This Week In The Market – 23 March 2021

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In this week’s Market News:
– Focus on forklift safety
– Keeping the Melbourne Market green
– Easter trading hours

Market News
Focus on forklift safety

While forklifts are essential for work at the market, when they are not being used safely, they have the potential to cause serious injury and even death. 
Remember…


Keeping the Melbourne Market Green
Recycling at the Melbourne Market has always been a high priority. We couldn’t be prouder to say that thanks to all of the Market users, the Melbourne Market maintained an efficient recycling rate of over 98% in February.

Achieving these results wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of all market users. As many of you would know, late last year, the Melbourne Market expanded it’s food recovery program of fresh produce to include FareShare. This partnership has been very successful and will continue alongside our existing relationship with Foodbank Victoria. Last month alone saw a collective 41.04 tons of food donated which is a massive help to those in need.

So thank you, and we look forward to these continued results as the Melbourne Market leads the way in sustainability. If you would like to find out more about recycling and how it benefits your business, click here.


Easter Trading Hours
The Market will be closed on public holidays during the Easter period as follows:



Thursday 1 April – regular trading hours
Friday 2 April, Good Friday – market closed
Saturday 3 April, Easter Saturday – Flower Market to remain open
Monday 5 April, Easter Monday – market closed
Tuesday 6 April – regular trading hours

If your parking permit only allows access on a day that falls on one of the public holidays, and you would like to come to the Market on an alternative adjacent day, you will not be charged for parking and can enter the Market. However, please note, your regular bay may not be available. Please see a Market Relations Officer on arrival for instruction.



Are you the first national A better choice! retailer of the year? This year A better choice! is launching the first-ever independent Retailer Of The Year Award. 

Hand in hand with the new national competition, Shop & Win, A better choice! retailers will be rewarded for their engagement with their community. Each customer that enters Shop & Win, nominating your store, takes you one step closer to winning. The A better choice! team will be providing regular updates on the top stores, giving you tips to improve your nominations and announcing the winner later in the year. So be sure to mention Shop & Win to every customer that comes through the door!

Winners are calculated on the number of nominations their store receives when customers enter Shop & Win, both instore and online. 

The top 10 stores from each state will be shortlisted, the store that receives the most nominations will be awarded as the top retailer of their state, rounding out with the National Retailer of the Year – awarded to the store that receives the most nominations across the country.

Watch the video above for more info! Are you the first national retailer of the year?

Last chance for merchandising



As part of the Shop & Win campaign, retailers have access to a range of in-store promotional material including wobblers, posters, decals, signs and stickers. A better choice! is offering members the use of a professional merchandiser, Camille, who will visit your store with the merchandise and complete the install free of charge, making the process hassle-free and saving you time. 
It’s not too late to get involved in this campaign and have A better choice! promotional material installed for free but you must register. There are limited spots and merchandise packs available, so be quick!  Click here to book today!

A Better Choice feedback
Do you have feedback or questions about the A Better Choice program?
We’d love to hear from you, send an email to abetterchoice@melbournemarket.com.au

Melbourne Market Power Outage


On Sunday 28 March, warehouses 1 to 9 at the Melbourne Market will undergo a temporary power shutdown to perform crucial maintenance work on the outer ring power supply.

Power will be cut to all market warehouses for approximately 6.5 hours, from 7:00 am – 1:30 pm.

During the shutdown, warehouses will be without power, including cooling/refrigeration. The Melbourne Market apologises for any inconvenience. If you would like more information about the upcoming power outage please click here.

Reminder to continue with COVIDSafe behaviours

Market users are reminded to: 
•    Carry your facemask at all times and ensure you wear it when you are unable to maintain social distancing. 
•    Remain at least 1.5 metres from other Market users wherever possible
•    Wash and sanitise hands regularly



Get Involved in Social Media
Do you sell a particular produce line that has just come into season? A new product you’d like to promote? Is a field full of fruit or veg about to be picked? The MMA would love to hear from you. 

We’re always looking for more content to share on our social media channels, and there are no better voices to represent the industry than the greengrocers, growers and wholesalers of the Melbourne Market. 

Please contact christopher.talia@melbournemarket.com.au if you would like to feature in our social media content or feel free tag us in your own Facebook and Instagram posts for re-sharing.


Children In The Market Cancelled
The ‘Children in the Market’ program will not go ahead during the upcoming school holidays. We look forward to welcoming children back into the market for our special school holiday events when COVID risk is reduced later in the year.


Industry News
Farm Safety Rebate

 

The Victorian Government (through Agriculture Victoria) has established the Farm Safety Rebate Scheme, to assist eligible farm businesses to invest in infrastructure and equipment projects to improve safety for farming families, workers and visitors to Victorian farms. Rebates of up to $5,000, excluding GST, are available for eligible projects. To find out more, download the Farm Safety Rebate Guidelines and the Farm Safety Rebate Application Form

More seasonal accommodation for north-west workers
 

Victorian farmers in the north-west will benefit from a boost to the region’s accommodation for seasonal workers with the latest projects in the Victorian Government’s $6 million Seasonal Workforce Accommodation Program (SWAP). Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited Boort Lakes Holiday Park which will receive $500,000 to build new COVIDSafe amenities to support this season’s harvest workers. To continue reading please click here.

LaManna champions Women in Produce

 

As reported last week, LaManna Premier Group’s event, Fresh Start: Women in Produce, attracted over 130 attendees at the Melbourne Market.  The event received a lot of positive feedback on social media and was covered via industry news on the Produce Plus website.
Read the Produce Plus report about this great event held at the market by visiting Fruitnet.com.

Melbourne Market Job Board



Do you have a vacancy to fill in your business?
Email submissions@melbournemarket.com.au for the position to be placed on our online job board.
Looking for a new role? Check out the online job board via the button below. View full online job board

Ask the MMA
If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.
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