Which countries have Woolworths? Does Germany have Woolworths?

Woolworth Deutschland (Woolworth Germany), a chain of department stores, has a rich history. Founded in 1927 with its first store in Bremen, it was a subsidiary of the American company F. W. Woolworth Company.

In 1998, the German subsidiary separated from its American parent company through a management buyout and was officially renamed to “DWW Deutsche Woolworth GmbH & Co. OHG” (though it continued trading as Woolworth). The brand has come a long way since then.

As of 2022, Woolworth Deutschland boasts more than 570 stores in Germany, 18 in Poland, and 2 in Austria. Their ambitious plans include having over 1,000 stores in the medium term and eventually expanding to more than 5,000 stores across Europe in the long term.

It’s important to note that Woolworth Deutschland is not related to the British Woolworths Group stores or the Australian-based Woolworths Group retail group. In July 2021, Woolworths Deutschland made an interesting move by purchasing the British and Irish Woolworths trademarks, brands, intellectual properties, and website from The Very Group for an undisclosed sum.

This acquisition adds to their legacy. Woolworths is also present in other countries:

Australia: Founded in 1924 in Sydney, Woolworths has grown into Australia’s largest supermarket chain with more than 3,000 stores across Australia and New Zealand. They serve approximately 28 million customers each week, offering a wide range of products including food, liquor, petrol, general merchandise, home improvement, and hotels.

New Zealand: Woolworths New Zealand proudly owns and operates over 180 Countdown supermarkets in New Zealand. They are also the franchisor of Super Value and FreshChoice supermarkets, representing over 69 stores.

Canada: Although the last stores under the Woolworth nameplate disappeared from Canada in 1994, the division continued to be called “Woolworth Canada.” It was eventually renamed Venator Group Canada and later Foot Locker Canada.