Orbost Foodworks Receives Recycled Shopping Trolleys

Orbost Foodworks are the most recent recipients of an order of Australian made Supercart hybrid trolleys made from recycled Australian plastic. The Trolleys were well received by customers and the store alike. Read what they had to say in the local newspaper, the Snowy River Mail.

Donation to Mt Gravatt Community Centre

In a continuation of our efforts to support local communities, we are pleased to have donated two of our Australian made hybrid shopping trolleys to the Mt Gravatt Community Centre in QLD!

Katrina of MGCC reached out to us after searching for a trolley to assist their volunteers and staff working in the Food Pantry where ‘Emergency Relief’ food and other essential items are provided for local community members and international students in need of assistance and support.

Needless to say, this is a great cause and one that we are proud to be able to support. You can read Katrina’s story below:

Upon checking out the Supercart website, I was surprised and excited to read that your trolleys are manufactured in Australia from recycled empty milk bottles and other plastics.  As I have a keen interest in environmental sustainability and recycling, I rang Theodoor to ask for the prices of these lovely trolleys. He asked me for what purpose they would be used.

I mentioned that they would be mainly used to assist volunteers and staff working in the Mt Gravatt Community Centre Food Pantry where 'Emergency Relief' food and other essential items are provided for local community members and international students in need of assistance and support.

Theodoor kindly offered our Community Centre a donation of two trolleys (one small and one large), provided we would cover the transport cost. Aden Martin of Logifix Freight Solutions was contacted by Theodoor on our behalf, to enquire about the cost of freight for our trolleys from Melbourne to Brisbane. Aden kindly offered to discount the freight for us.

Both trolleys have been put to good use daily and are lightweight and quiet. They are extremely easy to manoeuvre around corners which makes our workload so much easier.

Thank you Theodoor for the generous donation offered to the Mt Gravatt Community Centre on behalf of Supercart. We would also like to thank Aden of Logifix Freight Solutions for the discounted freight cost.                                                             It is very much appreciated."

Katrina

MGCC Volunteer Coordinator

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“The colours that we chose suit our new logo perfectly” Katrina, MGCC

Find out more about the great work they do at the Mt Gravatt Community Centre and how you can support them by heading over to their website.

Find out more about the great work they do at the Mt Gravatt Community Centre and how you can support them by heading over to their website.

Logifix Freight Solutions are the logistics management firm that supported MGCC with freight and seek to provide their clients with cost effective freight and warehousing solutions.

Donation to St Monica's College

Supercart Australia is proud to support the Envirofriends iniative at St Monica’s College in Epping with the donation of a Mid sized hybrid shopping trolley manufactured from 100% recycled post-consumer waste. St Monica’s College is driving sustainability projects through the Envirofriends group, that also serves to deliver sustainability messaging to the wider community.

We’re thrilled to see the passion for sustainability flourishing amongst the broader community, especially within the younger generations who are the future custodians of our environment.

Woolworths commits to sustainability with Supercart trolley fleet in Sydney store

Woolworths Australia continues to support more sustainable shopping practices with the purchase of Supercart shopping trolleys in its Randwick Metro store.

Metro Randwick is the first in the Woolworths Metro-branded group of stores to order Supercart shopping trolleys.

The purchase of this fleet of Supercart trolleys will divert 18,120 two-litre  plastic milk bottles from the oceans and landfill.

Supercart Australia’s award-winning shopping trolleys and handbaskets can now be found in independent supermarkets across Australia and New Zealand, and more increasingly in Woolworths stores.

“We are extremely proud to see our trolleys in Woolworths Metro stores,” said Supercart Australia Technical Director, Louw van Tonder.

“Woolworths has made a commitment to sustainability, and our shopping trolleys are just a small part of that commitment. Not only will shoppers enjoy the light weight, greater maneuverability and functionality of our trolleys, they will also be part of the solution in saving plastics from our oceans and landfill. That’s what we are committed to.”

“What we have to do is have far less of what is described as virgin plastic. I’d like to be able to pick up a plastic bottle and say ‘this has been plastic before’.” – Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley

Supercart trolleys featured at Parliament House during the inaugural National Plastics Summit in Canberra earlier this month, as an example of how closing the loop on plastics can work. The summit brought together government, industry and the community to discuss opportunities for tackling the waste crisis such as reduced consumption, better recycling and new materials to name a few.

