NATIONAL CIRCULATION 22,795
APRIL/MAY 2018
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CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
APRIL/MAY 2018
20 T 32 10 FACETIME
Beatrice Bowen, Acting General Manager of Convenience Development at Caltex
14 STORE REVIEW
Caltex Cameron Park Service Centre
16 AACS
AACS News Roundup
20 PIES AND PASTRIES FEATURE
Hot and cold pastries to suit every taste
24 SALTY SNACKS FEATURE
Snacks continue to prove they are worth their salt
28 RTD HOT BEVERAGE FEATURE
Coffee leads the way in hot beverages sales boom
32 SPECIAL FEATURE: SECURITY
C-store Security is integral for protection wages and money
38 PRODUCT NEWS
The Emergence of EV
here’s been a lot of buzz lately about the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. With proposed and rejected policies, it is important for retail and C-store brands to start investigating the impact that the sale and increased use of electric vehicles will have on the industry. Hyundai manager of future mobility and government relations Scott Nargar recently said it would be dangerous for petrol stations not to plan for this inevitable future. Mr Nargar noted that Australia was about 10 years behind Europe and North America in respect to the technology and infrastructure needed to sustain EVs. This hasn’t been helped by the rejection of the idea to ban the sales of new petrol run cars. Former Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce quickly rejected the suggestion that Australia follow in the footsteps of other countries who have taken the approach, in favour of EVs. With over two million EVs already on the road and Australians only owning around 4000 of them, there is a long way to go both in people purchasing and making use of EVs and with petrol stations installing charging stations. Kim Celeste of Chargepoint.com noted that installing EV charging points would draw in customers, as charge points are a key investment for retailers wanting to attract EV drivers. She also noted that customers will need to wait for their EV to be charged and this provides a great opportunity to get them into store and to spend more money. A C-store that encourages customers to shop while they charge can be the defining factor in customers choosing one store over another.
The Greens political party have recently unveiled a policy to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The policy would see many vehicle taxes cut to ensure EVs are more accessible. At this point in time, EVs are still in their infancy within the Australian market and the outcome of their rising popularity and the ripple effects are yet to be seen. But one thing is for sure, EVs are not to be ignored. In this edition of C&I we take a look at the current trends in pies and pastries (page 20), salty snacks (page 24) and ready to drink hot beverages (page 28). As we reach the cooler months of the year, hot food and drinks will be the choice purchase for many consumers so it’s important to have the right stock on hand for sale. As always we have a few pages dedicated to all the great new product that have made their way to our shelves in the recent months, followed by some insights and reflections on hiring and employing millennials. Page 38 and onwards has all the product, petrol and industry news that we’ve covered since the last edition. Keep your eyes peeled for the C&I Expo announcement! It’s coming up very soon and we’re very excited to have the opportunity to showcase such wonderful brands and products once again. So what are you waiting for? Get into it!
Lucy Marrett Editor
All the latest product releases
44 SPECIAL FEATURE
Millennials— More than just avocado toast
48 OPINION PIECES
Darren Park, Brett Barclay, Charles Watson
54 INDUSTRY NEWS
A collection of what’s been happening within the industry
58 PETROL NEWS
Dan Armes, In the news, OuickFuel
Safa de Valois
James Wells
Keith Berg
Ben Curtis
Jeremy Gough
PRIME TIME
Inside Out Almond Milk
Nestlé’s newest
BREAK INTO KITKAT CHUNKY CHOC FUDGE SUNDAE New delicious KitKat Chunky Choc Fudge Sundae bar is inspired by the popular ice-cream. Each chunk contains crisp wafer and two distinct layers; the first with vanilla flavoured cream and waffle pieces and the second is a gooey choc fudge sauce. All this deliciousness is then smothered in smooth milk chocolate. The KitKat Chunky Choc Fudge Sundae bars (RRP $1.99) are available to order in April and are sure to be a hit. Break into choc fudge sundae today!
NEW MILKYBAR NUTTY & CRUNCHY
Discover Milkybar now packed with deliciously roasted almonds, Italian almond biscotti and biscuit pieces: Milkybar Nutty & Crunchy, just bite into it! Available in April in both block and bar format, Milkybar Nutty & Crunchy is perfect for the whole family to share. Leap into your nearest store to catch Milkybar Nutty & Crunchy bar 45g (RRP $1.99) and block 170g (RRP $5.19)
Inside Out has a range of almond milk beverages to suit every taste and are great as an alternative to tradition dairy products. The range offers five unique flavours, each made with cold-pressed almond milk. • Cold Brew Coffee Original - A life-changing almond milk iced coffee made with a cold brewed blend of premium coffee beans. • Cacao - A healthy chocolate treat, made with our cold-pressed almond milk and organic Andean cacao. • Salted Caramel - Treat yourselves to our salted caramel almond milk – fresh, delectable and 100% natural. • Spiced Vanilla - We’ve taken the flavour everyone knows and loves, and have spiced things up with a dash of cinnamon! • Ginger Turmeric - Proven to have major health benefits to the body and mind, turmeric is a super supplement.
Allen’s sweet range inspired by Peters Tim Tam and Messina collaboration Arnott’s Tim Tams have once again joined forces with Gelato Messina to bring another range of iconic gelato inspired flavours. The flavours include: • Choc Cherry Coconut • Iced Coffee • Turkish Delight Tim Tam Marketing Manager Claire Kesby-Smith said: “After the huge success of the first range of Tim Tam by Gelato Messina we knew we couldn’t make this a one-off partnership”. The new flavours were launched on January 26th with the suggestion they are best served chilled. Not only does putting the Tim Tams in the fridge keep them cool and make them more enjoyable to eat, but the heat-sensitive packaging changes colour as the temperature changes. The new range is available nationwide, priced at $3.65 per packet.
Published by C&I Media Pty Ltd (A division of The Intermedia Group) 41 Bridge Road (PO Box 55) Glebe NSW 2037 Tel: 02 8586 6292 Fax: 02 9660 4419 E: magazine@c-store.com.au
Allen’s keeps the summer vibes alive with new Frosty Fruits and Drumstick lollies. Allen’s is set to give lolly lovers a sweet surprise, teaming up with Peters in its first-ever lolly collaboration to launch an all new range of ice-cream flavoured jellies, inspired by fruity Frosty Fruits and the classic, creamy Drumstick. Allen’s Frosty Fruits lollies promise a burst of summer with flavours including juicy Tropical, tasty Watermelon & Pineapple, and tangy Orange & Pink Grapefruit. The delicious Drumstick range features popular classics, including smooth Vanilla, Super Choc and luscious Boysenberry. Allen’s inspired by Peters Frosty Fruits (170g) and Allen’s inspired by Peters Drumstick (170g), RRP $2.99, are available in the lolly aisle, in supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.
Publisher: C&I Media Pty Ltd
Editor at Large: Keith Berg
Features Editor: Jeremy Gough
Commercial Director: Safa de Valois
Editor: Lucy Marrett
Graphic Designer: Adrian Tipper
Editorial Director: James Wells
Account Manager: Ben Curtis
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April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
5
15-16 AUGUST 2018 MELBOURNE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
EE TO FR END T AT
In partnership with
FIRST 500 ATTENDEES EACH
DAY GET A
FREE SHOWBAG REGISTER NOW www.candiexpo.com.au
1300 789 845
Back to Melbourne in
2018
C&I IS HEADING BACK TO MELBOURNE C&I is heading back to Melbourne, and in 2018 will again partner with the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores to bring retailers and suppliers together over two big days. The retailer audience consists of owners and operators of convenience stores, service stations, corner stores, community stores, newsagents, mini marts and food service stores that have a convenience offer. Suppliers and wholesalers are also more than welcome. Visitors will be treated to an impressive line-up of quality local and international presentations at the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit. When the Expo doors open visitors will experience first-hand the latest in convenience products, services and merchandising. Total attendance at the Expo is expected to exceed 2,000, representing 8,000 retail outlets and numerous suppliers, along with 150 companies that will be exhibiting. More than 400 visitors will book to attend at least one of the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit sessions and several overseas delegations are expected.
THE CALENDAR Wednesday 15 August 8.30am – 12pm
AACS Convenience Leaders Summit and AACS PJ Award finals presentations
12pm – 5pm
C&I Expo Day 1
Thursday 16 August 8am – 10am
AACS Convenience Leaders Summit continues
10am – 3pm
C&I Expo Day 2
From 7 pm
AACS Gala Awards Dinner
CONVENIENCE & IMPULSE EXPO Wednesday 15 August 12pm - 5pm Thursday 16 August 10am - 3pm
LARGEST convenience industry trade show in Australia
Now in its 27th year and with around 150 companies taking part, this is the largest and most popular specialist convenience industry trade show held in Australia. And it’s open to retailers and suppliers from all banners and brands. See the latest in merchandising, foodservice, all kinds of major brand and lesser-known products for resale as well as retail store and forecourt equipment. This is an event that no switched-on convenience or impulse retailer should miss. A few hours spent strolling the exhibition hall will bring you up to date with all of the new products, new suppliers and, most importantly, new ideas. If you own or work in a convenience store, corner store, newsagency, community store, retail cafe or mini mart, this event will bring you up to date and with new products and ideas that will help you grow your business. Anyone planning to enter the industry is also welcome to attend.
VENUE Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC
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MCEC is located on the banks of the iconic Yarra River in South Wharf. BY TRAM: Catch any of the following trams and exit at the stop opposite the Clarendon Street entrance of MCEC: • Route 96 – St Kilda to East Brunswick • Route 109 – Port Melbourne to Box Hill • Route 12 – Victoria Gardens to St Kilda Alternatively, catch tram number 48 or 70 and exit at the Flinders Street stop. Then take a short (25 minute) walk towards the Yarra River, across the Seafarers Bridge. Visit www.ptv.vic.gov.au for further information. BY TRAIN: Take any train that goes to Southern Cross Station. Exit at Southern Cross Station and catch tram number 96, 109 or 12 as above. Visit www.ptv.vic.gov.au for further information. BY BUS: The SkyBus transports visitors directly from Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross train station. Bus route 237 operates from Queen Victoria Market, via Southern Cross Station to Lorimer Street South Wharf from Monday to Friday. Lormier Street is approximately a five minute walk to MCEC. There is also a coach pick up/drop off point at Bay 1, Convention Centre Place (closest to DFO South Wharf). Visit www.ptv.vic. gov.au for further information. TRAVELLING BY CAR: Parking is available at the venue. Parking fees apply.
CHURCHILL AVE
CONFIRMED EXHIBITORS FOR 2018 INCLUDE: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Airtec Corporation Balfours Beacon Bindweld Carman’s Kitchen Cobs Country Fried Chicken Services Cowin Global Dover Fueling Systems Elgas Swap’n’Go Envirotank Ltd Flowsell Gallagher Gilbarco Hand Made Sandwich HL Displays J&M Communications
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Admission to the C&I Expo is
FREE
Justine’s Cookies Kez’s Kitchen Luv’m Majors Norwood Pacific Optics Prefect Agency Remedy Kombucha Sanitarium Si Retail Supagas The Blue Pod Coffee U-Haul Australia United Convenience Buyers Vending Data Vitaco
AACS SUMMIT Wednesday 15 August 8.30am - 12pm Thursday 16 August 8am - 10am AACS will once again collaborate with C&I so that the Expo will open each day after the AACS Summit. We have assembled an amazing line up of presenters that you will not want to miss including: MATT THORNHILL Managing Partner, Institute for Tomorrow USA Matt Thornhill is founder and managing partner of the researchbased think tank, SIR’s Institute for Tomorrow, based in Richmond, Virginia. Matt is a futurist, author, and provocateur. He helps leaders in the convenience and fuel retail categories learn what’s coming and what to do about it today. For over 50 years SIR has researched and studied the key trends that are shaping the future. And the people who are making it happen. NICOLAS GEORGES Director, Food and Agriculture Innovation, Industry Professor In the decade prior to working at Monash, in addition to expanding category channels and driving efficiency transformations from manufacturing areas through to head office functions, Nicolas has led many breakthrough innovations, launching more than 500 new products in four countries whilst working for companies such as Nestle, Mondelez, Godfreys and Vitasoy – some of these include Cadbury Marvellous Creations, Drumstick Loaded, Hoover Range and Vitasoy Café for Barista. Uniquely experienced across all functions (manufacturing to sales, marketing, strategy and R&D) in FMCG and Retail, including general management and P&L responsibility in both industries, he focuses on expressing people’s potential and creating new paths. DYLAN ALCOTT OAM One of Australia’s most recognised Paralympians He was the winner of the 2017 Australian Open quad wheelchair title for the third year running. In 2016 Dylan was awarded Paralympian of the Year, the Newcombe Medal (the first wheelchair athlete to win the highest individual award in Australian tennis history) and GQ Sportsman of the Year. Dylan was a Gold medal winner of both the wheelchair singles and doubles tennis at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and won basketball gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games. He is ranked 1 in the world as a quad competitor in wheelchair tennis and is a four times Grand Slam winner. ANGUS MCKAY CEO – 7-Eleven Australia Angus McKay joined 7-Eleven as CEO in 2016, and is responsible for leading the 7-Eleven team, growing the 7-Eleven brand in this market, and maintaining the company’s position as Australia’s first choice in convenience. Angus’ former roles include MD and CEO of The Skilled Group, MD of Pacific National Rail, CFO for Asciano Limited, and various senior roles at Foster’s Group, including CFO. BRETT BARCLAY Director, Convenience Measures Australia Brett Barclay is the founding Director of Convenience Measures Australia a business focussed on providing research, insights and support to the Convenience Channel in Australia. This is done through the delivery of 2 main programmes: CMA Shopper Report - providing insights into the Convenience shopper, in which he uses his 12 years of Shopper Research experience; and Covin 360° - a relationship benchmarking programme liaising with both Retailers and Suppliers in the Channel. Brett has been a Director of the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) since 2008. …and of course the ever popular finalists in this year’s AACS PJ Convenience Award who will win a trip to China as part of the AACS Overseas Study Tour. The AACS Summit is free to attend for members, and $50 (inc GST) for nonmembers. To reserve your seat now go to www.candiexpo.com.au.
Awards AACS 2018
Thursday 16 August 7pm till late This is the one night of the year when the industry lets its hair down to celebrate excellence. The very best suppliers and retailers are recognised for the contributions they have made to the industry over the previous year. Then the two lucky Peter Jowett Scholarship winners are announced as well as the winners for the following award catergories: RETAIL STORE AWARDS • Company Operated AACS Store of the Year • Franchise/Independent AACS Store of the Year SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS • Beverage & Dairy • Ice Cream and Snacking • Confectionery • Food on the Go • Tobacco • GM/Publications/Telecommunications • Service Provider • Distributor ACCS PJ INDUSTRY AWARD • Retailer • Supplier AACS RETAILER GRAND CHAMPION 2018 AACS SUPPLIER GRAND CHAMPION 2018 This is wonderful opportunity to network with the industry’s leading retailers and suppliers. Book your tickets when you pre-register for C&I 2018. Tickets are $380 per person including GST and include an excellent three course meal, beverages and entertainment. All guests are also invited to attended the official AACS after party proudly sponsored by ‘The Distributors’ at the amazing ‘Club 23’ at Crown. Dress code is cocktail.
REGISTER NOW www.candiexpo.com.au 1300 789 845 ORGANISED BY Interpoint Events Pty Ltd in conjunction with C&I Media Pty Ltd and the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores. 41 Bridge Road Glebe NSW 2037 Ph: 1300 789 845 Fax: 02 9660 4419 Email: exhibition@c-store.com.au www.c-store.com.au
FACE TIME
BEATRICE BOWEN, CALTEX
Ms Bowen is the Acting General Manager of Convenience Development at Caltex Australia and she is passionate about transformation, innovation and how property placement plays a role in convenience.
B
eatrice Bowen was born in UK, in the area of Surrey which is 25 minutes out of London. She left her parents and brother behind at the age of 18 to travel the world, and ended up in Australia. After a couple of years here, she travelled back home and undertook a degree in Property Development at the University of West England. In 2004, she decided to make Sydney her home and has been here ever since. “Australia is my home, I’m a citizen and I’ve lived in Surry Hills for the last five years, before that I was in Bondi Junction and Kings Cross, so Eastern Suburbs through and through. I went from one Surrey to another Surry across the other side of the world; I was definitely drawn to this. “My brother followed me out to Australia and now lives in Manly. My parents come over and live with me for six months of the year. I was lucky enough to buy a house about five years ago and they also seem to like it too, so I’ve got a few more mouths to feed these days. They love Australia and they’re looking to move here themselves, it’s a real privilege to be able to spend that time with your parents. “When you’re growing up life can get really busy and you’re spending all this time going to school and they’re at work, whereas now I get to spend a lot more quality time with them. I’ve also got a five-year-old dog named Minty who is the heart and soul of my family. “I’ve been working for Caltex for ten years, as well as having completed a Masters of Property Development at the University of Technology Sydney. 10 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
I had the privilege of joining the convenienceretail strategy project back in 2016 so I’m very passionate about seeing that executed.”
