Three firsts for fast & ezy

fast & ezy has opened its first stand-alone store. Located in the newly constructed underground station on the new Chatwood to Epping line, in North Ryde, about 10km north east of the Sydney CBD, it's a small format store designed to appeal to the time-poor rail commuter.

The fast & ezy brand was launched by Australia's largest buying group, United Convenience Buyers, three years ago to address the needs of its 1,200 members for a branded format for independents. The chain has since grown to some 55 stores, all operating in conjunction with a fuel canopy. The North Ryde store is the first in a series of stand alone stores that UCB intends to bring to market.

R&D and the new design concept

At the official opening of the new store, UCB CEO Reg Johnston told the assembled suppliers and dignitaries that the new stand-alone fast & ezy format was the result of a great deal of research and development.

"Andrew Flynn & Steve Brown the Brand Development Manager spoke to our trade partners and some of our best member operators of standalone sites and then undertook extensive research and design to come up with the new concept," said Mr Johnston.

"We secured this site on the excellent new Epping to Chatswood rail line. We have been developing new ideas here, many in conjunction with our trade partners. It is our aim to use these learnings to enable us to help enlist new members to expand our store network and ensure that the independent C-Store sector retains its strength and that customers have better stores and greater choice."

In many ways this North Ryde location is still very much in the making. The underground station has a very small residential pedestrian catchment and is mainly intended to service the adjoining technology park, which is growing rapidly. A commuter car park is planned as part of the station complex, after which park-and-ride passenger numbers through the station are expected to grow substantially.

Securing railway sites for retail operations has always been a notoriously difficult business, involving the submission of competitive tenders to the rail authorities.

fasy & ezy Retail Development Manager, Steve Brown, said that the new store will be run as a company operation which be franchised out later.

A learning experience

"We know that this store will be an important learning experience for us", said Mr Brown. "And we don't expect it to be doing big sales until the station is properly established. That's why we will be running it as a company operation until it finds its feet."

At just 39 square metres, fast & ezy North Ryde is smaller than comparable 7-Eleven Stores, yet it does not look crowded. The range has been pared down to a disciplined minimum, and space has been made for a small hot food and beverage offer.

This is the first of three stand-alone fast & ezy stores planned for Sydney this year. The second will be at the neighbouring railway station at Macquarie University, also on the new Epping to Chatswood rail line. The third will be at Bankstown, in Sydney's south west. All will be company operated initially as test sites.

For more information contact United Convenience Buyers on 02 9899 4800 or visit www.ucbstores.com.au.