{{Short description|Australian fashion retail group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}} {{Infobox company | name = Country Road Group | logo = Country Road (retailer) logo.jpg | type = Subsidiary | traded_as = {{ASX|CTY}} | industry = Retail | founded = 1974 | founder = Stephen Bennett | location = 572 Swan Street, Burnley, Victoria | key_people = Steven Cook (CEO) | products = Clothing<br />Footwear<br />Fashion accessories<br />Homeware<br />Furniture | num_locations = 630 <small>(2025)</small><ref name= "Annual Financial Statements, 2025">{{cite web|url= https://www.woolworthsholdings.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/whlfy25.pdf |title= Annual Financial Statements, 2025 |author= |publisher= Woolworths Holdings |date= September 2025 |access-date= 3 February 2026 }}</ref> | num_employees = 3,470 <small>(2025)</small><ref name= "Annual Financial Statements, 2025"></ref> | revenue = {{decrease}} R12.57 billion <small>(2025)</small><ref name= "Annual Financial Statements, 2025"></ref> | revenue_year = | operating_income = {{decrease}} -R1.89 billion <small>(2025)</small><ref name= "Annual Financial Statements, 2025"></ref> | income_year = | net_income = {{decrease}} -R1.43 billion <small>(2025)</small><ref name= "Annual Financial Statements, 2025"></ref> | net_income_year = | aum = | assets = | assets_year = | equity = | equity_year = | parent = Woolworths Holdings | website = {{URL|countryroadgroup.com.au}} }}
The '''Country Road Group''' is a middle market clothing retailer with operations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It is a subsidiary of major South African retail company Woolworths, which is headquartered in Cape Town.
The company's brands include the self-named Country Road, Mimco, Trenery, Politix, and Witchery. As of 2025, Country Road has 630 locations, 88 of which are in South Africa, with the rest situation across Australasia.
==History== [[File:Country Road store in the Canberra Centre August 2020.jpg|thumb|A Country Road store in Canberra]] Country Road was founded in 1974 by Stephen Bennett, initially as a niche women's shirting label.<ref name="tlrb"/> It grew rapidly to become Australia's first lifestyle brand.<ref name="tlrb">{{cite web|title=The Long Road Back|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/06/1070625579603.html|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=16 June 2011|author-link=Kay O'Sullivan|year=2003}}</ref> In 1981, Myer purchased Country Road, before listing it on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in 1987.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118299707 Country Road swamped by applications] ''Canberra Times'' 23 June 1987 page 16</ref>
In 1988, it expanded into homewares and the American market. By 1980 it was selling women's apparel and had products in department stores as well as in ten Country Road stores.<ref name="acg">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/11/business/australian-clothier-grows-in-us.html |title=Australian Clothier Grows in U.S. |accessdate=10 October 2014 |date=11 July 1989 |newspaper=New York Times}}</ref> In 1984, Country Road began producing menswear, then in 1986, it began producing accessories. Its growth during the 1990s extended in both product range and location, operating over 100 stores at its peak.<ref name=History>[http://www.countryroadgroup.com.au/about/our-history Our History] Country Road Group</ref>
In 1998, South African company Woolworths acquired a controlling interest in the company. However, Woolworths was unable to take the Country Road private due to Solomon Lew refusing to sell the 11.67% stake held by his family company Australian Retail Investments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Simon |date=1999-11-26 |title=$80m debt load sinks Sportsgirl |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/80m-debt-load-sinks-sportsgirl-19991126-k92ri |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Treadgold |first=Tim |date=1999-07-09 |title=Out of South Africa |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/out-of-south-africa-19990709-kb4yn |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref>
Country Road was relaunched in July 2004 as a company that has higher volume sales and lower product prices, with its head office in Burnley, Victoria, and the Australian flagship store at Chadstone Shopping Centre.{{cn|date=October 2022}}
In 2003, Country Road entered into an exclusive agreement with Myer department stores. Under this agreement, Country Road agreed to sell exclusively to Myer and not to its main rival, David Jones.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221011073651/https://www.smh.com.au/business/solly-lew-asks-country-road-if-its-fair-dinkum-20040618-gdj5cr.html Solly Lew asks Country Road if it's fair dinkum] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 18 June 2004</ref> It also included joint marketing and in-store visual merchandising. This arrangement ended in January 2007 when Country Road became a concession store in David Jones and Myer stores. There were also stores in Boston, Chicago, New York City and other cities in the United States, as recently as 2000 or later, which closed due to weak sales.<ref>[https://www.afr.com/companies/country-road-stays-the-distance-in-u-s-19920529-kaoxj Country Road stays the distance in US] ''Australian Financial Review'' 29 May 1992</ref>
In June 2009, Country Road launched Trenery, a new brand aimed at the 40-plus market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SilvaJelly |first=Natasha |date=2009-06-11 |title=Country Road introduces its elder sibling |url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/country-road-introduces-its-elder-sibling-20090611-c4fg.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>
