List of Woolworth divisions and namesakes explained

Divisions and namesakes of the American F. W. Woolworth Company, and divisions of Woolworths Group (Australia).

Similar namesake companies in South Africa and Australia were legally named after the Woolworth company as permitted by the trademark laws of the period, but never had any financial connection to the original F. W. Woolworth Company. The reorganized American company is currently known as Foot Locker.

DivisionRegionTypeRelationPeriodNote
F. W. Woolworth CompanyNorth AmericaFive and dime-1878–1997Main subject of this list
AfterthoughtsNorth AmericaAccessoriesDivisionc. 1970s–1999Sold to Claire's and rebranded as Icing chain
The Bargain! ShopNorth AmericaDiscount storeSpin-off1991–PresentSold in 1999
Best of TimesNorth AmericaWatch storeDivision1990sAll stores closed 1998
CCSNorth AmericaSkateboardsAcquisition2008-2014Later sold to Daddies Board Shop
Champs SportsNorth AmericaSporting goodsAcquisition1987–Present
EastbayNorth AmericaMail orderAcquisition1997–presentAcquired in early 1997
Foot LockerNorth AmericaShoe StoreSuccessor1974–presentIn 1989, moved from Kinney to the new Woolworth Athletic Group division. Company renamed Foot Locker in 2001. The Woolworth company eventually focused on sporting goods only and adopted this name.
G.R. Kinney CompanyNorth AmericaShoe StoreDivision1894–1998Purchased in 1963. Foot Locker originally was part of the G. R. Kinney division before the organisation of the Woolworth Athletic Group division.
Going to the GameNorth AmericaSports memorabiliaDivision1990s
J. BrannamNorth AmericaClothingDivision1979–c. 1997Short for "Just Brand Names"
Kids Foot LockerNorth AmericaShoe StoresDivision1974–Present
Lady Foot LockerNorth AmericaWomen's athletic storesDivision1974–Present
Northern ElementsNorth AmericaClothing storesDivision1990s
Northern GetawayNorth AmericaClothing storesDivision1990s
Warehouse Shoe SaleNorth AmericaAthletic ShoesDivision2021-PresentAcquired by Foot Locker, Inc in 2021.[1]
Northern ReflectionsNorth AmericaOuterwear storesDivision1990s–PresentCanadian chain
Northern TraditionsNorth AmericaWomen's business wearDivision1990sCanadian chain
Red GrilleNorth AmericaRestaurantDivision1960s–1997Cafeteria style restaurant
Rx PlaceNorth AmericaDiscount drug storeDivision1980s-1990s
San Francisco Music Box CompanyNorth AmericaMusic box storesDivision1978–1999Company was sold by Venator.
Six:02North AmericaWomen's athletic wearDivision2012–PresentUpscale women's athletic store started in 2012.
Venator GroupNorth AmericaShoe StoreSuccessor1997–2001Renamed from F. W. Woolworth Company
WoolcoNorth AmericaDiscount storeDivision1962–1994Became Walmart Canada
Worth MartNorth AmericaDiscount storeDivision1960sMore down-market than Woolco
2 EntertainEuropeHome VideoSpin-off joint venture2004–PresentPartner with BBC
AlworthsEuropeGeneral merchandiseSpin-off successor2009–201118 stores, mostly taken over by Poundstretcher
B&QEuropeHome improvementSpin-off1969–PresentStands for "Block & Quayle"
Bertram BooksEuropeBook WholesalerSpin-off Division1971–PresentBought by Smiths News
Chad ValleyEuropeToy BrandSpin-off Brand1800s–PresentPurchased by Home Retail Group, now owned by Sainsbury’s
Embassy RecordsEuropeRecord LabelJoint venture1954–1965Partner with Oriole Records
Entertainment UKEuropeDistributorDivision1988–2009Renamed from Record Merchandisers Limited
Freedom SportslineEuropeShoesSuccessor Divisionc. 2001–PresentBritish division does business as "Foot Locker"
F. W. Woolworth IrelandEuropeRetailSpin-off1914–1984Former Irish division of F. W. Woolworth plc (later called Woolworths Group)
KingfisherEuropeSuccessor Parent companyRetailer1982–PresentBecame Woolworth Holdings but then spun it off in 2001
LadybirdEuropeDivision BrandChildren's Clothing1938–PresentNow part of Shop Direct Group
