Page 4 - RetailWorld-May2021-Tobacco-Updated

EDITOR’S LETTER Last month I wrote a friendly reminder about taking a break to reset and explore our great regions, and that’s exactly what I did. I spent a few days at Port Macquarie in NSW, four hours from Sydney, which only months ago was affected by floods. I was impressed by the fine produce, the coffee roasters, the cafes and restaurants offering Port’s amazing food and wide-ranging Australian wine selection – the fresh seafood was a treat. The Big Oyster cafe was also flood affected, as was oyster supply in general, which I was informed would take a long time to regenerate. So, oysters have been sourced from Coffin Bay, near Adelaide. We spoke to a barista, Angus at Peak Coffee, for nearly two hours about sourcing coffee beans, coffee notes, grinding beans and applying the right amount of pressure to get the right notes and flavour from a coffee. Angus is a passionate barista who has set up his own coffee machine at home as he perfects the art of coffee making. He also recommended coffee machines and grinders for getting started, as well as renowned baristas. When we dined at The Stunned Mullet, waiter Rob was happy to recommend another restaurant, Whalebone Wharf, which was due to reopen after the floods forced it to close for a month. When we arrived on reopening day at Whalebone, we met James and found staff were waiting to show us to our seats as we pored over the menu. Not only were the food and wine amazing at these restaurants, but the folk there were hospitable and friendly: exemplary service and local community support at their finest. The beaches, gorgeous weather and picturesque sunsets topped off our trip, and were our main reason for visiting. I also got to do some stand-up paddle-boarding (not falling over, surprisingly) and kayaking along the Hastings River. Importantly, April marked the bicentenary of Port Macquarie, with one of Australia’s earliest settlements celebrating 200 years since its establishment. This provided a memorable way to explore another city’s local produce, rich culture, and history. The world of trade events is opening again. We’re pleased to showcase the Foodservice Australia show, which returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 27-29 June. In this issue, we share a preview of new ideas for cafes, restaurants, commercial kitchens, and retail outlets, along with exhibitors showcasing the latest food and equipment innovations. Tim Collett, Managing Director of Specialised Events, the organiser of Foodservice Australia, discusses the changes and challenges in the foodservice sector, as well as key trends and new formats to discover at the show. Read the exclusive interview and feature on pages 12-17. Continuing the conversation from Retail World’s Australian made feature, our marketplace article explores the promotion and sourcing of locally produced goods. From Foodland’s ‘Great Food Lives Here’ campaign showcasing the next generation of Foodland’s family members, to ‘Romeo’s Local Love’ and the White’s IGA ‘Locavore’ program, you can read more about retailers and suppliers’ in the marketplace in Retail World’s May digital issue. On a final note, I’d like to welcome back to the team Hailey Settineri who has returned from maternity leave. She and her husband welcomed an adorable baby boy, Michael, who is just over a year old now: a babbling future journalist or lawyer, like Dad, in the making, perhaps. Hailey returns as Features Editor and supports the editorial team across Retail World and Convenience World magazines and digital platforms. In this issue we share the latest trends and products to hit the market across the hot beverages and deli and smallgoods categories, along with our Sales and Marketing feature. And in our digital issue, we explore the marketplace for all things local and Australian, as well as insights and data on the medicinals and household essentials categories. We hope you enjoy this issue of Retail World. If you have any great ideas or topics you would like explored, feedback, or news about what’s happening in your world, please get in touch with our team. Lorna Gloria Managing Editor 2 RETAIL WORLD MAY, 2021