Wesfarmers to restructure digital capabilities as Catch closes

Wesfarmers is to reorganise its digital offering as it prepares to shut down online retailer Catch in March.

The ASX-listed conglomerate is to transfer "select" digital capabilities to Wesfarmers’ retail divisions, which include the likes of Bunnings and Kmart. 

Wesfarmers bought Catch in 2019 and credited the e-commerce site to “accelerat[ing]” its digital transformation and data operations.

It also noted Catch's [pdf] contribution to the development of Wesfarmers' OnePass membership program.

However, Catch has struggled with heavy losses and is earmarked to record an operating loss of between $38 million and $40 million six months ending December 31, 2024.

“While Catch’s financial performance has been challenging, we have gained valuable insights and capabilities that have accelerated the Group’s digital transformation and supported the development of the OnePass membership program,” Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said.

“Since the acquisition of Catch in 2019, Wesfarmers’ retail divisions have significantly enhanced their data and digital operations, recording more than $3 billion in e-commerce sales and 220 million monthly digital interactions with customers in the 2024 financial year.”

Meanwhile, Catch’s e-commerce fulfilment warehouses will be transferred to Kmart Group in the fourth quarter of the 2025 financial year.