Merger Plans Revealed: ARA and NRA Merger in Progress

The merger of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) kicked off today with the reveal of the name of the new peak retail body.

The proposed entity will be known as the Australian Retail Council (ARC), with both current peak bodies aiming to complete the transition by the end of the 2025 financial year, following ratification by the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

The ARA and NRA are jointly recruiting a CEO to lead the proposed organization, with an announcement expected later this year.

A transition board comprised of 50:50 ARA and NRA members will manage this transition period.

The ARA and NRA will seek member endorsement for the new entity at this year’s Annual General Meetings, with a formal vote in 2025.

ARA President Nicole Sheffield said the proposed merger would provide a number of additional benefits to retailers.

“With the combined strength of both retail bodies, the Australian Retail Council will offer a one-stop shop for Australian retailers, providing a stronger unified voice for the industry, greater advocacy for retailers of all sizes and the combined services of ARA and the NRA,” Sheffield said.

“It makes perfect sense to create a voice in retail and combine our strengths to support the growth of this vital sector that employs one in ten Australians and generates $430 billion annually.”

Sheffield added that the outcome will strengthen advocacy and advice to government across the country.

“The ARA and NRA have already come together on key issues including retail crime, election priorities and workplace relations. We hope to improve the offering for the retail sector in 2025.”

NRA President Tim Schaafsma said the combined strengths of the two organizations will elevate the sector’s impact for the benefit of all Australians.

“Retail contributes enormously to the economic success and social well-being of our country, and a strong retail sector is in the interests of all Australians,” Schaafsma said.

“Our two organizations are aligned in focus and we join together in the spirit of doing what is best for our retail community.

“There is great strength in numbers and we are confident that our members and the industry as a whole will appreciate and embrace this progression towards a unified voice for retail.”

The ARA and NRA have also proposed that membership prices will be guaranteed for existing members until January 2026.