There are already scientists talking about how you can clean the ocean of plastic, but we obviously can’t wait for that to be done on a large scale. What we have to do is prevent any more plastic from going into the ocean,” said Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley (pictured right with Supercart Australia Managing Director Dean Lomas).

“And what we have to do is have far less of what is described as virgin plastic. I’d like to be able to pick up a plastic bottle and say ‘this has been plastic before’.”

Supercart Australia is a shining example of a company which has made the successful transition to sustainable manufacturing, with the support of the Victorian Government through its Future Industries Manufacturing Program.

“We enjoy the support of the Victorian Government in continuing our transition to more sustainable manufacturing,” Mr van Tonder said.

“We all have a responsibility to improve the way we produce, especially our commitment to recycling. Supercart Australia will continue to innovate in this space for the positive impacts it creates.”

Key points about Supercart Australia trolleys:

• Each 180-litre shopping trolley is manufactured using 152 x 2-litre recycled milk cartons otherwise destined for recycling depots or landfill

• Creating each hybrid trolley has 47% less climate change potential than steel trolleys

• The manufacturing process has 43% less resource depletion potential and 46% less acidification potential than the process used to manufacture an equivalent size steel shopping trolley

• They are typically 30 to 40% lighter than steel trolleys and are proudly made in Australia.

• Supercart is one of the leading manufacturers of sustainable shopping trolleys and baskets with a history dating back more than 30 years.

National Plastics Summit 2020

On March the 2nd 2020 the first National Plastics summit was held in Parliament House, Canberra. The summit brought together government, industry and the community to discuss opportunities for tackling the waste crisis such as reduced consumption, better recycling and new materials to name a few.

Supercart MD Dean Lomas with Federal Environment Minister Susan Ley

We loved being part of the Plastics Summit - it was incredibly exciting seeing our trolleys at Parliament House as an example of where innovation and recycled plastics can create better products for us all.

Supercart Australia honoured with Innovation Award at Hume City Council Business Awards

Innovative Plastic Solutions (IPS), developers of the popular Supercart shopping trolley seen throughout Australian supermarkets, has been honoured with the Innovation of the Year award at the Hume City Business Awards held in Broadmeadows last night.

The annual awards recognise businesses throughout the Hume City for their achievements and contributions to the region and wider community. The Innovation Award is given to the business that has excelled in implementing new processes, or improving on old ones; creating a new market or new products.

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Pictured left to right; Sally Williams, Louw Van Tonder, Rhu Tang, and Theodoor Steeman celebrate at the award ceremony.

Supercart hybrid trolleys are developed and manufactured in Campbellfield, Victoria, with the trolleys now found in supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand, where customers have enjoyed the lightweight, easy-to-manouevre trolleys to enhance the in-store customer experience.

 “We’re very proud to be recognised for our focus on developing innovative and sustainable products for Australian consumers,” said IPS Managing Director Dean Lomas.

 “Our story is about developing higher quality products whilst maintaining as small an environmental footprint as possible. Australians are loving our products, and we are delighted the Hume City Council supports businesses like ours, and many others, who contribute to a more sustainable future.”

 Key points about Supercart Australia trolleys:

•  Each 180-litre shopping trolley is manufactured using recycled 154 x 2-litre milk bottles otherwise destined for recycling depots or landfill

•  Creating each trolley uses 49% less water than steel

•  They are made using 68% less energy and contain 48% less global warming potential than steel

•  They are up to 40% lighter than steel trolleys and are proudly made in Australia.

•  Supercart is one of the leading manufacturers of sustainable shopping trolleys and baskets in South Africa with a history dating back more than 20 years.

Supercart Australia Technical Director Louw Van Tonder said his organisation’s products were now in some of Australia’s largest supermarket chains and department stores.

“Whilst our trolleys do have a focus on sustainability, it’s the superior technology in our manufacturing that has resulted in this award for innovation” Mr Van Tonder said.

“We are committed to innovation and sustainability – it’s at the heart of everything we do and we are excited and proud to be recognised by the Hume City Council with this award. It’s brilliant for our team and our customers.”

“Like many Australian manufacturers we are concerned about our environment, its future, and the role we all play in creating positive change.”

