Posts by theo@aacs.org.au
TREASURY WARNED CHALMERS TOBACCO TAX HIKE WOULD FUEL BLACK MARKET
Treasury warned Jim Chalmers the government’s 2023 decision to ramp up tobacco excise would fuel trade in the black market, and that the high cost of legally purchased cigarettes was one of the factors driving a decline in tax revenue. Dr Chalmers announced in May 2023 that the federal government would increase excises by a further 5 per cent per year on top of the normal indexation for three years. This pushed the cost of a pack of 25 cigarettes to about $50 dollars – $34 of which goes to the government. With tobacco excise rates up 282 per cent since 2013, Treasury also admitted the high cost of legally purchased cigarettes was driving a fall in tax revenue. Treasury advice prepared alongside the measure warned the tax rise could have perverse outcomes, despite smoking remaining the leading cause of preventable death in Australia, according to documents released under freedom of information…
Read MoreREPSOL INTERVIEW: ALICIA CRUZADO LOPEZ ON REDEFINING THE SERVICE STATION EXPERIENCE IN SPAIN
Repsol, the Spanish multi-national energy company headquartered in Madrid, is transforming its service stations as a result of the energy transition and digitalisation and aims to outpace the competition in both convenience and mobility. “They are becoming multi-energy centres that offer a wide range of solutions for mobility and consumption of our customers, from renewable fuels and electric charging to the collection points for online purchases,” states Alicia Cruzado Lopez, senior manager Repsol. “Our service stations are incorporating, not only new types of energy and biofuels, but a range of products and services that often don’t have anything to do with our traditional business,” she says. These respond to changing driver behaviours and trends. The improvement in the efficiency of combustion engines has reduced the consumption of fuels, for example; while electric vehicles can now also be charged at home, work, shopping malls, and other public spaces. The result is that…
Read MoreINSTACART’S SMART TROLLEYS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT COLES SUPERMARKETS IN AUSTRALIA
Coles Supermarkets is the first retailer in the Asia Pacific region to deploy Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart trolleys. SAN FRANCISCO and MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, and Coles Supermarkets (ASX: COL), one of Australia’s leading retailers, today announced the rollout of Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart trolleys, at its Richmond Traders location in Melbourne. Customers can now shop smarter, bag as they shop, and pay directly on the Coles Smart Trolley for a seamless in-store shopping experience. Customers can find the new Coles Smart Trolleys at the front entrance of the Coles Richmond Traders supermarket. Caper Carts are equipped with AI, cameras, and a built-in scale, which work together to automatically recognize items as they are added to the trolley. Caper Carts enable customers to bag as they shop and watch their running total – similar to an online shopping experience. At the end of their shopping, customers can conveniently checkout directly…
Read More2025 BEST STORE DESIGN AWARDS: CHESTNUT MARKET
Chestnut Market’s “The Hutch” store design pairs high-tech amenities with historic charm. CStore Decisions is recognizing Chestnut Market for its revamped location at North Street and Hutchinson River Parkway in New York, known as “The Hutch,” which debuted a clean and spacious upscale design in February 2024. The new design wows with a glass-front exterior, high ceilings and an emphasis on convenience and accessibility. The c-store’s historic charm combined with a tech-forward modern experience further stands out in today’s c-store landscape. “We initially operated this store from 2011 to 2022, building a strong connection with the community and a loyal customer base,” noted Matt Hagquist, chief financial officer, Chestnut Market, which operates 75 stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. “When the lease for the location came up for bid with the New York Department of Transportation, we saw an opportunity to continue serving our valued customers. We submitted…
Read MoreFUTURE OF FEDERAL EV CHARGING NETWORK PLAN UP IN THE AIR
States are instructed not to incur new financial obligations until updated guidance is issued. WASHINGTON, D.C. — The future of federally funded electric vehicle (EV) charging is in question after the Trump Administration moved to halt the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, instructing states not to spend their previously allocated funding. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent a Feb. 6 letter to state transportation directors stating it was suspending approval of annual implementation plans that states previously submitted for fiscal years 2022-2025, reported Politico. “Effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new state plans are submitted and approved,” wrote Emily Biondi, FHWA’s associate administrator for planning, environment and realty. The letter added that states will be able to receive reimbursements for existing obligations to design and build charging stations. FHWA stated it…
Read MoreMERCHANT FEES SKYROCKET TO RECORD HIGHS AFTER RBA DATA REFRESH
Card fees hit record levels, but industry says they are driving costs down. Official data on the average cost of merchant fees on debit and credit card transactions just went through the roof, directly contradicting recent industry claims that card fees are getting cheaper for small businesses. In fact, the new Reserve Bank of Australia data for debit card fees shows eftpos fees jumped 33.3% on last quarter. Visa and Mastercard jumped too. Visa was up 6.1% and Mastercard was up 7.7%. The new data is based on expanded coverage to directly include larger payment facilitators and additional acquirers most likely to be international players and fintechs, many of whom have recently increased market share and often charge high blended rates that combine debit and credit card fees. The fee surge comes in the midst of the RBA’s Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging, which is considering “whether regulatory…
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