After an extensive open market tender process, Wesfarmers has appointed Flight Centre Travel Group’s flagship large market corporate travel division, FCM, to manage their travel program across Australia and New Zealand.

From its origins in 1914 as a Western Australian farmers’ cooperative, Wesfarmers has grown into one of Australia’s largest listed companies.

With its HQ in Perth, Wesfarmers’ diverse businesses in this year’s review cover: home improvement, outdoor living and building materials; general merchandise and apparel; office and technology products; health, beauty, and wellbeing products; wholesale pharmacy distribution; manufacturing and distribution of chemicals and fertilisers; mine development and construction; industrial and safety product distribution; retail and commercial energy supply; and a data and digital ecosystem.

Wesfarmers is one of Australia’s largest private sector employers with approximately 120,000 team members and is owned by more than 510,000 shareholders.

The announcement comes as newly released figures showed the number of retail industry bookings soared year-on-year, with FCM internal data revealing that between 01 January 2022-30 June 2022 and 01 January 2023-30 June 2023, travel within the sector took off by more than 295 per cent.

“I knew the FCM team would do a good job, but they have delivered beyond my expectations,” said Steve Turner, Group Procurement Manager, Wesfarmers.

“We’re utterly delighted to confirm that FCM has been appointed as the travel management partner for Wesfarmers across Australia and New Zealand – with household names like Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart, Target, and Officeworks,” said Flight Centre Corporate Managing Director ANZ Melissa Elf.

“FCM truly stepped up to implement 16 businesses ready for go-live, with positive feedback received along the way.

“We’re particularly proud of the relationships we have within retail sector and that’s underpinned by the industry-leading service our teams provide. Being able to partner with Wesfarmers is proud for us given the fact they are such a household name.”