News

Wesfarmers and Woolies have taken two of the top spots in IBISWorld’s 2018 list of Australia’s Top 1000 companies. Significantly, given the rapidly evolving retail landscape, online shopping businesses were among the biggest movers. “The firms on IBISWorld’s 2018 Top 1000 list account for $2.22 trillion in revenue,” IBISWorld Senior …

The National Retail Association (NRA) has welcomed the decision to allow suburban Adelaide retailers to trade on Easter Monday. The NRA hailed the SA government’s decision as a “landmark”. ‘The shackles have been removed’ NRA Manager Policy David Stout says the decision brings SA into line with all other states …

Deloitte says retailers have benefitted from consumers “living beyond their means”, but that change is coming for 2019. Retail sales weakened in 2018, says Deloitte, with real retail turnover expanding by 2.2 per cent over the year. It predicts this weakness to extend into 2019 as “housing-market pressures and lacklustre …

Coles’ is now offering ‘Quiet Hour’, its so-called “low-sensory shopping experience”, at 256 of its supermarkets across Australia. According to Coles, the Quiet Hour initiative offers an experience that’s “easy on the eyes and ears”. By reducing noise, lighting and distractions in-store, it sets out to make a difference to …

Woolworths has introduced 24 new products in the Woolworths Free From and Macro Wholefoods Market range. The reason, it says, is “to cater to the growing number of Australians living with a dietary need or who are choosing to be more health conscious”. According to Woolworths, coeliac disease affects about …

An Aldi employee has contacted Retail World claiming Kaufland got in touch with them on LinkedIn about a job move. The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, says Kaufland’s approach began with a LinkedIn request. It was followed by a link to a Kaufland job advert. The advert left the …

New research has revealed that one in five tobacco retailers would prefer not to sell tobacco products. Cancer Council NSW and Western Sydney University carried out the research. Together they sampled a range of tobacco retailers, including convenience stores, grocery stores and newsagents. “A further 37 per cent of retailers …

Kaufland, one of the world’s largest supermarket chains, will open its first Australian distribution centre at Merrifield Business Park, Melbourne. The business park is in the suburb of Mickleham, about 30km north of Melbourne’s CBD. Kaufland has bought a large 28-hectare site in the brand-new “masterplanned” community. It says it …

The cost of raising a newborn from birth to four years old has risen by 26.3 per cent over the past five years, according to IBISWorld, with childcare the most “significant” cost. The industry research company estimates that Australian parents will spend more than $13.2 billion in 2018-19. Costs include …

Community-based retailing is challenging the ‘big end of town’ for the dollars of foodies and family diners, new data suggests. The government’s ‘Food demand in Australia: Trends and issues 2018’ report found that ‘Meals out and fast food’ jumped to 34 per cent of total food expenditure by a household …