“I decided to study property management because I just love how tangible real estate is, I love the fact that it’s an investment that everyone can make and it just underpins the success of every business in Australia. It’s true what they say – location, location, location. “My background at Caltex consists of a number of roles across real estate, I’ve had the opportunity to move roles every two to three years, and I’ve always found that Caltex has been very supportive of change. “I had the privilege of joining the convenience-retail strategy project back in 2016 so I’m very passionate about seeing that executed. “With the emergence of disruption that we’re seeing in fuel with electric vehicles and car sharing technology, as well as digital platforms, we wanted to see how we can better utilise our national real estate network to better serve customers. “Caltex has very conveniently located real estate across the country and our sites can very easily become those beacons for local and rural communities. We wanted to better serve those customers with a transformational offer and to do that we needed to understand global best practice in convenience retail. So, we took a lot of research from around the world and landed on a strategy that provides great value freshly prepared food and barista coffee and then overlayed that with convenience services like picking up parcels and using digital technology to make the customer experience more frictionless.
FACE FEATURE TIME “We’ve developed a number of apps, one of them was FuelPay which gives customers the ability to pay for fuel at the pump and the other is our pre-order app which enables customers to pre-order their coffee and food and generally make their lives easier when shopping with us. “I think, having spent a lot of time overseas and having seen what global best practice is with convenience retail, I was really passionate about bringing some of those ideas to Australian customers. “Australian customers really deserve some of the offers that you can see overseas and The Foodary is really bringing that to life. “The Foodary came about through a team of us that were put together across the business, so we cherry-picked some of the talent to get all the best ideas and figure out what would work best for customers. “We also have Nashi, a grab-and-go and coffee retailer based in Melbourne. What we really loved about the Nashi offer is that it really plays to the same freedom of convenience strategy that Caltex is working towards. That is around great food and great coffee readily available for customers so they can just go into a Nashi, grab a sandwich, grab a coffee and be out within in minutes rather than having to wait around to have any food prepared. “Nashi also gives us the option to get into a lot more convenient spaces; we’ll see a number of new Nashi sites appear in great convenient transport locations. Late last year we won a tender with NSW Rail to deliver not only The Foodary, but also Nashi stores into former ticket booths. What I really love about transport locations, like train stations is they’re very similar in what we’re trying to achieve in a service station—customers are in a hurry, they’re on the move and we want to provide them with great food and coffee, and convenient services. “We recently launched The Foodary at Bondi Junction, so that’s everything you would expect to see at one of our petrol and convenience locations just without the fuel. “We’ve got great barista coffee; we’ve got pre-packaged ready meals, great fresh cut fruit, sandwiches, salads and all your underlying convenience/grocery items. We’re also using self-check-out technology to ensure the customer experience is friendly but also fast. “We also recently opened Nashi at Chatswood and then before Christmas we opened a Nashi in the Clarence St. portal at Wynyard and we’ve got further locations to come both in Kings Cross and Parramatta. “Caltex Spark is an accelerator program hosted by a company called Slingshot. It enables us to cast the net wide for all start-ups and scale-ups that could potentially work with Caltex and help us to bring to life some innovation to deliver better services and products
to our customers not only in convenience retail but also in our fuels and infrastructure business. That launched in early February and we ran a series of roadshows across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Auckland to really bring that message to all the start-up and scale-up communities that are out there. “I’m very passionate about how real estate plays in the overall economy. That’s our entire intention, with bringing our offers to life in non-fuel locations. It gives us the option to find convenient locations that don’t necessarily need to depend on fuel, in more fantastic locations nationally. We’re aiming to get a number of high street locations this year to bring our offer to life to more customers. “I’m still very keen on bringing The Foodary to more and more locations. In this day and age you can’t develop one option and expect it be relevant for the foreseeable future. I’m very keen to see Caltex drive innovation and that’s really reliant on us being constantly hungry for new and better ways for us to service customers. I think Caltex is leading the way in driving retail innovation for customer experience and value. C&I
Advice for retailers: I think it’s important that if you’re going to be truly transformational in the retail space, it’s not just about one part of the offer; it’s not just about redesigning a store and filling it with the same goods. To be truly transformational I think you have to peel back the layers of everything you do – be it store design, the culture, the way you operate, the great offers you give customers, the path to purchase, and any way that you can remove friction through digital technologies, You cannot leave any stone unturned. That’s our approach to The Foodary.
Advice for suppliers: Caltex is really keen for any exciting new products that you can bring to us that play into the trend of convenience. Customer’s lives are changing, seeing a lot more dual income households, and people working longer hours. If you’ve got anything fresh, new and innovative, we’re really keen to work with you and bring that to life. Paul Pontello, Kendall Woodward, Has Fakira, Georgie Fleischer, Beatrice Bowen and Ash Taylor – a mixture of Beatrice’s team (Convenience Development) and the Caltex Australia Digital team.
The Foodary
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au 11
The peak body for the Australian Convenience Store industry, celebrating over 25 years of working for the industry.
STORE REVIEW
AN ENTREPRENEURIAL EYE There is also a full convenience range and a UCB cafe eroma with a seating area.”
A
Former mechanic Ian Smith turned his hand to a new kind of business
s a former mechanic, Ian Smith is no stranger to getting difficult things up and running, and his skills are certainly not restricted to motor vehicles.
In the past couple of decades, the businessman has bought no fewer than three different tracts of empty land and then successfully navigated the complex process of building large service stations on them. His latest project, the Caltex Cameron Park Service Centre located in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, opened last October and the early indications are that Ian’s track record of success is set to continue.
“The only problem was that it wasn’t actually for sale, and it was not easy to find out who even owned it... all in all, it’s safe to say it was not easy to get.” Once Ian was finally able to acquire the site, he admitted he had to pay a premium to do so. And that’s when the hard work really started. “It took 12 months to get all the various permissions and get ready to go as there are always issues, whether it is about trees or nature strips or many other things,” he said.
But, as he freely admits, it has not been an easy road.
“And these are things you can’t really hurry... you set them in motion and you have to wait maybe six or eight weeks to get answers or decisions.”
Back in 2015, Ian had only recently sold the Shell service station he had developed at Nulkaba, also in the Hunter Valley, when the 7,000-square-metre greenfield site at Cameron Park caught his entrepreneurial eye.
It was a full two years after first noticing the site and ‘living and breathing’ the project for all that time that Ian finally finished the Caltex Cameron Park Service Centre but he says it was most definitely worth the wait.
Located just off the M1 Freeway near to its junction with the new Hunter/Newcastle Link Road, it was the only site in the vicinity where building would be allowed, and it was surrounded by new residential developments.
The site features a Caltex canopy offering three types of petrol and two diesels as well as Caltex Ad Blue, along with a full range of motor lubricants and bulk oils. There is also one automatic and three manual car wash bays, and a Tru Blu Dogwash.
Mr Smith said: “I could see immediately that it ticked all of the boxes”.
There is also a full convenience range and a UCB cafe eroma with a seating area. Three fast-food tenancies make up the
14 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
STORE REVIEW
The service station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has 12 staff.”
The Caltex Cameron Park Service Centre
rest of the site. One is occupied by a Domino’s Pizza, one by a Subway, and the third is currently awaiting the result of a bottle shop application.
“Having said that, I have actually been very surprised at just how well the pre-cooked dinners have been selling as so many people come in to grab something easy on their way home.”
While the site is ideally located to pick up the freeway traffic and people travelling to the Hunter Valley and the Newcastle area, there are also huge residential developments and small villages around, ensuring a strong local customer base.
Another important element to the site’s success has been the presence of the UCB cafe eroma.
“I would say that 60-70% customers live in the area and 30% or so are commuters,” Mr Smith said. “It’s still early days but so far we are exceeding sales targets and are getting around 8,000 customers a week, which is fantastic.”
“The customers see us as in the ‘coffee food business’ and not just a pie heater with pies for sale,” said Ian. “We have seating there for 10 people which helps make us a destination, although most people are still ‘get and go’ customers.” The fact that there is also a car wash and a dog wash helps attract customers at times when the site is not traditionally busy, such as on weekends.
Despite his experience in setting up other service stations and his confidence that this one was on a perfect site, Mr Smith admits that it was still a relief to see customers coming through the doors.
Similarly, the Domino’s Pizza and Subway outlets generate additional traffic and bring more people to the site.
“Although I had done this before and I was 90% confident we were onto a winner, there was always that 10% at the back of your mind worrying that you might have missed something,” he said.
“Our cafe offer complements the additional fast food outlets and having more than one offer makes the site a destination for food, not just impulse purchases,” he said.
“However, it is all looking good and we know it will take 18 months to two years for the site to fully mature.”
“I am still confident a bottle shop will take up the remaining spot and that customers will then be able to grab a bottle of wine or other drink to have with their pizza or whatever when they get home.”
The service station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has 12 staff. He has appointed a manager whom he will be working alongside in the early days before stepping back a little from daily operations.
So, after all the hassles and the effort required to bring a major project like this to fruition, would he ever be tempted to do it all again at another site?
Operating under the UCB Fast&Ezy brand, the shop boasts all the convenience store offers that would be expected of a site such as this.
“This is the third time I’ve done it and it seems like a waste not to ever use the skills and the contacts I’ve acquired again, but it’s also so hard,” he said.
“All of the traditional things have gone well and as you would imagine,” Mr Smith said.
“It would be easy to say ‘never again’ but I must admit I did say that the last time and then look what happened!” C&I April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au 15
The AACS is increasing pressure, rallying against unnecessary regulations, seeking stronger deterrents for criminals, and securing a better trading environment for small retailers like convenience stores.”
AACS: REGULATORY ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT IN 2018 The battleground of issues crucial to convenience stores
L
ong a source of frustration for retailers, unnecessary and onerous regulations can dampen trade and affect small businesses’ ability to compete with the major supermarkets. To counter, the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) will focus on several key legislative and regulatory issues in 2018. Factors like increases to the minimum wage, excessive taxes on products like legal tobacco, and the lack of choice for small retailers in processing tap-and-go payments all increase pressure on the cost of doing business while failing to recognise the important role convenience stores and other small businesses play in the community and economically. On the other hand, we have the major problem of crime in our industry. This issue is compounded by the inappropriate legislative and judicial response to those criminals who commit theft – or worse – as well as those involved in the illicit tobacco market. These issues can make or break a convenience store’s bottom line. So this year, the AACS is increasing pressure, rallying against unnecessary regulations, seeking stronger deterrents for criminals, and securing a better trading environment for small retailers like convenience stores. Our Association will remain vocal and active on these issues and we encourage convenience retailers and suppliers, as well as other retail businesses, to have their voices heard on the issues that affect them. This year is an election year in some states and while small business issues often struggle to gain the attention of politicians, the prospect of votes invariably does.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS
A plethora of factors influence the cost of doing business for convenience stores. In 2018, the push to raise the minimum wage through changes to casual employment, as well as the lack of choice in processing tap-and-go payments, loom as 16
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two major areas with the potential to significantly impact the bottom line of small retailers. Any push by the ACTU to change casual employment conditions and increase the minimum wage even further will have the opposite effect to that intended: increasing pressure on businesses, stifling growth and reducing employment opportunities. It also fails to account for the fact that many people desire greater flexibility in their work hours and schedules. Tap-and-go card fees are another area under the spotlight this year. With tap-and-go payments becoming the norm, the cost of doing business for small retailers is impacted by the lack of choice to route these payments using the domestic eftpos system, so as to not incur higher international charges. We need the banks to make this option available to businesses and we’re working with them to this end. We’re also encouraging stores themselves to challenge their bank to provide them this choice.
ACTIVISM: FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
The battleground of issues crucial to convenience stores getting a fairer go is drawn across Federal, state and local lines. The AACS is urging retailers to contact their respective members, write letters, outline their perspectives and seek meetings to limit further regulations and restrictions on certain products. Some states are considering lifting the age which people can buy legal tobacco from 18 to 21, yet at the same time want to continue to prevent eCigarettes – viewed internationally as a highly effective tool in helping people quit – from being legally sold. It’s a classic example of regulation gone wrong. At the same time, we have the periodic suggestions by the health lobby that soft drink taxes, sugar taxes or salt taxes are needed to improve societal health, yet convenience stores are already innovating with healthier food and beverage offerings and a more sustainable product profile.
AUSTRALIA’S
BIC DIFFERENCE
NO.1
OUR QUALITY, YOUR SAFETY.
TRUSTe*d LIGHTER
WARNING – COUNTERFEIT LIGHTERS Recently some counterfeits of the famous BIC® lighter have been found within the Australian market, which are potentially dangerous and are an infringement to BIC®’s Intellectual Property rights.
There are trade mark registrations for the distinctive shape of the BIC® lighter, which cannot be replicated with another brand. The sale of counterfeit lighters that copy the shape of a BIC® lighter can infringe BIC®’s rights even if they do not have the word “BIC®” on them. Further, lighters that look like BIC® lighters may mislead consumers into believing they are genuine BIC® lighters, which is a breach of Australian Consumer Law. In order to protect yourself from financial, reputational and physical risks, ensure that you and your customers stock genuine BIC® lighters by buying directly from BIC® Australia or from our authorised distributors.
Risks to Retailer Some counterfeit lighters are of poor quality and may not comply with legal requirements. The Trade Practices Regulations 1997† impose safety standards for disposable lighters. Breach of this Standard may pose a risk of serious injury, for example, where lighters are not child resistant.
- STANDARDS & PENALTIES Suppliers of lighters that breach these Regulations may be found guilty of a criminal offence which carries the maximum fines of:
$220,000 for individuals $1,100,000 for companies Plus damages and without limitation, withdrawal of sales and loss of reputation. Genuine BIC® lighters are of high quality and comply with legal safety requirements.
- consumer safety & compensation Anyone who suffers injury from a defective lighter can claim compensation from the retailer for death, physical injury or monetary loss caused by the defective lighter. Retailers may not be able to recover this money from their supplier.
BIC Australia, level 4, 574 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004, (03) 9533 3500 † (Consumer Product Safety Standard) (Disposable Cigarette Lighters) *Source: Aztec Data Total Lighter to 10/12/2017.
AU.BICWORLD.COM
MADE IN FRANCE
r e t h g i l y T h e o n l e. t o rang
Attendees on this year’s AACS Overseas Study Tour will experience another world: the Chinese convenience industry.
The AACS is focused on fostering an industry-wide culture that ensures the convenience channel is viewed as an inclusive and caring place for talented people to seek employment.”
We have a situation where the market for packaged alcohol is dominated by the two major grocery chains, new licences are granted to other big businesses like Aldi, but convenience stores are prevented from competing in this category. It’s an example of the lack of action at the local council level having an anti-competitive effect more broadly. We need less regulation, not more, to compete more effectively with the major grocery chains, so convenience stores should take the opportunity now to ask these questions of Federal, state and local politicians until a more appropriate operating environment is achieved.
CRIME
The AACS has been vocal about the inappropriate response to crimes committed against the industry in recent times, and this will continue until the judicial response to these crimes matches the stance that the community demands. We need tougher penalties and deterrents for the crimes committed against convenience stores and their staff to reflect their serious nature. Robberies, petrol theft and black market tobacco all represent serious crimes which are not being dealt with in a satisfactorily serious way. We will continue to press our case to those politicians with the capacity to alter the landscape and make the businesses in our industry, and the people who work in them, safe.
FRANCHISOR OBLIGATIONS
Our industry is comprised of corporate, franchised and independent stores, but the common requirement for the success of those stores is that the business model must stack up. It is incumbent on our industry leaders, our AACS members, to lead the way in terms of supporting their franchisees, demonstrating the successes available when the approach – and the model – is designed to achieve business objectives. This extends to creating an environment and culture that encourages, promotes and rewards success. This culture must also nurture developing businesses, help out in tougher times, and recognise the sacrifices small business people make to secure a profitable asset for their future. The AACS is focused on fostering an industry-wide culture that ensures the convenience channel is viewed as an inclusive and caring place for talented people to seek employment. 18
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THE COUNTDOWN TO CHINA IS ON
While we’re up to the challenge of fighting for a better go for the Australian convenience industry, we’re also opening the industry’s eyes to international innovations that could influence convenience here. This year’s AACS Overseas Study Tour will see us visit our most exciting destination yet, China, and we’re pleased to provide some more details for people to get on board. For just $5990.00 per person (excluding flights to and from Australia), the tour will take us on a journey through the Chinese convenience industry, with its unmatched supply chain efficiencies, ground-breaking technologies, amazing stores, innovative retailers like Alibaba and tencent, as well as a visit to the Consumer Insight & Market Research Center, NHRI COFCO, in Beijing – an opportunity certain to challenge our perceptions of what convenience really means. We’ll stay in the dynamic and contemporary Hyatt on the Bund, a uniquely located hotel on the banks of the Huangpu River at the northern end of the legendary Bund. With floor to ceiling windows, it offers breathtaking views of the Pudong or the Bund, providing an authentic cultural experience not to be missed. The per person cost covers airport transfers, accommodation, breakfasts, group dinners, domestic flights, tailored store visits and presentations from key industry professionals. C&I
AACS Overseas Study Tour Attendees will need a visa for entry. Book your place now by contacting jeff@aacs.org.au.
