Posts by theo.foukkare@bigpond.com

EV charging is one of bp’s core businesses in the journey to becoming an integrated energy company. The head of bp pulse, Richard Bartlett, explains why we’re focusing on scale, speed and real estate to meet the needs of current and future customers. How does scaling up EV charging help the world get to net zero and why does it play such a big role in bp’s transformation plans? Around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transport sector globally1. Electric vehicles don’t produce any tailpipe emissions. That gives you some idea of the opportunity here. We’re providing the infrastructure needed for charging across multiple vehicle classes – passenger cars, fleets, and trucks. The amount of energy we’ll ‘charge’ into vehicles is expected to increase more than a hundred times from 2021 to 2030. This is a big ambition. bp is transforming into an integrated energy company. Key…

Dive Brief: Dive Insight: Couche-Tard wanted the virtual store to be as realistic as possible during its development and based its layout on the actual format of a Circle K at Danforth and Pape Avenues in Toronto, the spokesperson said. Couche-Tard provided TMU with this store’s layouts, planograms, promotional signage, fixtures, branding and product categories to get the details right in the digital replica. Inside the virtual store, students will see national brands such as Red Bull and Coca-Cola on shelves, as well as Circle K’s private label brand and a variety of snacks, beverages and candy. “Everything was designed to look as close as possible to what consumers see in a Circle K store,” the spokesperson said. The simulation lets students view the store, its layout and its products, as well as answer questions via on-screen prompts and complete various tasks, such as grabbing items off the shelves and…

The retailer has also released a merchandise collection in honor of the update. IRVING, Texas—7-Eleven announced an update to its Slurpee frozen drink as part of the retailer’s new “Anything Flows” campaign. The beverage’s latest look was inspired by insights from the brand’s proprietary customer research panel, “The Brainfreeze Collective,” which is made up of over 250,000 members who discuss ideas, opinions and experiences about 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores. Created from the idea that no matter what your flow is, Slurpee drinks have a flavor to match. The new “Anything Flows” campaign features a refreshed look and feel and omnichannel campaign, including new TV spots, social and paid media campaigns and two new designs for the small and large stay cold Slurpee drink cups. The brand has also introduced a custom capsule collection in honor of the new Slurpee, including bucket hats, Slurpee drink-shaped pool floats and “Anything Flows”…

C-store swipe fees have increased a staggering 82% between 2020 and 2022. WASHINGTON–The Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC) welcomed a new estimate showing that passage of the Credit Card Competition Act would save merchants and their customers at least $15 billion a year. NACS is a founding member of MPC. “As swipe fees go up each year, the amount that would be saved by bringing competition to these out-of-control fees goes up with it,” said Doug Kantor, NACS general counsel and MPC executive committee member, in a statement. “We have the highest swipe fees in the industrialized world, and the amount of relief that could be provided to small businesses and consumers struggling to cope with still-high inflation is enormous. All Congress has to do is tell the card networks and megabanks ‘enough is enough.’” Payments consulting firm CMSPI estimated last year that the Credit Card Competition Act would save merchants and consumers at…

ARLINGTON, VA. — Rising grocery store prices continue to be a major hurdle for consumers in 2023 as more than two-thirds of shoppers report they are spending more on groceries than one year ago, according to recent data from FMI – The Food Industry Association. The association’s 2023 US Grocery Shopper Trends report also found increased food costs have become consumers’ primary concern, now ranking above gas, clothing, housing and restaurant prices.Among shoppers who expressed concern about grocery prices, 94% said they have changed their spending habits as a result. While prices were unlikely to cause a consumer to shift entirely out of a product category, nearly 70% of consumers reported changing their meal plans or choosing an alternative item in response to increased product prices. Just over 60% of consumers also cited comparison shopping, either online or in-person, as a popular method to get their preferred products as expenses…

Australia’s AGL Energy (AGL.AX) said on Thursday it had signed a three-year deal with energy giant BP (BP.L) to provide easier access to electric vehicle charging points for users in New South Wales, in a bid to switch towards green energy. Under the deal, the company and BP Pulse, the electric vehicle charging business of the London-based firm, will initially offer customers in New South Wales discounted charging rates and ultra-fast chargers when they sign up for AGL’s existing ‘Electric Vehicle at-home programme’. AGL said in a statement that the agreement to develop products and services for accessible charging points would help reduce range anxiety, a common fear among EV drivers. Shares of the country’s top power producer fell 0.8% after rising about 0.1% in early trade, while BP had ended 3.7% down on Wednesday. AGL also said that as a part of the agreement, both parties would look to…