The company operates 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand,[1] with its head office located in Mulgrave, Melbourne.

On opening day it was estimated that 40,000 people passed through the checkouts, and the store took in over $97,000 (equivalent to A$1.31 million in 2025) of profit.

[clarification needed] Because of the number of people that were coming through the store the doors had to be closed 45 minutes after the opening as a safety measure.

[3] The store was opened by Mrs HB Cunningham, wife of the president and chairman of the S.S. Kresge Company.

[13][14] Wesfarmers took control of Coles Group in November 2007 and by March 2008 had decided to retain Kmart and invest A$300m in the chain over the next five years.

[27][28][29] In July 2023, Wesfarmers announced an internal reorganisation of Kmart and Target, with the merger of many 'back of house' processes, to create 'two brands, one business'.

Introduced in 2019 to celebrate Kmart's 50th anniversary, Anko also means “A New Kind Of”, representing the company's changed philosophy since 2008.

Anko has the largest market share in the home and toys, menswear, womenswear and childrenswear categories in Australia.

[51] Anko is also an international brand: Kmart has made arrangements to sell its products in other department stores in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Canada.

[52] In March 2023, Zellers began stocking Anko products after obtaining exclusive distribution rights to the brand in Canada.