Woolworths Reports Sales Growth for Q1 2026
The retailer achieved a 4.7 percent increase in first-quarter sales, totaling $19.4 billion globally.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Retail
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Woolworths reported a 4.7 percent increase in total sales during Q1 2026, reaching $19.4 billion. This overall performance was bolstered by a 6.9 percent rise in Australian Food sales.
Why it matters
Growth in the Australian market and a 16 percent surge in e-commerce helped counteract weaker performance in other divisions. The results highlight how varying regional demand and digital expansion drive the company's financial health.
Group e-commerce sales reached $3.1 billion, representing a 16 percent increase for the quarter. Meanwhile, Australian Food sales hit $14.8 billion, while New Zealand Food sales fell 6.4 percent to $1.8 billion.
The players
Woolworths
An Australian-based retail company that operates a major chain of supermarkets and consumer goods stores across the region.
Big W
A department store chain owned by Woolworths that focuses on discount retail products in Australia.
The details
Robust gains in the Australian food sector and increased online shopping activity successfully offset performance drops in the company's New Zealand operations and Big W retail business. Early quarter growth was also supported by the Disney Ooshies collectibles campaign.
Timeline
The Woolworths sales reporting period covers Q1 2026.
Market Landscape
This performance reflects the broader retail sector shift toward omnichannel e-commerce integration. By leveraging digital growth, the company manages to offset regional brick-and-mortar volatility, mirroring strategies used by international competitors.
Shoppers can expect continued emphasis on digital and e-commerce platforms as the company navigates regional sales variances. These results suggest steady inventory management across the Australian market despite challenges in other business units.
The takeaway
Retailers often rely on strong digital sales to balance out underperforming geographic segments or specific store brands. Tracking e-commerce growth provides consumers and analysts a clearer view of long-term store viability.
Further reading
Explore more industry updates in the Retail section.
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