Number of operating supermarkets and grocery stores Australia FY 2024, by state

Almost 9,640 supermarkets and grocery stores were operating in Australia by the end of the 2024 financial year, around 3,170 of which were located in New South Wales. While Australia’s entire retail industry took a hit during the COVID-19 crisis, with its 2020 monthly revenue fluctuating and declining following the first lockdown in March, the Australian supermarket and grocery industry recorded significant year-on-year revenue growth in 2020.

Major players in the industry

Australia’s supermarket and grocery retail industry is led by two dominant domestic players; Woolworths Group and Coles Group. On the other hand, German supermarket chain Aldi, a newcomer to the Australian retail market, has also enjoyed success and popularity among customers over the past few years.

The future of online grocery shopping

The two giants of the industry, Woolworths and Coles, also expanded into the online food and grocery sector and seemed to thrive amid the coronavirus crisis. The pandemic accelerated the digitalization of the Australian online food retail industry, which witnessed massive upticks in its monthly revenue during the outbreak, exceeding 1.1 billion Australian dollars in August 2021. While traditional grocery shopping still retains its perks and charms, digital commerce, especially in times of COVID-19, appeals to customers for its convenience and competitive prices and will likely flourish well beyond the epidemic.