Internet service aims to drive down meat prices

A smart new internet service aimed at driving down food costs for Kiwi families is set to start operations by mid May.

Bulk Meat Buys (www.bulkmeatbuys.co.nz) will work in a similar way to the currently popular one day deal sites. The big difference is that it will provide regular offers on standard food lines that almost everyone needs and buys regularly.

Each week participating meat retailers will create and list one or more bulk offers of their choice. These offers will be promoted in a weekly email to registered users of the site who will then be encouraged to use their collective buying power to drive down the listed price.

Where the final price is concerned there will always be a ‘bottom line’ the site's developers say but, they claim, some of minimums will be "tough to tangle with.”

The initial focus will be on the Auckland market but the system will be opened to other meat retailers across the country as soon as possible.

"We're sure a few system tweaks will be required in the early stages but already we're receiving a steady roll of registrations from almost all areas of Auckland," says Peter Barclay, of developers Iclay Media.

“Currently we’re seeing an almost 90% sign up rate,” he said. “We believe there’s widespread general concern about rising food prices. Although we are receiving signups from all age ranges there is particular interest from families of four or more. Families with young teens seem to be the hardest hit.”

The site will offer product from selected retailers located close to its customer database although users will be free to buy across the city from other participating retailers if they wish. It will operate on a “deal direct” basis with orders being placed over the internet and customers collecting their purchases personally from the retailers involved.

There will be a strict time limit on the offers presented and registered users will be able to see how many other watchers are following a particular offer. The incentive therefore will not only be to tell others but also to commit to an offer before too many arrive to ‘steal’ the deal.

For more details and registration information go to: www.bulkmeatbuys.co.nz

ENDS

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