Moreover, it has also been reported by Xu (2023) that Coles as compared to the other retailers in Australia has a larger market share and operating scale while having multiple stores in different locations in Australia. This expansion, along with the opportunity of digitalisation led the consumers to consume Coles products more during the COVID-19 pandemic, which levelled up the position of Coles in the supermarket and grocery industry in Australia. Therefore, it can be assessed that the strategic planning and operations at Coles, successfully align with the defined mission of the organisation, which perfectly reflects its vision, and the building blocks and strategic pillars focused by Coles, help the organisation accomplish the defined vision.

(ii). CSR and UN SDGs at Coles:

Definition and Explanation:

The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the light of Wickert (2021) has been defined as a retort and responsibility of firms towards the societal demands for sustainability and environmental protection. Wickert (2021) has further stated that “businesses require societal acceptance so that they can maintain their license to operate”, which imitates that organisations have to stay content with CSR to gain social acceptance, which helps organisations protect their legitimacy and helps them continue operating the businesses in the society. However, CSR in the light of Bright et al. (2019) has been termed as a form of self-regulation for organisations, where the firms participate in such actions which pose a positive impact on the environment and society (people). The reading further expresses CSR as a belief that organisations feel towards society, and considers it as a responsibility to take care of the society by taking steps beyond the organisational profit and success.