DATES 9 - 14 September 2018
COST AUD5,990.00 per person
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS • • • • •
Airport Transfers (on program dates only) 5 x nights accommodation (9 – 14 September 2018) 5 x breakfasts 3 x group dinners 2 x domestic economy flights within China (Beijing / Shanghai & Hangzhou / Guangzhou) • Tailored Convenience Store Visits • Presentation by Key Industry Professionals
VISA A visa is required for entry into China.
CONTACT If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Yashodha Nair at EWM on + 61 2 9557 7752 or yashodha@ewm.com.au.
HYATT ON THE BUND, SHANGHAI Hyatt on the Bund is a dynamic hotel uniquely located on the banks of the Huangpu River at the northern end of the legendary Bund. The accommodation is contemporary and features floor to ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of the Pudong or the Bund. Check out the link for more images: https:// shanghaithebund.hyatt.com/en/hotel/our-hotel.html
SWEET OR SAVOURY
PIES AND PASTRIES Hot and cold pastries to suit every taste.
Hot pastries within C-stores continue to be a staple of the grab-and-go category.”
S
ince Four’N Twenty made its launch into the American market, US sports fans have had the chance to taste the Aussie classic alongside hot dogs and chips at NBA games.
Partnering with the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, enabled the Aussie brand Patties Foods and their star product (the Four’N Twenty meat pie) to take an international leap and begin a very successful Twitter campaign that comprised of Americans showing the brand how they ate their pie. Closer to home Sydney company Originals Burger Co. recently released a new pie hybrid— a combination of a meat pie and a burger. The steak and mushroom pie is topped with beef patties, cheese, bacon, sauces and the bun on top.
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Both savoury and sweet pastries are very much a popular item in C-stores and they continue to be one of their best-selling products as an easy grab-and-go snack or in some cases, a meal.
HOT PASTRIES AND INNOVATION According to the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) State of the Industry Report, hot pastries within C-stores continue to be a staple of the grab-and-go category. “Hot pastries’ dollar growth neared 12% up from 8.5% a year earlier,” the report said. The report continued, to say that the growth was partly driven by the use of premium ingredients and new product developments (NPD).
SWEET OR SAVOURY
Specifically, it was the Four’N Twenty Real Chunky sub-brand that had the second largest growth contributing offer in the segment, with a dollar growth of almost 92%. Mrs Mac’s also recorded decent growth of 3.3%, and it is the largest brand by share and performs well overall in independents. It is easy to assume that these figures will continue to grow and customer satisfaction will reach new heights as brands expand on their offerings and innovate the way they manufacture their product range. Mrs Mac’s head of marketing and communications Tasha Sheldrick said the brand has a number of savoury pastry ranges. “Our core range has an extensive range of pies, sausage rolls, pasties and quiches in various different pack formats,” she said. “Our other ranges include Mrs Mac’s gluten free, halal and microwave (crispy, ready in four minutes). Excitingly, we have recently launched a new schools range – Mrs Mac’s Lite’n Up which has an improved health star rating.
“We have also taken a closer look at the meat filling of our square pie and made a slight adjustment to the process to ensure we preserve the meat and gravy’s integrity, which has resulted in a vastly improved texture and consistency. “Finally, we have a new country bakehouse-style beef sausage roll available in NSW and SA in our core range and a Chocolate Custard Tart, extending from our much adored Custard Tart. Balfours has an exciting new direction so our customers can expect lots of quality new product from now.”
WHAT IS POPULAR? With most brands having a range of options that span across both hot and cold pastries, there is a product for every time of day and every season of the year. Balfours said: “Pies, pasties and sausage rolls certainly spike in the cooler months whereas our fresh sweets hit the spot during the warmer months”.
AT A GLANCE • Food on the Go basket penetration is now the second highest category at 21% • The Hot Food Shopper spends 34% more than the average shopper • 67% of Food on the Go Shoppers buy a beverage with their purchase, 51% of those purchases are with a Hot Coffee • 26% of all Food purchases are a Bakery Snack with the strongest penetration between 6am-8am and 2pm-6pm Provided by CMA Australia
“We recently ran our second iteration of Balfours Stars of Summer campaign and the response from our customers and consumers was highly positive,” he said.
“In May we launch our Mrs Mac’s Special Batch premium range which features exotic flavours created by our in-house chef including; Butter Chicken, Beef Rendang and Chunky Steak Pie. Made with a premium flaky pastry and indulgent fillings, this range makes execution easy, as they are all heat-in-bag SKUs.
Ms Sheldrick of Mrs Mac’s said it was their core products throughout the range that customers kept coming back to.
“In addition, we are also venturing into the sweet category with the launch of our first delicious product; Apple and Cinnamon Pie 170g in mid-April – perfect for the consumer looking for a sweet treat on-the-go.
“Our Mrs Mac’s core products are hearty, big serves and are still firm customer favourites – The Mrs Mac’s Famous Beef Pie 200g and Mrs Mac’s Giant Sausage Roll 175g,” Ms Sheldrick said.
Balfours Choccy donut
Balfours are also in the business of innovation, their most recent improvement being the improved pastry. Balfours brand manager James Askham-Levy said the company had listened to customers and consumers and has introduced an improved pastry for all savoury products. “Balfours has a wide variety of fresh and frozen savouries such as the famous square pie, and a range of iconic sweet lines such as the Custard Tart, Choc Donut and our 2001 heritage listed Frog Cake,” he said. “Today, all Balfours’ fresh savouries will have flakier, more open pastry thanks to a process improvement in the bakery. April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au 21
SWEET OR SAVOURY
Balfours Custard Tart and Sausage Roll
United Petroleum began to add the Pie Face to its C-stores late in 2017, to both new and existing sites. “The Pie Face rollout is part of United’s evolving retail strategy, aiming to reinvent the local convenience retailing industry and ensure that our sites continue to meet the changing needs of consumers, wherever they are,” it said. United Petroleum Head of Food to Go Craig Dowsley said having fresh pies visibly baked on site was what made the product stand out. “That makes a world of difference, everything is open and you can see it all in front,” he said.
Today, all Balfours’ fresh savouries will have flakier, more open pastry thanks to a process improvement in the bakery.”
DOUGHNUT FORGET ME! “Our recently launched limited edition Pork & Sweet Chilli Roll 140g proved so popular, that we’re adding it to our already extensive range.”
MEATING THE TRENDS With the current health trends, consumers are heading away from the calorie-heavy foods and moving more towards fresh sandwiches and sushi. This is evident by the sweeping change that has occurred throughout C-stores in recent months, as well as with stores like The Foodary becoming more prevalent and popular. Ms Sheldrick said it is important to be mindful of consumers’ health concerns and as a result, the company will always recommend that customers have a balanced diet. “[This] recently led us to revising the recipes of our healthier Lite’n Up range,” she said. “With the new and improved recipes, five out of six Lite’n Up products have a four health star rating, and overall the products have reduced fat and sodium compared to our standard Mrs Mac’s product.” “Understanding the growing trend around food provenance and consumers becoming savvier around what they are eating, we will continue to source the best and freshest ingredients, Australian first wherever possible. We are a family-owned company with a clear commitment to producing quality products.
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT While most pies are delivered fresh, yet frozen to C-stores, since its purchase of the well known brand Pie Face, United Petroleum has been doing things a little differently. 22
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Doughnuts and sweet pastries, are also a popular addition to the snack and meal food on-the-go segments. Muffins often make for a quick breakfast snack on-the-go and in 7-Eleven stores, can be bundled together in a meal deal with a hot coffee. Amore Mini Donuts CEO Craig Lockyer said he believes the market space for doughnuts and pastries is growing day by day. “I also believe that there is nothing really new or innovative within the market,” Mr Lockyer said. “I believe that our new packaged product, Luv’em mini donuts is the way that pastry and donuts is going i.e. to be packaged for ease of grab and go, and ease of consumption and sharing. Mr Lockyer believes that despite a lack of innovation, there is still room for new products, especially if they provide a solution for something that has not yet been done. “However, it is a challenge to have new products ranged,” he said. “Seeing that the majority of pastries and doughnuts are sold with hot and or cold beverages within combos the best way for new products within this category would be to be displayed alongside the coffee areas, alternatively allowing for some form of POS near the cold beverages offering the new products and combos.” While there is room for innovation, it is not as simple as adding new products to the range. Mr Lockyer said he believes the biggest challenge the industry faces is that of distribution and the costs associated. C&I C&I would like to thank the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores, Mrs Mac’s, Balfours, United Petroleum and Convenience Measures Australia for their contributions to this article.
WE’RE SHOWING EVERYONE WHAT WE’RE MADE OF Mrs Mac’s NEW logo and packaging will capture your customers’ eye and appeal to their appetites by highlighting what we’re made of – 100% prime Australian Beef, fresh ingredients wherever possible, all wrapped in crispy, golden pastry. Our family-owned company pledges to keep making hearty, nourishing food the way we’ve been doing for generations.
SALTY SNACKS
SAVOURING SAVOURIES W
Snacks continue to prove they are worth their salt.
hile the segment may be constantly evolving to meet ever changing customer demand, the ongoing importance of salty snacks to convenience store profitability remains undiminished.
According to the most recent state of the industry report from the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), the snackfoods category as a whole – consisting of chips, nuts, popcorn, nutritional bars, dried fruit, and pretzels – has been outperforming the petrol and convenience average. And salty snacks in particular are expected to continue to grow organically due to the omni-present snacking trend in Australia. According to PepsiCo Shopper Foundation Study 2017, some 60% of snacking occasions are now savoury, as opposed to 45% in 2013. There is however a story within a story, and the health and wellness trend and demand for more premium products has seen a noticeable shift within the category. Popcorn and nuts are on the rise, as are chips made from vegetables other than potatoes, and more premium offerings. Market leader, the Smith’s Snackfood Company, has enjoyed huge success with its premium Red Rock Deli range, and its other 24 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
Retailers can maximise salty growth by disrupting shoppers as much as possible outside of aisle, both pre-store and in-store.”
established brands such as Smith’s, Doritos, and Twisties. The company has also responded to the health and wellness trend with the Sunbites range of wholegrain products, which include: Grain Waves wholegrain chips which have 30% less fat than crinkle cut potato chips; popcorn made from real wholegrain corn kernels which are popped in hot air; and the star-shaped Funbites that are baked not fried. Another leading salty snack company is Snackbrands Australia – which as well as its CC’s, Thins, Cheezels, and Samboy brands – boasts the premium Kettle slow cooked range. Market research company Ipsos says two thirds of Australians snack in-between meals, while Nestle Snackscape research from 2016 revealed that one in three snacks consumed by adults is eaten out of home. The desire of busy Australians to grab a snack while they are out and about getting on with their busy lives is then an inherent opportunity for convenience stores. This opportunity is clearly reflected in the contents of the convenience store shopper’s basket. According to Brett Barclay, a director with Convenience Measures Australia, the total snacking category is represented in 18% of all baskets, while salty snacks is represented in 22% of those.
SALTY SNACKS “Some 41% of shoppers who purchase salty snacks do so to ‘treat’ themselves,” Mr Barclay said. “And 58% of shoppers who bought salty snacks purchased their usual brand/product.” An indication of perhaps how much more potential the salty snack category in this country has yet to realise can be seen by the British experience. In the United Kingdom, the convenience channel represents 15.6% share of savoury snacks and continues to gain share, compared to just 5.6% in Australia (Euromonitor Savoury Snacks in the UK 2017; Savoury Snacks in Australia 2017). In some British outlets, impulse categories are in multiple planogrammed locations throughout the store, whereas in Australia snacks are still predominantly located in the main aisles with minimal presence at checkout/front of store. (Source: IGD Retail Analysis). The Smith’s Snackfood Company says that on-shelf availability continues to be an issue in the salty snacks category due to high velocity of products. It also says salty snacks plays the role of ‘basket driver’ in the convenience channel, so disruptive presence around the store is key. “Opportunities to further accelerate salty snacks growth in the convenience channel include evolving how snacks and food-togo are executed in store,” said a spokesperson for the company. “Retailers can maximise salty growth by disrupting shoppers as much as possible outside of aisle, both pre store and in store.” All stores have different space challenges and serve a different demographic dynamic but the importance of getting the basics right remain the same for everyone. In order to encourage time poor convenience shoppers to purchase salty snacks, the fixture needs to be easy to shop, with clear segmentation of pack sizes, segments, and pricing. Point of sale material should be used to attract consumer attention and highlight promotions and new products. As the category slowly evolves away from traditional salty potato chips, alerting customers to new products and innovations will
become increasingly important. Ensuring salty snacks are front of mind for consumers at moment of purchase will facilitate incremental sales and encourage trial of new and different products. Capitalising on the greater health awareness within salty snacks, brands such as Red Rock Deli have been bolstered by its newer range of sweet potato crisps as it seeks to construct savoury snacks from more virtuous ingredients. Smaller companies such as Vege Chips have also carved out niches for themselves in the category. Its leading two products are the Vege Chips natural flavour and original blend in deli crisps. Vege Chips sales and marketing manager Tim Lowe said: “Given the success of our original blend deli crisps we are launching a new product into the market in April which is a straight yellow sweet potato”. “This will be a great addition to complement the deli crisps original blend, as well as the deli crisps purple sweet potato we currently have in the market,” Mr Lowe said. Vege Chips says it will also launch more lentil varieties later this year with the inclusion of a lentil twist multi-pack and a spicy lentil sriracha flavour. The importance of ongoing innovation in the category is shown by Shopper Tracker data from last year which showed 57% of shoppers would like retailers to introduce new types/flavours/ brands more often in salty snacks. Australians continue to crave new and exciting flavour and texture experiences, and indulgent treat products are also continuing to grow. As the category evolves, ready-to-eat popcorn has been another big winner as it continues to shake off legacy associations of being a mostly unhealthy snack to accompany movies. Indeed, the AACS State of the Industry Report concludes that popcorn has instead emerged as a ‘permissible treat’. “Dollar growth of 132% in 2016, while down slightly from the 150% recorded in 2015, reflects a trending bagged snack in both grocery and petrol and convenience,” the report said.
AT A GLANCE • Some 41% of shoppers who purchase salty snacks do so to ‘treat’ themselves, while 58% of shoppers who buy salty snacks purchase their usual brand/product. • Shopper Tracker data from shows 57% of shoppers would like retailers to introduce new types/flavours/brands more often in salty snacks. • Sales of ready-to-eat popcorn have boomed as the segment has shaken off its former image as a mostly unhealthy snack to accompany movies and emerged as a ‘permissible treat’. • Salty snacks plays the role of ‘basket driver’ in the convenience channel, so disruptive presence around the store is key.
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
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SALTY SNACKS Cobs Fine Foods has been at the forefront of popcorn’s recent popularity surge in Australian convenience. A Cobs Fine Foods spokesperson said: “The Cobs Popcorn range includes savoury, salty and sweet flavours – some of which are perfect for every day, some are for an indulgence”. “People are also looking for ‘on the go’ snacking options that they can eat on the run, whether that be while in the car, or at work or school,” the spokesperson said. Cobs Fine Foods says that food manufacturers need to cater to consumers seeking low sugar, gluten free, organic, or nut free snacks and that its popcorn offering suits many of these ‘free from’ categories. “Consumers are constantly looking for convenient snacks, and more and more are looking for their snacks to be tasty, yet healthy,” the spokesperson said. “Healthy snacks in general is a category that will grow, and this will continue to be a strong trend for 2018.” Other popcorn brands and flavours that have also been making a contribution to popcorn’s strong growth are 7-Eleven’s Salted Caramel offering, and a number of new Kettle Popcorn options from Snackbrands. Cobs Fine Foods says that convenience store operators need to present the snack category as a complete story. “Nothing frustrates a customer more than not being able to find their favourite flavour from a particular brand,” the spokesperson said.
“Some retailers perhaps only stock one or two of our flavours, when it’s important to give customers choice, and this can only happen when the full range is presented.” While sales of traditional salty snacks in convenience are already under pressure due to the rise of segments such as popcorn, regular promotional activities by major supermarkets are another challenge. The AACS says that, with consumers taking advantage of the high frequency of 50% chip discounts in grocery to ‘pantry stock’, there will be less people using the petrol and convenience channel for top-up shopping. Nonetheless, according to Fatima Marquez, a research analyst at Euromonitor International, potato chips remained an important contributor to savoury snacks, making up 27% of value sales in 2017. “Potato chips' gradual decline in growth terms due to the growth of health focused savoury snacks such as nut, seeds and trail mixes, vegetable, pulse and bread chips and popcorn,” Ms Marquez said. “That said, potato chips still experienced solid value growth of 6% in 2017 driven by premium positioned potato chips brands such as Red Rock Deli, Kettle, Windsor’s and Thomas Chipman.” As the salty snack opportunity continues to expand and evolve, the use of promotions and deals to help increase basket spend on snacks become an ever more useful tool for convenience store operators. The most proven way of driving sales is by bundling salty snacks with a beverage, as the two are a natural fit with each other. Similarly, bundling a salty snack with a food-to-go item can also be a basket driver as consumers may then be persuaded to purchase across categories. Possibilities may include offering a small bag of chips with a sandwich for a discounted price, or even combining a drink, a salty snack, and a sandwich in a ‘meal deal’. While salty snacks may then be evolving and innovating to suit the health and wellness trend, the opportunity for savvy convenience stores to profit from this innovative category remains greater than ever. C&I * Convenience & Impulse Retailing magazine would like to thank Smith’s Snackfoods, Cobs Fine Foods, Vege Chips, Euromonitor International, and Convenience Measures Australia for supplying information for this article.
