Non members $15 FebruaryFebruary EditionEdition 11 20132013 TheThe NewNew EditionEdition National Support Office 1800 888 479 www.mga.asn.au Corporate Partners Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Associate SUPERMARKET DESIGN AUSTRALIA architecture > interiors > project management Warehouse and Brand Partners tasmanian independent retailers The mission of Master Grocers Australia/Liquor “ Retailers Australia is to deliver the best possible industry “specific business support services to independent grocery, liquor and associate store members. February 2013 - Edition 1 Contents MGA National Support Office In this issue... Suite 5, 1 Milton Parade, CEO Welcome 1 Malvern, Victoria, 3144 P: 03 9824 4111 • F: 03 9824 4022 Industry News & Representation E: [email protected] MGA/LRA Industry Networking Breakfast and AGM 2 W: www.mga.asn.au New laws for NSW Small Business Commissioner 5 Freecall: 1800 888 479 Oversized supermarkets destroy competition 6 Independent grocers fight to change Queensland liquor licensing laws and regulations around packaged liquor 7 Retailer Directors Fair Competition Coalition 8 Rodney Allen (President) – Victoria New MGA Board Member 10 Andrew Bray – New South Wales ACCC Launches Consumer Guidance on Country of Michael Daly – Victoria Origin Guidance Material 11 Gino Divitini – Western Australia A need for ‘special’ foods 11 Grant Hinchcliff– Tasmania Steve Miller – Victoria Workplace Relations Chris dos Santos – South Australia Sunday Penalty rates - Review by the Fair Work Commission 12 Debbie Smith – Queensland Industrial Relations in an election year 13 Legislative changes that lie ahead 13 Independent Director Give me a break! 14 Jill Dixon Trading hours - uniformity a way off yet 15 Facebook is watching you 16 Something Permanent for casuals 16 Chief Executive Officer 2013 Workplace Relations Seminars 17 Jos de Bruin 03 9824 4111 Training News and Courses CMS Snippets 18 Happy 2013 - Considering Training? 19 Corporate Partnership & Something different 20 Media Sales 2013 Training Dates 22 Steve Sellars ACT - Food Safety Supervisors required from August 2013 26 0407 399 240 Around Australia [email protected] South Australia 03 9824 4111 South Australian grocers push to sell local wine 28 New South Wales Editorial and Production Jamberoo Locals and IGA Staff Throw Their Support Behind [email protected] Fredericks IGA Jamberoo Following Fire 30 Bi-Lo Elermore Vale Converts to Ritchies SUPA IGA 31 IGA Walgett Transforms to Deliver a Fresh New Look and Feel for Shoppers 32 New IGA Supermarket Arrives in Turramurra 32 Queensland SPAR Australia Launches New ‘Jardin Fresh Life’ Store in Rothwell 33 Independent Liquor Outlets Victoria IGA Heathcote Comes to the Rescue of the Firefighters During the Bushfire Crisis 34 www.mga.asn.au February 2013 - Edition 1 CEO Welcome 1 CEO Welcome Welcome to the first edition value for money, product and shopper choice and show of our refreshed magazine strong support for local brands and the local community. for 2013. By now you will Make 2013 your year of spoiling your customers – ask have hopefully experienced them what they want and then deliver! They will come a very successful and heavy back because they know you care and are looking for an Christmas trading period excuse not to shop with the chains! and had a break to relax and catch your breath before Recently MGA/LRA has had some great news concern- getting ready for an ing discussions with governments in South Australia and early Easter! Queensland in regard to independent supermarkets ranging and selling packaged liquor. Contained within this Members from around magazine there is more detail in regard to this news. Now Australia report a solid the work begins by all concerned parties to break the Christmas trading period, posting like for like sales com- stranglehold on packaged liquor retailing in these States pared with last year or slight growth. Margins continue that Coles and Woolworths dominate. to be squeezed as competition increases and costs to do business rise. On the one hand, I announce with regret that Joseph Ro- meo from South Australia has stepped down from his role A recent survey of members indicated there were two key as MGA Director but on the other hand, I wish to warmly issues that they were concerned about going into the 2013 welcome to the Board, newly elected MGA Director, Chris calendar trading year – dos Santos also from South Australia. Chris brings to the • Declining sales – competition and the discretionary board much experience in retail and more particularly consumer government processes and relationships. MGA’s Board sin- cerely thanks Joseph for his wonderful contribution to the • Diminishing margin – increased costs to do business independent supermarket industry as a MGA Director and • Sky rocketing electricity costs wishes him well in growing the Romeo Retail Group. • Increasing refrigeration (gas) costs Finally, 2013 will be the year that MGA/LRA goes out to • Increased cost of labour resource all members with a range