In 2012, Country Road purchased Witchery Group, which include Witchery and Mimco. Having built up an 88% shareholding in the company, Woolworths took full ownership of Country Road in July 2014 when it purchased Solomon Lew's shareholding for $200 million with the company delisted from the ASX.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Verrender |first=Ian |date=2014-06-24 |title=Woolworths' offer to buy Lew out of Country Road raises questions |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-24/woolworths-offer-to-buy-lew-out-of-country-road-raises-questions/5547308 |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=ABC News|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenblat |first=Eli |date=2014-07-25 |title=Solomon Lew accepts Country Road offer, ending 17 year battle |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/solomon-lew-accepts-country-road-offer-ending-17-year-battle-20140725-zwyys.html |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20140903/pdf/42rzlh04ptl6vv.pdf Country Road Limited: Removal from Official List] Australian Securities Exchange 3 September 2014</ref>
The Country Road Group acquired menswear chain Politix in October 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Jessica |date=2016-10-05 |title=Woolworths Holdings buys men's fashion retailer Politix |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/woolworths-holdings-buys-mens-fashion-retailer-politix-20161005-grv83l |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2021, the Country Road Group began selling products from its brands on online marketplace The Iconic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Imogen |date=15 June 2021 |title=Country Road Group taps into The Iconic's 17 million monthly visitors |url=https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/country-road-group-taps-into-the-iconic-s-17-million-monthly-visitors |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Ragtrader |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2024, Country Road Group chief supply chain officer Rachid Maliki left the company after allegations of sexual harassment and bullying. Mehmed Mustafic, a general manager, left the company the following month after allegations of workplace bullying.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenblat |first=Eli |date=29 May 2024 |title=Country Road Group staff complaints made in December employee survey |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/retail/country-road-group-owners-order-staff-not-to-talk-to-press/news-story/73e5d2d973665cdd2f3f92365a1c9c0a |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=The Australian}}</ref> Staff dissatisfaction over the company's handling of their complaints and allegations that CEO Raju Vuppalapati had protected Maliki led to the scandal being made public in the media in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deery |first=Shannon |last2=Douglas |first2=Carly |date=27 May 2024 |title=Country Road Group engulfed by sexual assault scandal |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/country-road-group-engulfed-by-sexual-assault-scandal/news-story/9268c820e6231f98205d9b755ebb63f7 |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=Herald Sun}}</ref>
Vuppalapati resigned in June 2025 and was succeeded by Steven Cook, a former Debenhams CEO, in July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LaFrenz |first=Carrie |date=2025-06-20 |title=Former Debenhams boss to run Country Road Group |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/former-debenhams-boss-to-run-country-road-group-20250620-p5m90u |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> Under Cook, Country Road and Witchery began selling products from external brands on their websites in November 2025. Trenery, Mimco and Politix are expected to follow suit in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Christopher |date=13 November 2025 |title=Country Road Group launches marketplace offering |url=https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/country-road-group-launches-marketplace-offering |access-date=17 November 2025 |website=Ragtrader |language=en}}</ref>
==Brands== The Country Road Group operates the following brands:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenblat |first=Eli |date=2024-01-29 |title=Country Road Group sales slump on weak consumer sentiment and household savings |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/retail/country-road-group-sales-slump-on-weak-consumer-sentiment-and-household-savings/news-story/efd43bde726d2517e7a1e23c913d38a6 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=The Australian}}</ref>
* Country Road * Mimco * Trenery * Politix * Witchery
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite web| title=Getting back on track | website=News.com.au | date=5 June 2011 | url=http://www.news.com.au/getting-back-on-track/story-e6frfh4f-1111112859365 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212059/http://www.news.com.au/getting-back-on-track/story-e6frfh4f-1111112859365 | archive-date=4 June 2011 | url-status=dead }} *{{cite web | title= Metcash triumphs, Franklins struggles | website=Business Report | date=28 October 2007 | url=http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=4096556 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028141010/http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=4096556 | archive-date=28 October 2007 | url-status=unfit }} * {{cite web | last=Schmidl | first=Engel | title=Country Road snaps up Witchery: More retail consolidation to come | website=SmartCompany | date=1 August 2012 | url=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/economy/country-road-snaps-up-witchery-more-retail-consolidation-to-come/ }}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Country Road (retailer)}} *{{official|https://www.countryroadgroup.com.au/}} *[https://www.countryroad.com.au/ Country Road website]
{{Retailers in New Zealand}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Clothing brands of Australia Category:Clothing companies established in 1974 Category:Clothing retailers of Australia Category:Clothing retailers of New Zealand Category:Companies based in Melbourne Category:Companies formerly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange Category:Defunct retail companies of the United States Category:Retail companies established in 1974 Category:1974 establishments in Australia Category:Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies Category:Cotton industry in Australia Category:Knitwear manufacturers Category:Myer Group