Appearing at the Macquarie Australia Conference on 5 May 2026, Rob Scott discussed Bunnings strategy, and the strong role for AI in Wesfarmers' future.
The development application for a Bunnings store in Dalyellup, an outer northern suburb within the Shire of Capel in WA, will be situated on the Bussell Highway. It includes a bulky goods showroom, indoor and outdoor timber trade supplies, a nursery, and a cafe. Bunnings is exploring growth opportunities in the Pacific and launching an online store in Fiji.
A new Mitre 10 trade and distribution centre is set to be built in the Tauriko Business Estate in Tauranga. Mitre 10 said it was preparing to increase prices, while Wesfarmers-owned Bunnings NZ has already hiked delivery charges in response to cost increases driven by the Iran war. Bunnings NZ will add another 300 products in its auto range across 40 of its stores.
Private investment firm Bain Capital has announced its investment in Positec Group, a maker of cordless power tools and advanced outdoor power equipment. The investment will support Positec's next phase of international growth, product innovation, and expansion into high-growth categories. The partnership will help continue Positec's shift toward electrification and robotics, while strengthening its global distribution, brand development, and operational capabilities.
Wesfarmers moves into modular apartment construction
Wesfarmers will invest an initial $100 million in a facility that joint venture company Built Living will operate to manufacture modular and precast apartment components, with the capacity to produce more than 2000 apartments a year. Built Living could also expand the product range offered to trade customers through Wesfarmers' Bunnings. The hardware retailer has built plants to make timber wall frames and roof trusses.
A resident of Illinois has filed a class action complaint alleging that Ace Hardware Corporation has conspired to raise prices, reduce consumer choice, and divide territory in local markets, all in violation of US antitrust law. Sean Twomey brought the proposed class action on behalf of more than an estimated five million people who have bought goods from and Ace member store or affiliated store since 2022.
A Mitre 10 retail property in Benalla, regional Victoria, has been put up for sale through CBRE and GormanKelly. Located at 45 Sydney Road, Benalla (VIC), the property includes a 4,023sqm building on a 9,000sqm freehold site with frontage to Sydney Road, Benalla's main street where 9,900 vehicles travel daily. A retail shopping complex in Tasmania featuring Wells Mitre 10 has been put up for auction.
At the centre of Junee, a small country town in southern NSW, is Broadway Builders Supplies, that was owned by 90-year-old Margaret Pickles and her husband, 95-year-old Peter. After 59 years, the husband-and-wife team have decided to retire together after selling the business to Junee District Co-operative. The Co-op will close the store temporarily as it begins a full operational reset behind the scenes.
Is falling DIY sales all about confidence? RYOBI says its tools offer "battery-powered confidence" and has launched a TVC (TV commercial) in Australia and New Zealand to promote that point of view. We also take a look at a different approach to the DIY market made by another major power tool company, Bosch and its Dremel brand.
The Home Depot is moving to get ahead of the weather rather than allowing it to be an external force driving sales up or down. It has partnered with The Weather Company to use hyperlocal, predictive weather intelligence to anticipate how conditions will affect demand and adjust marketing and messaging accordingly. It is putting predictive weather data to work to drive sales.
