Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

Valora, Reitan and Circle K were recognized at the NACS Convenience Summit Europe for industry excellence, sustainability and technology. Yesterday during a ceremony at the 2025 NACS Convenience Summit Europe, taking place this week, May 26-28, in Copenhagen, Denmark, NACS awarded European retailers for standing out in the industry and showcasing innovative practices in the convenience retailing space. Avec Freiestrasse, an innovative convenience concept operated by Valora, has won the 2025 NACS Convenience Retailer of the Year Europe award. The award recognizes the store’s innovative “The Kitchen” food concept and its digital transformation. “The industry has seen impressive advancements in digital retail solutions, particularly with the growth of foodservice over the past two decades,” said NACS President and CEO Henry Armour. “Valora has shown an intelligent approach to combine manned and unmanned store operations while putting foodservice front and center to cater to a younger customer base that appreciates flexibility,…

Formula 1 and PepsiCo have announced a ground breaking multi-year agreement that will see PepsiCo become an Official Partner of the sport until 2030. The deal joins together the thrill of motorsport with some of the powerhouse products of the PepsiCo family, including Sting Energy, Gatorade, and Doritos. As part of the new agreement, PepsiCo will be prioritising the creation of meaningful fan engagement beyond just the race venues through exciting on-pack promotions, digital experiences, and unique content that will bring Formula 1 to an even wider audience. This partnership includes opportunities such as immersive brand experiences in Formula 1 Fan Zones and rights for limited edition, co-branded products. Sting Energy will join Formula 1 as its Official Energy Drink, while Gatorade will become the Official Partner of F1 Sprint, bringing its legacy of fuelling peak athletic performance to motorsport’s most dynamic format from Spa-Francorchamps later this year and continuing…

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) today announced the completion of a brand new, state-of-the-art canning line at its Queensland manufacturing facility, located in Richlands, Brisbane. Supported by a substantial $75 million investment, the line will be the largest and most efficient canning line in the CCEP network, capable of processing up to 120,000 cans per hour. This new line will significantly increase production capacity for Monster Energy Company products – including Monster and Mother brands – to meet surging consumer demand. It will also support production of other favourites such as Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta, which have been proudly manufactured in Australia for nearly 90 years. Orlando Rodriguez, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia, said: “We have a long history of manufacturing in Australia – nearly 90 years – and we continue to invest heavily in our operations. Richlands is our largest manufacturing site in our Australian network and now it is home to our most efficient and largest canning line to date in our global network, bolstering Queensland’s thriving manufacturing industry and supporting Aussie jobs. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology and world-class equipment, the new line will increase production efficiency, enabling faster and more sustainable delivery of our beverages for Australians to enjoy.” During the 18-month…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has welcomed new legislation proposed by the Queensland Government aimed at cracking down on the illegal tobacco and vape trade. The proposed laws include extending interim closure orders from three days to three months and introducing penalties for landlords who knowingly lease premises to illegal operators. The measures are designed to prevent traders from quickly resuming business after raids. Theo Foukkare, CEO of AACS, praised the state’s approach, saying that it was great to see law makers aren’t waiting for the issue to spiral further out of control.  “QLD Health Minister Tim Nicholls has listened, acted swiftly and continues to show strong leadership on tackling this national crisis which continues to impact responsible retailers and jeopardise the safety of communities right across the country.” Foukkare said the laws would “help put an end to the dodgy operators who get raided, have their illegal…

The New South Wales government intends to invest another $16.1 million into expanding the state’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with plans to install a further 246 fast and ultra-fast EV chargers. New EV chargers will be installed across 38 suburbs and towns (listed below) thanks to this latest round of grant funding, which will be boosted by over $25 million in private investment from the five successful grant recipients. The five grant recipients – BP, Energy Australia, Plus ES, Tesla, and NRMA – have committed to ensure that all new EV chargers backed by this latest round of grant funding will be powered by renewable energy. Each new EV charger will be capable of charging suitable EVs from 10 to 80 per cent in around 10 to 15 minutes, and many will reportedly be accessible for drivers with a disability or sited for pull-through charging bays to accommodate EVs…

The legislation will block current state-level mandates from taking effect. The Senate voted yesterday to overturn California’s ability to set its own tailpipe emissions standards, reported the Wall Street Journal. “The move nullifies a measure, enacted by the state in 2022 and later, adopted by 11 other states, banning the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035,” wrote the WSJ. The mandate was overturned in a 51-44 bipartisan vote, and it now will be sent to President Donald Trump who is expected to sign it. Because of the special procedures used by the House and Senate under the Congressional Review Act, their vote to disapprove the EV mandate will apply not only to existing regulations—but also to future regulations that are “substantially the same” as the California model. The Congressional Review Act will also make it very difficult to challenge Congress’s decision through litigation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) called the waiver “an…