==History ==

Coles was founded by George James (G.J.) Coles when what was called the "Coles Variety Store" opened on 9 April 1914 in Smith Street in the [[Melbourne]] suburb of [[Collingwood, Victoria|Collingwood]]. Expansion to more stores occurred and the chain was regarded as leaders in providing value to Australian shoppers (G. J. Coles learned the retail trade working for his father's "Coles Store" business at Wilmot, Tasmania between 1910 and 1913).

Coles' interest in food retailing was spurred in 1958 when it acquired 54 John Connell Dickins grocery stores. It then acquired the Beilby's chain in South Australia in 1959 and 265 Matthews Thompson grocery stores in New South Wales in 1960.{{cite web|publisher=Encyclopedia of Business|title=Coles Myer Limited|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/9/Coles-Myer-Ltd.html|accessdate=2009-06-24}}

[[File:Coles Dee Why.jpg|thumb|An entrance to a Coles supermarket in [[Dee Why, New South Wales]].]]
[[File:Refurbished Coles supermarket in Berwick.jpg|thumb|Inside a Coles supermarket in [[Berwick, Victoria]].]]
[[File:Coles South City aisle.jpg|thumb|An aisle in a Coles supermarket in [[Glenfield Park, New South Wales|Glenfield Park]]]]
In 1960 the first supermarket was opened in the Melbourne suburb [[Balwyn North, Victoria|Balwyn North]], at the corner of Burke and Doncaster Roads where a modernised version continues to operate. By 1973 Coles had established stores in all Australian capital cities.

From 1962 its supermarkets were branded ''Coles New World'' with accompanying rocket imagery.{{cite web|title=Coles|url=http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00373b.htm|publisher=eMelbourne - The Encyclopaedia of Melbourne Online|accessdate=7 July 2010}} In 1991 the stores were rebranded ''Coles Supermarkets'' and from 1998 simply as ''Coles''.

From mid 2006, many [[BI-LO (Australia)|BI-LO]] supermarkets were badged as Coles Supermarkets. Newmart supermarkets, under which BI-LO traded in Western Australia, were badged as Coles Supermarkets in 2002-2003. Newmart stores co-located with Coles in the same area or shopping centre were sold to Foodland and re branded as the now-defunct [[Action Supermarkets]] chain. The conversion program was put on hold at Easter 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/coles-supermarket-sales-drop/2007/05/17/1178995276828.html|title=Coles Supermarket Sales Drop|date=2007-05-17|accessdate=2007-08-23|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald}}

On 2 July 2007, Western Australian based company [[Wesfarmers]] agreed to purchase Coles Group Limited for A$22 billion. The purchase was completed in early 2008.{{cite news|title=Coles sold for $22 billion|date=2007-07-02|accessdate=2007-08-01|publisher=Herald Sun, Melbourne|url=http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22003301-14334,00.html |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070706033113/http://news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22003301-14334,00.html |archivedate = 2007-07-06}}

In August 2007, as Wesfarmers foreshadowed its plans for the restructuring of Coles Group following its anticipated takeover, it stated that one of three planned divisions would comprise supermarkets, liquor and convenience stores.{{cite news|title=Wesfarmers plans Coles investment, restructuring|publisher=Reuters|date=2007-08-16|accessdate=2007-08-16|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSSYD11087920070816?sp=true}}

In February 2008, Wesfarmers appointed UK retailer Ian McLeod as managing director of Coles Supermarkets plus liquor, fuel and convenience businesses. McLeod's previously headed UK car parts and cycle retailer [[Halfords]] and gained supermarket experience with [[Asda]] and [[Wal-Mart]].{{cite web|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2008-02-07|accessdate=2008-02-09|title=UK retailer to head up Coles|url=http://news.smh.com.au/uk-retailer-to-head-up-coles/20080207-1qti.html}}

In 2008, the ''I Test For Coles Panel'' (or ''Coles Mums' Panel'') began, with 2,500 panelists testing Coles brand products in their home and providing general feedback about Coles.{{cite web|title=Coles Mums Panel|url=http://www.coles.com.au/Products/Our-Brands/Coles-Mums-Panel.aspx|publisher=Coles|accessdate=7 July 2010}}

In February 2011, Coles acquired [[National Australia Bank]]'s 50 per cent interest in Australia's largest loyalty program [[FlyBuys (Australia)|FlyBuys]], giving it 100% ownership.{{cite news|publisher=Inside Retailing|url=http://www.insideretailing.com.au/Latest/tabid/53/ID/10102/Coles-buys-out-FlyBuys.aspx|title=Coles buys out FlyBuys|accessdate=16 February 2011|date=16 February 2011}}