Woolworths New Zealand shared its half-year results for the 2026 financial year (H1 F26), highlighting a period of significant investment in customer value, convenience, store modernisations, employment and support for local communities.
As the business navigates its ongoing transformation, a disciplined focus on reducing costs and driving operational efficiency has led to 2.8 percent sales growth and a 22.4 percent increase in Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT), albeit coming off a historically low base.
These results provide Woolworths with the foundation to continue investing where it matters most for Kiwi customers, by keeping grocery prices down amid an ongoing cost-of-living environment.
Providing Value and Convenience for Customers
A core pillar of Woolworths’ commitment to value is the Everyday Rewards program, which now serves over 2 million members across New Zealand.
The program recently launched a new partnership with FreshChoice, extending rewards to regional communities.
Members can now earn and spend vouchers across nine partners, including bp, g.a.s., Petstock, and MILKRUN. To meet record demand for flexible, convenient shopping, Direct to Boot is now available at 55 locations, with one in four online orders now picked up or delivered within two hours.
Investing in Team and Local Communities
Woolworths continues to be a major employer and investor in the New Zealand economy through a refreshed store operating model that creates clearer career pathways for team members.
Approximately 2,500 new team members have been recruited and trained with additional retail capabilities.
The transformation has resulted in 300 team members being promoted to new leadership positions.
The ongoing store modernisation program continues to bring world-class retail experiences to local communities, including recent openings and upgrades in Taupō and Nelson, as well as a number of Fresh Choice stores around the country.
With a 100-year history in New Zealand, Woolworths remains dedicated to grassroots initiatives focusing on nutrition, wellbeing, and hunger relief. This has most recently been seen through support for the Red Cross's natural disaster recovery efforts, the Salvation Army's Christmas appeal, and corporate donations, totalling close to NZD 450,000.
"Our focus is simple: providing a competitive offer that helps Kiwis manage their weekly grocery budget. This half-year result is a testament to our team’s hard work during our ongoing transformation. By managing our costs effectively, we are able to reinvest back into the things that matter most to our customers: lower prices, more convenient shopping options, and local jobs," said Woolworths New Zealand Managing Director Sally Copland.
“While our new operating model is bedding in well across the vast majority of our stores, we are providing extra support where needed to ensure every customer receives the experience they expect from us. We know New Zealanders are looking for value, and we are committed to delivering it through the second half of the year and beyond."
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