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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WHITE’S LOCAVORE SHOWCASES ARTISANAL PRODUCE White’s IGA Group Director Roz White spoke to Retail World’s Lorna Gloria. White's IGA Group owners and directors Roz and Michael White. unique and exclusive locavore food program is certainly making a difference. Plans for growth We have five stores, with a new greenfield site opening next year, all being well. We’re currently doing a full refurbishment and expansion of our Mooloolah Valley store, which will reflect the values and history of the community and a focus on health and fresh. New products and offer It’s a very exciting time for retail with so many new and emerging trends having an impact on local shoppers. It’s imperative we develop and create shopping destinations that reflect the values and needs of our customers and range the new products on offer. New marketing and community initiatives We enlighten and inform our customers about the journey of their food and the families who create it, by showcasing local suppliers through our unique and distinctive Locavore program. This personally resonates with both \\\[White’s IGA co-owner\\\] Michael \\\[White\\\] and I due to our farming backgrounds. Based on the official classification of ‘locavore’, White’s IGA locavore program supports a local network which connects local food producers and distributors to consumers. We’ve been supporting local suppliers for almost three decades, although the locavore program was officially launched in 2013. White’s unique locavore program was created to showcase locally grown and produced food offered through White’s IGA Sunshine Coast supermarkets. Exclusive to White’s, a distinctive tractor logo marks a diverse range of products that are made, sourced or grown locally, including seasonally fresh produce, condiments, dressings, chilled, frozen and grocery lines, baked goodies, flowers, eggs, cheese, smallgoods, seafood and gourmet treats. A locavore lifestyle means healthy, fresher, food quality is more accessible and climate friendly by reducing food miles and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, because items don’t need to be transported long distances. Being a locavore helps to positively influence economic, ecological and social What has been the greatest lesson to date, navigating through this pandemic? Understandably, there’s been a level of anxiety and stress among our team and throughout the community. It’s been a difficult time for so many with the disruption, uncertainty and economic strain associated with the pandemic. Regardless of these challenges, it’s been a pivotal time for humanity with people turning to support their community and each other. That’s been a pleasing standout for me. At the outset of the pandemic in Australia, I was fortunate to connect with IGA Head of China Dr Zhe Zeng, who generously shared his insights and lessons direct from Wuhan, China, allowing me to get an early start on our business continuity plan in preparation for a large-scale disaster and/or lockdown. His insights were invaluable. We simplified our internal processes to two key aims: to keep people safe and our community fed, which meant the implementation of our Covid-safe plan and sourcing of basic essential goods became a streamlined focus. Focusing on key objectives rather than multiple on any ordinary day makes navigating a crisis more effective. What positives have you experienced from both consumers and suppliers? The wonderful kindness, gratefulness and cooperation given to our team from our community was heartwarming. Our wonderful customers expressed their gratitude through their considerate behaviour, messages, and personal thank-yous in store. Our team felt that compassion, which gave them the focus to stand firm at the wheel every day and ensure the community needs were being fulfilled. It’s been a time of people coming together: suppliers showing their support ... as we ramped up our home delivery service, employed additional staff to support our vulnerable shoppers in-store and boosted our local supply network to access essential goods, such as buying toilet paper from local hotelier suppliers. Update on White’s IGA group performance in the market We’ve developed a firm position in our local market underpinned by a suitable business model. As the market evolves, we change too, which requires reinvestment and a continual appetite to learn and grow. Homebound lifestyles, neighbourhood shopping and a big support of our 14 RETAIL WORLD APR, 2021