Page 42 JUNE 26 2011 ST thesundaymail.com.au 42 NEWS Bulking up on bargains Shoppers load their trolleys with sale items Kelmeny Fraser Consumer affairs FRUGAL shoppers are buying in bulk at rates not seen in years, filling their trolleys with six times the quantity of discounted grocery items. That compares with two years ago when the average shopper would double the amount they would normally buy because it was on sale, said Andrew Reitzer, chief executive of grocery wholesaler Metcash, owner of IGA. Shoppers striving to cut grocery bills have driven the trend, but greater competition among retailers is also a factor. Last year, discounted stock made up 20 per cent of all goods being sold at IGA. It is now almost 50 per cent. ‘‘The Global Financial Crisis has obviously heightened con- sumers’ concerns about their financial position and they are looking for real value,’’ Mr Reitzer said. ‘‘In addition, the intense price competition among IGA and the national chains has heightened customers’ aware- ness of the great value being delivered through pro- motional prices and they are stocking up at record levels.’’ He said the extreme weather earlier this year and people stockpiling food had also played a part in the trend. The retail chain has been forced to stockpile larger quantities of discount goods at its Crestmead warehouse to keep up with demand. National Retailers Associ- ation executive director Gary Black said while vigorous competition between the major supermarkets had raised the number of special promotions, the sector was under less strain than other retail sectors. Ingrid Just, spokeswoman for consumer group Choice, warned that shoppers should still remember to check the unit price to make sure they were getting a good deal. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment reported a 2.6 per cent fall this month. [email protected] Discounters in rush to fill gap Kelmeny Fraser Fresh player: Artist’s impression of a new Masters outlet. AS HUNDREDS of jobs disappear with the col- lapse of several major retailers, new discount stores are poised to swoop on shoppers’ dollars. More than 1300 new retail positions in Queensland will be cre- ated in the next three years as new chain stores prepare to move in and existing brands pursue aggressive growth plans. It comes as hundreds of Queensland workers hunt for new jobs after the closure of bookstores Bor- ders and Angus & Robert- son, plus retailer Colorado. As some herald the end of the shopping centre mall format, CB Richard Ellis retail services regional director Joshua Loudoun said it was more a part of the continual evolution of retail. ‘‘When brands leave it just creates opportunities for new retailers to come in,’’ he said. US discount warehouse chain Costco will open a Queensland store in the next two years, with North Lakes, north of Brisbane, one site being considered. Members must sign up to access its warehouse, where shoppers can find items ranging from electri- cal goods to food. Swedish furniture retailer Ikea will open its second Queensland store at North Lakes after buying a 60,000sq m site from Westfield. Shoppers are expected to be the winners in a major hardware battle from late this year when the new Masters chain opens. Stores are under con- struction at Tingalpa, Morayfield, Nerang and Springfield, and more are planned. [email protected] Enjoy wine responsibly here’s to JWC_CWA0004_1S_SMQ here’s to paying through the nose even if it does have a lovely aroma *Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Valid for sale until 30 Jun 11. Prices are per person twin share. Speciﬁc travel dates apply. FROM BRISBANE. Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. Lic. No. TAG262. bsm_26jun_8x2_et Call 132 601 Bali $ 651 * Business Class return from $ 2450 * Economy class return from See the travel section for other great holiday deals.

Discount

Download PDF Report

Upload
mccarthy-wood-media-technology
View
91
Download
1

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 42 JUNE 26 2011ST

thesundaymail.com.au42 NEWS

Bulking up on bargainsShoppers load their trolleys with sale items

Kelmeny FraserConsumer affairs

FRUGAL shoppers are buyingin bulk at rates not seen inyears, filling their trolleys withsix times the quantity of dis-counted grocery items.

That compares with twoyears ago when the averageshopper would double theamount they would normallybuy because it was on sale, saidAndrew Reitzer, chief execu-

tive of grocery wholesalerMetcash, owner of IGA.

Shoppers striving to cutgrocery bills have driven thetrend, but greater competitionamong retailers is also a factor.

Last year, discounted stockmade up 20 per cent of allgoods being sold at IGA. It isnow almost 50 per cent.

‘‘The Global Financial Crisishas obviously heightened con-sumers’ concerns about theirfinancial position and they arelooking for real value,’’ MrReitzer said.

‘‘In addition, the intenseprice competition among IGAand the national chains hasheightened customers’ aware-

ness of the great value beingdelivered through pro-motional prices and they arestocking up at record levels.’’

He said the extremeweather earlier this year andpeople stockpiling food hadalso played a part in the trend.

The retail chain has beenforced to stockpile larger

quantities of discount goods atits Crestmead warehouse tokeep up with demand.

National Retailers Associ-ation executive director GaryBlack said while vigorouscompetition between themajor supermarkets hadraised the number of specialpromotions, the sector was

under less strain than otherretail sectors.

Ingrid Just, spokeswomanfor consumer group Choice,warned that shoppers shouldstill remember to check theunit price to make sure theywere getting a good deal.

The Westpac-MelbourneInstitute Index of ConsumerSentiment reported a 2.6 percent fall this month.

[email protected]

Discounters inrush to fill gapKelmeny Fraser

Fresh player: Artist’simpression of a newMasters outlet.

AS HUNDREDS of jobsdisappear with the col-lapse of several majorretailers, new discountstores are poised to swoopon shoppers’ dollars.

More than 1300 newretail positions inQueensland will be cre-ated in the next threeyears as new chain storesprepare to move in andexisting brands pursueaggressive growth plans.

It comes as hundreds ofQueensland workers huntfor new jobs after theclosure of bookstores Bor-ders and Angus & Robert-son, plus retailer Colorado.

As some herald the endof the shopping centre mallformat, CB Richard Ellisretail services regional di-rector Joshua Loudounsaid it was more a part ofthe continual evolution ofretail.

‘‘When brands leave itjust creates opportunities

for new retailers to comein,’’ he said.

US discount warehousechain Costco will open aQueensland store in thenext two years, with NorthLakes, north of Brisbane,one site being considered.

Members must sign upto access its warehouse,where shoppers can finditems ranging from electri-cal goods to food.

Swedish furniture re-tailer Ikea will open itssecond Queensland storeat North Lakes after buy-ing a 60,000sq m site fromWestfield.

Shoppers are expectedto be the winners in amajor hardware battlefrom late this year whenthe new Masters chainopens.

Stores are under con-struction at Tingalpa,Morayfield, Nerang andSpringfield, and more areplanned.

[email protected]

Enjoy wine responsibly

here’s to

JWC_CWA0004_1S_SMQ

here’s to paying through the nose

even if it does have

a lovely aroma

*Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Valid for sale until 30 Jun 11. Prices are per person twin share. Specifi c travel dates apply. FROM BRISBANE. Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. Lic. No. TAG262. bsm_26jun_8x2_et

Call 132 601

Bali$651*

Business Class return from $2450*

Economy class return from

See the travel section for othergreat holiday deals.