Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) says the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase minimum and award wages by 4.75 per cent will add significant labour costs to a convenience sector already grappling with surging operating expenses, an escalating illicit tobacco trade eroding legitimate revenue, and some of the toughest trading conditions on record. AACS Chief Executive Officer Theo Foukkare said convenience retailers value their teams and support fair wages, but a decision of this magnitude cannot be considered in isolation — particularly when the sector’s own data shows labour costs have already risen much faster than inflation. “Convenience stores are the backbone of local communities — they open early, close late. Many are open around the clock — and we know our people are central to that,” Mr Foukkare said. “This decision lands on top of cost pressures that are already stretching operators to their limit. Our 2025…

Night ’n Day is set to expand its South Island presence through the transition of seven NPD convenience retail sites into the Night ’n Day network over time. The sites include:•    Redwood – Blenheim •    Lower Queen Street – Nelson •    Waimea – Nelson •    Rolleston – Christchurch •    Yaldhurst – Christchurch •    Moorhouse – Christchurch •    Frankton – Queenstown Founded in Dunedin in 1990, Night ’n Day has grown into one of New Zealand’s most recognised convenience retail brands, known for its strong foodservice offering, quality retail experiences, and locally operated stores, while NPD has built a similarly strong South Island reputation through high-quality sites, customer-focused retailing, and evolving foodservice offerings. Both businesses share deep South Island roots and a long-standing focus on locally driven convenience retail. Night ’n Day General Manager Matthew Lane said the transition represented a strong strategic fit between two businesses with aligned values and complementary strengths. “There are a lot…

As the convenience industry continues to evolve beyond its traditional fuel and tobacco roots, 7-Eleven Australia is positioning itself at the centre of a more digitally connected, food-focused and experience-driven future. In this week’s episode of The Future of Convenience podcast, Chief Commercial Officer Matt Keogh outlines an ambitious vision with host Dan Munford, recorded live in Sydney during the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) Annual Conference. “Convenience retail is evolving, our range is evolving to meet those needs,” said Keogh. “We have a quite aggressive expansion plan in place. So we’re looking to double our footprint by 2034, have more than 1000 stores by 2030.” Keogh detailed how the retailer is reshaping its offer to meet the demands of younger consumers while aggressively expanding its national footprint and digital capabilities. With more than 750 stores currently operating across Australia, the business is increasingly focused on becoming what Keogh described as…

The 2026 Best Foodvenience Store in the World competition kicks off in July. AACS will be helping NACS & Insight Research drive the competition in Australian with our CEO Theo Foukkare once again serving as a Judge. Here NACS CEO & President Frank Gleeson explains the ethos behind the competition. The 2026 search for entries begins in July and we will see the winner announced on November 12th. Now firmly established as one of the convenience retail industry’s leading global recognition platforms, the competition celebrates excellence and innovation in foodvenience through a unique combination of customer experience, operational excellence, and commercial performance. The search for the 2026 ‘Best Foodvenience Store in the World’ winner will be the third event since it was founded in 2024. Previous winners include Applegreen in Ireland and Rutter’s in the USA. Henry Armour | Mark Wohltmann | Carolyn Schnare | Dan Munford | Zan Lewarn…