Industry News

The joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran could drive up gas prices and broad-based inflation around the world, according to several reports. Any significant price increases, however, depend on how the conflict impacts the supply of oil from the region and how long it lasts. Oil prices rose sharply on Monday, following previous increases in response to the recent U.S. military build-up around Iran. The Brent Crude Oil index was up about 8% to start the week, to a little over $78 a barrel, according to data from Trading Economics. That compared to an average price of $69 per barrel in 2025. The price of oil can be a key driver of inflation because it is the foundation for much of the economy. The oil-price increase was blamed for stock market declines on Monday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite indices were all down…

AI is advancing fast. According to market research company Datassential, 63% of Americans use AI regularly, with higher usage among younger generations. One area where AI can enhance c-store operations is in the kitchen. Chefs across the foodservice industry are using AI for menu development, new recipe ideation and cuisine research and inspiration. While it’s a major opportunity, introducing AI creates some tension for foodservice professionals, who are evaluating how AI can help while struggling to preserve culinary creativity, authenticity and human touches. “We expect the most successful brands, including c-stores, to use AI as an enhancer of craft, not a replacement for it,” said Samantha Des Jardins. For many brands, the first step toward an AI menu is using generative tools for inspiration and refinement—not automation. AI Menus Are Gaining Traction Datassential is seeing early but meaningful adoption of AI for menu and recipe development across foodservice, particularly among…

EG Group recently released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025. For the full year 2025, the company reported EBITDA of $942 million, representing a 1% year-over-year decline compared to the full year 2024. For the fourth quarter of 2025, the company reported: EBITDA of $232 million. Gross profit of $899 million. Fuel remained the largest contributor to gross profit in the period at $462 million, reflecting “continued outperformance and margin expansion in the United States.” Foodservice gross profit of $85 million, supported by “continued momentum in UK Starbucks operations.” EG Group also said: “Progress with organic growth initiatives in the US continued with Krispy Krunchy Chicken store openings, further store rebranding completed and SmartRewards program membership surpassing 4.7 million.” The company said it is focusing on key growth markets in the United States and Europe, after it completed the divestment of Italy…

Unmanned petrol stations have reshaped fuel & convenience retail in New Zealand and are now poised to do the same in Australia, forcing every major player to reassess the true value of the forecourt convenience offer. Lessons from New Zealand’s unmanned revolution New Zealand has been the test bed for low-cost, unmanned formats, with independents like Gull and Waitomo building dense networks of self-service, fuel-only sites that run on a low-overhead, pay-at-pump model. Gull, for example, now operates a largely unmanned network and moves around eight percent of New Zealand’s liquid fuel volume. Proving that a discount, no-frills proposition can scale nationally. These challengers have consistently undercut the majors on price, drawing volume away from traditional full-service brands such as Z Energy, bp and Mobil, and creating what’s often referred to as the “discount effect” in local price cycles. The result has been sustained market share pressure on legacy networks…

Leading global retail crime intelligence software company Auror was crowned Vendor of the Year at the 2026 Australian Fraud Awards, hosted by Retail Knowledge. The event brought together the Australian retail sector in Sydney last week, to highlight and celebrate the great work being delivered across the industry in retail crime prevention, risk management and loss prevention. The Retail Risk Vendor of the Year Award recognises integrity, honesty, consistency, innovation and outstanding service to the retail community. Auror Director of Retail Partnerships ANZ Brett Farley said the win reflects the strength of the relationships the team has built across the Australian market. “This recognition belongs just as much to our retail and law enforcement partners, who are collaborating more than ever before to keep stores safe from retail crime,” he said. “We always set out to build meaningful partnerships with our retail and law enforcement partners – we’re not interested…

True Protein’s new ultrafiltered milk-based shake will be the cleanest on the market, with 30g of pure protein, using real ingredients, no added sugar and zero artificial additives. Protein Shakes. Finally Done Right. The supplement market is overflowing with ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes and bars, but many contain processed ingredients, unnecessary additives, and sugars your body doesn’t need. True Protein, founded on the Northern Beaches by Ben Kiereth, has always refused to compromise on quality. This commitment has earned the brand a loyal following among Australia’s elite athletes, including Jess Hull OLY, Genevieve Gregson OLY, Rohan Browning OLY, Jack Della Maddalena, Khan Porter, and more. In April 2026, True Protein will launch the True All Natural Protein Shake, Australia’s cleanest RTD protein shake, a product five years in the making. “It took us five years to develop this product,” explains Ben Kiereth, “but I am so proud of what we…