of seminars to be held around Australia. Energy Efficiency Information Programs will be a MGA will be doing everything it can, as an organisation priority initiative that we hope all independent supermar- representing its members, to address many of the issues kets around Australia will fully avail themselves to. Much and concerns that members face on a daily basis. However, research has been conducted through a dedicated MGA MGA/LRA cannot do it alone as it must have the help of Energy Efficiency Steering Committee to deliver to mem- members and industry stakeholders to lobby governments bers exactly the information and solutions they will require and local members of parliament to make change happen. to reduce energy usage and energy costs. There will also One such example is the market dominance of Coles and be a series of workplace relations seminars addressing Woolworths. Members must assist MGA/LRA to keep this key workplace employment issues faced by members on a campaign alive and aggressive to get the attention of the daily basis. politicians for changes to be made for the better. Please sign the two petitions on our website – We hope you enjoy this edition of Independent Retailer. www.haltgrocerygiantsonslaught.org.au – and please ask Until the next edition of this magazine. your family, friends and staff to get involved as well. Good trading. As many of our members hear everyday, to be relevant to our customers we must aggressively leverage our strengths Jos de Bruin as independents. CEO Master Grocers Australia To attract customers to your store, you must have a cus- tomer value proposition and a point of difference. Why do customers come to your store? You must be prepared to provide your customers with an excellent shopping experi- ence – that is excellent convenience and customer service, www.mga.asn.au 2 Industry News & Representation Industry News & Representation MGA/LRA Industry Networking Breakfast and AGM Left to right: Jos de Bruin, Bruce Billson, Nigel Ridgeway On November 22, MGA/LRA held its annual industry net- society today, including the preservation of true robust working breakfast and AGM at Leonda Receptions on the competition between the chains and the independent Yarra. Once again this event was a sellout with 150 guests sector. Bruce spoke with passion and a real concern for including grocery and liquor members, corporate mem- the survival of small, independently owned businesses in bers, industry stakeholders and industry suppliers in at- Australia. Many businesses are suffering under the duress tendance. MGA’s Board of Directors from around Australia of high costs to do business, red tape and other burdens and the LRA committee were also in full attendance. that prevent business owners from getting on with their businesses and making a profit. Changes must be made to MC’d by MGA Queensland Director, Debbie Smith, this reverse this phenomenon. event as always had a powerful line up of guests and speakers including; special guest and key note speaker Hon Nigel Ridgway, ACCC General Manager, gave the audi- Bruce Billson MP (Shadow Minister for Small Business and ence an update on the many issues the ACCC is currently Competition), special guest, Nigel Ridgeway, (ACCC Group handling including fuel prices, petrol shopper dockets, the General Manager Compliance, Research, Outreach and market dominance of the chains and supplier relation- Product Safety Group) and Dylan Eades (ANZ Bank Econo- ships. Owing to many investigations currently taking place mist) who delivered a most informative Financial in regard to the market power and dominance of Coles Market update. and Woolworths, Nigel was unable to elaborate or give any indication in regard to what the investigations were about The theme of this Breakfast was “Let’s Have Fair Competi- or what the likely outcomes may be. The fact that the tion” which is in keeping with the launch of MGA’s com- ACCC is making these investigations is in itself a comforting petition report in August. MGA gave an update of all the outcome for the independent supermarket and activities associated with lobbying politicians in regard to liquor industry. the market dominance of the chains. Meetings were ar- ranged with 45 Federal Ministers, Shadow Ministers and The eagerly awaited ANZ economic update was delivered politicians. 200 Federal Politicians received the report. A by ANZ economist Dylan Eades. Dylan covered all the social media campaign was launched involving facebook economic key performance indicators as well as world and and website activities including the signing of two petitions Australian finance and investment trends. The future eco- to involve retailers, staff and their customers to voice their nomic outlook for Australia is “cautious optimism”. concerns and appeal to the Government for fairer compe- All in all this industry breakfast and AGM was again a huge tition. Over a 12 month period MGA/LRA received 13,384 success giving all people who attended an indication of the contacts from members taking up 7,289 hours.