Big W

Big W (stylised as BIG W) is an Australian chain of discount department stores, which was founded in regional New South Wales in 1964. The company is a division of the Woolworths Group and as of 2024 operated 179 stores, with around 18,000 employees. Big W stocks clothing, health and beauty, bedding, kitchenware, toys, pet items, office items, books, televisions, gaming consoles, video games, some furniture items, snack food and small electrical household appliances both on its website and in retail stores. In late 2025, Woolworths Group reportedly accelerated plans to divest from Big W, initiating a formal sale process to test market interest as the brand's popularity continued to decline. Despite various turnaround attempts, the discount department store remained a financial drag on the Group, operating at a significant loss, including a reported $35 million EBIT loss for the 2025 financial year. Seeking to exit the underperforming general merchandise sector to focus on its core grocery business, Woolworths has engaged with several potential suitors. Industry analysts have frequently identified the American retail giant Walmart as a primary candidate, alongside prominent private equity firms such as Anchorage Capital Partners, Platinum Equity, and Oaktree. Other firms previously linked to interest in the chain include KKR and TPG Capital, while competitors like Wesfarmers (owner of Kmart and Target in Australia) have historically expressed interest in acquiring specific store leases rather than the brand itself.