Coles Group is one of Australia’s major supermarket and retail chains, with a large presence nationwide across supermarkets, liquor stores and convenience outlets. Given its scale and brand recognition, many entrepreneurs wonder whether Coles offers franchise opportunities — in other words, whether an individual investor can purchase a Coles-branded store and operate it independently under a franchise arrangement. The clear answer is: Coles does not offer franchise opportunities in Australia.

Company Ownership Model

Coles stores are operated under a company-owned business model rather than a franchise model. This means that each Coles supermarket or outlet is owned and managed by the company itself. The company retains full responsibility for operations, branding, product range, pricing, supply chain logistics, staffing and store standards. Because the stores are not franchised, independent business owners cannot buy a licence to run a Coles-branded supermarket.

By maintaining full ownership of its stores, Coles ensures consistent customer experience, uniform store appearance, standardised operations and centralised control of key functions. This structure means that store managers report to the company and the company makes decisions on expansion, business strategy, and store performance, rather than relying on individual franchisees to interpret brand requirements.

Reason for No Franchise Offering

Coles’ decision not to franchise reflects its desire to control the entire retail operation end-to-end. With company ownership of stores, Coles can implement changes swiftly, maintain supply chain efficiency, keep its purchasing power strong and manage national marketing and promotions consistently. Franchising introduces variability as independent owners may manage stores differently, which could impact the brand’s reputation, consistency and strategic goals.

Another reason is that Coles operates in a highly competitive and regulated supermarket environment. By keeping direct management, the company can better enforce store compliance, food safety, supply chain integrity and brand standards across all locations. The complexity of managing national operations under one banner makes centralisation more efficient in this instance.

Implications for Aspiring Business Owners

For individuals who wish to enter the supermarket or grocery retail business under a strong brand, Coles is not a viable option for franchise ownership. If your goal is to own a store under the Coles brand, the structure simply does not allow for that. Instead, those seeking ownership in the grocery sector should consider independent supermarket models or other chains that explicitly provide franchise opportunities.

If your interest is simply to work in retail, Coles does offer employment opportunities – whether in store teams, store management or corporate support functions. However, these roles do not provide business ownership under the Coles brand.

Conclusion

Coles Group is a dominant supermarket and retail operator in Australia and enjoys strong brand recognition, nationwide presence and vertical control over its business operations. While this makes it a powerful and consistent retailer, it also means that Coles does not offer franchise opportunities in Australia. All of its stores are company-owned and operated directly by Coles. For aspiring entrepreneurs interested in owning a supermarket, it will be necessary to look beyond Coles to other brands or independent opportunities that allow franchise or ownership structures.