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A400
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HOT BEVERAGES
PROFIT
PICK-ME-UP Coffee leads the way in hot beverages sales boom.
T
he hot drinks boom in convenience shows no sign of slowing down as it continues to transform the look and feel of stores, and to boost both their footfall and profitability.
Led by coffee, hot beverages has been the overwhelming driver of Ready to Drink (RTD) category growth in recent years. The data is startling. According to Convenience Measures Australia, hot coffee now represents 55% of all beverages sold, and 24% of shoppers who purchase hot coffee do so, on a very regular basis. While the extra hot beverage spend is obviously very welcome, the category’s most important benefit may be the extra footfall and basket size it drives. Convenience Measures Australia says the average visit frequency for hot coffee shoppers is 3.5 times per week, 67% higher than the convenience average. The secret then to maximising the potential of hot beverages lies in continuing to draw in new customers, in persuading them to make their coffee stop part of their regular morning routine, and in enticing them to buy other goods while they are in store. Categories such as tobacco and hot food can clearly benefit from stores attracting more coffee consumers. With food, in particular, good management and good planning can make all the difference in boosting basket size. Having ancillary food items available with the coffee is likely to lead to additional purchases such as pastries, muffins, or cake. Many customers also like to have a coffee with 28
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
FEATURE HOT BEVERAGES a meal, whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. According to Convenience Measures Australia, 67% of food on the go shoppers buy a beverage with their purchase, and 51% of those purchases are with a hot coffee.
“Coffee is also seen as an afternoon pick-me-up, as well as a social drink consumed when catching up with friends.”
Bundling products with each other, such as a coffee with a muffin, pie, or sandwich to offer consumers a better deal can also be effective in lifting basket size. As stores try to establish themselves as the chosen destination for customers’ daily coffee purchases, they can experiment with their own add-on items such as a food item or a newspaper.
Grinders Coffee, which is responsible for popular convenience coffee brands such as Romanza and also sells a number of different machines, said convenience stores are embracing the whole ‘in-store’ café concept. It said this is evidenced through the multitude and variety of self-serve and semi-automatic coffee machines available at convenience outlets. Better coffee, it says, normally commands a better style of food offer.
Strong use of point of sale material will also help to drive the communication and visual appeal of the hot beverage on offer. Branding and activation in high-visibility areas can also be used to generate awareness of other products. The position of the hot beverage machine in store is also very important. If the machine is in the back corner with no point of sale alerting the customer to its presence, then coffee sales will suffer. Some stores find that having a ‘coffee corner’ concept, that allocates a section of the store to coffee and marketing material works well. In the battle to entice coffee customers though their doors, convenience stores have become keenly aware of the part price can play. With chains like 7-Eleven offering coffees for as little as $1, intense competition around coffee pricing has made for a challenging environment for smaller operators. However, price is not the only point of differentiation. As the palate of Australian coffee consumers has become increasingly sophisticated, the quality of the coffee on offer in stores has become an ever more important factor for many. Market research company, Euromonitor International, said there has been a clear move towards stronger coffee products. Euromonitor International research analyst Sara Agostino said: “This is attributable in part to the major role coffee plays in the morning routines of Australians, who value the energy-boosting effects of coffee products”.
The company believes that the most common forms of convenience-inspired coffee offers are either affordable coffees priced under $3.50, or quality and premium coffees that are emerging in line with the ‘premiumisation’ trend. Grinders said stores with the more competitively priced coffees typically offer hot food, doughnuts and muffins, while those locations with a more premium offer may provide a more extensive range of artisan/bakery style products. The most recent Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) State of the Industry Report noted that barista-made quality is also gaining traction among a nation of discerning drinkers. “While self-serve coffee machines can deliver barista-style coffee via a one-touch button, renovated stores from the larger chains often feature barista-made coffee at a higher price point that is comparable to cafes,” the report said. “As such, the higher-end barista offer must rival the quality of the café scene, which means that machine selection and bean quality are all the more important to credibly recreate a contemporary café aesthetic.”
Ergo Zero
Ergo One Touch
While there are few convenience stores around the country that wouldn’t benefit from hosting a decent coffee offer, the sort of machine most suitable for them
AT A GLANCE • The rapid rise of drinks like coffee with ‘pick-meup’ qualities reflects the increasingly busy lifestyle of Australians • Hot coffee now represents 55% of all beverages sold, and 24% of shoppers who purchase hot coffee do so on a ‘very’ regular basis • Having ancillary food items available with the coffee is likely to lead to additional purchases such as pastries, muffins, or cake • Drinks such as tea and hot chocolate offer an important alternative to non-coffee drinkers
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
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HOT BEVERAGES Grinders Coffee sells machines including: the Rancillio Classe 7 which is an espresso machine which uses coffee beans and requires a trained barista; the Rancillio Classe 8 is semi-automatic and uses capsules; and the Egro One and the Egro Zero, which are both fully automatic and use fresh milk. The company says the semi-automatic Baby 9 Professional Capsule System is new to the market and is well suited to convenience. A Grinders Coffee spokesperson said: “It’s attractive to customers wanting an espresso machine look and feel without having a trained barista on hand”. “It fits into a standard 10-amp power point, has an in-built water tank that holds up to four litres, and delivers professional, great tasting coffee.” As the machine uses coffee capsules, the coffee can stay fresher for longer, which is particularly valuable in venues where coffee turnover does not justify a fully-serviced espresso machine service. Romanza Coffe 1kg
Giancarlo Coffee Capsule
Hot drinks will sell in convenience outlets at all times of the day and night, but the mornings before 10am will be among the peak transaction periods.”
depends on a lot of individual criteria. Most important of these considerations is looking at a store’s customer base and analysing likely usage. Those stores situated close to tourist hotspots, highways, railway stations, bus stops or sporting venues will do particularly well. Coffee customers are commonly time poor and might include tradies, delivery truck drivers, holidaymakers, or office workers. While it depends to some extent on the location of the store, coffee sales will tend to be stronger during the week when most people are at work and on the move. Hot drinks will sell in convenience outlets at all times of the day and night, but the mornings before 10am will be among the peak transaction periods. In making their hot beverage machine decision, stores also need to look at their budgets, consider ongoing operational costs, analyse their bench space, and plan for who will be looking after the area. At a minimum, staff must be able to troubleshoot simple, straightforward fixes and carry out regular cleaning, and handle things like milk refills or spills. Most new coffee machines are extremely easy to use and maintain, and staff are generally given full operational and cleaning instructions by suppliers. In the vast majority of stores, the machines are set up to be customer self serve and this reduces staff involvement in the process, making it generally more efficient and more profitable. Nonetheless, consumers buy with their eyes and a work space that is kept clean and attractive will give the impression that stores are in control, and will deliver high quality drinks. It is particularly essential that the hot beverage area is clean and well stocked with sundries during the busiest periods, such as the mornings. In the same way that convenience stores come in a variety of styles, the coffee machines that suit them also vary. The best machine solution is the one that produces consistent quality drinks and fits with the business model of the store. Happily, there are a huge range of options available.
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The Blue Pod Coffee Co is another company that has had great success in convenience. A Blue Pod spokesperson said: “We have a number of service stations and Ezy Mart businesses that use our Lavazza machines and capsules”. “Generally speaking they use our Lavazza blue coffee capsules, our hot chocolate powder, and our milk powder, as well as branded paper cups with dome lids.” The company said the process for customers to self serve a good cup of Lavazza brand coffee is extremely easy and quick, which is great for people on the go. “Adding a quality coffee brand to a store, especially an easy and quick to use self-service option, is definitely a benefit,” the spokesperson said. “It allows customers to get their coffee fix on the way to work and having an instore café offering with a brand name coffee such as Lavazza is certainly a drawcard.” While coffee is the standout hot beverage performer, other drinks such as tea and hot chocolate have also been selling well, and offer an important alternative to non-coffee drinkers. On most occasions hot chocolate can be dispensed from the same machine as coffee, and selling it allows stores to attract a slightly younger consumer. The rapid rise of drinks like coffee with ‘pick-me-up’ qualities reflects the increasingly busy lifestyle of Australians and their need to stay mentally ‘switched on’, and there is no reason to think the trend won’t continue. According to recent IBISWorld data, convenience shoppers now rank coffee as the number two reason that they visit a store. For operators then who are yet to recognise the obvious potential here, it’s most definitely time to wake up and smell the coffee. C&I * Convenience & Impulse Retailing magazine would like to thank Grinders Coffee, Blue Pod Coffee Co, Euromonitor International, and Convenience Measures Australia for supplying information for this article.
RD AVAILABLE TO ORDER 23
APRIL 2018
THE SECOND COMING. only in cinemas. © 2018 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. MARVEL © 2018 MARVEL.
PDT CODE DESCRIPTION
VOLUME
UNIT/CARTON CONSUMER BARCODE
CARTON BARCODE
1486
V ENERGY DRINK - SOUR WORMS 250ML CAN
250ML
24
94132229
19415767014869
1490
V ENERGY DRINK - SOUR WORMS 500ML CAN
500ML
12
9415767014909
19415767014906
1484
V ENERGY DRINK - SOUR WORMS 330ML BOTTLE
330ML
12
9415767014848
19415767014845
CONTACT YOUR FRUCOR SUNTORY REPRESENTATIVE OR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 1800 237 727
SPECIAL FEATURE
SECURITY AND SAFETY Robberies and crimes often target C-stores causing a significant impact on retailers and staff.
32 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
SPECIAL FEATURE
R
ecently, Melbourne has been hit with a high activity of gang-related crimes. Many of these crimes have been directly targeting convenience and retail stores. Retailers and staff need to know that they will be safe in their work environment, and to ensure this is the case security is becoming more and more integral.
The illegal tobacco industry in Australia is roughly estimated to be equivalent to around 14 per cent of total volume. Illicit tobacco comes in several forms: bulk rolling tobacco or ‘chopchop’ as it is often called, dodgy unfamiliar imported brands, imported major brand counterfeits and now, tobacco stolen from retail stores here in Australia.
Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Jeff Rogut said the impact of crime against service stations was a significant issue.
Figures released detailed 450 armed robberies of tobacco products from retail outlets in Victoria in the 12 months to March of 2017.
“Each week we read reports of criminal gangs perpetuating violent crimes and robberies, with service stations and convenience stores in particular being targeted by these criminals,” he said.
Following a store robbery on the Gold Coast in September 2017, store manager Tracey Schaesser said her advice to other businesses was to keep the till as empty as possible.
“What we don’t read about are any real deterrents to these crimes.
Smokeshield Australia’s General Manager Matt King said the company has seen crime go up in number since 2015.
“All the while, the people who work in the 24/7 convenience industry are feeling less and less safe in going to work. It’s unacceptable and it must stop.” Mr Rogut said it was a timely reminder to ensure that security protocols are refreshed, communicated and understood by all staff. “The safety of staff and customers is paramount. We deal with petrol theft and robberies on an all-too-frequent basis so we should not be complacent and assume that it’s just a way of doing business,” he said. Retail security within C-stores is not limited to gang-related crime and large-scale robberies. It also includes direct theft from shoplifters, organised crime and staff theft.
CRIMES COMMITTED Armed robberies and petty thefts aren’t the only crimes that are committed against petrol and convenience stores, retailers must also face fuel theft and increased levels of violence due to the illegal tobacco trade. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, armed robberies increased in 2016: “Victoria (up 22% or 351 victims) and Queensland (up 17% or 123 victims), which experienced the largest rises in victims of these offences between 2015 and 2016”. Add in the crime rate that early 2018 has seen, and expect the numbers to be even higher.
It is important to be very vigilant, because they're [C-stores] open at night, it is crucial to be vigilant about who's coming and who is going.”
“It is important to be very vigilant, because they’re [C-stores] open at night, it is crucial to be vigilant about who’s coming and who is going,” he said. “Work on a locked door policy, where after a certain time at night the store has the doors locked and therefore they’re only letting people in who need to come in.” Mr King said it was important to ensure that all staff are well trained in the proper procedures in case something does happen. However in the event that something does go wrong, staff should comply with everything that is being asked of them as a last resort.
THE EFFECT OF CRIME The effects of theft and crime on C-stores can have serious long-term consequences. Mr Rogut said: “It leaves our shops smashed up, our staff traumatised and puts billions of dollars in lost tax revenue up in smoke, and we need a coordinated, well resourced approach to tackle it”. “These crimes take an extraordinarily heavy psychological toll on workers, who are threatened with guns and knives,” he said. Mr King also noted the long and short-term effects of crime.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
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SPECIAL FEATURE A security camera watching a store
It leaves our shops smashed up, our staff traumatised and puts billions of dollars in lost tax revenue up in smoke, and we need a co-ordinated, well resourced approach to tackle it.”
“The long-term effects are cost and staffing, if you have a look at the jewellery industry, with ‘smash and grabs’, that obviously impacts greatly on staff often to the point where counselling is required, often people just don’t come back to work because they can’t work in the industry anymore,” he said. “The short term is the loss of revenue, the dramatic impact of having to fix up the damage people have caused by driving and smashing through things, that obviously has an effect on the bottom line, and your insurance premiums go up every time you claim on them.”
SMOKECLOAK FOG SECURITY AND SAFETY MACHINES Mr King said the main importance of security is to make sure that everyone has a suitable enough system or devices installed to be prepared for a theft or an attack, and to ensure that the premises are protected and protected well. “[If] that be high-end security panels and CCTV systems, up to the uniqueness of the Smokeshield’s SmokeCloak system, it comes down to cost these days,” he said.
SmokeCloak with DNA technology, works, so that when the smoke is deployed to deter the criminals, the strain of DNA is also deployed. Once deployed, it coats offenders in DNA so the police can take a sample that is on site and they can swab suspected offenders and match the DNA. It identifies a suspect that can cover themselves up to completeness to the point where you can’t tell who they are. “The DNA can last up to six weeks. It’ll penetrate into clothing and will stick to hair, gloves, anything someone is wearing at the time and beyond their skin,” Mr King said. Mr King said Smokeshield Australia is the sole importer of this product and has been installing it for 15 years. “We make sure the product is installed in such a way where it works and does its job,” he said. “Signage is key too, we always make sure any premises that have the SmokeCloak technology in it, are well signed – sending the message that if you see this sign, there’s no point, you won’t see anything and you won’t get anything,” he said.
SIGNS TO BE WARY OF
“We find a lot of systems out in the market today aren’t ‘cutting the mustard’ so to speak. There’s flaws in a lot of people’s security that will make them a prime target and they need to make sure they’re covered to a point that they’re happy with but also when they take advice from a security consultant, that they take the advice on board.”
Being able to distinguish a potential thief or criminal could be easier than originally thought.
When it comes to the use of CCTV cameras, they are only going to be useful if they are installed correctly.
“If someone walks into your shop and greets you nicely and talks to you happily, then obviously their persona is pretty good and you won’t have an issue,” he said.
“Putting cameras in the right position rather than just having overall views, putting them at head height behind the counter so that they are directly looking at people,” Mr King said. “It comes down to being prepared from your side. Obviously the other device is the SmokeCloak with the DNA technology.” 36 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
Mr King said there was an obvious way to differentiate between people who will cause retailers grief, and those who are just there for petrol or a convenience purchase.
“If someone comes in with their head down and not talking much, then obviously they’ve got a different persona and they’re the people you need to watch a bit more.” C&I C&I would like to thank the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores and Smokeshield Australia for their contributions to this article.
