Reportedly, almost 60% of Australian consumers are more likely to by online and utilise click and collect services following Covid-19, while only 28% of shoppers still desire some level of direct human interaction when shopping.

The research shows that of those respondents who prefer contactless shopping, 57% are likely to buy online for home delivery, 18% are likely to buy online and collect from a contactless parcel collection point, while 7% of people are likely to buy online for contactless curb-side pick-up.

“Our research shows that Australian consumers’ shopping habits have fundamentally changed following the arrival of Covid-19,” says Managing Director, Manhattan Associates, Raghav Sibal.

“They want less direct human interaction and more flexibility in the way that they shop, collect or receive goods, that is much more varied than traditional models of in-store purchasing.”

Mr Sibal attributes this change in buyer behaviour to “not only perceived health concerns following the impact of Covid-19, but also a positive customer experience of the increased flexibility that retailers have offered shoppers in 2020”.

He points out that the findings of this research “have significant implications for local retailers who must offer greater flexibility to meet varied consumer preferences”, and this includes retail pharmacy.

Turning to sales events to make finances stretch

Other research findings include:

• 32% people included in the survey report that they’re more likely to take advantage of sales events because they have less money to spend on essential goods.
• 38% people report looking for a bargain.
• 11% people report they will be participating in a sales event to make a non-essential or luxury purchase.

“Given the financial impact that Covid-19 has had on many Australians, it is not unexpected that they would turn to sales events to make their finances stretch further,” says Mr Sibal.

“Retailers need to be prepared for spikes in sales activity around these events and take control of their inventory, with really time visibility of stock, whether it is in the warehouse, in-store or being transported.

“By knowing what goods they have, and what they may need to build stock up on for future sales events, retailers can position themselves to take advantage of sales and offer the best possible customer experience.”

The post Survey: Consumers want contactless shopping post Covid-19 appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Be Fit Food is the first provider to partner with CSIRO to develop and deliver meals that have been specifically designed to comply with the CSIRO Low Carb Diet.

The meals will feature a front of pack labelling mark signalling they are a meal suitable for the CSIRO Low Carb Diet.

Ready meals featuring the mark have been formulated and passed independent tests to ensure strict benchmarks have been met, making them compliant with the food and nutrient specifications of the science-based CSIRO Low Carb Diet.

‘Make healthy solutions easy’

CSIRO’s Senior Research Scientist Grant Brinkworth says through decades of nutrition and health research CSIRO understands the barriers that can hold people back from improving their diet quality.

“We know that lifestyle factors like time and budget pressures and the growing rate of single person households are fuelling a strong demand for ready meals,” says Professor Brinkworth.

“In Australia, our diet is getting worse. Of the top 20 causes of death in Australia, 14 are lifestyle related, with type 2 diabetes one of the fastest growing chronic health conditions contributing to these startling numbers.

“As people are seeking convenient food solutions, it is important to make the healthy solution the easy option.”

Delete the ‘nutrition noise’

The CSIRO Low Carb Diet is an energy-controlled, nutritionally complete meal plan that is lower in carbohydrate and higher in protein and healthy (unsaturated) fats.

When compared to ready meals currently available in the Australian market, the meals displaying the ‘Meal Suitable for the CSIRO Low Carb Diet’ mark on average contain 68% less carbohydrate and 55% less sodium.

“In a world full of so much nutrition noise, few diets have undergone the type of rigorous clinical testing and research that the CSIRO Low-Carb Diet has,” says Professor Brinkworth.

Clinical studies have shown that the CSIRO Low Carb Diet and Lifestyle Plan effectively delivers sustained long-term weight loss and greater improvements in blood glucose control, and reduction in diabetes medication requirements as well as risk factors for heart disease compared to a traditional high carbohydrate, low fat diet.

‘Food should be medicine’

Be Fit Food Co-Founder and CEO, Kate Save welcomes the partnership with CSIRO.

“The new Be Fit Food Lifestyle Range has been specifically formulated to follow the exact science of the CSIRO Low Carb Diet,” says Ms Save.

“The range is a tasty and convenient way to enjoy the benefits of the CSIRO Low Carb Diet, without having to cook.

“Our philosophy is that food should be the first medicine in the pursuit of optimal health and prevention and treatment of weight-related disease.

“We’re delighted to partner with CSIRO to deliver delicious and nutritionally complete meal options to help people achieve healthier lifestyles.”

Available now 

The first ready meals compliant with the CSIRO Low Carb Diet are available now.

