Z Energy has continued to look at how it can best meet its customers’ needs, and with a highly mobile population, these needs continue to change.
The business has been continually adapting its convenience retail range based on customer insights and feedback, which helps develop product pipelines and everything else that comes to life in stores, from the retail teams to partnerships and offerings.
“We know customers will always love our delicious Z pies, and that offer will always exist. Z’s retail strategy is to meet changing customer trends and demand by expanding ‘Food for Now’ and ‘Food to Go,’” said Z’s Head of Retail, Aaron Brooker.
“Expansion and growth for us look like evolution in the freshly prepared on-site offers, alongside more ‘meal solutions’ in our grocery range. We will approach this through a segmented offer across our network, where it fits from a customer perspective.”
Brooker added that barista-made drinks have become part of the top-up grocery offer, as customers, more than ever, look for value underpinned by quality in the food and beverage space, both inside and outside of the fuel channel.
Another key opportunity for Z has been its collaborations with beloved Kiwi brands, such as the opening of the first Cookie Time ‘Bake & Shake’ store at Z Sawyers Arms, which offers the famous Cookie Time ‘Freak Shakes’ and hot cookies.
“We also have more collaborations with iconic New Zealand brands coming to life across our Z food and beverage offer soon; stay tuned for these.”
The recent launch of U-GO - a low-cost, self-service fuel station network - reflects a clear opportunity to evolve Z’s offerings in response to diverse customer needs.
The Z-branded network will continue to remain strong, with both Z and U-GO delivering distinct value propositions tailored to different customer segments.
A current store refresh programme is underway at Z to modernise the look and feel of many Z sites. It will also build flexibility into the design and layout of stores, enabling them to adapt to customers' changing needs easily.
“We aim to be the go-to destination for New Zealanders and their different customer missions. We want Kiwis to know they can stop at a Z site at any time and get what they want and need, for fun, work, travel, or home, with a range of high-quality options, from freshly prepared on-site food and beverages and top-up groceries, through to the packaged classics they already know and love.”
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