Woolworths ranks top in South Africa for 4 years in a row – beating Walmart and Dis-Chem
Woolworths has been ranked among the World’s Most Trustworthy Companies for a fourth year in a row, as the 15th most trustworthy retailer in the world and the top South African company on the list.
Woolworths is joined by three other South African retailers, with Dis-Chem in 21st place, Clicks Group in 27th place, and Cashbuild in 37th place.
All four South African retail companies were ranked above the United States’ major retailer, Walmart, which ranked 54th on the list.
The ranking, created by Newsweek and Statista, is based on independent surveys and sentiment analysis.
More than 500,000 data points were analysed, focusing on three key dimensions of trust: customer perception, investor confidence, and employee engagement.
The surveys conducted contribute to 80% of the overall assessment, while social analysis accounts for the remaining 20%.
The scores from previous years are also factored in, on the basis that trust develops over time.
“Trust can be one of the most valuable things a company earns,” said Newsweek when publishing the 2026 rankings.
“For consumers, it can influence where to spend money and which brands to invite into their lives.”
“Ranking among the world’s most trustworthy companies is proof of our values in action,” said Woolworths Group CEO, Sam Ngumeni.
“I’m proud of our business for achieving this recognition, and we’ll continue to work hard to earn that trust every single day,” he said.
Woolworths said that this ranking highlights the exceptional standards maintained across the group and demonstrates the business’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, transparency, and quality.
Woolworths South Africa is a division of Woolworths Holdings Limited (WHL). WHL is listed on the JSE Limited Securities Exchange (JSE) with operations across the southern hemisphere.
The Group comprises two main operating divisions: Woolworths South Africa (WSA), which is based in South Africa and operates in 10 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
The second operating division is the Country Road Group (CRG), headquartered in Australia and conducts business in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Under the retail category of Newsweek’s World’s Most Trustworthy Companies, which has a list of 63 companies from across the globe, Academy Sports and Outdoors in the United States is ranked first in the world.
The top three rankings on the list were retailers based in the United States, while other retailers on the global list include M&S in the United Kingdom, Ryohin Keikaku in Japan, and Fielmann Group in Germany.
Woolworths Food hits the ball out of the park
Woolworths recently announced plans to focus more on its Food business, which is currently outperforming its other segments and providing a significant competitive advantage in the South African grocery market.
For the year ending in June 2026, the company reported modest earnings growth, with the Food segment standing out among its businesses.
Woolworths operates in multiple retail sectors in South Africa and internationally, including food, clothing, and homeware. In South Africa, the company employs over 34,000 people.
During the 2026 financial year, Woolworths experienced a year-on-year turnover increase of 4.3%, reaching R84.5 billion, with growth noted in all business segments.
The group’s Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) grew modestly by 2.8%, amounting to R8.9 billion.
Although there was a slight decline in earnings per share, which fell to R2.63, headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased from R2.68 to R2.82.
The Woolworths Food segment was one of the group’s top performers, achieving 5.7% turnover growth.
The company reported continued market share gains within South Africa’s grocery and supermarket industry.
This increase in market share is partly attributed to the opening of 13 new grocery stores throughout South Africa, expanding its total trading space to over 291,000 square meters.
While the food sector grew significantly, other areas, such as home and beauty, saw only modest growth.
This segment increased its revenue by R657 million year-on-year, representing a 4.3% rise to R15.8 billion in revenue for 2026.
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