Companies interested in knowing more about this initiative and related partnership opportunities should contact Harry Rumpler: Harry.Rumpler@csiro.au

Meals can be ordered from: befitfood.com.au/lifestyle

For more information about the CSIRO Low Carb Diet please visit: csiro.au/lcd

The post CSIRO healthy meal plans soon to be available at retail outlets appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Australia’s largest pure play co-packer LJM Victoria has made a strategic acquisition. The company has acquired Victorian based OZ Connect Traders (OCT), a primary food packer that transports over 10 million raw food packaged products annually for Australia’s largest food retailers and global food exporters.

Within the last 12 months, LJM also established joint ventures with Multipack Pty Ltd in Sydney and New Zealand’s brand activation specialist Hoop Ltd to dramatically expand its co-packing footprint in Australia and New Zealand.

LJM, employing over 500 people across seven high-tech sites in New South Wales and Victoria (50,000 sqm including Multipack LJM), moves approximately 60 million packaged products across 1000 SKU annually for national and global FMCG, food, beverages, spirits and pharmaceuticals companies.

Lance Miles Director and Founder at LJM, comments, “The Australian co-packing space is rapidly expanding. The acquisition of OCT places us in a prime position to capitalise on market growth to become Australia’s premium primary and secondary co-packer. We are scaling up in a new area – blending, filling and packing raw foods.

“The ability to pack raw foods in a climate controlled, refrigerated and frozen product/conditions combined with a highly automated secondary co-pack plant, offers the market a unique opportunity. Becoming an all-encompassing supplier enables clients to reduce reliance on imported product and minimise their supply chain.”

He added, “OCT has specialised automated equipment and in-depth knowledge of the primary food packaging sector that complements our current business, supported by a client centric approach. LJM’s size and scale as well as key food accreditations will open up new opportunities for both businesses. New services will be rolled out to the clientele of both companies to offer a holistic approach to co-packing.”

Terry Blyton, Director at OZ Connect Traders comments, “The combined synergies will exponentially increase both LJM and OCT’s abilities to cater to the needs of current clients and significantly assist future expansion. OCT has a broad customer based that delivers products to all sectors of the retail chain in Australia and overseas. LJM brings a wealth of industry knowledge, bio security systems, an expanded range of accreditations as well as a broader customer base.

“Customers are demanding more variety and ‘better for you’ products. Triggered by social media, the share of this market is growing rapidly. Co-packers offer the ability to roll out multiple new product launches on a small scale to see which ones work and can then quickly scale successful launches to full national roll outs.”

“Market conditions change quickly and products must be market-ready faster. Full- service contract packing houses such as the new partnership with LJM can meet these demands with the expertise, equipment and packing solutions available,” he added.

“We are already witnessing food supply chains diversifying. They are looking to become more home grown orientated. Pre COVID 19, companies relied on some imported ingredients and packaging from overseas countries. Delays in packaging was one of the reasons why there were shortages of product on retail shelves. To ensure continual supply, the shift is towards local products and packaging.”

OCT will be relocating its Carrum Downs operation to LJM’s Melbourne facility located at Dandenong South. All OCT staff will be retained and OCT’s Managing Director Neil Page will remain with LJM to head up the new division with Terry Blyton providing consulting services.

According to the latest State of Industry Report from the Contract Packing Association (US 2018/2019) the secondary co-packing number is estimated at USD $17 billion annually and is being driven by international FMCG brands. It is growing at about 10 per cent annually with the Australian market expected to follow suit.

LJM services blue-chip manufacturers, multinational FMCG companies, local manufacturers and brand custodians.   All types of FMCG products are packed or handled such as canned food, confectionary, alcohol, tea and coffee, dairy and frozen foods, personal care products, sauces and condiments and bottled water.  Spirits and pharmaceutical products are also regularly co-packed.

Markets serviced by LJM include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, South East Asia, Middle East, USA, UK and Europe.

A range of services and solutions are provided to meet any co-packing requirement. With over 55 production lines, flexible machinery and a highly skilled workforce, LJM has the scope and capacity to deliver an extensive range of services with a fast turn-around.

For further information visit: ljmms.com.au

The post LJM Victoria expands its footprint with an acquisition appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

How have buying habits changed?

Of the 680 respondents, only 18% of people said COVID-19 would not affect their buying habits but 41% said the changes would be at significant or change their habits completely. The results are similar for men and women, but 29% of young people (18-25) believe their buying habits will change completely, whereas only 12% of the 50+ group believe their buying habits will change completely.

Are people confident in crowded locations?