PRODUCT NEWS
Safai’cse •
o • Ch
Rolling through the ages Since ancient times, pastry wrapped around meat has been a staple go-to easy meal. After a little refinement in France along the way, the humble sausage roll has become as iconic to Aussies as the Koala Bear, and just as loved. Luckily for us, Balfour’s understands the high expectations when it comes to our favourite snack and they’re constantly seeking ways to delight us. Now Balfour’s have given us a new and delicious country style Beef Sausage Roll. Using only 100% quality minced beef meat, freshly diced carrot, onions
and seasoned to perfection, this tasty treat comes wrapped in their new and much more flaky pastry. With this new variety, Balfour’s has proven again they truly deliver on their promise of baking happy people – satisfying hungry tums on the run everywhere. As a petrol and convenience store owner/manager, I would say this is a no-brainer… Contact your local Balfour’s rep and get them into your ovens, quick! www.balfour’s.com.au, 08 8368 5300
A family tree that bares fruit Founded over 50 years ago, Nippy’s, one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s most beloved beverage and fresh fruit producers, is showing no signs of slowing down. Born from humble beginnings – when 18-yearold Alex ‘Nippy’ Knispel cycled from Adelaide to the Riverland – the South Australian family-owned brand boasts three generations of growers and manufacturers and is synonymous with a commitment to quality. This commitment, paired with consistency – found in their range of fresh juices, dairy, fruit and other beverages – is born from simplicity. By starting with quality ingredients – making their products in much the same way they did in their Mother’s kitchen through the 1960s – the Knispel family can stand by their strong and authentic brand with pride. Nippy’s are riding a wave of success, recently expanding their production capacities and product range. Building on their continual growth, the SA beverage producer has recently launched new packaging and labelling, and updated their range of flavoured milks – which includes a lactose free variety, and a new 500ml bottle to compliment the 375ml carton. They have also invested in a $10 million, state-of-the-art production line in Moorook. After two years of planning, which included sourcing machinery from Germany and the Netherlands, Nippy’s will use this to further their expansion into Asia; coinciding with a huge increase in global demand for oranges midway through 2017. 38
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
With their dairy processing plant in Moorook, the Regency Park juicing factory, plus their 240-hectare orchard, citrus packing and processing complex in Waikerie, Nippy’s South Australian footprint is vast. The iconic company, which was last year inducted into the South Australian Food Industry’s Hall of Fame, continues to be one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s most trusted beverage producers. And while the Riverland is still the proud home of Nippy’s – where its sandy soils, abundant sunshine and clean, natural environment make it one of the best growing regions in the world – their enduring commitment to the principle of ‘farm grown and family made’, allow for an honest connection to history, the land, and Australian famers.
PRODUCT NEWS
Cold Brewed For A Fancier Fix
In May 2017, the Dare Coffee Co. spilled the beans on their latest creation— the new Dare Cold Pressed— a range of cold brewed coffee which comes in latte and strong latte variants. Dare Cold Pressed is crafted using three natural ingredients, 100% Arabica cold brewed coffee, fresh milk and just a dash of raw sugar. The beans are carefully roasted and ground before being infused in cold water, to create a perfectly balanced and full bodied flavour. The Dare Cold Pressed technique delivers a superior form of coffee extraction, taking the time to infuse the beans in cold water gives the coffee a smoother, richer taste. The emergence of cold brew continues to redefine the iced coffee category globally and although it’s still a relatively infant category in Australia, the segment continues grow down under. Dare Cold Pressed is the number 1 cold brew*, fuelling Australia’s need for a ready to drink coffee that is a credible alternative to hot coffee. Dare Cold Pressed really does bring crafted cold brewed coffee to the masses through convenience and grocery stores; and some may say a fancier fix for 25 to 45 year-old urban professionals looking to indulge in a chilled, premium coffee for their second coffee for the day! Lion Dairy and Drink’s marketing and innovation director Darryn Wallace said Dare Cold Pressed has been developed in response to consumers’ evolving tastes and love of coffee. He said their appreciation of unique blends and higher-quality coffees had intensified, resulting in greater demand for premium-quality coffee. Dare Cold Pressed will be heavily supported with integrated above the line and in store marketing campaigns featuring TV, digital and sampling to build awareness and drive trial. Dare Cold Pressed is an exceptional brew without the queue and is available in VIC, NSW, QLD and SA. *IRi AU Grocery and Convenience Scan QTR to Feb 2018
Ice Break Innovation
N&W Global Vending becomes EVOCA Group In November 2017 N&W Global Vending S.p.A. rebranded as EVOCA S.p.A. The move coincided with the unveiling of the company’s coffee-focused global business strategy designed to strengthen its position as a leading player in both the Ho.Re.Ca and Office Coffee Service channels. EVOCA is the integration of seven global coffee machine manufacturers, a process of aggregation that began in 2000 following a precise strategic intent and which has created the global leader in professional coffee machines. EVOCA will continue complementing its coffee machine offering with its range of snack, food and can and bottle machines. In Australia the company offers the NECTA professional automatic fresh milk equipment range. KORO PRIME, KORINTO PRIME, KALEA and KARISMA fresh milk machines, proudly made in Italy and specifically designed to suit the Australian market for the Ho.Re.Ca and Office Coffee Service channels. For more information on the new brand and all products, please visit: www.evocagroup.com
Parmalat is set to disrupt the iced coffee market with the introduction of its latest innovation, Ice Break Bold Espresso. Containing three shots of coffee, the beverage will become the strongest iced coffee on the market. The iced beverage contains a bold, creamy, real coffee flavour and real ingredients including 100% Robusta roasted coffee beans and fresh full cream milk. Ice Break Bold Espresso has launched in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA petrol stations, convenience and independent retailers. The product will also be available in Woolworths by mid-May. Ice Break Bold Espresso is Parmalat’s flagship strategic launch for 2018 and is backed by an equally bold marketing strategy across OOH, digital, radio and PR. This will be supported by the rollout of a massive national sampling campaign that will put the product in the hands of thousands of consumers. April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
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PRODUCT NEWS
Three exciting new pie flavours to enjoy from Mrs Mac's Pie fans will rejoice with the launch of the new Mrs Mac’s Special Batch premium range featuring three exciting flavours; Chunky Steak, Butter Chicken and Beef Rendang. Mrs Mac’s Special Batch pies are made with a gourmet golden flaky pastry, specially developed by the Mrs Mac's master pastry expert; a man with over 47 years’ experience in pastry making. This pastry perfectly complements the premium international flavours of the world. Beef Rendang is made with lean diced steak, cooked in a freshly made rendang paste, infused with coconut milk. The rendang paste features traditional spices such as Lemon Grass, Tamarin, Galangal and Turmeric— plus the perfect amount of chilli for the Aussie palate. Butter Chicken has an indulgent filling of chicken, marinated in an inhouse made curry paste and spices. The infusion of ingredients results in a delicious bite, reminiscent of the authentic flavours of Northern India.
Franke Coffee Systems
The paste mix includes classic Indian ingredients such as Garam Masala, Fenugreek and Cardamom. Chunky Steak continues to be a very popular flavour choice for customers, so the Mrs Mac’s team have sourced delicious lean premium steak, which is slow cooked with the best seasonings to ensure a tender steak pie, with rich, smooth and flavoursome gravy. The new packaging has been designed to capture a customer’s eye and incorporates the fresh, high quality ingredients that go into each delicious pie. The heat in bag film allows you to heat in-store, and feature in a pie warmer so customers can pick up that extra special pie on the go. These pies are a sizeable 220g, leaving your customers feeling satisfied for longer. Available to order from your distributor Mid April 2018.
Style, innovation and inspiration, these are all attributes associated with Franke’s range of automatic coffee systems. Just as important is market knowledge, understanding the customers business, after-sales support and, most critical, is the ability to offer precise solutions tailored to an ever evolving sector within convenience. Consumers seek faster service, flawless staff interaction and an unparalleled in-store range of products with variety; the consumer leads a fast paced life but seeks the personal touch when interaction deems necessary. We embrace technology to help our customers increase sales and loyalty as we believe this is the future and this is also reflected not only in the need for reliable coffee equipment to meet demand in coffee quality, but to meet consumer expectations. Technically advanced automatic coffee systems are only one part of the solutions available from Franke. We incorporate advanced technology across our range including our visually appealing and stimulating high resolution menu screens, ability to interchange different sized brewer chambers within coffee brewers reflecting the hybrid capabilities of the Franke A range. Franke recently launched the innovational iQ Flow which monitors and maintains constant pressure in ‘real time’ during the espresso extraction process, the first of its type offering absolute quality stability. Launching the A400 at HOST in October 2017, completed the A range family from the A200 including the A400, A600, A800 up to the A1000. In 2018 technology will play a key role in how Franke presents its solutions and manages important aftersales support including equipment performance & consumable usage, the ability to incorporate existing or new loyalty programs is more prevalent in today’s C-Store sector. Telemetry, technology and strong national after sales support are three critical areas Franke will dominate and offer its customers in 2018. Visit www.franke.com or arrange a demonstration in our Sydney or Melbourne showrooms. 40
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
INTRODUCING ICE BREAK BOLD ESPRESSO Ice Break is #1 IN QLD* and #2 NATIONALLY^
Iced coffee is MASSIVE and makes up 54% of total flavoured milk sales# (meaning it’s important for category growth)
Real & strong with 3 shots of dark roasted Robusta coffee blended with fresh full cream milk
Ice Break BOLD Espresso
PACK SIZE
PRODUCT CODE
EAN
500mL
60734
9310036060734
For more information please contact your Parmalat Territory manager, OR PHONE: 1800 000 256 FAX: 1800 335 188 EMAIL: sales@parmalat.com.au
IN M SU AR PP KE O TI RT NG
NEW PRODUCT
$2 M
*Iri Aztec Data Grocery & P&C MAT to 17/09/17. ^SOURCE: IRI Aztec, MAT 26/11/17, Volume, Total Grocery + P&C Flavoured Milk. # IRI Aztec, MAT 26/11/17, Volume, Total Grocery + P&C Flavoured Milk.
PRODUCT NEWS
Powerade launch new flavour
Pringles release new flavours Pringles has recently launched two new flavours to its expansive range. The Pringles World Favourites release includes two new flavours; Brazilian BBQ and Spanish Style Paprika. Spanish Style Paprika was inspired by delicious culinary flavours from Spain with a hint of paprika, while Brazilian BBQ was inspired by delicious culinary flavours from Brazil with a BBQ twist. The new flavours are available for a limted time at Woolworths and independent IGA stores for $3.99.
Coca-Cola South Pacific has announced it will launch its newest flavour of Powerade. Powerade ION4 Pineapple Storm + Coconut water offers a new twist on the hydrating beverage, combining the fruity flavour with the benefits of coconut water. Coca-Cola South Pacific brand manager operations hydration portfolio Bridget Slipper said: “The expansion of the POWERADE ION4 range to include POWERADE Pineapple Storm ION4 + Coconut Water is an exciting step forward. This launch provides an opportunity to demonstrate the innovation inherent to Powerade to new and existing customers”. “We’re excited to share what Powerade has to offer in a new flavour as part of our strategy to drive growth through the continual refinement of our hydration and sport drinks range,” Ms Slipper said. Powerade Pineapple Storm ION4 + Coconut Water is available nationwide in all major and independent retailers in a 600ml serve for a limited time only.
Warning: Counterfeit lighters Recently some counterfeits of the famous BIC® lighter have been found within the Australian market, which are potentially dangerous and are an infringement BIC®’s Intellectual Property rights. There are trade mark registrations for the distinctive shape of the BIC® lighter, which cannot be replicated with another brand. The sale of counterfeit lighters that copy the shape of a BIC® lighter can infringe BIC®’s rights even if they do not have the word “BIC®” on them. Further, lighters that look like BIC® lighters may mislead consumers into believing they are genuine BIC® lighters, which is a breach of Australian Consumer Law. In order to protect yourself from financial, reputational and physical risks ensure that you and your customers stock genuine BIC® lighters by buying directly from BIC® Australia or from our authorised distributors.
RISKS TO THE RETAILER
Some counterfeit lighters are of poor quality and may not comply with legal requirements. The Trade Practices Regulations 1997† impose safety standards for disposable lighters. Breach of this Standard may pose a risk of serious injury, for example, where lighters are not child resistant.
STANDARDS & PENALTIES
Suppliers of lighters that breach these Regulations may be found guilty of a criminal offence which carries the maximum fines of: • $220,000 for individuals - $1,100,000 for companies • Plus damages and without limitation, withdrawal of sales and loss of reputation. Genuine BIC® lighters are of high quality and comply with legal safety requirements.
CONSUMER SAFETY & COMPENSATION
Anyone who suffers injury from a defective lighter can claim compensation from the retailer for death, physical injury or monetary loss caused by the defective lighter. Retailers may not be able to recover this money from their supplier. *Source: Aztec Data Total Lighter to 10/12/2017
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April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
PRODUCT NEWS
BeanBoozled Gets Downright Despicable in a Special Minion Edition Jelly Belly Candy Company is excited to launch a special line of BeanBoozled Minion Edition jelly beans featuring two unique flavour pairs, now available in a variety of packages, including 45g Flip Top Box, 54g Bag and the 95g Spinner Tin with a spin wheel on the top. This is the first licensed partnership for the BeanBoozled brand. Illumination and Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me franchise is known for its sweet and subversive Minions.Jelly Belly captures the mischievous nature of Illumination’s Minions with a special selection of BeanBoozled flavours, including two new look-alike pairs. Illumination’s Minions love Bananas. That is why classic BeanBoozled favourite Pencil Shavings is back and paired with Ba-na-na in this special edition. New to the weird and wild selection is a flavour inspired by Despicable Me character Dr. Nefario and his most memorable gadget, the Fart Gun: in this edition, Jelly Belly pairs delicious Green Apple and deplorable Minion Fart. Look-alike flavour pairs in this special edition include Minion Fart or Green Apple, Pencil Shavings or Ba-na-na, Vomit or Peach, Booger or Juicy Pear, Canned Dog Food or Chocolate Pudding, Mouldy Cheese or Caramel Corn, Dead Fish or Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Rotten Egg or Buttered Popcorn, Spoiled Milk or Coconut, and Stinky Socks or Tutti-Frutti. Consumers all over the world are taking the BeanBoozled Challenge. The line consists of ten pairs of identical looking Jelly Belly® jelly beans with different flavours. One could be delicious while the lookalike is frightening, but there is only one way to find out. Contact your local The Distributors member to order the new BeanBoozled Minions Edition or any other products in the Jelly Belly range. www.the-distributors.com.au or phone 1800 989 022
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43
OPINION
MILLENNIALS
MORE THAN JUST AVOCADO TOAST Millennials aren’t the enemy of business, but they can be difficult to employ
There is a major generational change underway here and we need to respect it, understand it and work with it.”
44
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illennials are touted as those who want everything for nothing and yet still can’t afford to purchase a house because of their avocado addition. The media is full of stereotypes and jarring ‘realities’ about how this younger generation live their lives and what they expect from the work they put in. But when it comes to employment, this is an area that is still coming to terms with how to work with an upand-coming group of people. What is it the ‘millennial’ generation want, and how can we help them to get there without having them quit when it feels too hard. An American survey in 1976 of 18 year-olds revealed that 39% of respondents expected work to be a central part of their lives. This number dropped in 2014 to only 25%, meaning that the pipe-dream of a work-life balance is now a goal to obtain and hold onto. C&I spoke to one industry player, Wade Death from Jack & Co, who employs a lot of young people about how his business has embraced a young workforce. “As much as we’re a haven for young job seekers, sometimes we struggle to connect well with our younger workers and we are working hard to make sure we’re an attractive employment offer for them. I feel incredibly old when I think about the way I was inducted into the workforce many years ago and feel particularly old when I have thoughts in my head ‘that wouldn’t have happened in my day’... but then I think, there is a major generational change underway here and we need to respect it, understand it and work with it.
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
“Some of the obvious signs that are so different now are basic things like staff using the landline phone to call the office… they just never do. It’s mobile to mobile now and I don’t think a single staff member under 25 in our business would know our head office landline phone number. I’m sure some of our staff look at the ringing landline phone in the corner some times and think ‘what alien device is that?' It is so frustrating and yet these are our loyal staff. Our staff that live and breathe our business and our brand, serve our customers every day and have such great rapport with our customers. Even emails seem to be largely unread, so we have reverted to some print material to catch attention and also our app-based communication platforms to share ideas and communicate store issues, which seems to work. “We recently tracked our last couple of months of recruitment and found some incredibly interesting statistics, when we’re hiring casual staff: “Only one in three applicants returns the initial phone call from the company. Generally if we haven’t called them about their application within a couple of hours, they’re gone and generally feel there is no need to call us back. “When we do a screening interview and arrange a booked face to face interview, we find only one in three turn up to their booked and confirmed interview. From over roughly 150 interviews, we’re yet to have someone notify us to say they’re not coming to an interview. They simply don’t show.
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OPINION
A millennial at a job interview
The quality of the team members in any retail outlet is critical to the success of the store”
46
“Of those that progress through to an interview, only 50% show up to their trial (i.e. one in two are no shows to their trial), again no communication about not coming in. “If you do the maths on how many people you need to call to get an employee, the numbers are mind boggling. The major challenge for us is in organising people to train and conduct interviews— to have so many no shows is particularly frustrating. It hasn’t happened just once, it happens all the time. “We have a hugely committed young workforce that are the back bone of the business, so this is certainly not intended to sound like disrespect of our great workers. But those that are our great workers are clearly the ones that returned the call, showed up for the interview, showed up for the trial and are hard workers. We’re lucky to have great staff in our business that live our brand and our values, but I’m constantly thinking if this trend continues on this trajectory, where will it end up? I recently said to an 18-year old staff member, I’m sending a letter to your parents to tell them they did a great job in getting you ready for the workforce. It certainly makes me think about how I will induct my own children into the workforce." C&I also spoke to 7-Eleven to gain further insights into their employment process. “The quality of the team members in any retail outlet is critical to the success of the store,” the company said. “We find that training and support is crucial for new team members, including millennials, to give them the confidence to do their job well. 7-Eleven has a range of training programs available for new store team members, as well as on the job training. “What we find is that looking for a diverse range of people with the right attitude and aptitudes are the key to success. However, recruiting in the traditional way can be time consuming, and doesn’t always ensure a large selection of candidates to choose from.