Port Melbourne Grocer receives recycled hybrid trolleys

The Port Melbourne Grocer has just received an order of Supercart Mini Hybrid Shopping Trolleys. In total the order diverts the equivalent of 1,320 2L milk bottles worth of plastic from landfill, or about 53kg of plastic which is a great effort for a small sized store. You can read the full story on Page 4 of the October 1st edition at the Bayside leader website.

Both the Port Melbourne Grocer and Brighton Grocer stores are part of the Reddrop group and are committed to the big push for a more sustainable future. They’re hoping that other supermarkets might follow their lead in reducing their impact.

Inside the future of small format retailing

When Supercart Australia developed its suite of sustainable shopping trolleys and hand baskets it was with the customer experience at the heart of the design. In this interview Technical Director Louw Van Tonder shares his thoughts on small format retailing and what he believes will influence the shopping experience in the future.

1. How can store equipment improve the retail experience in smaller format/convenience stores?

Anything that enables the shopper to have a better experience, including clear and accurate messaging around products within the store.

We’ve seen that the equipment that’s provided in smaller format stores does have a direct effect on sales.

For example, when we introduced a larger volume hand basket the sales within stores increased on average by 15 to 20 per cent by going from a 24-litre hand basket to a 30-litre hand basket.

That is a physical attribute that makes it easier for the consumer to purchase more. If you couple that with a message around an issue like sustainability, which we have done with our hand baskets and trolleys, then it ticks more boxes for the consumer who also cares about such issues.

2. What trends are currently influencing store equipment in smaller format/convenience stores?

Industry data shows that the trend is for more frequent shops. A lot of people are now shopping four to five times per week and in a lot of cases they shop daily, and sometimes even twice a day.

The trend is to pick up something on the way and prepare a fresh meal rather than have a bulk shop. These behaviours influence the equipment we use in the retail space.

3. What should a retailer look for when upgrading store equipment in smaller format/convenience stores?

They should be looking at the message they send to the consumer through the choices of products they make available in their stores, including equipment.

If you can source something locally, and you can source it through a sustainable supplier you are going to be sending great messages to your customers.

Consumers are more savvy now, and it’s important to understand that and create the right environment and right experience for them in-store.

4. How can your business help a retailer?

When we say source locally, Supercart is an excellent example. We create our products right here in Melbourne, and we are using recycled materials. Our approach saves plastic bottles from the oceans and landfill, and we’re very proud that people are getting behind our push for sustainability.

Our trolleys and hand baskets support the retailer in a number of different ways: we help improve the customer experience with trolleys that are very easy to use as well as being strong and durable, with longer life spans than traditional steel trolleys. Business owners benefit from larger volume hand baskets increasing sales, and they’ll also benefit from the sustainability message we promote. Our products create a positive experience for both the business and the consumer.

If you can make a trolley or hand basket light but large volume you will increase the sales per shop because data shows customers will often keep purchasing, even on impulse, when they have a larger volume trolley or hand basket they are using.

5. What are your predictions for the future of store equipment in smaller format/convenience stores?

The trends suggest stores will continue to develop to create a seamless experience for the consumer, making it easier for them to get in and out of stores and using their time efficiently.

The experience can be improved at the check-out, or even through electronic tagging of products that tags the price as it comes off the shelf rather than at a specific point like a traditional check out. Anything that improves the flow from entering the store to exiting the store will be an advantage, and there’s already a lot of innovation happening in that space.

People do not want to stand in a queue and pay, they need a more seamless experience. Our products will facilitate those technologies when they become available. We see that innovation as very important.

Some of the bigger retailers are already experimenting with this type of technology, and the feedback shows customers definitely want more control in their shopping experience. Waiting to be served or to reach a self-check-out is a gap that can be improved in the shopping experience.

The future of Australia's retail experience

Retail World recently asked Supercart Australia's executives for their thoughts on the future of the in-store retail experience. It's an ever-changing landscape with innovation and environmental consciousness becoming more important every day. In this Q&A Supercart Australia's Technical Director Louw Van Tonder shares his insights on the future of the industry.

How can store equipment improve the retail experience?

The shopping trolley or hand basket is the first touch point a customer has with a store and the store’s brand. It is imperative that a fleet of aesthetically pleasing, well presented and maintained shopping trolleys and hand baskets are available to assist and enhance shoppers with their shopping experience.

