This Week In The Market – 26 February 2019

Edition 216: A Better Choice hits the 200 club
View this email in your browser
In this week’s Market News:

– Golf Day raffle tickets now on sale
– A Better Choice hits the 200 club
– Fresh Five speaks to Joe Amalfi

Market News

Market Charity Golf Day

Raffle tickets are now selling in the Market!

The Lions Club, the MMA and Fresh State have come together and ask you to dig deep, to support DEBRA Australia by purchasing a raffle ticket, in a letter co-signed by each organisations leader.

The raffle is open to everyone in the Market, and with a prize pool valued at over $40,000 you’d be mad not to be in the draw!

So what can you win?
This year there are some amazing prizes on offer, like a brand new car, seats in an MCC corporate box, and a $1500 travel voucher. Click here to see the full list of prizes on offer.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at, 1 for $50, 3 for $100 or 8 for $200 from the Customer Service Centre, Fresh State office or download a raffle ticket form here.

We’ve hit the 200 club

Over 200 retailers across the country are now part of the A Better Choice program and we’re growing every day.

Check out some of our new members!

Our back-to-school competition entry forms are now due back, please drop them into the Customer Service Centre by tomorrow – the competition will be drawn this Thursday 28 February.

Have some thoughts about how A Better Choice could help your business? Click here to drop us a line and tell us your ideas on how we could help you.

Not a member yet? Book an appointment and have Sam visit you in-store to tell you about the program. Click the button below.

Click here to book an in-store appointment

Diesel station opening soon

We previously communicated that the new unmanned diesel station would be open to Market users in mid-March.

As some of you may of heard, building contractors had an accident at the worksite last week which has affected the canopy construction.
The challenges associated with the canopy, mean that the opening of the station will be delayed by a month or two. We will advise of a revised opening date soon.

Everyone involved is disappointed the accident has set the project back, but mostly relived no one was injured in the incident.
The incident serves as a timely reminder for us all to ensure safety is our top priority while at work!

Fresh Five

This week we talk to Joe Amalfi, pictured below with DEBRA Australia representative Simone Baird.
1. Your role at the Melbourne Market: 
I own a few companies within the industry including retail and brokering of produce. I’m on the Fresh State board where I am Vice President, but at the moment I’m really focused on my role as the Chairman of the Melbourne Market Charity Golf Day committee.
2. If you could only take three fruits or vegetables with you to a deserted island, which would you take:
I love all fruits, but I’d take watermelon, as long as it was chilled, and I’d take some greens for salads like radicchio and witlof.
3. When was the last time you bought flowers for someone:
I missed out this Valentine’s Day, my son embarrassed me, beat me to it, and bought his mum some flowers. Last time I bought my wife flowers was about six months ago, I can’t remember why, but I’m sure I was in the bad books.
4. Tell us something that is on your ‘bucket list’:
I’d like to get fit enough to do the Kokoda trail.
5. What do you most enjoy about working at the Melbourne Market:
It’s the people. Such a diverse group of great people who love a bit of banter and a laugh. There’s a common-sense approach to life in the Market, which is sometimes missing in the outside world.

BONUS QUESTION. Tell us about your work as Chairman of the Melbourne Market Charity Golf Day committee:
A family member of one of my mates was born with EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) and he told me about this terrible disease. I was moved by the severity of the disease and what people go through, and I was shocked when I found out that DEBRA, the organisation that supports those living with EB, received no government funding.  I brought it back to the board at Fresh State, and with their support, as well as support from the MMA and Melbourne Market Lions Club we created the Charity Golf Day to support DEBRA Australia. That’s where I met Simone. Simone is a representative from DEBRA who works with the committee to help organise the golf day and sell raffle tickets in the Market with me.  Simone’s family had their own personal battle with EB, she is an incredible woman with so much courage and determination, trying to make a real difference. Sadly, Simone’s own daughter passed away from the effects of EB in December 2017.
The entire produce industry has gotten behind the cause, last year we raised $82,000 for DEBRA and this year we are aiming to beat that, and raise over $100,000.
Words cannot explain how generous the Market Community are, in the public eyes we sometimes get looked upon as a grubby, rough lot of people, but the truth is, people in the Market are without a doubt, the most generous group I’ve ever been involved with. Ever. I can’t be more thankful and grateful for their support.

You can support DEBRA Australia by purchasing a raffle ticket at the Customer Service Centre or Fresh State office. 

Annual access card renewals

Business Principals will soon receive a letter asking them to review all access card holders currently listed at their business.

The MMA ask that Business Principals inform us which card holders to renew, and which to remove, in the lead up to April’s Market-wide access card renewal.

It is important that you respond to this letter as soon as you receive it, to ensure you are not invoiced for card holders who are no longer in your employment.

Should you have any questions please visit the Customer Service Centre.

Labour Day Public Holiday

The Market will be closed for the Labour Day public holiday on Monday 11 March.

There is no change to Market trading hours on the days before or after the public holiday.

If your parking permit only allows access on the Monday, and you would like to come to the Market on an alternative adjacent day (in this case Friday 8 March or Tuesday 12 March), 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.

Car display from 3 Point Motors

3 Point Motors is coming to the Melbourne Market! We are proud to announce on the evening of the 28th Feb we will have the all new Sprinter and Vito Van on display! A 3 Point representative will be located at customer services and our vans near Gate 1, so come past and get all the latest information on our range of commercial vehicles. We’ll be there from 12am through to 7am Friday 29th. We look forward to seeing you there!
https://www.mb3point.com.au/en/desktop/vans.html

Industry News

Increase in eggplant sales

It may surprise you to know, eggplant is making strong inroads into the vegetable category in Australia. In the 52 weeks ending 3 November 2018, eggplant dollar sales increased by 7.9% compared to the previous year; in contrast to total vegetables which was relatively stable at 1.2%. Part of eggplant’s successful sales performance can be attributed to increasing multiculturalism in Australia. Read more about the recent surge in eggplant sales on the Harvest to Home dashboard.

Key Dates

Monday 11 March – Labour Day Public Holiday – Market closed

Ask the MMA

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

Follow us
Facebook
Instagram
Website
LinkedIn

For all enquiries call 03 9258 6100

7AM - 3PM, MON - FRI