Don't let IGA lose its way with addictive poker machine revenue

It's been reported that Metcash the grocery wholesaler that operates grocery chain IGA, is on the brink of making a deal that would see it buying up pubs and profiting from dangerous and addictive poker machine revenue.^[1]

This development is an attempt to better compete with grocery giants Coles and Woolworths, who together own and operate more poker machines than the top five Las Vegas casinos. Let's show IGA that we appreciate them for not owning harmful pokie machines - that we want them to stick to what they do best as an independent supermarket chain: serving their community.

As their executives sit down over the next few days to consider what to do next we have the power to show them that the community will back businesses that do the right thing by the community. Let's encourage IGA to keep up the good work by demonstrating that integrity goes further in attracting a loyal customer base than making an easy buck from addicted gamblers at high loss poker machines.

Will you add your name to our message of support for IGA to continue to do the right thing? http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/pokies-reform/iga/dont-profit-from-problem-gambling

Since learning about the significant profits Coles and Woolworths reap from society's most vulnerable, we've received an outpouring of emails and calls from GetUp members letting us know about their decisions to shop for their family's groceries at their local independent grocer, because they serve their community and refuse to profit from the pain of problem gambling.

One member wrote of her decision to take her business elsewhere: "The reward in making my stance is a great feeling... and happily knowing that around $100 a week of mine is being lost to their coffers and now goes to a more principled and more ethical competitor!"

Add your name to the message so IGA knows they have our support and they shouldn't compromise their values for an easy dollar:

http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/pokies-reform/iga/dont-profit-from-problem-gambling

Oftentimes doing the right thing is also what's best for the bottom line. In this case, the bottom line is that people like GetUp member Karen, whose husband took his life because of his losses at dangerous machines owned by Woolworths, need the option of grocery shopping at a business that doesn't have blood on it hands.

We can show Metcash that good business means making good decisions. IGA's real competitive value lies in its reputation as a family-friendly alternative for shoppers who care about community values.

Click here to send a message to IGA, encouraging them to stay in the right.

Thanks for taking action,
The GetUp team.

PS - Coles (owned by Wesfarmers) has admitted that it doesn't consider its hotels a core business and is looking for a way to separate its hotels and poker machines from its liquor business. It is also believed that Coles is concerned about reputational damage caused by its ownership of high loss poker machines.^[2] There is no need for Metcash to own poker machines in order to be competitive with liquor sales, and we can encourage them to make the right decision: http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/pokies-reform/iga/dont-profit-from-problem-gambling

[1] 'Metcash takes on goliaths in a pub fight'. The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 July 2012.
[2] 'Independent supermarkets deal hand on low prices', Herald Sun, 9 July 2012.