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
7-Eleven GM People and Talent Sharon Beaumont said that a group recruitment program reduces the time required to recruit and induct new team members for both corporate and franchised stores. “Having excellent employees is a key for success for any business. We wanted to make it easier for both our corporate stores and franchisees to recruit and train great team members, but to reduce the time and administration involved,” Ms Beaumont said. According to Ms Beaumont, it’s important to ensure all team members are engaged, fairly rewarded, and welltrained and supported to do their work well. “Helping everyone get more out of life means having vibrant, energised stores with great Franchisees, Corporate Store Managers and Team Members, who receive fair rewards for their efforts, and are inspired to deliver the best convenience offer in the market,” she said. “There’s a lot of focus on our people, their development and our culture across every 7-Eleven workplace in our company, so we are really excited about the contribution our people are going to continue to make,” she said. Workforce Guardian employment lawyer Charles Watson said various generations make up part of the diversity of the workplace, and businesses should have considered issues relating to the employment of younger generations. “Social demographers have already done the detailed research and provided the business community with the generational differences,” Mr Watson said. “Each generation has its own generalised idiosyncrasies. Those idiosyncrasies are, in part, a result of observing and learning from what parents and grandparents have experienced both economically and socially. From an employer’s perspective, what we can deduct from this research is that we have one of the most tech savvy and heavily educated generations looking for their place in the world. “To attract the most written about generation in history, start by realising you can’t put an old head on young shoulders. Employers are employing bright, capable and empowered younger people. However, they are also inexperienced so employers have to show due care and understand that the capability and potential is high, but the maturity is still developing. Nonetheless, give young employees real responsibility and challenges and they will generally step up. “Informal and regular feedback is great for every employee, even the most hardened and experienced in the workplace. Further, internal communication in all workplaces has to move on the regimental orders, unless you are in the defence forces. “Generation Y have a keener sense of social responsibility and quickly smell authenticity from BS than previous generations. Companies need to be part of their community and younger employees want to see that. Those labelled Generation Y don’t all have to be working for a charitable organisation, but they want to see their employer is behaving ethically and doing no harm along the way. Mr Watson said employers should offer challenging work and explain the skills that employees will develop and how these skills are transferable in their working life. “Employers will be pleasantly surprised,” he said. C&I
BREAKING NEWS
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Construction Refurbishment Buying & Leasing of sites - new or old FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT JOE PHONE: +61 414 858 858 EMAIL: JOSEPH@THEBENZINAGROUP.COM WWW.THEBENZINAGROUP.COM
OPINION
MISSION CRITICAL
BECOME A TRUSTED FOOD DESTINATION
The ‘first moment of truth’.
DARREN PARK CEO - United Convenience Buyers
Remember! The mission is hunger, they want food. We all buy with our eyes.”
I
nnovation is incredibly valuable, as it also encourages me to re-focus our attention on ensuring our current shoppers are well served. Are we maximising the current offers? Are we taking a good hard look at ‘where we are’ and executing well against the easy and simple wins—the low hanging fruit. We need to be mission driven. Shopper mission driven. A mission is what motivates your core target consumer to go shopping in the first place. Leveraging our mission knowledge informs us on how to plan our executions, encouraging the conversion of these missions to instore value and happy shoppers. For example, customers on a fuel mission can be presented with an impulse item conversion opportunity in that valuable walk up to the transaction zone or counter area. Items like confectionery, beverages or a piece of fruit, there is nothing more impulsive. Interestingly, there’s been discussion about reducing the role of confectionery at the register or transaction zone. Why as an industry would we do this, if we are in the business of activating missions? The Foodary have done a great job at activating the transaction zone with both food and confectionery. Think of it like this, food and confectionery in a C-Store are like a main meal and dessert at home. (Our bottle of wine is a beverage located nearby too). Many of us will have heard of the term ‘first moment of truth’— it’s that point where shoppers are standing in front of your products, ready to make a purchase. Before a shopper consumes a product, they have to choose it off the shelf. So, what can you do to ensure you give yourself the best chance to sell something? Make sure you are in stock, make sure you make it easy for the customer and most of all, if you wouldn’t eat it, how can you expect a customer to eat it. The trend in chasing ‘fresh fresh fresh’ and no doubt fresh will continue to get bigger over time, but with so much time and effort on fresh, are we missing the staples of what shoppers want now? When we talk about staples, I’m referring to the good old pie and sausage rolls. Did you know that 90% of ready-to-go food purchased in a C-Store comes from pies, sausage A pie warmer at 10.24am rolls and doughnuts?
48 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
I have many people telling me that their pies and sausage rolls are the best and they just can’t possibly use a mass produced pie. Then I look in their display case to find tickets for seven different flavours and there’s lucky to be one of each flavour on display. Their—‘first moment of truth’ is not working well. To a store operator they think they are giving the customer a choice. Remember! The mission is hunger, they want food. We all buy with our eyes. All humans are similar in that when they see one of anything they think it is the last and it's old and they will leave it so the whole idea of having one or two of every flavour costs you sales. If you go the other way and have just 10 of the most popular pies, mince pies or plain steak and 10 sausage rolls in the cabinet what does it say to the customer, I sell s&@t loads of these and they are fresh. It is up to you to convert them with the right offer, maybe even with a great combo to get them to buy even more or locate relevant products near. Everyone who buys a pie generally wants a beverage, so ensure there’s coffee and a cold drink impulse fridge nearby. If it’s the morning you know sausage rolls are going to storm out, make sure you have energy drinks and flavoured milk drinks nearby too. Make it easy for the customer to impulse by knowing your customer and knowing what items are regularly purchased together. Get your ‘first moment of truth’ right. What I want to do is to challenge you. As soon as you have read this piece, go and look at your hot food cabinet. Does it look like it’s ready to help solve your customer’s mission? Is your pie display one of these? Is your ‘first moment of truth’ appealing? Are we really taking food seriously today? The success of your shopper’s mission depends on your attention and in-store execution. Become a food destination, not a second thought. Whatever you do, do it amazingly well. Your shoppers will thank you for it. C&I
A pie warmer 11.34am
OPINION
BRETT BARCLAY Director - Convenience Measures Australia
So why do promotions drive higher sales however, only 20% of shoppers purchase on promotion?”
THE VALUE OF IMPULSE
Engaging customers to spend more in-store
B
uilding basket value with current shoppers purchasing within the store is the greatest opportunity for any retailer. If you can convince shoppers to spend more while in store with current offers, then you drive both value of basket and items counts. In our 2017 Convenience Measures Australia (CMA) Shopper Report we identified that the average basket size is 1.9 items per transaction with an $8.90 value. While the average basket size was just under two items almost 50% of all transactions had just one item in the basket. This is one of the biggest opportunities for retailers and suppliers to engage the customer on each visit as well as building a longer term ‘more frequent’ shopper. One of the ways the channel currently drives basket value is through promotions with the average basket jumping to 2.8 items and a spend of $10.70. This however is now only 20% of total shoppers across the channel which has been a decreasing number based on two factors: 1. More every-day-value offers especially in beverages 2. The lackluster growth rates and share of sales from traditionally strong performers in the snacking category One of the findings from last year's report was that of approximately 5,000 shoppers interviewed only 6% of shoppers bought more than intended. And of fuel only shoppers only 2% indicated that they would have considered buying something unintended. What we have seen with the development of stronger food and hot coffee offers is that while we are based in convenient locations most purchases are planned. This is even evident in categories that traditionally have been as impulsively purchased as planned like confectionery and chips where shoppers can be tempted. So why do promotions drive higher sales however, only 20% of shoppers purchase on promotion? The reality is that we ‘force’ people through promotions to buy multiple products often in the same category which works in some however, not all categories. This drives value and items for the category and for the retailers greater GP dollars however,
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if you base the satisfaction numbers on success it highlights a significant disparity between those buying on promotion and those not, who are the majority. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) for those buying products on promotion was 59 while for the other 80% of shoppers it is -9. So for all the work and time both retailers and suppliers put into the promotional program the majority of shoppers don’t engage and aren’t happy with the offers in the market. Now not for one minute do I suggest that promotions are not valuable, in fact they are valuable to drive sales and value and create a reason to buy more which is evident through the high satisfaction scores. The opportunity is there to drive impulsive sales through positioning and zoning of products together and offer subtle discounts on one or both products. Why I say this is that when I look at the NPS scores for value-for-money for those that bought on promotion versus those that didn’t it was significantly closer with 56 for those that did and 48 for those that didn’t. In summary I believe that impulse purchases will come from multiple categories however, the snacking portfolio will be the main opportunity and needs to include healthy good value products like fruit, nuts and meal solutions. Zoning is the opportunity to engage the consumer with a focus on cross category offers centered around food/snack and beverage products. It is always easier to sell more to current shoppers than to sell something to non-shoppers— so keep it simple! C&I
Coming in May 2018!
CMA Shopper Matters is an online community of C-store shoppers that will provide ongoing insights, ideas, feedback and inspiration. Get a greater depth and understanding of shoppers by tracking them for 6 months. Register your interest now with CMA. Look out for some of these insights exclusively in our next edition of C&I
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OPINION
DON’T LET THE LIGHT ON THE HILL START FLICKERING Policies, proper education and the appropriate implementation CHARLES WATSON Senior Adviser Workforce Guardian
charles.watson@workforceguardian.com.au
It is crucial that the standard of behaviour expected by co-workers is clearly understood by all and is led from the top down.”
E
veryone in the known universe has been an observer of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, and the related media explosive. Who knew that individuals who reach positions of unfettered power and control, without balance and the loss of their internal compass, may inexcusably abuse their position. Added to such behaviour was that people knew and did nothing, covered things up or did not know what to do and therefore did nothing. In 2017 the veil was lifted on various industries after generations of cover up, victim shaming, fear, legal settlements and non-disclosure agreements. Further, both here and abroad, the legislative schemes created to stop such behaviours were in reality often bypassed, ignored or not properly implemented in workplaces. So, the issue as a whole has never been solved and society never got to properly move on from such behaviours. Perhaps you have had to investigate a sexual harassment claim or as a result of last year’s watershed, you have determined to ensure a workplace culture that creates respect at all levels. To ensure such a culture, you need the relevant internal policies and procedures implemented properly as well as a maintained momentum, otherwise you will struggle to succeed.
IT STARTS WITH THE POLICY
Employers must regularly review their policies to ensure that they have and maintain adequate procedures to prevent sexual harassment (along with all other kinds of harassment) in the workplace. Further, those policies must be able to respond to and manage complaints appropriately. Although I am sure you understand what sexism and sexual harassment looks and sounds like, often the most common inappropriate behaviours are less obvious and can be overlooked within workplace policies. Insults masquerading as jokes, individual voices or views being devalued, rolestereotyping for women and men, and the preoccupations with women’s physical appearance are the most common issues that should also be specifically addressed. A sexual harassment policy, that actually covers the issue, should: • outline the internal procedures for making a complaint, carrying out an investigation and implementing disciplinary procedures; • provide a clear and non-exhaustive definition of what does and does not constitute sexual harassment; • emphasise that sexual harassment is unlawful and may constitute a criminal offence in certain circumstances; • provide adequate training of senior staff and managers who are responsible for monitoring workplace behaviour; • summarise the options available for dealing with a 52
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
sexual harassment complaint including the provision of support services; • outline potential consequences for breaching the policy; and • include this issue as part of any board reporting as well as part of your consideration of risk. If you have a policy in place already then that’s great, terrific, you’re on the way, but you have to take the next steps as this is not a ‘tick and flick’ solution.
IT CONTINUES WITH IMPLEMENTATION
Failing to appropriately implement and regularly communicate the policy to all workplace staff will undermine your intent and resolve. Start by getting buy-in from all stake-holders and then communicate with all workers. It is crucial that the standard of behaviour expected by co-workers is clearly understood by all and is led from the top down. The implementation process is not limited to just providing a copy of the policy and conducting a one-off training session otherwise the whole thing won’t stick. Periodically revisit the issue and let workers know any good news along the way. Make employees realise that the policies and process are in place to empower them and that ultimately it is up to them to maintain appropriate standards. Finally, ensure any new workers are not missed in the process otherwise the culture you are trying to achieve in the workplace will start breaking down.
THE TAKEAWAY
The cumulative impact of sexual harassment in workplaces harms women and men, their careers and organisational performance generally. It reinforces for me that an environment that permits or tolerates sexist behaviour, by tacitly approving or turning a blind eye, is likely to find itself with serious corporate exposure issues to manage. In summary, ensure that: • Policies are in place which prevent sexual harassment and set out measures to respond to potential complaints should they arise; • All co-workers are properly educated on acceptable workplace behaviours to reduce instances of harassment and create a workplace culture that is respectful and supportive of all workers; and • Maintain the momentum. There is a lot of assistance and support available for businesses, so step up the collective effort to set the appropriate tone for modern and inclusive workplaces. It’s not only the right thing, but the benefits will make your businesses more productive, reduce your costs and be a workplace where co-workers want to work. C&I
INDUSTRY NEWS
NSW Distribution Centre awarded IGA President’s Cup
The Metcash Distribution Centre in Huntingwood, New South Wales, was awarded the President’s Cup Award at the IGA International Awards of Excellence, which took place in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 11. The President’s Cup is awarded to the IGA Global Logistics Distribution Centre globally and/or master franchisee that has “shown true leadership and innovation in membership growth and development, operational excellence and assessment rating, IGA brand product support, IGA brand image support and IGA alliance support”. The Distribution Centre building, servicing in excess of 600 IGA Customers, was rendered completely inoperable following a devastating hailstorm that caused a roof collapse and distorted the building’s frame. The building required extensive repairs, with the completion of the recommissioning occurring some 14 months later. Immediately following the hailstorm event, the operations team instigated interstate supply solutions from Queensland and Victoria before establishing and running four local, separate satellite warehouse operations. Satellite warehouse commissioning required the warehouses to be fit-out (racking, CCTV, IT communications), transport routes reconfigured, large-scale temporary workforces engaged and partnership with our Vendor partners to reposition stock. Chief logistics officer food and liquor Linda Venables said:"We are immensely proud of the collaborative efforts of the NSW State and Logistics Teams in supporting our Independent Retailers and delighted their dedication and diligence in running the interim solutions and restoring Distribution Centre operations has been recognised by IGA globally". The leadership and team focus on working safety resulted in the best safety outcomes across the Australian mega-DCs for the third year in a row, a terrific outcome given the additional risks and complexity encountered when transitioning operations. Since re-opening, the Distribution Centre has been awarded the ‘SMART’ supply chain and logistics award for ‘Excellence in Event, Humanitarian or Military logistics’ and named winner of the 2017 Australian Insurer National risk award for property maintenance; Vero RM Advancer is Australia’s premier risk management award and was awarded in recognition of the systems, processes and activities undertaken to minimise loss and damage arising from property management.
The Metcash Distribution Centre in Huntingwood won the award
7-Eleven new store fit-out 7-Eleven is trialing a new store fit-out in certain stores across three states, to place more emphasis on customer needs. 7-Eleven GM corporate affairs Clayton Ford said the business is always working on being innovative to meet customer needs. “In inner-city and central business district stores, our customers’ needs are more focused on food and drinks, including coffee,” Mr Ford said. 54 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
The new trial fit-out in Queen Street, Melbourne.
“We are trialling a new small format across a number of locations on the Eastern Seaboard. There’s one store in Brisbane, two in Sydney, and three in Melbourne,” he said. Two additional stores will be opening in the coming weeks. “The format gives more space for coffee and 7-Eleven fresh food such as sandwiches, sushi, hot pastry, sweet treats and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. There is also a specialised bakery range, delivered fresh into store each day,” Mr Ford said. The trial format focuses a lot on drinks and the impulse category as well as fruit. There is less space dedicated to emergency and top up purchases. “Our famous $1 freshly ground coffee offer has seen us grow our coffee sales to become Australia’s second largest coffee seller. In our smaller format stores, we need more coffee machines to be able to continue to grow sales, but space is limited,” Mr Ford said. “It’s an important part of the trial to get the mix right by trying different things. We’re learning and adapting throughout the process,” he said. “Our ongoing focus on providing quality food on the go is an exciting area of opportunity for our business". “We’re about providing customers with choice and value for meal times across all day parts. We’re excited about the insights this trial will provide over the coming months.”
