Industry News

In order to increase foot traffic inside the c-store, retailers are becoming more creative with marketing at the pump. Marketing at the forecourt has become an efficient way for c-store retailers to engage with more customers and attempt to bring them inside the store for more than just paying for gas. However, as technology continues to advance and consumers’ demands change, retailers are beginning to bring in new forecourt marketing strategies or finding ways to refine the strategies they already have in place. Before retailers can begin to bring in new marketing tactics for the forecourt, they must learn what their customers are demanding when they visit their store. “Improving marketing at the forecourt involves understanding customer intent through innovative strategies like app-based ordering and personalized offers,” said Richard Crone, CEO of Crone Consulting LLC. Once that data and information have been collected from customers, c-store operators can begin to…

South Australia is set to enact the harshest penalties against the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco in the country, with a new legal framework introduced today by the State Government. The new laws aim to crack down on the illicit vape and tobacco trade, particularly the marketing and sale aimed at minors. The legislation contains significant amendments, including up to $1.5 million in fines for certain offences and a complete ban on vending machine sales of tobacco products in public places. It will also prohibit the supply of therapeutic e-cigarettes or vapes to anyone under 18. The legislation also grants new authorities the power to restrict market access to alternative products such as nicotine pouches. This move complements existing smoke-free zones, establishing a buffer area around smoke-free spaces near public transport hubs, schools, childcare centres, hospitals, beaches, and shopping centres. The changes will also allow for more vigilant surveillance…

Grocer’s five-year plan also includes up to four new big supermarkets as well as shop refurbishments. Waitrose is planning to open 100 convenience stores over the next five years as part of a £1bn-plus investment in new outlets and shop refurbishments. The upmarket grocery chain is planning to unveil a revamped outlet in Finchley Road, north London, on Wednesday. This will kick off a new phase of expansion with its first new store in six years in Hampton Hill, west London, by the end of this year. James Bailey, executive director of Waitrose, said the group planned over five years to open up to four large supermarkets as well as the Little Waitrose shops, some of which may include relocations from existing sites. He said older stores were also being refurbished to feature “more of what people expect from us and love such as counters, unequalled service and a lot…

Standardized barcodes that stores use to scan items at checkout made their debut in 1974. Now, the industry wants to replace them with QR codes. Scanning barcodes at checkout could be a thing of the past as early as 2027, brands and retailers say, as they work to replace the decades-old technology with newer, more capable QR codes, a move that could boost sales and customer engagement. Companies such as Coca-Cola, L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble are working toward this goal, as are many retailers who carry their products. The transition won’t be easy, requiring cross-industry global collaboration, software and hardware updates for retailers, manufacturing changes for brands, and educating shoppers who use self checkout. It also won’t be cheap. Companies declined to disclose specific figures, although P&G said it would aim to keep transition costs low by making changes at the same time as planned artwork revisions or as new products are launched. But…

Convenience chain 7-Eleven is embarking on a bold strategy to double its footprint in 10 years as it drives growth in new markets. Fiona Hayes, CEO, 7-Eleven, revealed the plan to the delegates at the Australian Franchise Summit in Melbourne today. “7-Eleven has been a leader here, particularly in convenience where we have about 33 per cent of the market, and 11 per cent of the fuel market. We are embarking on much broader journey, firstly in neighbourhoods, so we are planning to double our store growth over the next 10 years,” Hayes said. “We want customers all around Australia to view 7-Eleven as ‘my convenient neighbourhood store’. From the time they wake up in the morning to night time, every avenue for convenience in your life,” she said. Broadening merchandise offer Hayes said the brand is broadening its merchandise offer and will lean on the expertise of 7-Eleven International in the…

Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt says the fuel retailer’s cautious approach to rolling out electric vehicle charging across the group’s petrol and convenience store sites is validated by the faltering growth in EV uptake. Mr Wyatt said Viva would grow its EV fast-charging sites in tandem with upgrades to its convenience stores, as it rolls out the On the Run retail formatnationally on sites currently trading as Coles Express, as well as new ones. Viva paid $1.2 billion for the South Australian-based OTR Group this year. Viva CEO Scott Wyatt at an On the Run petrol station convenience store in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne.  Louis Trerise It is initially focusing on NSW – where the state government has provided a grant to encourage the expansion of charging infrastructure, spanning about 30 sites over the next 18 months to road test the format – and nationally after that. Larger petrol retailing rival Ampol had…