Is Country Road Group profitable in 2026?

No. For FY2025 (52 weeks to 29 June 2025), Country Road Group posted an operating loss of R1,893m and a net loss of R1,434m on revenue of R12,439m, down about 16% year on year, per Woolworths Holdings' September 2025 annual financial statements.

Who owns Country Road Group?

Country Road Group is a wholly owned private subsidiary of South Africa's Woolworths Holdings Limited (JSE: WHL), which took full ownership in July 2014 by buying out Solomon Lew's remaining 11.67% stake for A$200 million.

Who is Country Road Group's biggest competitor?

Myer is the most pressing rival: in 2025 it acquired Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti and Jacqui E from Premier Investments, reaching 783 stores and 17,000-plus staff, then launched an AI-native retail media network via Mirakl Ads in July 2026.

Could AI replace Country Road Group's workforce?

Core store and design roles are largely AI-immune, but back-office functions like demand forecasting and personalization are exposed industry-wide. No CRG-specific AI deployment has been reported, while concession partner Myer already launched an AI retail media network in July 2026.

Will Woolworths Holdings sell Country Road Group?

It's an open question. As of the FY2025 results (September 2025), Woolworths Holdings stated it was reassessing the carrying value of CRG's underperforming brand assets, which could lead to further impairments or a divestment decision.

How much has Country Road Group's revenue fallen?

FY2025 revenue fell to R12,439m from R13,900m in FY2024, roughly a 16% decline, with the prior half-year (26 weeks to 29 Dec 2024) showing comparable-store sales down 7.8% and operating profit down 71.7%.

Consumer brands · subsidiary of Woolworths Holdings Limited · Australia

Country Road Group

countryroadgroup.com.au ↗

Australian fashion group running Country Road, Witchery, Mimco, and Trenery stores.

Little protection left

Assessed 26 July 2026 · Evidence as of 26 July 2026

Not much stands between this business and its pressures.

On the recordSince 26 July 2026 · Checkable from March 2026 · Every call on the record Checkpoint: Woolworths Holdings FY2026 half-year result and carrying-value reassessment of CRG

The call

Country Road Group is losing money and sales for a third straight year while its parent decides whether the brands are worth keeping.

Country Road Group owns mid-range clothing brands in Australia and is shrinking fast, with sales down 16% and big losses. It is easy to compete against because bigger rivals like Myer have more money and better technology, and shoppers are buying from faster, cheaper brands instead. Myer, which actually landlords Country Road's stores and just launched AI-powered shopping tools, now controls the same market segment and can out-compete Country Road at every turn. The parent company Woolworths is openly considering whether to keep or sell these brands, which means ownership could change or the company could be shut down. The biggest thing to watch is the parent company's financial report in March 2026, when it will likely say whether these brands are worth keeping or if it plans to sell them off.

Why

AI pressure: None apparent. No AI product is displacing CRG directly; its problem is falling comparable sales and formalwear demand, not automation. Could AI do the core job? Only partly.

Bigger players: Myer. Myer, CRG's own concession landlord, has consolidated the department-store segment and rolled out an AI retail media network CRG can't match. Could a giant copy it? Yes, easily.

What protects it. Decades-old brand recognition and a store/concession footprint across Australia and South Africa that would take years for a rival to replicate.

What would change this call

Woolworths Holdings FY2026 half-year result due around March 2026. Shows whether comparable-store sales and losses are stabilizing under new CEO Steven Cook.
WHL carrying-value reassessment outcome on Country Road Group brand assets. An impairment charge or divestment announcement would signal parent is exiting the brands.
Glassons opening stores in Australian malls during 2026. Would confirm fast-fashion is directly encroaching on Country Road Group's retail footprint.

Key numbers

FY2025 revenue fell to R12,439m from R13,900m, down 16% (2025-09)
FY2025 operating loss of R1,893m (2025-09)
Comparable-store sales down 7.8% in H1 to Dec 2024 (2025-03-07)

Named risks

Parent Woolworths Holdings reassessing carrying value, possible impairment or divestment. Severity: high
Multi-year revenue and profit collapse with no sign of reversal (FY2025 revenue down 16%). Severity: high
Leadership instability: CEO resignation June 2025, third leadership change in a year. Severity: medium
Mass redundancies and unfilled support-office vacancies reported mid-2025. Severity: medium
Structural decline in formalwear demand from hybrid work reducing core category sales. Severity: medium

Rivals, as read in July 2026

Rival	Direction	Evidence
Myer	losing to	Myer added 783 stores via 2025 Just Jeans/Jay Jays/Portmans deal, launched AI ad network July 2026
Cue Clothing Co	contesting	Poached a Country Road executive in April 2025 amid British investor takeover
Wesfarmers (Kmart/Target)	losing to	A$11.4 billion revenue in most recent annual report dwarfs CRG's scale, as of 2026

Questions people ask

Is Country Road Group profitable in 2026?: No. For FY2025 (52 weeks to 29 June 2025), Country Road Group posted an operating loss of R1,893m and a net loss of R1,434m on revenue of R12,439m, down about 16% year on year, per Woolworths Holdings' September 2025 annual financial statements.
Who owns Country Road Group?: Country Road Group is a wholly owned private subsidiary of South Africa's Woolworths Holdings Limited (JSE: WHL), which took full ownership in July 2014 by buying out Solomon Lew's remaining 11.67% stake for A$200 million.
Who is Country Road Group's biggest competitor?: Myer is the most pressing rival: in 2025 it acquired Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti and Jacqui E from Premier Investments, reaching 783 stores and 17,000-plus staff, then launched an AI-native retail media network via Mirakl Ads in July 2026.
Could AI replace Country Road Group's workforce?: Core store and design roles are largely AI-immune, but back-office functions like demand forecasting and personalization are exposed industry-wide. No CRG-specific AI deployment has been reported, while concession partner Myer already launched an AI retail media network in July 2026.
Will Woolworths Holdings sell Country Road Group?: It's an open question. As of the FY2025 results (September 2025), Woolworths Holdings stated it was reassessing the carrying value of CRG's underperforming brand assets, which could lead to further impairments or a divestment decision.
How much has Country Road Group's revenue fallen?: FY2025 revenue fell to R12,439m from R13,900m in FY2024, roughly a 16% decline, with the prior half-year (26 weeks to 29 Dec 2024) showing comparable-store sales down 7.8% and operating profit down 71.7%.

Timeline

2026-07-19Myer launches AI-native retail media network via Mirakl Ads on MYER one loyalty program
2026-06-14Wikipedia notes Trenery, Mimco and Politix expected to launch marketplace model in 2026
2025-11Country Road and Witchery begin selling third-party brands on own websites
2025-09Woolworths Holdings FY2025 results show CRG revenue down ~16%, operating loss R1,893m
2025-07-10Country Road closes Sydney CBD and Mosman Trenery stores in footprint reset
2025-07Steven Cook, ex-Debenhams co-CEO, appointed CRG CEO
2025-06CEO Raju Vuppalapati resigns
2025-04Helen Wright, ex-Sergio Rossi CEO, appointed to run Country Road brand
2025-03-07H1 results show comparable sales down 7.8%, operating profit down 71.7%
2014-07Woolworths Holdings takes full ownership of CRG, buying out Solomon Lew's stake

Revision history

26 July 2026

First assessed. Little protection left. The text above is fixed as of this date and is not edited afterwards.

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