Caltex and Woolworths serve up fresh convenience offer

Caltex and Woolworths open the first of three co-created stores today, Wednesday, aimed at delivering fresh convenience at the service station.

The 24-hour Caltex Woolworths Metro in North Ryde, NSW, is owned and operated by the fuel giant but utilises Woolworths’ expertise in convenience foods and groceries.

Grab-and-go meal options are a key element of the curated product range, with sandwiches, hot food, barista made coffee and fresh fruit and veg on offer, as well as an extensive Woolworths own brand range.

The North Ryde store is the first of three to open in the coming months, as the retailers team up to take on Australia’s $8.5 billion convenience sector.

A second store is set to launch in Kingsford, NSW, later this month and a third will open in Melbourne early next year.

Jo Taylor, Caltex’s executive general manager, convenience retail, said the service station supermarket is about “redefining the convenience experience” for customers.

“We know Australians lead busy lives and are looking for great quality fresh food for a meal on the go or to make preparing a meal at home a little bit easier,” Taylor said.

“Our new store will set the new standard of service, product quality and range that customers will begin to expect when they shop in the petrol and convenience sector.”

Australia’s leading supermarket retailer has wanted to exit the petrol business for some time and though it sold its fuel retailing business to EG Group for $1.7 billion in November last year, it wasn’t before signing a 15-year wholesale food supply agreement for over 700 existing Caltex convenience sites.

Ian McDonald, Woolworths general manager, wholesale, said the partnership brings together some of the best elements of both businesses.

“As customers’ needs change and demand for fresh, food-for-now and food-for-later continues to grow, so too do the expectations for quality and convenience,” McDonald said.

“Caltex Woolworths Metro is an exciting next phase of our partnership with Australia’s leading fuel network. We’re delighted to help bring together some of the best elements of both businesses for the benefit of our mutual customers.”

Continuing the Metro concept of easy, and fast payment options, the new store includes self-checkouts in-store but, unlike its new cashless MetroGo store which opened last week, it will still accept cash.

Woolworths is also using the opportunity to expand its loyalty program, with members able to earn Woolworths Everyday Rewards points on purchases and receive 4c per litre off fuel.

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