The application process is as follows:
Read the Q&A, which is designed to answer the questions that you should be asking and have been asked by other retailers.
Read the Disclosure Statement, Rules and Charter.
Complete the Associated Controller form from your unique link in the email.
Open the email that contains your invoice and forward payment.
If you have 1 store, complete the Associated Members form If you have more than 1 store, contact CSA to organise the process to complete your members’ application forms - we can assist how to most efficiently complete the membership forms.
Should you have any questions, please email either:
Catriona Stockwell
catriona@coopsupermarkets.com.au
Mobile 0417 412 731
or
Warwick White
warwickwhite@coopsupermarkets.com.au
Mobile 0418 203 170
To create a team of independent retailers recognised as the best supermarket network in the country by 2025.
The Co-op has 4 purposes:
Following a trip by some leading retailers to Europe to see REWE and Leclerc, there was a new belief that grocery independent co-ops can beat the chains. The trip cemented the view that independents needed to control their own destiny.
The retailers explored a different partnership with Metcash in 2019 but were unable to reach agreement.
The Co-op may invest in IT solutions, brands processes, technologies and a distribution system
The Co-op will act with speed, harnessing and best practice sharing, creating a larger membership and attracting world class management.
The Co-op does not answer to anyone but members nor is it motivated to do anything but make retailers more sustainably profitable. The Co-op does not distribute money to anyone but members. Members decide how to pay management.
Metcash have agreed to not disadvantage or discriminate against any Co-op member.
The last 3 Australian IGA ‘stores of the year’ have all been stores with large directs business. By attracting customers with these direct lines, customers buy warehouse lines when in the shop. So this initiative is good for Metcash.
All profits go to Co-op members.
NSW, ACT & VIC IGA retailers funded the development of the Co-op between July and December 2019.
QLD & TAS did not contribute to the set-up of CSA between July and December.
The Co-op would be disappointed if there wasn’t a return in the first 12 months.
The intention is for the Co-op to be self-funding, however should the Co-op start more slowly than expected or if the opportunities are so great to accelerate the business, the Co-op may issue an additional bond but the intention is for the Co-op to be immediately self-funding.
The Co-op membership and bond does not go with the sale.
The percentage gain for the small stores should be considerably higher than for large stores.
Yes via a similar application process.
Yes. Otherwise the Co-op has no reason for existence. It is our ambition that every deal is better for every retailer. There will always be the odd exception but we ask retailers to put the team first!
Come up with suppliers we should talk to and offer to be part of the deal team on certain products.
To begin with retailers will pay suppliers directly
The Co-op will take a small per cent service fee on each deal it creates for its members. The per cent will be determined by the quality of the deal and authorised by the Board.
All fees stay with the Co-op network . The service fee will be circa 2% and will be transparent to all members.
The cut-off date is March 31 2020 however we ask the leading retailers to pay before the end of November 2019 in order for the Co-op to plan with clarity for 2020.
We cannot be sure what the value of membership will be post this date. If the Co-op performs well, the price per store will be circa $10K post March 31 2019.
No. It will be open to all independent grocery supermarket retailers, subject to board approval.
It is the intention that the Co-op will have a clash site policy agreed in 2020.
The Co-op Board has paid over $600K.
Work by members for the good of the Co-op. This can be sharing best practice, working on sub committees or on deal teams.
We believe the greatest opportunity will be regional retailers by increasing assortment and lowering delivery costs.
In Year 1 we intend to employ up to 5 staff.
In Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
State based best practice sessions will be organised a couple of times a year.
No, we will also work actively in reducing the CODB. Already we are a long way down the path of doing a significant packaging deal, which will save retailers real money.
Yes. Cleaning items, floor cleaning, waste removal and potentially electricity are some items on the agenda.
There are monthly Board meetings and monthly phone links. The Board is working at real pace, as much has to be achieved. Board members have been taking time out of their own businesses over the past 2 years to get the Co-op up and running. Attendance at meetings is near-on a must, with rules governing non-attendance.
You use your current systems.
The Co-op is developing its bespoke solution over the next 6 months.
The Co-op has developed a low cost delivery service to increase assortment and reduce delivery costs. Current delivery methods can also be used.
The current Board will transition to the Co-op Board:
Two additional places have been created.
After 3 years, 7 Board Directors will be up for re-election.
The 6 Founding Directors will have the right at their discretion to remain for 10 years to ensure continuity and capability.
Voting is conducted with one member/one store = one vote.