ZAPPING FUEL COSTS & SAVING TIME WITH Z APP

They’re an energy company dedicated to digital innovation, with a mobile app packed with features to make purchasing petrol faster, simpler, and cheaper. But for many users of Z App – an app for Z customers – the big draw is another essential daily fuel: Coffee. The ‘jump the queue’ feature is one of Z’s most popular mobile offerings, allowing customers to pre-order custom-made drinks from Z stations nationwide. It might not be the flashiest digital feature, but it’s a favourite of Z’s GM Strategy, Delivery and Innovation, Mandy Simpson. “If I’m heading out for the day, I’ll often order a coffee to pick up at my local Z on my way out,” she says. “And when my partner and I are on a long drive, whoever isn’t driving will order the coffees for the next stop.” Mandy’s not alone. Almost one in four coffees sold by Z are now…

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MUSGRAVE EXTENDS RETAIL AND FOODSERVICE CREDENTIALS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Musgrave, Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company, has a clear vision – to be a world class food and beverage business – and alongside that vision are ambitious plans to grow the business on both the island of Ireland and internationally. Trevor Magill, Managing Director for Musgrave in Northern Ireland explains the strategic pillars behind that vision. “Across the group our focus will always be on maximizing our core business so developing our retail, wholesale and foodservice offering. However, as we look to the future, we are also concentrating on developing our presence internationally. Crucially, however is that we grow and develop in a sustainable way.” Magill was appointed to his current role mid-2020 having joined Musgrave as sales director for the Mace brand in Northern Ireland in 2012.  In 2015, his role expanded to wholesale director with responsibility for both the Mace business and Musgrave’s wholesale brand,…

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ANZ-ROY MORGAN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AT 83.2 IN LATE FEBRUARY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 83.2 this week. The index has now spent a record 56 straight weeks below the mark of 85. Consumer Confidence is now 3.2 points above the same week a year ago, February 20-26, 2023 (80.0), but 0.4 points below the 2024 weekly average of 83.6. There were mixed results around the States with Consumer Confidence up in Victoria and Western Australia, down in Queensland and South Australia and virtually unchanged in New South Wales. Current financial conditions Future financial conditions Short-term economic confidence Medium-term economic confidence Time to buy a major household item ANZ Senior Economist, Adelaide Timbrell, commented: ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence has hovered around a tight range of 82.8–84.8 since the beginning of the year. While this is higher than from mid-February to December 2023, the trend over the last eight weeks has been broadly sideways. We expect a…

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ELECTRIC-VEHICLE OWNERS WANT THE FULL GAS STATION EXPERIENCE

EV drivers want to trust their car to the man who wears the star, according to study that reveals what kind of locations they envision for their recharging needs. Current public charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) are far from meeting consumer wants and expectations, according to data from AutoPacific’s recent EV Consumer Insights Study. And it appears that EV drivers want to trust their car to the man who wears the star, just like in the Texaco ads of old. EV consumers have a long list of charging station attributes that are important to them and what the ideal public charging station should look like. From easy-to-see and -read charging speed and pricing signage to offering additional basic vehicle care services such as windshield cleaner, air pumps for filling tires and vacuums, future EV consumers would like a public charging experience that more closely mirrors traditional gas stations and fueling facilities. Although…

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PEAK RETAIL CRIME COMMITTEE WELCOMES WA PREMIER’STOUGHER PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS

The leaders of the nation’s peak retail crime committee including the National Retail Association (NRA), the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) and the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) have welcomed tougher measures announced by the Western Australian Government to combat shoplifting and petty theft. In welcoming the proposed new laws, including the introduction of jail sentences for low level stealing offences of up to two years, and increasing fines to $24,000 the leaders of the NRA Retail Crime Committee said such measures are a necessary requirement to address the concerning rising trend and issues associated with retail crime. Lindsay Carroll, Acting Chief Executive Officer, NRA said: “The NRA’s Retail Crime Committee has worked closely with the WA Police Force to highlight the need for additional deterrents for offenders, including sentencing reform. “The proposed reforms target low value, high frequency offending which plague a significant section of the retail…

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2024 – A KEY YEAR FOR FURTHER RETAIL CRIME COLLABORATION

The National Retail Association (NRA), the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) and the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), are gearing up for another year of working collaboratively on retail crime issues and are open to welcoming new members and attendees. The NRA’s Retail Crime Committee is a longstanding forum which engages closely with Police Forces across the country, retailers and landlords, and key stakeholders such as the Shop Assistants’ Union (SDA), to discuss and resolve retail crime issues, including policy and operational issues, through a collaborative partnership. Sadly, incidences of retail crime – whether they be opportunistic retail theft, violent behaviour, or organised crime – have been increasing with a significant business and community impacts. In their 2023 wrap-up, the following issues were raised by the industry: In locking in their 2024 calendar, the NRA’s Retail Crime Committee meetings will be held across all jurisdictions. This year, new…

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