EMS and AWS partnership Environmental Monitoring Solutions Pty Ltd [EMS] is delighted to announce it has accepted a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as an Independent Software Vendor. Fuelsuite, the leading fuel management innovation by EMS, was built on a range of AWS technologies. Fuelsuite is a cloud-based fuel management solution that allows users to access remote fuel site data in real-time. Fuelsuite has disrupted the retail fuel industry by improving fuel management, maintenance, and mitigating fuel loss and environmental risk. The support of AWS has allowed for rapid deployment and scalability of Fuelsuite from virtually anywhere in the world. Since its release in September
INDUSTRY NEWS 2017, EMS has connected 1,070 retail petrol stations with Fuelsuite’s enabling IoT device Fuelscan across the globe. The AWS partnership will support EMS’s accelerated growth as they continue to improve enterprise fuel management within the retail petroleum industry. By leveraging AWS’s global footprint, EMS will have supported entry into China, India, ASEAN and other international markets. EMS recently presented the benefits of Fuelsuite at the AWS Summit in Sydney, and has received an invitation to present Fuelsuite to the Institute of Engineers Australia. Since then, demand for EMS’s innovative fuel management solutions has cascaded throughout South Africa, Brazil, Europe and surrounding regions. To support continuous industry improvement and innovation of enterprise wide remote fuel management, EMS is seeking expressions of interest for reputable like-minded partners in China, India and ASEAN regions. To learn more about Fuelsuite and global partnering opportunities, contact EMS via email enquiries@drivingfueliq.com or visit www.drivingfueliq.com
“The Mrs Mac’s team is thrilled to partner with such an innovative and spectacular sport as Supercars,’’ he said. “Through our partnership, Supercars fans will be able to enjoy a Mrs Mac’s pie or sausage roll at food outlets at events and it will enable our brand, to reach a significant number of motorsport-enthused Australians who love our products.” Supercars GM commercial Jamie Black said Supercars was excited to have an iconic Australian-owned brand on board. “There’s arguably no more iconic Australian pastime than enjoying an Aussie Beef Pie at a sporting event,” he said. “We’re very happy to have Mrs Mac’s return as the exclusive supplier of fan-favourite pies, sausage rolls and savoury foods at our events this year. “Like Supercars, Mrs Mac’s has a strong presence across Australia and New Zealand, so we’re very happy to partner with this great Australianowned and operated company.” The 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship began on March 1st with the 20th edition of the Adelaide 500. For more information head to www.supercars.com
Supercars pair with pies Pie and pastry brand Mrs Mac’s has partnered with Virgin Australia Supercars Championships, as the official Savoury Pastry Partner for 2018. The partnership sees Mrs Mac’s pies, sausage rolls and savoury pastries sold to fans at Supercars events throughout the year. Mrs Mac’s CEO Paul Slaughter said the company was delighted to have won the supply-contract for some of Australia’s most iconic sporting events and venues.
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15/12/2017 2:44 PM April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au 55
INDUSTRY NEWS
The Romeo family. Source: Supplied.
SA Foodland IGA wins internationally The McLaren Vale Foodland IGA in South Australia has just won the title of Australian International Retailer of the Year. The store is owned and operated by The Romeo Family of the Romeo Retail Group. Held in conjunction with the National Grocers Association Show in Las Vegas, the IGA Global Awards were part of the 2018 IGA Global Rally. The IGA store was able to win the award by offering customers the complete package of modern-day grocery retailing. Owner of the Romeo Retail Group Joseph Romeo said: “Exceptional customer service has always been key to the store’s great success and the team has worked hard to build great relationships with our local community and our suppliers”. “The store is very engaged with the local community and we offer a loyalty card to reward our shoppers,” Mr Romeo said. “We go to extraordinary lengths to ensure we are building strong relationships with our customers, community and suppliers. “This set of values has always been at the core of our family business success, in addition to ensuring our customer service, local offerings and expert knowledge of our produce is the best it can possibly be.”
2018 leaders in gender equality
Striving for gender equality in the workplace
Recently, PepsiCo won the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) for 2018, out of 120 organisations who received a citation. The award recognises employer commitment and best practice in gender equality across Australian workplaces. The 2018 list of companies recognised with a citation, has grown suggesting that gender equality is becoming more prevalent and widely recognised. WGEA Director Libby Lyons said: “I am particularly delighted to see some of the innovative and exciting initiatives by our EOCGE citation holders 56 April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
covering, amongst other things, flexibility, paid parental leave, supporting women in leadership and addressing gender pay gaps”. “WGEA data shows there is continuing momentum and progress towards gender equality in Australian workplaces, Ms Lyons said. “However, it also highlights the accountability gap between having a policy or strategy in place and being held accountable for delivering results.” Companies on the list for 2018 included Phillip Morris, Johnson & Johnson, BP Australia, Caltex Australia Limited, Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd and Unilever Australia Ltd- to name a few. Ms Lyons said leadership and accountability were essential for progress to be made to shift the gender divisions within Australian workplaces. “That is why the work of our EOCGE citation holders is so important. It is only through more employers showing this type of leadership and accountability that we will see the pace of real change increase,” she said. “I congratulate all the 2017-18 citation holders for their commitment to and recognition of the many benefits improved gender equality can bring to their business. These employers are setting the benchmark and the pace for other Australian workplaces to follow.” For a full list of 2018 citation holders, visit the WGEA website.
Senior management movement at Metcash Scott Marshall has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Australian Liquor Marketers (ALM) and has been named as the new CEO of the Supermarkets & Convenience pillar of Metcash, effective immediately. Marshall has been the CEO of ALM for the past four years and has more than 25 years’ experience in wholesale and retail with Metcash. Mr Marshall told TheShout that he is looking forward to the new challenge. “I have always been very passionate about independent retailers and I am looking forward to leading the team and creating further opportunities in supermarkets and convenience. It is a bittersweet day for me as I have loved working for ALM and will never really leave the liquor industry as it in my blood.” Rod Pritchard the current General Manager Merchandise of ALM will act as the interim Chief Executive of the Liquor business. Pritchard has extensive experience in the liquor industry including three years at Metcash working closely with Marshall on ALM’s growth initiatives, as well as more than 15 years with Brown-Forman. He told TheShout: “Scott certainly leaves big shoes to fill, but I look forward to the challenge and it will be business as usual while we continue to execute the strategies already in place. We will continue to work closely with our retailers and suppliers on supporting and growing independents in the liquor market.” The senior management changes come following the resignation of former CEO, Supermarkets & Convenience, Steven Cain, who had been commuting from Melbourne to Sydney for three years for the role. Cain has since been named as the next Managing Director of Coles, succeeding John Durkan, who will step down later this year following 10 years in senior leadership positions at Coles, including four as Managing Director. Metcash Group CEO, Jeff Adams said: “We understand Steven’s decision to be based in Melbourne and thank him for his contribution in his role as CEO of Supermarkets & Convenience. “We are fortunate to have a strong leadership team, and Scott is well placed to take over as the CEO of Supermarkets & Convenience.”
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PETROL NEWS ROUNDUP Solar panels
DAN ARMES Founder of ServoPro
At ServoPro the three most effective strategies we utilise for reducing energy costs are LED lighting, solar and shopping around for a better deal on electricity.” 58
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here are a variety of strategies for boosting the profitability of a petrol station. Often, business owners focus on driving sales, improving foot traffic and spending money on advertising and marketing. While these are worthwhile things to do, what about reducing costs? According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in the last 10 years electricity costs in Australia have increased on average by 72%. Many business owners I talk to are sick of seeing their energy costs going up every year. The good news is there are some simple strategies that can have an immediate impact on reducing petrol station operator’s energy costs. At ServoPro the three most effective strategies we utilise for reducing energy costs are LED lighting, solar and shopping around for a better deal on electricity.
April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
Lighting impacts the shopping experience of any customer and emphasises the products that are being sold. Lighting attracts and invites customers into the business and guides them through the store. It draws the customer’s attention to specific products, affects purchasing behaviour and increases the chances of a sale. If lighting is so important from a design and presentation point of view, how do we implement this in the most cost effective way possible? There are new petrol stations springing up all over the country and one of the first things you notice is how bright the lighting is. Petrol stations traditionally use either halogen or fluorescent lighting. These types of lighting are not only dull but very expensive to operate. Geoff Millward, managing director at Low Energy Dynamics specialises in the supply and installation of LED lighting in petrol stations. “There are three main reasons why petrol stations
PETROL NEWS should change to LED lighting. Firstly, because of the efficiency of LED lighting, business owners can expect to reduce their electricity costs by around 60%. Secondly, because of the low maintenance costs, good quality LED lighting can operate for up to 60,000 hours which means minimal call out fees for electricians and no disruption to business while cherry pickers get in the way of customers. Thirdly, is the far superior light that LED lighting emits and the fact that it’s directional, meaning you aren’t paying for light leakage into a roof space or the night sky. You can point the light at your petrol pumps or your products in store,” Mr Millward said. Every petrol station in Australia should have solar installed. Joe Glossa, commercial sales director at Surpass Energy said that retailers can expect an energy reduction of around 75% on day-time usage while solar is operating. This is averaged over a 12 month period. “These approximate savings are based on the average size system we install in service stations which is between 20 kw to 25 kw. The system size will vary on usage and the roof space available,” Mr Glossa said. “Having solar installed will protect you from huge power increases and also allows the ability to future proof your business. As technology improves you can move down the path of batteries. This is the direction solar is heading." Mr Glossa said that solar systems can be paid for up front or through a rental arrangement with monthly installments. “The rental option allows customers to get solar installed at their site straight away. There is no-one off cash flow injection. The rental option also has tax advantages,” he said. He added: “Installing solar improves the value of the property and has the obvious benefit of becoming a green and efficient premises, contributing to a better environment for our kids and their children”. Electricity is the only expense where the user consumes the product with no insight or visibility for up to three months, then receives an invoice detailing what was used and what the cost is. This lack of insight demands greater oversight to enable greater control over the outcome. Chris Baldwin, commercial director at Commercial Connections Australia (CCA) is an electricity broker who specialises in petrol stations. Mr Baldwin said that petrol station owners should review their account every year, ideally just before or just after retailers post their annual increases. In Victoria, this is on the 1st of January and for other states it is on the 1st of July. “In our experience large-usage customers can save anything between $400 to $2400 per year. It is important to remember to review your home’s electricity usage as there can be significant savings here too,” Mr Baldwin said. “Using the services of a reputable energy broker such as CCA provides impartial access to a wide variety of electricity retailers. Based on analysis undertaken in the last quarter of 2017 we were able to find a better deal for 88% of comparison seekers,” he said. When I asked Mr Baldwin if there are any tips and tricks petrol station owners should be aware of, he said: “A
number of businesses still receive paper bills. Switching to electronic billing will remove the fee that is charged for sending out bills via the mail. If you pay by credit card, ensure your electricity retailer does not levy card fees on top of the bill. If you struggle to pay your bills on time, all the time, you run the risk of losing the whole discount amount if it is a ‘pay on time’ discount. If this happens CCA can explore options from retailers that provide guaranteed discounts that are not conditional on paying on time” There are many different strategies petrol station operators can implement to reduce their energy usage. Refrigeration equipment such as fridges, cool rooms and food display units are one of the largest energy usage items in a convenience store and petrol station. Old inefficient refrigeration may still working but could be using huge amounts of power. In recent years new technology has made refrigeration much more efficient and cost effective. Matthew Challinor from SKOPE Refrigeration said when purchasing new refrigeration equipment it is important to check the energy efficiency rating of each model. Mr Challinor said: “Proper installation, positioning and ventilation of the cabinet is also important, along with keeping the condenser coil clean. If the cabinet is overfilled with product that will restrict airflow causing more power to be used. It is also important that gaskets and seals are well maintained and in good working order”. SKOPE have spent many years of development and through significant research have developed the ActiveCore range of refrigeration options. “ActiveCore is a revolutionary technology unique to SKOPE which significantly reduces the fridges energy consumption as well as optimising cooling performance,” Mr Challinor said. It is important to find ways of increasing revenue but don’t forget about reducing costs. By implementing these three simple strategies you will instantly improve the profitability of your business. C&I
Installing solar improves the value of the property and has the obvious benefit of becoming a green and efficient premises, contributing to a better environment for our kids and their children.”
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PETROL NEWS
FWO finds high number of Caltex sites breaching laws The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has released a report detailing a workplace non-compliance rate of 76% in the Caltex service network. Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said: “In light of this alarmingly high level of non-compliance across its retail fuel outlets, I am not surprised by Caltex’s announcement to the ASX last week that it will transition franchise sites to company operations”. “FWO’s report shows Caltex Australia has been presiding over a noncompliant and unsustainable operating model,” Ms James said. The FWO commenced its investigations in late 2016 after being made aware of a surge in noncompliance at various Caltex sites. The report found that out of the 25 stores visited, just six of the sites were found to be compliant. Issues found at other sites included; non-payments and underpayments, cash payments made ‘off the books’, false records, and threats of termination/visa cancellation. C&I approached Catlex for a response the FWO’s findings. A Caltex spokesperson said: “Caltex has consistently said we are committed to stamping out wage underpayment anywhere in our network and that is why our workplace audits are mandatory”. “We have taken the actions we are permitted by the relevant Codes and under our agreements with franchisees,” the spokesperson said. “In mid 2016 Caltex established an audit process, an independently run whistle-blower hotline, and an assistance fund for franchisee employees who have been affected by the conduct of certain of our franchisees. “The Fair Work Ombudsman has an important role to play in ensuring compliance with Australian workplace laws, and has powers to take action where they find non-compliance with those laws. “The FWO issued a report on the 25 Caltex franchise sites it audited around a year ago. Of these, 19 were found to be non-compliant but just two are facing further action from the FWO. “These 25 sites that were investigated by the FWO are not a representation of the network of approximately 1900 Caltex owned or affiliated sites across Australia. “Caltex is concerned about the comments made by the FWO, as our view is that the regulator and industry – and others - need to work constructively if we wish to eradicate wage underpayment. Caltex has a strong record of good engagement with other regulators and believes constructive engagement between industry and our regulators is important. “The Caltex audit program is working and we are committed to continue. Wage underpayment is declining, underpaid workers from exited sites have access to our employee assistance fund and over 875 people have now come to work directly for Caltex. “Since instances of wage underpayment in our franchise network first emerged in 2016, Caltex has been very clear - unlawful behaviour would not be tolerated and we will act decisively to remove the practice from our franchise network. This work continues. “Since mid 2016 Caltex has put considerable resource and effort into our audit program, to systematically examine our franchise network for mistreatment of vulnerable workers, and to stamp out wage underpayment. “At this stage, since mid 2016, we have audited 292 sites and this will continue for the remainder of our network. The FWO’s investigations are different and cannot be compared with our own audit program which has completed 292 audits of Franchisee operated sites to date – about half the network. “Caltex Employee Assistance Fund has proven to be an efficient and fair system to make a contribution to employees who have been underpaid by employers. Administered by a third party, the Fund will continue to operate in conjunction with the ongoing underpayment audits. The Fund commenced operation at the end of May 2017. 60
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Currently 163 sites are eligible and the Fund has so far received a total of 269 claims in relation to 84 of those sites. The average employee payment is around $25,800 and as at 23 February 2018 of the 269 claims received 155 are approved and 81 in progress. Only 21 have been rejected.”
Caltex to buy back bowsers
Caltex Australia has revealed its plans to buy back its petrol stations from franchisees. The company will buy out its network of almost 500 petrol stations, ending a long line of franchisee business and the franchise model along with it. The plan is to then to elevate the convenience and petrol retailing to equal strategic billing with fuel marketing The Australian reported. The buy back is expected to cost up to $120 million, to take control of the remaining franchise sites and company leased sites by mid-2020. Caltex chief executive Julian Segal said operating the core of the business was the best way to achieve the company’s strategic objectives. “We have a set of very important assets,” he said. “We realise there is an opportunity to reinvent convenience. That is a very wise decision but a complex one.” Caltex’s FY2017 Results media release stated that Company operation of this core business is key to accelerating the changes required to: • provide a more consistent customer experience; • roll out new platforms; • standardise services; and • simplify supply arrangements. “As at 31 December 2017, a total of 314 sites within the 810 Caltex retail consumer network were company operated,” the release said. “This compares with 152 sites at 31 December 2016, and 233 as at 30 June 2017. Caltex franchisees operate 433 sites. Caltex aims to transition all retail franchise sites to company operations by mid-2020. “Franchising has been an integral part of growing the retail business. Caltex appreciates that this is a significant decision and it will affect many of our franchisees. Caltex will work with our franchisees to manage the impact of this change, including by offering franchisees transition support and offering employment to all franchisee employees.”
