Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

The European Commission gives final, unconditional approval for merger, paving the way to unite two iconic snacking businesses on December 11, 2025. McLean, Virginia, and Chicago, Illinois (December 8, 2025) – Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food and Kellanova (NYSE: K), a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles and North America frozen foods, today announced that Mars has received unconditional approval from the European Commission for its pending acquisition of Kellanova. As a result, all required regulatory approvals and clearances for the pending transaction have been obtained. Mars and Kellanova anticipate closing the pending transaction on December 11, 2025, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. Upon close, Kellanova’s portfolio of snacking brands, which includes Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Pop-Tarts®, Rice Krispies Treats®, RXBAR® and Kellogg’s international cereal brands, will join the existing Mars Snacking portfolio, which includes beloved brands like…

Duracell E-Charge has officially launched its first UK charging location at Bath Terrace Car Park in Cheltenham. The new site brings ultra-rapid EV charging to one of the region’s busiest town centres, giving drivers fast, reliable charging with a trusted household name behind it. The Bath Terrace site features ten ultra-rapid (300 kW) charging bays, getting drivers to more than 80% power in less 30 minutes. The location has been designed with convenience in mind. Bath Terrace sits moments from Sandford Park and Cheltenham Town FC, and just a short walk from The Brewery Quarter. It’s surrounded by local shops, cafés, pubs, and everyday essentials, which means drivers can make the most of their time while charging. Duracell E-Charge drivers benefit from free parking while charging for up to one hour. Standard tariffs apply once the charging session ends. The EV Network developed and delivered the site, continuing its strategy…

“The acceleration of acceleration” is how Brian Gray, managing director, Accenture, described the technology landscape during Day 1 of the NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium, happening now in Dallas. AI is transforming what’s feasible for even a single-store operator and quantum computing is looming. That means operators can look to tech for loss prevention solutions that would have seemed like sci-fi just a few years ago. Gray focused on six specific areas where tech is rapidly changing loss prevention. Even if retailers aren’t using any of them now, they might be accessible in the near future. After that, they might be expected by customers and staff alike. AI surveillance and computer vision. Using existing cameras, AI can spot everything from safety violations to shoplifting to potential spill-and-slips in real-time and send alerts immediately. Real-time alerting and predictive analytics. Real-time alerting can be applied to everything from unusual flow rates…

SMALL BUSINESSES RENEWAL ACCELERATES AS OWNERS EMBRACE GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the WA Government’s introduction of the Retail Barring Orders Bill 2025 (RBOs) — a significant milestone in efforts to combat repeat retail crime and strengthen safety across the sector. The new laws will allow police and retailers to issue immediate barring orders to violent, aggressive or abusive offenders, preventing them from entering shops, shopping centres or retail precincts for up to 24 months. Around 60% of retail crime is committed by just 10% of offenders according to Auror research, highlighting the importance of targeted measures to deal with high-harm individuals. This measure reflects long-standing advocacy from the ARA and NRA and shows the WA Government is responding to industry concerns about repeat offenders and retail safety. ARA CEO Chris Rodwell says the Bill represents an important evolution in the State’s retail crime response and builds on the tougher penalties…