Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

While North America’s largest c-store retailer begins building hundreds of food-focused stores, it’s also making more immediate changes to its menu. 7-Eleven appears to be going all-in on foodservice this year. It’s building out its commissary network across the U.S. to make more proprietary prepared foods, has set ambitious growth goals for its delivery arm and, most notably, is building hundreds of larger, food-focused c-stores. Amid its broader focus on food, 7-Eleven keeps rolling out new products, which are appearing on menus at its proprietary QSRs, including Speedy’s Cafe, Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits, and Laredo Taco Company; as expansions to its private label line; or through cross-promotional brand partnerships. So far in 2025, the company has employed all three of these launch tactics. Below are several products 7-Eleven has already announced this year as it looks to boost its foodservice reputation. Laredo Taco’s chicken fajita burrito 7-Eleven has introduced a new chicken…

This new flagship service station marks a milestone in Circle K’s eMobility journey with 26 Ultra-Fast charging points and customer-inspired design.  Located southwest of Stockholm in Sweden, Circle K has unveiled its newest flagship service station in Järna, marking a significant milestone in the company’s eMobility journey. Spanning 30,000 square meters and featuring 26 ultra-fast charging points for light and heavy vehicles, the station is Circle K’s largest EV charging location worldwide. And, we’re delighted to reveal that Järna will be one of Circle K’s candidates for our ‘Best EV Hub in the World‘ 2025 competition, sponsored by Vontier and Visa. Hans-Olav Høidahl, EVP European Operations and Global eMobility, commented on the milestone: “Our customers are at the heart of our eMobility journey at Circle K. Our newest location in Järna represents our commitment to making our customers’ EV journey as easy and convenient as possible, offering not only a charging opportunity…

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…

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…

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…

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…