David Jones defying retail downturn to open 7 new curated stores in Melbourne with BP

David Jones is set to open seven new stores in Melbourne by the end of the year in a positive move for retail at a time when many brands are struggling to survive. Here’s where the stores will be.

Ringwood's BP service station on Maroondah Highway now has a David Jones food store. Picture: Kiel Egging

David Jones is ramping up its food partnership with BP, tripling the number of sites which will host the gourmet convenience offer.

David Jones and BP will roll out 21 new co-branded service stations and minimarts by the end of the year, taking the number of sites to 31.

Seven of the new stores will be opened in Melbourne in Merrifield, Clyde, Epping, Caroline Springs, Eltham, Greenvale and Kingsway.

The gourmet offer is already available in at Brighton, Brighton East, South Melbourne, Greensborough, Ringwood and Glen Waverley.

Some of the food on offer at BP Bayside. Picture: Supplied

BP has partnered with David Jones to open another seven small stores. Picture: Supplied

David Jones and BP launched their partnership in August last year.

The tie-up sees BP offer more than 350 David Jones products spanning “food-for-now” and “food-for-later”, including free-range rotisserie chickens, ready-made meals, gourmet deli items, sandwiches and a selection of long-life groceries.

The offer can also be purchased via Uber Eats.

David Jones food managing director Pieter de Wet said the partnership with BP was transforming the nation’s food offer at petrol stations.

“We have been delighted with the performance of our 10 trial stores in Victoria and New South Wales, and the feedback and response from our customers has been very positive,” he said on Thursday.

“We are excited about the next phase of the rollout and the opportunity to share our quality offering with even more customers in Victoria and New South Wales.”

The Uber Eats online delivery option reflected significant customer demand for the service.

“With Australian consumers forced to restrict their movements in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service has been welcomed by customers during this challenging period,” Mr de Wet said.

BP Australia's vice president of sales and marketing, Brooke Miller, with David Jones managing director of food, Pieter de Wet, in the David Jones food hall in Malvern. Picture: Aaron Francis

BP Australia sales and marketing vice president Brooke Miller said the David Jones offer had resonated with customers who lead busy lives and want easy access to healthy and delicious food.

“We are committed to delivering the best possible experience for our customers in welcoming,

convenient locations as we continue to expand this great offer,” she said.

“Our strategy to lead the transformation of convenience retailing in Australia is resonating with our customers who lead busy lives and want easy access to healthy and delicious food, alongside BP’s other high-quality products and fuel offers.”

Australia’s petrol stations are attracting growing investment as Coles, Woolworths and Caltex all move to provide a more premium offer to cash on the demand for convenience from time-poor shoppers.

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