2018)
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: put a price on carbon; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
Tax paying in Australia
Between 2015 and 2018 this company paid $3 billion tax on a total income of $199 billion, earning the number 8 spot on Michael West's Top 40 Tax Payers 2020. West calculated which of Australia's largest companies have paid the most tax using three years of tax transparency data published by the Australian Tax Office.
Source: Michael West
(2018)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website in the areas of sourcing, community, environment and indigenous engagement.
Source: company website
(2019)
Previous involvement with coal
This company used to operate coal mines, but sold off its last coal asset in 2018.
Source: Reuters
(2022)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website
(2021)
36.6% in Gender Benchmark
The 2023 Gender Benchmark ranks 112 companies from the apparel and food and agriculture sectors on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. This company ranked #18/112, with a total score of 36.6%. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 55%.
22.2% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2024 and is ranked #207/816, with a total score of 22.2/100.
Company Details
Type:
Public company
Revenue:
67.2 billion AUD
(2018)
Employees:
217,000
(2018)
Subsidiaries:
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
Healthcare services
API has four core business operations - pharmaceutical distribution, manufacturing, retail pharmacy brands and hospital and medical distribution. API was established as a chemists' co-operative in 1910 and listed on the ASX on 16 June 1997. The API retail pharmacy banner groups are Priceline, Soul Pattinson, and Pharmacist Advice. Almost 90 per cent of the 1579 pharmacies, health and beauty stores and beauty salons supplied by API are owned and operated by franchisees. Acquired by Wesfarmers in 2022.
Kmart Australia Pty Ltd
Department stores
Kmart and Target were part of the Coles Group when it was bought by Wesfarmers in 2007. Wesfarmers divested Coles (supermarkets and liquor) in 2018, but kept Kmart and Target, which were merged into Kmart Group in 2023. Kmart Group operates 324 Kmart and 128 Target stores across Australia and New Zealand. Wesfarmers also owns Bunnings, Officeworks and Priceline.
Bunnings Group Ltd
Hardware retail
Australia's largest hardware retailer. Bunnings operate 211 Bunnings Warehouse stores and 63 smaller format Bunnings stores across Australia and New Zealand.
Officeworks Ltd
Office supplies retailer
Established by Coles Myer in 1994. Today they operate over 160 stores across Australia, and is part of Wesfarmers' Home Improvement and Office Supplies division.
Workwear Group
Workwear
This former division of Pacific Brands was established in 2010 after acquiring King Gee and Stubbies in 2001, and Hard Yakka, Stylecorp and NNT in 2007. Sold to Wesfarmers in August 2014. Manufacturing occurs in Australia, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Fiji.
Contact Details
Address:
Level 14, Brookfield Place, Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Phone:
08 9327 4211
Website:
Products / Brands
Kmart Group
Anko
Irons
Anko
Everyday Apparel
Anko
Dishwashers
Anko
Fridges & Freezers
K hub
Department Stores
Kmart
Toy Stores
Kmart
Electronics Stores
Kmart
Department Stores
Kmart
Homewares Stores
Target
Toy Stores
Target
Everyday Apparel
Target
Electronics Stores
Target
Department Stores
Target
Homewares Stores
Bunnings
Hardware Stores
Click
Heating & Cooling
Catch
E-commerce
Hard Yakka
Workwear
Hard Yakka
Work Boots
King Gee
Workwear
King Gee
Underwear/Socks/Sleepwear
King Gee
Underwear & Socks
King Gee
Work Boots
NNT Uniforms
Workwear
Stubbies
Workwear