Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

Today marks a very special milestone for us as we celebrate 10 years since Convenience Measures Australia #CMA was established. When Corinne and Brett started the business a decade ago, they simply hoped to build something sustainable while making a positive difference to the Convenience Channel. In those early days, CMA operated from the family dining table, which was cleared for meals and then transformed back into a workspace where much of the work was completed manually together. While Brett was working in the business full-time, Corinne’s unwavering support and contribution behind the scenes were instrumental from day one. Over the years, we have evolved significantly. Better processes, technology, and automation now allow us to deliver insights faster and focus more of our energy on helping strengthen the channel we are passionate about supporting. This milestone would not have been possible without the many people who have been part of…

Today we announced a partnership that has been generations in the making. Cadbury is now a Foundation Major Partner and back-of-guernsey partner of the Tasmania Football Club’s women’s and men’s teams through to 2030. It’s especially meaningful given our history in Tasmania. Our Claremont manufacturing site opened over a century ago and our strong connections with the local dairy farms span generations, supplying the quality ingredients behind the smooth and creamy taste of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate. Sport has a powerful way of bringing people and communities together and that spirit of generosity and connection sits at the heart of Cadbury. That belief sits behind our partnerships with the Wallabies and Wallaroos, the Matildas, the Cadbury Marathon and Athletics Tasmania as well as our longstanding support of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams. The Tasmania Devils brings that commitment home to a place where Cadbury has deep roots. Excited for the…

The surge in EV sales has taken the total electric vehicle fleet in Australia to more than 650,000, according to the latest data, with even legacy car companies reporting a rapidly growing share of EV sales. Official data released earlier this week showed that Australians purchase 23,510 EVs ion July. This was described as a 21.7 per cent share by the main car body, the FCAI, but according to the Electric Vehicle Council it represented 22.3 per cent of all sales because its calculations do not include heavy commercial vehicles. The EVC says a further 10,359 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were also sold in July, lifting total electric plug in sales to 33,869 for the month – treble the 11,250 sold in July last year. EV CEO Julie Delvecchio said the slightly softer numbers, down from 23.5 per cent in June, were expected. “But the underlying trend remains clear: EV…

Today, Viva Energy Australia has completed a proof-of-concept project for the large-scale processing of soft plastics pyrolysis oil, with locally manufactured recycled polypropylene used to produce Nestlé KitKat wrappers. The launch event in Geelong brought together industry leaders, government representatives and project partners to explore the future of sustainable packaging in Australia. A panel discussion with Bill Patterson, Executive General Manager, Energy & Infrastructure, Viva Energy; Andrew Lawrey GAICD, General Manager, Confectionery & Snacks Oceania, Nestlé; Suzanne Toumbourou, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR); and Richard Smith, Business Development Expert Advisor, Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), highlighted the opportunities, challenges and policy settings needed to support local recycling capability and advanced manufacturing solutions for soft plastics. “Geelong Refinery is Australia’s only manufacturer of polypropylene and we have proven the use of soft plastics pyrolysis oil as a feedstock,” Bill Patterson said. “We have a highly skilled workforce and…

Kiwis could soon be able to make purchases using just their face, without the need for a card or phone. Eftpos New Zealand on Wednesday announced the launch of Verifone Victa, a new range of Android-based biometric payment terminals that will allow shoppers to pay with their faces or palms. The new hardware can also act as an age-verification tool, such as for stores that sell alcohol or tobacco, and integrate with retailer loyalty programs to automatically load up customers’ points. “The hardware is ready to support face and palm recognition at the point of sale, enabling cardless payments, seamless loyalty authentication, and age verification without physical ID,” Eftpos New Zealand said. “The infrastructure to support this functionality is not yet available in New Zealand, but while biometric-enabled payments may be the payments of tomorrow, Victa is ready today.” The new hardware can also act as an age-verification tool. Picture: Getty Images…

7-Eleven Australia has teamed with Mattel to bring the global 7-Eleven x Hot Wheels collaboration to the country for the first time. The collectible, a 2017 Nissan GT-R (R35), will be available in 7-Eleven stores nationwide from Friday, August 7th, while stocks last. It features 7-Eleven’s logo emblazoned on the hood and sides, a livery designed to appeal to car enthusiasts and collectors alike. Rob Kirby, Head of Category at 7-Eleven Australia, said this marks a big step in expanding its toys and collectibles offering, and it’s a milestone moment for the category at 7-Eleven. “We saw just how many customers globally loved the first release out of the United States, and we can’t wait to see local collectors racing in to get their hands on this exclusive 2017 Nissan GT-R (R35). “Car culture is important to a large number of our customers; this is all about giving these fans…