Aug 27 (Reuters) - Woolworths Group Ltd WOW.AX :
* SALES GROWTH IN FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF F21 HAS BEEN STRONG ACROSS ALL BUSINESSES EXCEPT HOTELS
* OUTLOOK FOR YEAR AHEAD IS UNCERTAIN AND RECENT EVENTS IN VICTORIA HAVE REMINDED THAT SITUATION REMAINS CHALLENGING
* FOR F21, CENTRAL OVERHEADS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $160 MILLION
* AUSTRALIAN FOOD SALES HAVE REMAINED STRONG IN FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF F21 WITH TOTAL SALES INCREASING BY 11.9%
* BIG W SALES GROWTH REMAINS STRONG IN FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF F21, INCREASING BY 21.1%
* FOR FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF FY21, INCREMENTAL COVID-RELATED COSTS ABOUT $107 MILLION (EX. SOME COSTS)
* ASSUME SOME LEVEL OF ELEVATED SALES AND COSTS WILL CONTINUE FOR REMAINDER OF H1 F21
* CURRENTLY 80 HOTELS AND FIVE MANAGED CLUBS REMAIN CLOSED IN VICTORIA
* DESPITE A CONTINUED MATERIAL IMPACT ON SALES IN F21 TO DATE, HOTELS WAS PROFITABLE IN JULY BUT BELOW LAST YEAR
* INVENTORY LEVELS BELOW TYPICAL LEVELS BUT WE EXPECT INVENTORY TO IMPROVE FROM MID-SEPTEMBER
* ESTIMATES TOTAL SALARY PAYMENT SHORTFALL & ASSOCIATED INTEREST, REMEDIATION COSTS OF $500 MILLION