Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

Restricting the sale of energy drinks for under 16-year-olds is a quick headline that does not reflect the long-standing evidence and effective local regulatory arrangements designed to inform Australians. In Australia, energy drinks are strictly regulated under Standard 2.6.4 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Code sets a maximum caffeine level of 80mg per 250mL – comparable to a cup of instant coffee made with one teaspoon of coffee. The mandatory labelling requirements include an advisory statement that the product is not recommended for children, as well as a declaration that the product contains caffeine. Following its comprehensive Caffeine Review, published in March 2026, “FSANZ has not identified a risk that would necessitate amending the requirements for FCBs” (formulated caffeinated beverages or “energy drinks”). Instead, the review introduced new controls for other caffeine-containing products, while leaving existing permissions for energy drinks unchanged. The 2023/24 ABS Apparent Consumption Data shows that the average per capita daily intake of energy drinks was just 13.1mL, representing 3.4 per cent of total consumption across the non-alcoholic beverages…

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Tatsuo Odani) will launch the Next FamilyMart Project in 2026, the year of its 45th anniversary, as an initiative to explore the potential of the “next convenience store.” The company will also launch FAMIMA to bring this project to life, taking on the challenge of creating a new convenience store experience unconstrained by the conventional framework of convenience stores. As a symbol of this initiative, FamilyMart’s first flagship store, FAMIMA PARK AZABUDAI, will open on Friday, July 10, 2026. Launch of the Next FamilyMart Project: Introducing FAMIMA, Bringing the “Next Convenience Store” to Life FamilyMart will launch the Next FamilyMart Project as an initiative to explore new possibilities for convenience stores and evolve their value. While continuing to pursue customer convenience and efficiency, the project focuses on creating an exciting shopping experience where customers can encounter new discoveries and…

Maggie’s—a reimagined convenience-store concept created by Alex Canter—has nailed down the location for its first store. The c-store will open in 2027 in the Union 76 gas station at the corner of Crescent Drive and Little Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, Canter told CSP Daily News on Tuesday.   The site is an icon of midcentury modern architecture, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. It has a hugely swooping, curved canopy reminiscent of a giant spaceship. Canter said they looked at many locations across Southern California before landing on the iconic 76 gas station. They plan to keep the 76 fuel brand after they open a Maggie’s convenience store on-site, he said. “We couldn’t be happier to be bringing Maggie’s to life in such a special location,” Canter (pictured below) said.  In addition to being the CEO and founder of Maggie’s Refuel Inc., Canter is a fourth-generation family member of L.A.’s iconic Canter’s Deli,…

Everyday heroes celebrated at APCO stores across Victoria, Tuesday 21st July Mark your calendars. On Tuesday 21st July 2026, all APCO Service Station stores will celebrate the fourth annual APCO Foundation Kindness Day. This year’s theme is Everyday Heroes, a celebration of the real people who show up for their communities when it matters most, with the Foundation aiming to raise $250,000 across Kindness Month with every in-store donation doubled by generous matching partners. On Kindness Day, every APCO store will be buzzing, with teams dressing up and each store’s Wall of Everyday Heroes on display, filled with the names of local heroes chosen by customers throughout July. A mum. A neighbour. A nurse. A coach. Anyone who showed up when it mattered. Behind the celebration is a simple mission. The APCO Foundation gives fast, practical financial support to individuals and families facing crisis. “While others take weeks or months…

From humble beginnings in April 1976, Accredited Distributors has grown into the FMCG company that has delivered great brands across Victoria and New South Wales for half a century. The company marked its golden anniversary in style, combining its 2026 Trade Show with a Gala evening celebrating 50 years of success, strong partnerships, and lasting friendships. Founded by father and son Terry and Vic Booth, the business was built on hard work, strong relationships, integrity, and service. What began as a medium-sized wholesaler has developed into one of Australia’s leading distributors in the impulse channel, today generating annual sales of approximately $180 million and employing more than 200 talented people. The company’s journey has seen several milestones along the way. In 1995 Terry Booth sold the business to overseas investors and stayed on to run it; Craig joined the team in 1998, and in July 2005 Stuart Hobbs and Quantum…

Breakfast is fast becoming the most contested timeslot in Australian quick service restaurants, with new data showing incidence across the category climbing sharply just as KFC, long the industry’s number two by market share without a breakfast offer, confirms it is preparing to move into the daypart. New tracking from Fonto, covering 22 major QSR brands, shows breakfast incidence has risen from under 5% to more than 8% in the 12 months to June 2026. The jump reflects a market where saturation and aggressive expansion targets have pushed operators to look beyond their traditional dayparts for growth. For years, McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s had the breakfast timeslot largely to themselves, as rivals either chased growth elsewhere or found their kitchens and operating models poorly suited to a breakfast menu. That is now changing rapidly. Guzman y Gomez’s push into breakfast has been one of the more visible examples of this…