Karabar Superbarn store owner Chris Haridemos (R), with Martin Stirling, MGAIBA Director of Legal Services.ALM Distribution Centre

Connecting with members and discussing key industry insights

MGAIBA’s recent visit to the ACT provided a valuable opportunity for the team to engage with members and gain firsthand insight into the diverse and dynamic businesses within the network. Martin Stirling, Director of Legal Services, and Mikaela McKenzie, Director of Member Engagement met with several members across different sectors, discussing key industry trends and exploring the unique challenges faced by independent retailers in the region.

The visit began with a meeting at Australian Liquor Marketers, where the team met with Karl Menezes, Branch Manager – Canberra. Karl gave them a comprehensive tour of the Canberra Distribution Centre and shared valuable insights into the nuances of the liquor industry in the ACT. This allowed the team to better understand the local market and the challenges businesses in this sector are currently navigating.

Next, the team visited Daniel Raad from Cook St Grocer, who showcased some of his store’s local produce and locally customised gift offerings. During the visit, the team discussed MGA’s involvement in the recent cost of living enquiry, where Martin, alongside President Lincoln Wymer, represented the views and concerns of independent retailers. This was an important discussion that highlighted MGAIBA’s ongoing advocacy efforts for members.

The visit concluded with a meeting at Karabar Superbarn, where the team met with Chris Haridemos, who recently took over the store. Chris shared his experiences expanding to a second location, and the team discussed both the challenges and benefits of such a move. They also explored the potential impact of the junior wage rate changes currently under review by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), and how it could affect businesses across the sector.

It was a rewarding experience for the team to connect with members across various banners, hear about their experiences firsthand, and discuss the issues that matter most. The team looks forward to extending another visit to Canberra to meet with even more members and continue these important conversations.

If you have any achievements or news updates from your store that you’d like to share, or if you’d like to invite the MGA team for a store visit, please feel free to reach out to mikaela.mckenzie@mgaiba.org.au. MGAIBA is always eager to hear from members and provide support for your business.