62% of people are not confident in crowded locations. There is a significant difference between men and women, 55% of men are not confident whereas 65% of women are not comfortable in crowded locations. The least confident people are those in states where COVID flareups have occurred with 89% of Tasmanians and 67% of Victorians not confident but only 54% of people in WA lack confidence in crowded spaces.

The big spenders have gone online

Lack of confidence and restrictions has changed online buying habits significantly. 36% of people have diverted some spending to online. The move is most pronounced for people earning over $150,000 per year where 46% of respondents have diverted to online. Again, the states with the COVID-19 flareups have the biggest diversion to online with 44% of Tasmanians and 41% of Victorians diverting online, but only 18% of South Australians and 29% of West Australians diverting online.

Where to in the future?

Overall, 37% of people will now shop more online with 52% of those earning over $150,000 per year and only 33% of those earning under $50,000 per year increasing online spend. Unsurprisingly, 64% of those under 25 years of age will increase their online spending but 30% of the over 50s choosing to do so. “A 30% increase in online spending is a massive move in shopping habits” Steven Di Pietro, Director Service Integrity Mystery Shopping, says.

What does this mean?

The impact on future retailing is seismic. Across all sectors the change will affect at least 30% of people, whether it be by age, income, gender or even location. Most importantly, if retailers want to maintain their retail stores against this force, they must give consumers confidence that public places will be safe.

Service Integrity employs over 30,000 mystery shoppers throughout Australia and has worked with Australia’s largest retail brands since 2003.

The post Secret consumer COVID shopping habits appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The National Retail Association and the Palaszczuk Government are teaming up to launch a Domestic Violence Retailer Support Program to assist small to medium businesses in addressing domestic and family violence.

Retailers can play a part in combatting domestic and family violence, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Retail has always been one of the biggest employers of women in Australia and women represent the vast majority of those affected by domestic violence,” says CEO of the National Retailers Association, Dominique Lamb.

Ms Lamb also highlights that domestic violence, is not only a community issue, but a workplace issue as well, as experiencing domestic violence can impact a staff member’s ability to do their job and can even create risk at the workplace.

“…In fact, the need for additional resources and support is even more critical, with evidence of domestic and family violence reports increasing due to isolation,” explains Ms Lamb.

A $100,000 investment by the Palaszczuk Government for the Program is aimed to strengthen and support businesses to respond to the needs of their workforces.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer says, “With women making up more than half of the 1.2 million people employed in retail across Australia, there is a real need to equip businesses with the tools they need to address domestic violence.”

“Too many workers lose their jobs as a result of domestic violence. That number can be reduced if we work together to educate workplaces on how they can support their workers.”

Ms Farmer emphasises that the investment will, “… help boost awareness among employees of what domestic and family violence is and how they can get help if they need it.”

What’s involved

The Domestic Violence Retailer Support Program includes a dedicated website, hotline, webinars, podcasts and online campaign aimed at educating Queensland retailers, particularly small to medium sized businesses, about how domestic violence can impact the workplace, and provide tools and resources to help businesses address and respond to this issue.

For more information, retailers should visit the website at dvretail.com.au or call the NRA’s hotline on 1800 445 522.

If you are the victim or perpetrator of domestic or family violence:

• In an emergency, call the police on Triple Zero (000)
• DVConnect Womensline – phone 1800 811 811 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
• DVConnect Mensline – phone 1800 600 636 (9am to 12 midnight, 7 days per week).

The post Retailers & Qld Gov unite to address domestic violence appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The move also allows retailers to share information relevant to the negotiations including in relation to requests by landlords for certain information as part of considering and negotiating support to be provided in the context of COVID-19.

“We see a clear public benefit in allowing retailers to work together in the negotiations with landlords as it will help those tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during this pandemic to reach a fair outcome,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

“We need to maintain strong competition in the retail sector and supporting these businesses will help with economic recovery once the pandemic subsides.”

The authorisation is voluntary and temporary and does not include individual tenants exchanging information about the amount of their rent or any rent incentives they were previously granted.

It is planned that the proposed cooperation will have regard to the proposed mandatory Code of Conduct which sets out the good faith leasing principles applicable between landlords and small and medium shopping centre tenants.

“As with all of the temporary arrangements that industries are looking to implement as a means to deal with the COVID-19 issues they are facing, we will keep under consideration when they are no longer necessary,” Mr Sims said.

Having granted interim authorisation for the arrangements, the ACCC will now seek feedback on the application for final authorisation which is sought for a period of 12 months from the date of authorisation.

The post Retailers to collectively negotiate rent relief during COVID-19 appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.