One of the greatest challenges facing the drinks industry today and throughout the critical festive and summer period is how, in uncertain, fragmented times, to adapt business and operating models that support a recovery.
By Australian Beverages Council CEO and International Council of Beverages Associations Asia Pacific Regional Director Geoff Parker.
The challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic have caused seismic shifts in the way consumers interact with FMCG sectors, and many of these changes will become part of a ‘new reality’ into the future. For government and industry, however, a blueprint for recovery is not only desirable, but essential to chart a road to recovery.
In response to the Australian government’s calls for industry strategies to lead the recovery, the Australian Beverages Council and KPMG brought together industry expertise to develop a number of key policy improvements across nine key areas to help businesses and the wider economy get back on their feet quickly. For the drinks industry, this is especially important as it looks to the important summer months to regain some of the ground lost at the start of 2020.
‘A refreshing recovery: A post-coronavirus recovery blueprint for the Australian drinks industry’ was launched recently to provide a pro-growth, pro-jobs set of policy options to position the industry and broader economy on a strong footing. Launched with the support of the Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, the blueprint forms part of the recovery and ‘new reality’ stages of the industry’s response to the pandemic.
The recovery blueprint outlines a number of inhibitors to growth and jobs within the drinks industry (and more broadly across the economy), but most importantly puts forward four pragmatic policy recommendations for all governments to consider in the economic and social rebuilding effort, including harmonisation of container deposit schemes (CDSs), reforming the tax system, a simplified and mutually beneficial industry relations system, and a well-informed energy policy.
Read the full article in Retail World November issue here.