Record Merchandisers LimitedEuropeRecord LabelDivision1966–1988Founded by EMI Records
Retail Company of GermanyEuropeDepartmentDivision1927–1998German division that became Woolworth GmbH
Wellchester (originally Wellworths)EuropeStationerySpin-off successor2009–20121 store in Dorchester
Woolworth GmbHEuropeDepartmentSpin-Off1998–PresentFormerly Retail Company of Germany, founded in 1927
Woolworths GroupEuropeRetailSpin-off1909–2009Former British division
Woolworths (Cyprus)EuropeDepartmentDivision Spin-off1950s–2003Now a Debenhams franchise
Woolworths (Cyprus) PropertiesEuropeRetail DeveloperSpin-off2005–Present
Woolworths.co.ukEuropeOnline retailerSpin-off successor2009–2015Now part of Shop Direct Group
Runners PointEuropeAthletic ClothingDivision2013–PresentGerman athletic stores acquired by Foot Locker in 2013.[2]
AtmosAsiaAthletic ClothingDivision2021-presentJapanese athletic stores acquired by Foot Locker in 2021. Foot Locker, Inc. Completes Acquisition of atmos .
South African namesake
Woolworths (South Africa)AfricaDepartmentNamesake1931–PresentNamed after Woolworth's without any financial connection
Café WAfricaRestaurantNamesake Division2000s–Present
Country RoadOceaniaClothing StoreNamesake Division1998–PresentOwned by Woolworths (South Africa)
Australian namesake
Woolworths Group (Australia)OceaniaRetail companyNamesake1924–PresentNamed after Woolworth's without any financial connection
Australian Leisure and Hospitality GroupOceaniaHotel ChainNamesake Division1974–Present
Big WOceaniaDiscountNamesake Division1976–Present
BWSOceaniaLiquorNamesake Division2001–PresentStands for Beer, Wine & Spirits, spun-off into Endeavour Group 2021
Caltex SafewayOceaniaPetrol stationNamesake Joint venture2003–2014Rebranded Caltex Woolworths in 2014
Caltex WoolworthsOceaniaPetrol stationNamesake Joint venture2003–PresentPartner with Caltex
CountdownOceaniaGroceryNamesake Division1981–2005Under Progressive Enterprises
Dan Murphy'sOceaniaLiquorNamesake acquisition1878–PresentPurchased 1998 by Woolworths, spun-off into Endeavour Group 2021
Dick SmithOceaniaConsumer electronicsNamesake acquisition1968–PresentWoolworth bought from Dick Smith in 1980, sold to Anchorage Capital Partners on 26 November 2012, and was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 4 December 2013
Everyday RewardsOceaniaLoyalty programNamesake division2007–Present
FlemingsOceaniaGroceryNamesake acquisition1930–PresentPurchased by Woolworth Limited in 1960
Food For LessOceaniaGroceryNamesake acquisitionc. 1980s–PresentDiscount Australian division
FoodtownOceaniaGroceryNamesake division1958–PresentPart of Progressive Enterprises
Masters Home ImprovementOceaniaGroceryJoint venture with Lowe's2011–Present
Progressive EnterprisesOceaniaGrocerySpin-off then acquisition1949–PresentNow the New Zealand division of Woolworth Group (Australia)
SafewayOceaniaGroceryNamesake acquisition1963–2014Being converted to Woolworths brand
TandyOceaniaConsumer electronicsNamesake acquisition1973–PresentWoolworth purchased in 2001
Thomas DuxOceaniaGroceryNamesake division2008–PresentUpscale health oriented chain
Woolworths @ GullOceaniaPetrol stationJoint venture with Gull Petroleum2001–Present
Woolworths (New Zealand)OceaniaGroceryNamesake Division1929–PresentPart of Woolworths Group (Australia)
Woolworths PetrolOceaniaPetrol stationNamesake Division1996–2003Replaced by Caltex Woolworths joint venture
Woolworths SupermarketsOceaniaGroceryNamesake division1929–PresentLargest grocer in Australia

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://investors.footlocker-inc.com/news-releases/news-release-details/foot-locker-inc-completes-acquisition-wss.
  2. Web site: https://www.footlocker-inc.com/investors.cfm?page=foot-locker-completes-rpg-acquisition.