PETROL NEWS
The QuickFuel brand is one of Australia’s longest serving and most trusted Point of Sale systems, leading the way as a truly home grown and operated POS solution since 1999. Under the innovative leadership and guidance of Managing Director Robert Galgano, QuickFuel has transformed the Fuel Point of Sale industry in recent times with the leading-edge solution receiving widespread acclaim for its undeniable longevity, ease of use and quality of features. QuickFuel has seen itself grow into one of the true market leaders in its field and is a preferred solution for many of the major oil companies. One of our key strengths is our live and centralised reporting providing instantaneous information flow via web dash boarding enabling rapid decision making in determining the success of set promotions and current site performance. This is especially exciting for Multisite operators where changes can be rapidly deployed, including advertising board updates and price changes across a site network. The QuickFuel team are flexible enough to service the largest oil companies on a broad industrial scale as well as the smaller franchise operations or single site operators. Each customer is seen as an integral part of the growing QuickFuel family who pride themselves on the relationships they have developed since the product’s inception.
With record breaking sales and installations recorded in 2017, 2018 is already on track to being bigger and better. That personal touch, combined with robust hardware, trusted software and all the latest features and enhancements, there is no other solution like QuickFuel, where innovation is their inspiration.
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April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
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FEATURE PETROL OPINION
EPA release flipchart for petrol station operators
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has released a free resource for petrol and service stations in Victoria. The resource is designed to assist with the protection of the environment and public safety within the community. According to the EPA website, the Underground Petroleum Storage System (UPSS) resource is: “A handy guide with practical information designed to help service station operators and staff to prevent and manage leaks, spills and other hazards, often with simple actions that fit easily into their daily routine”. EPA executive director of practice and assurance Chris Webb said the UPSS resource would be going out to 1,400 service stations across Victoria. “The Flipchart gives the service station operator or staff member easily understood technical information and quick access to emergency contacts, all in a handy format that hangs on the wall,” Mr Webb said. The UPSS Flipchart includes safety check lists, emergency contacts, technical and maintenance information, procedures for leaks and spills as well as guidance for legal requirements, Mr Webb said: “There’s even a section on what to do with waste tyres, old car batteries and used sump oil – things you can’t just throw in the bin”. “It’s amazing how many types of businesses use UPSSs: think of airports, hospitals, marinas, transport companies, car dealerships, golf courses, ski fields and fuel depots. The downloadable Flipchart is easily accessible for all of them,” he said. “The UPSS Flipchart gives them a simple but effective tool for maintaining their improved protection of the local environment and public safety.” While the resource is being mailed out across Victoria, it is also available for download from www.epa.vic.gov.au.
FWO’s legal action against former 7-Eleven franchisee The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has begun to take legal action against a former 7-Eleven franchisee. It is alleged that the franchisee exploited three international students through a cash-back scheme in the Melbourne CBD retail store. Xia Jing Qi Pty Ltd is facing court over the allegations, along with the stores former manager Ai Ling ‘Irene’ Ling. 62
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The FWO said following the 7-Eleven head office setting up a high-tech pay roll system in 2016 to ensure legal payments were made, that Ms Lin tried to disguise underpayments of three international students by requiring they pay back thousands of dollars in wages. The three employees were all Chinese students aged between 21 and 24, and who were in Australia on student visas. A media release from the FWO said: “From 2016, Xia Jing Qi was required by 7-Eleven Head Office to use a biometric system that recorded hours of work by scanning employees’ fingerprints to sign in and out, with Head Office then processing the payroll”. “It is alleged Ms Lin told the three employees in late 2015 they would be paid through this payroll system but then specified a weekly sum for each of the workers to pay back via a safe box in the store or to Ms Lin’s bank account,” the release said. “It is alleged that after returning this portion of their wages, the employees were left with hourly rates ranging from $8.53 to $26.52. “Under the General Retail Industry Award 2010, the employees were allegedly entitled to ordinary hourly rates including casual loading of up to $24.30, up to $38.88 on Sundays and up to $48.60 on public holidays.” The total of the unpaid wages came to $6674 for various periods of work between November 2015 and October 2016. It is understood that the former employees have now been back-paid. 7-Eleven GM of corporate affairs Clayton Ford said: “7-Eleven welcomes the FWO’s legal actions against this former franchisee, and has fully supported their investigation since 2016”. “We have zero tolerance for wage fraud, have implemented the most comprehensive reforms in the sector to eradicate it, and will act in the strongest available ways against it,” Mr Ford said.
Petroleum equipment and services
Action Installation & Services
ELGAS SWAP’n’GO®
Action Installation & Services was formed in 2006 when Michael Mintilakis and Ron van der Meer decided to create an installation and service company that was second to none. Over 50 years of combined fuel industry experience and knowledge has enabled them to build a business which continues to lead change in the downstream petroleum industry. Action Installation & Services continually strive to achieve the highest standards of environmental and safety performance, through the use of well informed, highly trained people. Action currently employs 40 staff across admin, installation, pump and electronic service. Action Installation & Services strives to satisfy the requirements and expectations of every client every time in a professional and cost effective manner. Regular reviews ensure the quality of all products and services and business operations; and that all employees have appropriate job skills training; and quality management, contractual obligations and ongoing process improvement is maintained.
Elgas SWAP’n’GO® is the leading BBQ gas exchange program brand in Australia. The program offers your business the opportunity to increase sales and profits with a very well-known and respected brand. SWAP’n’GO® also provides your customers with fast, safe and easy transactions. Out-of-date bottles are accepted at no extra charge. You can add to or replace your declining refill sales, and low margins, with a reliable, convenient and secure swap program that has low labour costs for you. SWAP’n’GO® maintains a record of excellence in safety, with comprehensive staff training in the safe handling of LPG. Elgas SWAP’n’GO® is backed by a national network of refilling plants and branches to ensure that your business receives quality service. SWAP’n’GO® also creates a massive summer stockpile to provide uninterrupted service during the seasonal peak periods. Contact Elgas today to become a SWAP’n’GO® dealer.
Contact: Steve Crispin Brown Phone: 1300 785 425 Email: stevecb@actioninstall.com.au Web: www.actioninstall.com.au
Phone: 1300 652 003 Email: swapngo@elgas.com.au Web: www.elgas.com.au/swapngo
Cardtronics
Gallagher Fuel Systems
When you see an ATM in a supermarket, convenience store or Petrol location, there’s a good chance it’s from Cardtronics, a proud supporter of the convenience, café and fuel industries. Cardtronics understand the needs of a variety of establishments and the commercial environments that retailers in the P&C channel face. Cardtronics know that you need your ATM up and running without any issues to service your patrons and provide them with safe and easy access to cash. For your business premises a Cardtronics ATM will mean more customers with cash to spend in store, reduced eftpos fees, 24-hour service and support. It is a fact that a percentage of the cash withdrawn from a Cardtronics ATM is spent on the premises, which will improve your revenue streams. At Cardtronics we know from proven experience that an ATM can deliver more sales to your business. If you want to create more foot traffic in your business, an ATM does that. Cardtronics is Australia’s largest independent ATM provider and part of the global Cardtronics brand. We operate a real 24 hour service, we operate our own technically trained help desk, offering nationwide support with a national network of spare parts warehouses and dedicated in-house technicians.
Gallagher designs, develops and supplies leading fuel dispensing systems, making fuel systems simpler, smarter, safe and more cost effective. Gallagher’s innovative PULSE fuel dispenser range combines advanced technologies with stringent Vapour Recovery Compliance in an intelligently designed modular pump to meet your needs. Gallagher offers reliable products, remote monitoring and product serviceability to solve the daily challenges of forecourt owners. Designed with current and future needs in mind and employing innovative electronics, corrosion proof metal work, Gallagher utilises Tatsuno’s world leading accurate metering systems. Experts in Vapour Recovery, Gallagher has achieved world-first TUV certification for a centralised vacuum VR system and is the only company offering both Centre and In-Pump systems. With a true understanding of the Australasian market, Gallagher is on the spot and working collaboratively to create the right solution for each customer, be it a customised ‘one off’ tailored product or a full production run.
Phone: 1300 305 600 Email: sales@cardtronics.com.au 64
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Contact: Derek Hjelm, Business Development Manager Australia Phone: 0424 164 814 Email: derek.hjelm@gallagher.com Web: www.gallagher.com
SUPPLY-FIND
Flowsell Flowsell, providers of an innovative gravity-based drink merchandising system, say that when it comes to saving staff time, managing stock and increasing sales, “it’s all about gravity”. Cool rooms with flat shelving, incur a range of ongoing and unnecessary costs. By comparison, Flowsell’s drink merchandising system, reduces labour costs removing the need to double handle products and continually face up product. The system also ensures proper FIFO (first in, first out) stock rotation, reducing product wastage and – better still – fridges maintain an attractive, fully stocked appearance as customers buy throughout the day. The Flowsell full rack drink system is used extensively in all areas that retail drinks from a cool room. This includes service stations, convenience stores, bottle shops and function centres. Other options available from Flowsell include a specialised Retrofit Bottle Slide Kit. This kit enables a customer to convert an existing flat shelf into a gravity feed system. This system has been successfully used in convenience stores, bars, sporting clubs, cafes, bakeries, fast food outlets and anywhere that has a fridge with flat shelves. Flowsell also supplies a gravity feed milk trolley for use in supermarkets with a dedicated cool room. Free your staff to deal with customers in store and let gravity do the grunt work. Contact Flowsell on www.flowsell.com.au or Ph: 03 9708 2276 to find out how you can start saving today.
10 Sonia Street, Carrum Downs, VIC 3201 Phone: (03) 9708 2276 Fax: (03) 9708 2279 Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm www.flowsell.com.au Advertisement -13- C&I Dec-Jan 2018.pdf 1 14/11/2017
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Gascorp Pty Ltd – Budget Petrol Budget Petrol, established in 1985 is one of the oldest and largest groups of independent service stations in NSW, with over 60 locations in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Our Retail stores strive to provide our customers with Quality Fuel at Budget Prices. Our Wholesale arm – Gascorp Pty Ltd offers independent operators a business model which enables them to run their own business without interference, while utilising the backing of a competitive, professional and reliable brand. We offer competitive Mobil supplied fuel prices, Valvoline Oil, LPG Supply, In Store Programs, ATMs, Banking Partners and Environmental Regulation Support. We also operate our own fuel transport company which allows us to offer the highest levels of service for fuel deliveries and logistics.
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To be listed here, please contact Safa de Valois on 0405 517 115 or email safa@c-store.com.au
www.informedsources.com April/May 2018 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
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PRODUCT NEWS SUPPLY-FIND
North Cross Australia Pty Ltd North Cross Australia Pty Ltd is a multi-disciplinary firm that has offered a wide range of services to the Service Station Industry since 1990. Our body of work is impressive and ranges from design, construction, civil, environmental, specialist petroleum services, demolition and local & statutory authority compliance. We have worked with property owners and site operators for: • Underground Petroleum Storage System (UPSS) compliances. • Fuel System Modifications. • Design, Installation and Commissioning of new Fuel Systems. • De-commissioning and Demolition (Unrestricted Licence) of existing fuel systems (incl Tank Removal or Abandonment). • Asbestos Removal. • General Construction Work. • Civil Work. • Environmental and Remedial. North Cross Australia Pty Ltd ABN 30 130 834 329 Unit 14, 54 – 60 Links Rd, St Marys NSW 2760 Phone: (02) 9673 4004 Fax: (02) 9623 5823 Mobile: Norman Badaoui 0401 564 566 Email: norm@northcross.com.au Web: www.northcross.com.au
Other suppliers Abacus Stocktaking Services Pty Ltd Accor Action Installation & Services Pty Ltd Active Eye Advanced Lighting Technologies Australia Inc Aitken Rowe Testing Laboritories PtyLtd Augusta Properties AusSport Pty Ltd Australian Enviro Services B&B Industrial Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations BP Australia Caltex Australia Capricorn Society Ltd Cavvanba Consulting Pty Ltd Coffey Environmental Services Commercial Indemnity Pty Ltd Compac Sales Pty Ltd Conservelec Pty Ltd Douglas Partners Earth Air Water Consulting & Monitoring P/L ECL Group Energy Action Environmental Monitoring Solutions Pty Ltd Envirotank Pty Ltd Envirowest Consulting Pty Ltd EquipCo ETP International Pte Ltd F&M Supplies Fuel Data Solutions Fuelgear Geo-Logix Pty Ltd
Gilbarco Australia HMC Pty Ltd Intertek Testing Services Jeffery & Katauskas Pty Ltd Jon Jen Trading Pty Ltd Leighton O'Brien Pty Ltd Liberty Oil Liquip International Pty Limited Metro Petroleum Mobil Oil Australia MPHP Architects Pty Ltd MTAA Superannuation Fund Pty Limited North Cross Australia Pty Ltd Northern Petroleum Equipment Services Pacific Guage Park Pty Ltd Perich Constructions Pty Ltd Perisale Australia Pty. Ltd. Petroleum Tank Technology Precision Stocktaking Services Puma Energy RCA Australia Pty Ltd SGS Australia Pty Ltd Spill Station Australia Pty Ltd Tank Solutions Pty Ltd Tennco Pty Ltd The Remediation Group Trans Tasman Energy Group Trax Retail Solutions Unigas Pty Ltd United Petroleum Urth Energy Valvoline Wayne Fuelling Systems
Shipman King Pty Ltd Shipman King Pty Ltd is an Australian designer, manufacturer and distributor of equipment for the service station forecourt industry. Under their ESKAY brand, Shipman King’s long history has enabled the company to become a major supplier of this equipment throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region. With an extensive product range and ability to service the whole of Australia, Shipman King is truly your one stop shop. Australian owned, Shipman King’s product range includes: • Fill Adaptors and Caps, Dip Cap Assemblies • Upflow Vents, Pressure Vacuum Vents • Dip and Fill Product Markers • Vapour Recover Equipment, Stage 1 and 2 • Overfill Prevention Valves complete with aluminium tube ready for retro fitting • Monitoring Wells and Ground Boxes • Durapipe PLX Polyethylene Piping System • Underpump Containment Sumps and Browning Spill Safe Boxes • Adblue Equipment • Aluminium and Composite Manway Covers • Aboveground Tank Equipment For a complete product range please visit Shipman King’s web site.
Contact: Nigel Howlett Phone: (03) 9459 9900 Email: sales@shipmanking.com.au Web: www.shipmanking.com.au
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Petroleum equipment and services C&I Supply-Find is a detailed listing of suppliers of products for resale, business services, maintenance providers, and manufacturers and suppliers of capital equipment for shop and forecourt. It is included in every issue of C&I Retailing Magazine, six times per year to a circulation of around 22,795 businesses. The rate for posting in C&I Supply-Find is $2,950 + GST for one full year (six print issues and 12 months on our website). Bookings are a minimum of one year. For a 1/2 page, the rate is $5,900 + GST per year.
For all advertising enquiries with C&I Media, please contact
Safa de Valois
Mobile: 0405 517 115 Email: safa@c-store.com.au
SCORE SALES D E T I M I L H T I W O G & P U N O EDITI BOTTLES! TM
As the excitement builds in the 17|18 NBA season, UP&GO will make the most of this hype and, as The Official Breakfast product of the NBA, offer unprecedented access to the game including tickets to… The Finals!
TY IN-STORE ACTIVI Limited Edition UP&GO bottles will feature 6 high profile players from the NBA. IN-STORE: April 1 for approx. 4 weeks • • • • • •
Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors) Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs) Matthew Dellavedova (Milwaukee Bucks) Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz) Avery Bradley (Detroit Pistons) Otto Porter Jr (Washington Wizards)
AWAY E V I G S S A P E U G A LE
IVEAWAY G T E K C I T S L A N I F
To get our consumers excited about the peak of the NBA 17|18 season we will give away 1,000 NBA 1 month League Passes!
UP&GO is giving its fans the exclusive opportunity to win tickets to The Finals! We are giving away hundreds of NBA prizes plus the chance for two people to jet off on a once in a lifetime trip to the 2018 NBA Finals!
Entry will be via the UP&GO Facebook page. Promotion: February 26-March 12
Entry will be via the UP&GO Facebook page. Promotion: April 9-23 Prize Draw: April 23 Finals: May 31-June 17
For more information contact your Frucor Sales Representative or the Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Customer Service Team on 1800 673 392
Optus Prepaid
Boost your profits with these great savings Pay less for our great value $10 Prepaid SIM Starter Kits and the Optus X Spirit handset $10 Prepaid SIM Starter Kit
Normal price
Now
Sell price to customer
Your margin
(inc. GST)
(inc. GST)
(inc. GST)
(when sold at RRP)
$
$
60
$
$
82
$
+ when you order 5 or more $10 SIMs you can also order
4G Optus X Spirit handset
3
7
$
10
70%
99
39%
Offer only available from 01/04/18 till 31/05/18 Max 20 x $10 SIMs, 20 Optus X Spirit handsets per order, per week.
Call us on 1300 30 79 79 and quote this advertisement
Only available to stores who have a signed and valid retailer agreement in place with PPS. This advertisement must be mentioned when calling to place order, in order to receive the special offer. Offer available while stocks last. Items will be delivered to your store as per the terms of your retailer agreement. Returns policy: please visit prepaidservices.com.au/pps-returns-policy or contact customer support on 1300 555 002.