STORE REVIEW
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Z SERVICE STATIONS
Z service stations will continue to evolve in 2022 with an updated design, layout, and food and beverage offering. Above: Z service stations saw a 17 per cent growth in food and 12 per cent in coffee sales in 2021.
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retail network in particular became much more important for neighbourhoods and communities as a safe, convenient way to buy food, coffee and household supplies such as bread and milk without having to confront a socially distanced supermarket.”
There are 197 Z service stations across the country, spread throughout towns, cities, and state highways. They are conveniently located within local communities and provide consumers the ability to park on-site, offering the option to both re-fuel their cars and themselves at the same location.
Irving said they have seen this trend continue as lockdown restrictions have eased and have recorded growth of 17 per cent in food and 12 per cent in coffee sales last year, but a real highlight has been the significant growth in their pre-order coffee through the Z App, which saw a 25 per cent increase from last year.
Abby Irving, Head of Convenience Retail at Z, said since Covid they are seeing more of their customers ‘living local’.
“Through the Z App customers can pre-order coffee and a range of other hot and chilled beverages before approaching a retail site, prepay for it through the app and simply collect and go. While this has been around since 2018, we’ve noticed a greater reluctance from Kiwis to queue since the emergence of Covid and measures such as social distancing.
ince rebranding from Shell to Z Energy in 2011, Z service stations have been evolving their in-store offer to cater to the changing needs of consumers across New Zealand.
“Communities have become increasingly important since the pandemic began, given people were unable to leave them for relatively long periods of time during lockdowns. The role of Z’s 10
February/March 2022 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
