News: COL Coles Group Expects To Incur One-Off Project Operating Costs Of Up To A$75 Million In...

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Coles Group Ltd (COL) :

• IN SUPERMARKETS, SALES GROWTH IN FIRST SEVEN WEEKS OF Q1 IS APPROXIMATELY 1% ON A HEADLINE BASIS
• IN JULY, SUPERMARKETS INCURRED AROUND A$15 MILLION OF COVID-19 COSTS.
• IN LIQUOR, SALES IN FIRST SEVEN WEEKS OF Q1 HAVE REMAINED STRONG AS LOCKDOWNS CONTINUE
• SMARTER SELLING BENEFITS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN EXCESS OF A$200 MILLION IN FY22
• EXPECTS TO INCUR ONE-OFF PROJECT OPERATING COSTS OF UP TO A$75 MILLION IN FY22 AND A$160 MILLION IN FY23
• IN EXPRESS, FUEL VOLUMES CONTINUE TO BE IMPACTED BY LOCKDOWNS WITH AVERAGE WEEKLY FUEL VOLUMES OF APPROXIMATELY 49ML IN FIRST SEVEN WEEKS
• FOR TWO OCADO CFCS, FURTHER PROJECT COSTS WILL BE INCURRED
• FOR TWO WITRON CENTRES, CONTINUES TO EXPECT TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF A$950 MILLION
• IN Q1 EXPRESS WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED BY NO INCREASE IN TOBACCO EXCISE IN SEPTEMBER 2021.
• NOW EXPECT ROLL OUT OF VACCINATION PROGRAM AND FEWER LOCKDOWNS TO SUPPORT NORMALISING CONSUMER BEHAVIOURS IN CY 2022