Food & Grocery

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

The following dates are public holidays:

Thursday 25th December, 2008
Friday 26th December, 2008
Thursday 1st January, 2008

Food & Grocery Retailers are now represented even more directly within The Retailers Association with a dedicated Committee and Chapter, focused on their sector specific interests and requirements.

Welcome to the specialist Food & Grocery Info Section and Members Entry Portal. This specialist section of our Association is dedicated to members who own SUPERMARKETS, GREEN GROCERS, BUTCHERS, BAKERS, DELI AND SMALL GOODS, CAFES, RESTAURANTS & TAKEAWAY OUTLETS.

If you are a member of The Retailers Association and require access to wages sheets for your sector, information sheets on important issues that impact your business, or the latest rules and laws that you need to be aware of, you can simply click on the red MEMBER SIGN IN button at the left of the screen and enter your member number and password. If you have not requested a password before, simply call our reception on 1300 721 730 and we can issue you with one so that you have 24/7 access to information critical to your business.

The Retailers Association has many members in the Food & Grocery sector who enjoy our advice, support and guidance everyday. This is your entry point to greater support for your specialist retail sector. Check back regularly for comments, updates and info on issues impacting your sector.

SOME RECENT ISSUES IN THE FOOD & GROCERY SECTOR:

• ACCC Enquiry Food Prices: Our Executive Director, Scott Driscoll has been very busy lobbying the federal government and raising awareness via the national media regarding the outcomes of the enquiry and what we believe are the policy reforms required to ensure the independent food and grocery retail sector is recognised by the government as the only real, long term sustainable answer to genuine market choice and diversity, coupled with ensuring the major retail chains are forced to be price competitive for Australian consumers. You can view or listen to many of the media clips relating to this topic via our Media Section, simply by clicking on the red Media button at the top right of our website front page.

• Unit Pricing: The Retailers Association has made submissions to the Queensland and Australian Governments opposing unit pricing being made to be mandatory. Based on the increased costs to retailers to implement such schemes, the end results will see consumers forced to pay higher prices.

• Creeping Acqusitions: The Retailers Association has prepared a submission to the Australian Government on the issue of creeping acqusitions and made it clear that such tactics, as utilised by the major supermarket chains, as a key contributor to the 80% supermarket duopoly in Australia and the fact Australia has the highest rate of food inflation in the OECD as a result.