Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

I was holding something small in my hand when it hit me. Last Friday, I sat in a conference room in Warsaw with members of Żabka Group’s technology leadership team, the group that sits under what the company calls its New Growth Engines, or NGEs, segment. The meeting was organized by Dan Munford, CEO, Insight Research and Global Convenience, and the room included Christian Warning, Managing Partner at The Retail Marketeers, along with peers from Adnoc, Shell, and SPAR, all of us getting an inside look at how one of the fastest-growing convenience retailers in the world thinks about its next phase. Midway through the meeting, Paweł Jarodźski pulled out his phone, mirrored it on the screen behind him, and started playing a game called “Ninja Hero.” Then he handed me the controller: a tiny, green, circuit-covered disc shaped like a bottle cap, the kind you’d clip to a keychain.…

Distinguished Melbourne Greek Australian businessman Andreas Andrianopoulos has been honoured by BP with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his outstanding career, lifetime accomplishments and more than five decades of partnership with the global energy company. The award was presented during an emotional ceremony in London, marking the culmination of an extraordinary business journey that began in 1970 when Andrianopoulos opened his first BP service station in Collingwood, Melbourne. What started as a small family business has since grown into one of BP Australia’s largest retail partnerships, with the Andrianopoulos family now owning and operating 55 BP service stations across Victoria. In its tribute, BP praised Andrianopoulos’s vision, integrity and unwavering commitment to customers and business partners, describing him as a role model within the industry. “Andreas and his family are a shining example of what a migrant can achieve in Australia,” the company said, expressing pride in a partnership that…

Ampol’s acquisition of EG Australia has formally completed, marking a significant step forward in strengthening Ampol’s position as a leading Australian transport energy provider. With a demonstrated capability of powering better journeys for customers, Ampol is now uniquely placed to leverage its position as a known and trusted brand to approximately 1,100 company-owned and operated sites nationally. The acquisition will provide customers with greater choice through the expansion of the Ampol Foodary convenience retail network, accelerated roll out of the value-oriented U-GO format, while providing Ampol greater flexibility to tailor its offering by location and expand the Woolworths Everyday Rewards program. Ampol’s convenient pay-at-the-pump U-GO network will increase from 46 sites to 170 over the next two years. U-GO is currently available in every Australian state and offers customers a quick and affordable way to refuel. CEO and Managing Director, Matt Halliday reiterated the acquisition was a logical and strategically…

Across markets as diverse as California, Finland, South Africa, Malaysia, and US, quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are becoming a more prominent feature of the fuel retail landscape. What was once viewed as an ancillary revenue stream is increasingly ecoming a core component of site strategy. I looked at Kalibrate’s recent market studies to quantify that growth. For context, the earlier waves below were conducted 2021-2022, the later waves range from 2024 to 2026. Every surveyed market experienced growth in QSR penetration, with some seeing dramatic increases. Gauteng recorded the largest jump, with more than half of surveyed fuel sites now featuring a QSR offer. Central Malaysia saw nearly a ten-point increase, while Finland experienced one of the fastest rates of growth despite traditionally lower levels of foodservice integration. The consistency of these trends across very different markets suggests something important: this is not a regional phenomenon. It is a structural shift…

Today marks a huge milestone for APCO as we officially open the doors to our 30th store – APCO White Hills ! We couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our customers, team members, suppliers, and local communities along the way. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate our opening day. The support from the Bendigo community was incredible, and seeing so many people through our doors made this milestone even more special! APCO White Hills is now open!