Australasia

Urban retail real estate investment saw an increase in 2021. This presents an opportunity for developers and landlords to repurpose urban offices, particularly since foot traffic may not return to pre-pandemic levels. Possible options include…

After a difficult first half of the company’s financial year, marred by COVID-19 disruptions, Woolworths ended its 2022 financial year with momentum, with like-for-like sales in its flagship Australian food division hitting 5% growth in the June…

At a macro level, it can be seen that changes in shopper behaviour have continued, and with the easing of the pandemic, a move back to pre-COVID-19 trends is being seen. From a top-line perspective, there has been a move back to supermarkets for…

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the way in which consumers shop and how retailers adapt to change. As a result of the pandemic, consumers began to shop differently, and a shift was seen in the way businesses operated. Some new service…

In 2022, e-commerce maintained strong growth due to changes in consumer behaviour and a shift towards digital by retailers. The extended lockdown in the early months of the year provided a significant boost to growth, but even after store-based…

Wesfarmers remained the largest player in hypermarkets in 2022, with its Target and Kmart fascias. In its 2021 financial year, 75 Target stores were closed, and 92 locations were converted into Kmart outlets in a bid to make the brand more…

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on home products specialists during 2021. Many retailers were significantly impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns in sourcing countries, most notably Vietnam and China, where government mandated restrictions…

In 2022, the fast-growing chain Chemist Warehouse, which has built a reputation for offering beauty, health, and other goods at discounted rates, enjoyed a double-digit increase in its value sales for the second year in a row. However, dealmakers…

Department stores were late to e-commerce, finally starting to get aggressive around 2014, introducing free shipping and returns to better compete with specialists. However, as more Australians moved online, and as social media platforms rose in…

Aldi spotted a gap in grocery retail in Australia, and entered the market with its discounters model in 2001. The company expanded rapidly. By mid-2003 it had 44 stores in New South Wales and Victoria. By 2011, it had 251 stores. By early 2013 it had…

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the labour market, leading to greater flexibility and a desire for more fulfilling work amongst employees. This resulted in a trend referred to as “The Great Resignation”, in which workers left their…

During 2020, COVID-19 restrictions played havoc with ?the successful and established business model of convenience retailers, forcing many to severely limit their trading. By contrast, the pandemic proved a boon for online retailers, offering…

Appliances and electronics specialists emerged as one of the rare beneficiaries of the lockdowns in Australia, as people working from home rushed to create home office set-ups. This necessitated the purchase of computer monitors and keyboards, in…

After a strong end to 2021, in 2022 growth momentum could not be slowed down even by the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, flooding on the east coast, and rising inflationary concerns. Returning mobility, record employment, and the release…

Value sales through vending remained low in 2022, with growth limited by the decline in impulse purchases. With local consumers spending greater time at home, vending machines which primarily target impulse purchases in shopping centres, attraction…

2022 saw a steep increase in grocery prices across major supermarkets. This led to cautious consumer spending, with more people turning to price comparison websites to find the cheapest groceries at supermarkets near them. Online price comparison…

Lockdown restrictions during the pandemic saw consumers spend most of their time at home. With restaurant dining unavailable, consumers spent more time cooking and baking at home, which drove growth for small local grocers. In their efforts to…

The operating environment was extremely challenging for retailers in 2022. In addition to declining footfall in city centres, consumers burdened by inflationary pressures became more price-conscious. Consumers spending more cautiously were less…

Retail e-commerce continued to record strong current value growth in 2022, despite minimal pandemic restrictions. With New Zealanders now accustomed to the ease and convenience of shopping online, the channel has become an integral part of how…

Similar to other retail channels, hypermarkets has been experiencing rising costs associated with inflation and high shipping costs. However, retailers have been strategic in passing costs on to consumers, and have continued to offer low prices for…