Supercart’s range of sustainably produced shopping trolleys (and soon sustainable hand baskets) provides retailers and shoppers alike with the following improved retail experiences:

• Made locally with sustainability in mind, it resonates well with shoppers as they push retailers to become more sustainable.
• Recyclable and environmentally friendly
• Contemporary, stylish design - an aesthetically pleasing shopping trolley to use
• An easier reach, making packing and unpacking of goods much easier and catering to a changing demographic.
• Prominent branding in corporate colours, with many branding options available
• Less likelihood of being stolen due to visibility and brand prominence
• Lighter, quieter and easier to manoeuvre. Hybrid trolleys are 30% to 40% lighter than the current imported steel trolleys
• One of the lowest ratio (weight to load carrying capacity) shopping trolleys currently on the market
• Being much lighter, they are easier to collect and transport back to the store by the trolley collectors, resulting in less injuries and Work Cover compensation claims
• Polymer construction results in less momentum required to push/pull them, resulting in less damage to cars and store fixtures, i.e. less claims as well as reduction in capital replacement costs
• Plastic is a poor conductor of heat and therefore the hybrid trolley will be much cooler to the touch when they are standing in the hot Australian sun for lengthy periods of time
• The baby/child seat is also more comfortable and softer to the touch than steel and therefore the baby/child will also have a more comfy and pleasant shopping experience
• Durable, rust-proof, providing many more years of life and service than the heavy, imported steel clunkers
• Won't bend, buckle or break like the steel trolleys are prone to
• No wobbling or jamming, with seamless nesting and de-nesting of trolleys, with the use of only one finger
• Longevity - replaceable parts results in extended shopping trolley life (up to three times longer than steel trolleys)
• RFID ready - compliant with shop RFID systems

What trends are currently influencing store equipment?

More retailers are investing in sustainable equipment such as solar to power their stores as well as using new energy efficient CO2 refrigeration systems. As global warming issues become a bigger threat, consumers will undoubtedly become more mindful of their purchases and will choose to align themselves with businesses that support their values.

From ethically sourcing goods and materials to using sustainable products and packaging, we can expect this trend to continue, with customers pushing for sustainable change. Therefore store equipment that’s made from recycled materials or which can be recycled, will be favoured.

Having a point of difference is another trend that retailers are looking for but finding hard to achieve. Supercart provides retailers with the following key points of difference:

• Quality, branded shopping trolleys made locally and sustainably from recycled plastic
• Shopping trolleys that look great, are more fun to use, providing shoppers with a unique shopping experience and that resonate well with shopper’s sustainability values
• Future ready and compliant with shop RFID systems (something which steel trolleys cannot achieve)

What should a retailer look for when upgrading store equipment?

Consumers are becoming increasingly mindful of their purchases as well as where and from whom they purchase. More and more shoppers are choosing products that are sourced responsibly and are good for their bodies and the environment.

Retailers that place health and sustainability at the core of their business will therefore continue to thrive.

Retailers should therefore look towards retail solutions that are truly sustainable and those that resonate well with shoppers as they become more focused towards sustainability and products that are environmentally friendly.

They should also consider aspects such as whether the store equipment is imported or available locally, the quality and longevity aspects of the equipment and whether it provides them with a niche or point of difference.

How can your business help a retailer?

The future is looking bright for those retailers who adapt to the needs of their customers and who are able to successfully evolve along with consumers. Evolving might mean exploring new store formats or revamping their selection. In essence it should be all about putting the customer first, and creating a more personal in-store experience. Our retail solutions are unique, providing retailers with many points of difference. They are produced locally from 100% Australian recycled plastic. They are quality products, made ethically according to Australian labour and environmental laws and more importantly are sustainably produced, utilising Australian waste plastic (something we all generate).

Every 1000 of our large trolleys diverts seven tonnes of plastic from going into landfill or our oceans. We are not just helping retailers, we are assisting councils and governing bodies with their environmental challenges as well as benefiting the country and planet.

What are your predictions for the future of store equipment?

Australia tends to lag behind when it comes to new equipment and trends in this area. Most overseas retailers have made the switch to hybrid shopping trolleys or those made from plastic. Supercart is already at the forefront of shopping trolley design and manufacturing, being the first company to make our hybrid shopping trolleys from 100% recycled plastic.

