Posts by theo.foukkare@bigpond.com

Amazon is offering even more convenient ways to shop for groceries with a new partnership with Iceland, and a new Amazon Fresh store in London. Shoppers today have an overwhelming array of options for groceries which often means they need to visit lots of different stores to get everything they want. But what if shoppers could get all their grocery needs served through one relationship, one app, and a familiar experience? Amazon’s goal is to build a best-in-class grocery experience for customers where Amazon is the first choice for selection, value, and convenience—whether shopping in store or online. As we continue to build this experience in the UK, we are partnering with Iceland to offer customers an even bigger selection of great value groceries, while also opening a new store in London. Everything you need for your weekly shop Iceland joins Morrisons and Co-op as third-party options on Amazon in…

BP has strengthened it’s BPme Rewards loyalty scheme with the launch of loyalty pricing – giving customers exclusive discounts on retail store products. BPme Rewards Price discounts will be automatically applied at the till on selected products, including M&S Food and Wild Bean Café, when customers scan their BPme Rewards card or app at around 300 bp company-owned retail sites across the UK. BPme Rewards Price is bp’s first loyalty pricing scheme and sees bp go beyond the conventional model of a points-based loyalty programme. Sonya Adams, VP mobility and convenience retail UK at bp, commented: “We’re listening to our customers and evolving our convenience proposition to give them what they want – rewards they really value and money off products in our stores. It’s all part of how we are evolving our convenience proposition and providing customers on-the-move with quality food and beverage-led offers at our network of convenient…

The Albanese government will amend federal legislation to prohibit the “importation, manufacture and supply” of vapes that are not therapeutic, with pharmacists responsible for refilling the devices for those who need them for medical reasons. The proposed changes outlined in a secret consultation paper shared with industry, mean single-use vapes would be banned under the Therapeutic Goods Act, with refillable vapes intended for “therapeutic use” to be exclusively available through pharmacies. People who can use vapes for medical reasons would be able to access only the mint or tobacco flavours. The importation of all vapes would be prohibited, unless the Office of Drug Control issued a permit, to assist the Australian Border Force to “distinguish ­between lawful and unlawful vapes”. The government will also close the Personal Importation Scheme that allows Australians to import three months’ worth of vaping products, citing concerns that the scheme is “prone to abuse and…

Coles introduces new security measure to fight in-store theft, violence The supermarket giant is taking drastic action to fight a crime that is crippling retailers – including grocery rivals Aldi and Woolworths. Coles is introducing body cameras in some of its most high-risk stores as the supermarket giant tries to fight back against shoplifting and threats against staff. The Australian retailer said the move comes amid a dramatic rise in customer theft, which experts estimate costs the retail industry a whopping $9bn annually. There has also been an alarming increase in violent behaviour towards its workers. After a successful trial, the cameras are being rolled out in 30 problem stores in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. “It’s important to note that the majority of customers do the right thing in store. Measures like this are for the ones who don’t,” a Coles spokesperson told news.com.au. “The safety of our team…

Portable c-stores can offer EV customers more options while they charge. JUXTA, a global technology and micro convenience retail store provider, has announced its fully autonomous and pre-assembled portable c-store model, JUXTA Nomad, to supplement EV charging stations and help traditional fueling stations transition. “Our mission is to support station operators transitioning from traditional hydrocarbon fuel stations to EV charging points and collaborate with established retail brands to extend their presence beyond fuel pumps by adding value to the charging station experience and driving top-line growth,” said Om Shankar, JUXTA co-founder and CEO in a company press release. JUXTA Nomad partners with retailers looking to elevate their convenience or to bring options to customers in hard-to-reach places, like a music festival. Colorado-based retailer, Choice Market, has partnered with JUXTA Nomad to bring convenience to customers attending a four-day music festival in Colorado this month before permanently operating out of Denver.…