Australia’s two retail peak bodies to merge
The country’s two retail peak bodies – the Australian Retailers Association, and the National Retail Association – have announced a proposed amalgamation which will see a unified body representing the $420 billion sector.
The NRA and ARA have signed a heads-of-agreement for the amalgamation proposal, which is subject to approval by the not-for-profits’ respective members. The amalgamation application will then be submitted to the Fair Work Commission.
ARA president Nicole Sheffield called the amalgamation a “winning proposition” for retail and the broader economy.
“The ARA has been on a mission to unify the industry in recent years and today’s announcement is the result of significant discussions over time between our two organisations,” she said.
“It makes absolute sense to create one voice for retail, and to combine our strengths to support the growth of this vital sector which employs one in ten Australians.
“Whilst the resilience of retailers has been second to none in recent years, the headwinds we face as a sector have never been more challenging – from supply chain challenges and retail crime to sustainability outcomes and the rise of artificial intelligence. Joining forces for the good of our industry is an obvious win for all parties.”
NRA chair Tim Schaafsma said a strong retail sector is “in the interests of all Australians”.
“Our two organisations are aligned in our focus, and we come together in the spirit of doing what’s in the best interests of our retail community,” he said.
“There’s great strength in numbers and we are confident our members and the sector as a whole will appreciate and embrace this progression towards a unified voice for retail. The merged entity will truly represent the whole Australian retail sector, irrespective of size, segment or geographic location.
“In the meantime, we look forward to working together on a range of collaborative ventures in the coming months as we take active steps towards the proposed amalgamation.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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