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EDITOR’S LETTER IEDITOR’S LETTER t’s exciting and a pleasure to be back home at Retail Media – and strangely enough, in such uncertain and surreal times – working with familiar faces and plenty of new ones too, after leaving the business two years ago. 2020 has been the year of upheaval, a life-changing and challenging time, understatedly, for all navigating their way through these unprecedented and austere conditions. And while restrictions are easing and businesses trading again, our journey to recovery and normality will be a long and subdued one as we readjust to all aspects of life. Our retail market has had one of the most challenging times in dealing with demand and supply, panic buying and widespread confusion among customers and the general public. We’ve seen the resilience so often displayed by our retailers during difficult situations, banding together with industry and suppliers to support the wider community and ease many of the burdens faced during the pandemic. Thanks to the country’s political leaders, and our own retail leaders, for their swift action and resolve, we’ve been largely fortunate in a very unfortunate situation. There’s still a lot of day- to-day uncertainty, which will be normal for a long time to come, but we can start to see some confidence as we rebuild our lives and businesses with a new outlook and sense of hope. In this issue, we feature Drakes Supermarkets Director John-Paul Drake on his experiences of retailing through the pandemic, responding to customer demand, and the need to support local businesses. IRI Insights Director Daniel Bone provides deep analysis from the company’s ‘COVID-19: The Australian Consumer & Shopper Perspective’ report on the behaviour and perceptions of shoppers and households during the pandemic, the changes across financial and household situations, as well as changes to the shopping missions. Visit Retail World 360 for the latest exclusive content on a range of topics from industry leaders. I recently moved into the world of public relations, managing PR and communications for various consumer and lifestyle clients, and establishing relationships with broader media. I enjoyed the experience and now have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the PR world. The function of the media is as important as ever, and the credibility of news content and timeliness even more so as readers and consumers alike seek confidence and guidance from trusted sources. The recent changes and advancements that have been made to the magazines by our team, across both print and digital platforms, along with initiatives such as our new platform, Retail World 360, showcasing industry expertise and creativity from our community, also reflect these significant events. We understand the need for clarity and direction in such uncertain times, and accordingly the team has progressed through ingenuity and foresight to deliver content that is insightful, current and more regular. To reiterate the message from Retail Media Managing Director Amy Harvey, we’re here to support you as we navigate these challenging times together. We look forward to working with you and conveying the news and insights to our readers, community and the broader industry. Lorna Gloria Guest Editor 4 RETAIL WORLD JUN, 2020