Z’s retail stores get a fresh new look
January 14, 2025
Some of you may have noticed that your local Z Energy (Z) store has had a glow up of late.
The changes are part of a nationwide programme that kicked off in 2022 and will continue until 2026, which will see Z retail sites across the motu get a fresh new look. But along with adding cool contemporary stylings to our stores, Z is also focused on more fundamental changes in the way Kiwis come and go – both now and into the future.
Goodness on the go
With our highly mobile population, busy lifestyles and increasing desire for fresh and convenient food and drink, service stations are becoming as much about fuelling people as they are about fuelling vehicles. We also make multitasking easier, by grabbing lunch and extra grocery items for later, saving you yet another trip to the supermarket.
But at the heart of it all sits one key beverage that us Kiwis are very particular about. “A lot of people design their mission around where they’re going to grab that cup of coffee,” explains Z’s Head of Retail, Tim Bailey, “So we’ve got professionally trained baristas with our distinctive orange group handle coffee machines across New Zealand – and our coffee business has grown really well off the back of that.”
Another shift is the introduction of more EV charging stations at select Z sites, which means some customers are likely to spend more time at stores while they plug in. The light, bright contemporary feel of the new design is also helping to make the environment inviting and enjoyable for staff and customers alike.
Smooth transitions
In order to streamline the customer experience, layout and logistics have been key considerations in the renovations. Designated zones within the store help people home in on exactly what they’re after, and food takes centre stage with a more prominent display for the array of sandwiches, salads, slices and sweet treats on offer. Preparation areas have also been expanded so staff can whip up treats with ease.
Following best-practice
Transforming several of our sites has been a massive multi-year project, so before work even began we looked beyond our shores to identify best practice. “A good market for us to look at overseas is the Irish market,” explains Tim. “They have a similar population to us and it’s a piece of work that they’ve done really well, in the way their convenience model is working.”
In terms of getting the refit right we checked out businesses closer to home. “We looked at other retailers that had done this well in the last couple of years and how they’d gone about it.”
Tim continues, “The challenge has been getting the programme working at scale across the country, but the team has found a really good rhythm now.” Meanwhile, the positive results are already evident. “As we’ve rolled out more of these sites, we’ve had more of our customers head in-store which has been really great to see”.
Fit for the future
As customer habits continue to evolve, Z is prepared for what comes next. “We’ve made sure that the spaces are fit for us to grow the offer as well,” adds Tim. “We’ve used a modular design so we can put it in pieces and take them out – things like making sure you’d have space to put in different oven capacity if you need to and so on."
“We’re thinking about where we want to be in New Zealand going forward and making sure we’ve got the right sites, the right stores, the right look and feel, and that we can provide quality and convenience. We’re getting the work done now.”