Coles Group Ltd (ASX:COL) has reported a strong performance for sales revenue during the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, with this rising 3.7% to $23.04 billion, together with earnings increase of 10.3%.

Coles’ EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $2.04 billion for the half year to December 2024, while its underlying profit from continuing operations (excluding significant items) was $666 million.

The supermarket giant also declared an interim dividend (fully franked) of 37 cents per share.

More specifically, Coles said its supermarket sales revenue had increased by 4.3% during the period, while its liquor sales revenue pushed up slightly higher, by 0.8%.

Group CEO Leah Weckert said the business continued to perform strongly within the context of higher cost-of-living realities.

“We have had a strong focus on value, fresh quality and availability which has supported volume-led growth in supermarkets during the half,” she said.

“Pleasingly, we saw improving customer experience metrics during the period, reinforcingthe importance of delivering affordability and a great shopping experience whilst customers continue to face cost of living pressures.

“We made good progress on our Simplify and Save to Invest target, delivering $157 million in cost savings, allowing us to offset continued cost inflation and invest in our customer proposition, whilst delivering returns for the many Australians who are shareholders.”

Coles also announced that its chairman James Graham would be retiring, with Peter Allen appointed as chairman-elect, set to replace Mr Graham from 1 May 2025.

Coles shares have been trading at $19.69.

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