By Mike Cherney

SYDNEY--Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd. said there was strong sales growth at its key Bunnings and Officeworks chains as consumers spent more time at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, but that performance was more subdued at its other retail businesses.

At Bunnings, total sales from July to October--the first four months of fiscal 2021--rose by 25%. Comparable sales, which excludes stores impacted by government-mandated closures in Melbourne and Auckland, increased by 31%. At Officeworks, total sales rose by 23%, with no comparable figure provided.

Gross transaction value at online retail website Catch rose 114%.

Total sales at Kmart, however, rose just 4%, and total sales at Target fell some 2%. Comparable sales at both those chains rose by more than 9%.

Overall, Wesfarmers said online sales at its retail businesses rose by 166%, excluding Catch.

"Despite the challenging operating environment, the results across the group's retail businesses reflect their continued focus on meeting the changing needs of customers and delivering greater value, quality and convenience while providing safe and trusted environments for customers to shop," Managing Director Rob Scott said.

The company said stock availability in some of Kmart's home products impacted sales growth in July and August, though progress has been made to improve that. Wesfarmers also said that progress has been made in its previously announced conversion of some Target stores to the Kmart brand, and that trading in those stores had exceeded expectations so far.

Wesfarmers added that its industrial divisions had a pleasing start to the fiscal year.

The company also said that it expected to spend 15 million Australian dollars (US$11 million) per quarter to support its Covid-safe operations. It said A$23 million had been spent in the July to October period.

Wesfarmers is holding its annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.

Write to Mike Cherney at mike.cherney@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

11-11-20 1700ET