QUEENSLAND

MGA offered a Business Health Check with the opportunity to ‘WIN’ $1,000 e-voucher for participating. This winner was Lisa Putzolu from Foodworks Texas Queensland.

governments to address smuggling illegal cigarettes and loose leaf tobacco into Australia, whilst continuing to work with Australian Border Force and local state police to maintain strong law enforcement resulting in arrests, seizure of stock and closure of retailers trading in illegal tobacco.

Illegal sale of tobacco is having a devastating impact on retailers and costing our sector an estimated $350 million in lost sales revenue. Members are encouraged to keep reporting illegal activity in their area by reporting the store location of illegal traders to the ATO and Australian Border Force as well as approaching their local State and Federal political members.

MGA attended many functions throughout the three day Expo. MGA representatives attended the VIC, NSW & QLD IGA state welcome functions on the Saturday night and enjoyed catching up with members to discuss many business issues and trading environment in a relaxed environment.

Metcash illicit tobacco stand

AUR/Foodworks held a welcome cocktail function Monday evening, also attended by MGA .

The IGA National Retailer of the year dinner was held on Monday in the Ballroom at The Star Gold Coast. A buzz echoed throughout the evening with several awards handed out. The sense of pride clearly runs deeply throughout the sector, with the unmistakable ‘family

MGA, together with Metcash and the three tobacco manufacturers, manned the Illicit Tobacco information stand over the course of the Expo.

The stand’s purpose was to inform and share with retailers the amount of work undertaken and future lobbying to be actioned with Federal and State feel’ to many of the business on display throughout the evening.

Congratulations to all nominated stores in each category, finalist and eventual winners in the 2023 Awards of Excellence IGA Retailer of the Year.