<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.colesgroup.com.au </Td> </Tr> <P> Coles Group Limited (formerly Coles Myer Limited) was an Australian public company that operated numerous retail chains . It was Australia's second - largest retailer, behind Woolworths Limited . It was acquired by Western Australian public company Wesfarmers, with transfer of ownership on 23 November 2007 . The corporate operations ceased at head office in Melbourne from that point, now based at Wesfarmers head office in Perth . </P> <P> In 1914, the first Coles "variety store" was opened in Melbourne . Coles was founded in 1914 by George Coles when he opened what was called the "Coles Variety Store" in Smith Street in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood . More stores opened and the chain was regarded as the leaders in providing value to Australian shoppers . The building formerly occupied by the original Coles Variety Store is now the location of a Woolworths outlet - the major competitor to Coles . </P> <P> Coles was run in succession by members of the Coles family from 1914 until the mid-1970s by the "famous five knights", brothers Sir George, Sir Arthur, Sir Edgar, Sir Kenneth and Sir Norman--known by their first initials--GJ, AW, EB, KF, NC . </P>

Is woolworths and coles owned by the same company