Anglesea IGA customers rate our Supercart trolleys

If you Google Anglesea IGA you will discover this was the first Australian supermarket to become truly sustainable, banning plastic bags years ahead of its time. It’s a classic, coastal shopping centre, located in the centre of the Anglesea shopping precinct, so close to the ocean you can feel the sea breeze on your face. The store has been family-owned for 37 years, with father Peter Calvert handing the reigns to his son Ryan in recent times. Peter and Ryan trialed the Supercart trolleys in their store during the Green Living Festival and this is what customers had to say.

The verdict: what customers say about our Supercart trolleys

One of Melbourne’s renowned supermarkets in the heart of bustling North Fitzroy, Piedimonte’s is an institution for quality Italian produce and wide variety of products available throughout the store, and with a heritage going back almost 60 years. Store owner Joe Piedimonte recently purchased a set of lightweight, user-friendly shopping trolleys from Supercart to enhance the customer experience in his North Fitzroy store and we thought it might be good to check in on the customers and Joe to see their feedback.

Supercart Australia: Serious about sustainability

Keep an eye out for our editorial on sustainable shopping trolleys that will be featured in the sustainability section of Retail World's March 2019 edition.

With many local councils having to resort to sending recyclables to landfill, Supercart Australia manufactures shopping trolleys via **upcycling** of some of these waste materials. Every 1,000 of our large trolleys removes 154,000 used 2L milk bottles (nearly 7 tons of plastic) from the waste cycle.

Supercart Australia is serious about sustainability. Are you?

Superbaskets now at Spar Suffolk Park, NSW

SPAR branded Superbaskets inside as well as at the entrance to Suffolk Park SPAR near Byron Bay (courtesy of Ben and Justin).

Visit SPAR Suffolk Park. Meet up with the friendly store owners Ben and Justin, grab yourself a Superbasket and pick up a great selection of products the store has to offer.

Upcycle your trolleys! Supercart hybrid trolleys now made from recycled plastic.

Smashing The Sustainability Stigma

Products labelled sustainable or green sometimes come with a certain stigma. On one hand, they’re great for the planet and it’s inhabitants, but on the other hand there is often an expectation that performance will somehow be compromised.

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Supercart Mini Hybrid made with 100% recycled Australian HDPE

Piedimonte’s Supermarket in North Fitzroy is smashing the stigma that sustainable products can be sub-par by being the first supermarket to have Australian made shopping trolleys manufactured from 100% recycled Australian HDPE.

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The plastic parts can be made in any colour to match your brand

So what makes our trolleys so sustainable?

• All HDPE components are made from 100% recycled FDA approved Australian HDPE

• All plastic components are made here in Australia, with full assembly in house

• Significant amounts of water and energy are saved by recycling material instead of using virgin material

• Manufacturing plastic is far less energy intensive than steel, saving energy and reducing emissions

• Local manufacturing supports local jobs and ethical work conditions

• Local manufacturing and material supply slashes our carbon emissions from transport

Not only are our trolleys good for the environment, they’re top performers too. Our trolleys adhere to stringent Australian and European standards and bring a raft of innovative features to the market. Not only do you get a trolley that’s better for the environment, you get a great trolley.

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Not only are they better for the environment, the Hybrid trolleys look fantastic with sweeping organic curves and two-tone effect through contrasting materials

Get in touch to find out more about this great initiative and how you can be part of the solution.

SPAR Australia - Another elated Supercart customer

Seen here with our Mini-Hybrid shopping trolley is an elated Jamie - GM Corporate Stores & Online for SPAR Australia.

Head on down to meet Jamie, Kerrie and the team at SPAR Woombye, pick up some specials, essentials, quality produce and at the same time experience a truly unique shopping encounter using Supercart's branded shopping trolleys.

Out with the old, heavy, boring steel metal clunkers and in with the light, vibrant and newly branded, new generation hybrid shopping trolleys from Supercart.

Supercart - Supermove.

Boatshed Market - Supercart Australia's first customer

Since the launch of our Hybrid Shopping Trolleys, the Boatshed Market welcomed the arrival of their fleet of branded Mini-Hybrid and Mid-Size Hybrid Shopping Trolleys.

Product Launch at Inside Retail Live 2018

The launch of our Australian Made Hybrid Shopping Trolleys at the Inside Retail Live Expo (MCEC), March 2018.