Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

When FIFA’s World Cup branding restrictions required some of the world’s most recognizable logos to be covered up, an unexpected lesson emerged. The brands that remained instantly identifiable without them demonstrated that true brand equity isn’t built on visibility but years of trust, recognition and meaning. The atmosphere was electric. But some of the tournament’s most interesting moments were happening beyond the pitch. FIFA’s ‘clean stadium’ rules were designed to protect official sponsors’ visibility by covering or removing everyone else’s branding. In doing so, they inadvertently created a fascinating experiment: what happens when a brand’s most visible asset disappears? The answer revealed a fundamental difference between visibility and value. Beyond the logo Heinz turned the tape covering its iconic ketchup bottles into the activation itself. Levi’s concealed its wordmark while leaving the unmistakable silhouette of its batwing intact. Gillette covered its logo with shaving foam. Each execution was inventive, but…

We are proud to announce that entries are now open for the ‘Best Foodvenience Store in the World’ 2026 competition. Now firmly established as one of convenience retail’s leading global recognition programmes, the competition celebrates excellence and innovation in foodvenience through the combination of customer experience, operational excellence and commercial performance. More than an awards programme, it has become a global platform for industry learning, showcasing the world’s most inspiring examples of convenience retail and foodservice innovation. Co-hosted by Insight Research and NACS, with knowledge partner The Moseley Group and sponsor Deliverect, the competition is free to enter and open to retailers worldwide. Why enter? By entering Best Foodvenience Store in the World 2026, you’ll have the opportunity to: HOW TO ENTER The competition continues to operate as a fully online programme, with no entry fees or geographical restrictions, making it accessible to retailers of every size and market. Every…

Auror Subject Recognition was recognized at NRF Protect 2026 by the Loss Prevention Research Council, and voted on by retailers, for its responsible approach to facial recognition technology. As Auror co-founder and CTO James Corbett put it: “We built Auror Subject Recognition on the belief that facial recognition for retail settings can be designed and used responsibly.” Built with a human in the loop at every key decision, Subject Recognition alerts store teams to serious known offenders and is purpose-built for retail crime prevention only.READ MORE

Viva Energy Australia’s new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tank at Pinkenba Terminal was officially launched today by Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetski, marking an important development in Australia’s journey towards a lower-emission aviation sector. The Treasurer was joined at the launch by local Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls MP, alongside Viva Energy Chairman Sarah Ryan and CEO Scott Wyatt, at our Pinkenba Terminal in Brisbane. The dedicated tank will allow SAF to be stored, blended, tested and supplied directly into Brisbane Airport’s existing fuel system, helping put the infrastructure in place to support greater use of lower-emissions aviation fuel in Australia. SAF can be made from waste-based feedstocks such as used cooking oil and is a drop-in solution, meaning it can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft and airport fuel infrastructure without requiring changes to engines or supply systems. With this new…

A fresh take on protein: lighter, brighter, and genuinely different. True Protein, one of Australia’s leading natural supplement brands, is launching its new fruit-flavoured protein bar range, a bold departure from the dense, chocolate-heavy bars that have long defined the category. Built on the same wholefood formula behind True Protein’s original bar, which has earned more than 1,500 five-star reviews, the new range brings a lighter, fruit-first sensibility to high-performance snacking. The result is a bar that tastes like it belongs in the fresh produce aisle, not the supplement shelf. “Protein bars have become predictable,” said Lachlan Cornwell, COO at True Protein. “We wanted to create something lighter, satisfying and different. The most common reaction from people trying these for the first time is: ‘This doesn’t taste like a protein bar.’ That’s exactly what we were going for.” Wholefood ingredients, without compromise Like the original, the new fruit-flavoured bars are…