By Sameer Manekar and Praveen Menon
(Reuters) -Woolworths Group on Wednesday said CEO Brad Banducci will retire after more than eight years at the helm, just as Australia's biggest grocer prepares for a public inquiry into suspected price gouging and flags weaker second-half earnings.
Banducci, who has been at Woolworths for 13 years, has in recent weeks faced public angst and political pressure over high grocery costs, and was criticised after refusing to stock certain merchandise for Australia Day due to lack of sales.
This week, he almost walked out of ABC's Four Corners program addressing allegations that supermarket allegedly keep prices high despite a cost of living crisis.
"It has been a privilege to be a member of the Woolies team and one I have never taken for granted," Banducci said in a statement.
In an email to staff, seen by Reuters, Banducci said he was not retiring because he was tired or worried about the upcoming inquiry, but because it was "time to pass on the baton".
Woolworths and rival Coles face an inquiry next month amid claims that top grocers were inflating profit margins, worsening living costs for Australians. Woolworths and Coles have defended price rises in submissions to the inquiry.
Banducci will retire from the roles of managing director and group CEO in September, Woolworths said. He will be replaced by Amanda Bardwell, currently the managing director of WooliesX which includes Woolworths Digital and Media.
Banducci's departure "will come as a negative surprise," to markets, said Jarden analyst Stuart Archibald.
Woolworths' share price was down 5.7% at market open after the announcement.
CAUTIOUS SPENDING
The company forecast lower group operating earnings in the second half of the year compared with the first, with Woolworths Food Retail sales rising a meagre 1.5% so far in the January-June period.
"Sales in the first seven weeks of H2 F24 have continued to moderate, reflecting lower inflation and a more cautious consumer," Banducci said in an exchange filing.
Underlying net profit attributable to shareholders was A$929 million ($608.3 million) for the half-year ended Dec. 31, compared with A$907 million in the same period a year earlier. That missed LSEG's average analyst estimate of A$941 million.
Australian Food, the top money-making segment, clocked first-half sales of A$25.90 billion, up 5.4% on year, with a gross margin rising 96 basis points to 28.9%.
In New Zealand Food, sales jumped 2.3% to NZ$4.17 billion ($2.6 billion), but the gross margin declined 18 basis points to 22.6% owing to higher costs.
Woolworths declared an interim dividend of 47 Australian cents a share, versus 46 cents last year.
($1 = 1.5272 Australian dollars)
($1 = 1.6228 New Zealand dollars)