In its financial results for the 52 weeks ended 29 June 2025, JSE-listed retail group Woolworths highlighted its on-demand Woolies Dash offering as a critical growth engine, significantly outpacing overall group performance.
Despite navigating challenging macroeconomic conditions and global trade uncertainties, which saw group turnover grow by 6.1%, Woolies Dash delivered explosive growth.
The platform recorded a staggering 41.6% surge in sales, helping to propel overall online sales for its Food division by 32.9%. Online sales now contribute 6.6% to total Food sales.
This robust performance from the on-demand sector underpinned a “creditable” overall result for Woolworths South Africa, which was underpinned by a much-improved second half. The Food business maintained strong momentum throughout the period.
Wooliesstrategic investment in its digital and on-demand capabilities is clearly paying dividends, the results indicated.
The growth of Woolies Dash is a direct response to evolving consumer demand for convenience and speed.
The success of Dash also contributed to a 20 basis point improvement in the gross profit margin for the South African operations, which reached 24.9%. Company reports state that benefits from more effective promotions and supply chain efficiencies more than offset the costs associated with growing the online channel.
While the Group’s Fashion, Beauty and Home (FBH) division also saw online sales increase by 22.8%, its overall performance was impacted by a highly promotional environment. Conversely, the Country Road Group faced headwinds from weakened consumer spending and inflated import costs.
The standout performance of Woolies Dash signals a strategic shift for the retailer, emphasizing digital convenience as a cornerstone of its future growth, even as it optimizes its physical store footprint.
