INDUSTRY NEWS
NATIONAL
The MGA board announces MiPlanet MiPlanet is the Independents solution to the massive “GREEN” media campaign from the Grocery Duopoly, which is about to become one of the largest customer discriminators in the shopping market. A Joint Venture Partnership between the MGA and ImFree gives Independents, their communities and suppliers a revolutionary platform to communicate to customers. Two years ago, the MGA Board decided sustainability would be a key focus for the MGA. MiPlanet has been the culmination of this strategy and represents a unique opportunity for members to be a part of a world first digital consumer platform. In the MGA Board assessment, never before has the Independent Membership been given the opportunity to lead innovation in the Australian Retail Sector. MiPlanet represents this opportunity. The technology is built on the next generation blockchain, is mobile, and functions in real-time. The Founder of ImFree, Crispian Dawes and CFO Drew Deep are excited to work with the Australian Independent Sector to promote sustainability to local communities, consumers and suppliers. Cris and Drew are Aussies who’ve led the world in commerce and strategic direction.
Cris is the former EVP of Interpublic Group (NYSE listed IPG), one of the world’s largest Advertising and Media Holding Companies. Summarising his relevant experience for these events, in 1996, he won the AFA National Effectiveness Award for the QLD Department of Justice with a strategy that reduced Juvenile Crime by 38%, leveraging the tools to drive social change and discipline. He developed HSBCs’ ‘The World’s Local Bank’ platform at a global scale, which generated 14 million new customers and $5 Billion in revenue in 6 months; arguably, the first ‘mass adoptive shift’ platform. In 2003 Cris was in HKSAR as an economic and public strategy advisor during SARS and was named by Adnews as one of the top 5 Strategists of all time. As a top-level Asia-Pacific CPA, Drew has been at the financial forefront of various surging markets. Drew
provides the right level of visibility, structure and direction to drive business performance and help emerging industries to reach their potential. The Board of the MiPlanet Joint Venture will be Cris Dawes and Debbie Smith as Co-Chairman, Drew Deep and Graeme Gough from the MGA. MiPlanet will be structured as a social enterprise to return significant value to the retailer and their communities. It will bring together a global initiative to drive down CO2 Emissions and provide recognition for the suppliers and retailers in this climate change economy. The platform will be ready to launch by the 1st of November in South East Queensland. This is great news for the environment, customers, communities and independent retailers.
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