Industry News

With the cost of living continuing to rise, carsales is stepping in to help ease the strain for Aussies. hrough a new venture with bp Australia, carsales members can now access a 6 cent per litre discount on fuel*, redeemable via the carsales app at over 900 participating bp sites across the country. Recent research from carsales highlights an increase in Aussies who have had to adjust their budget for a car due to the increasing cost of living and inflation (62%) and this was particularly the case for Gen Zs and Millennials.** By leveraging the nationwide reach of bp, carsales is providing its members with a valuable fuel discount that integrates seamlessly into their everyday lives through the carsales app. “We’re excited to be partnering with bp to bring real savings and value to our members,” said Rafael Constantinou, executive general manager of marketing, content & customer at carsales.…

GC Brands, the distributor of Hi-Chew in Australia, has secured a deal to range the popular Japanese confectionery in 7-Eleven stores nationwide. The launch includes four SKUs of Hi-Chew, marking a major step forward for the brand’s growth in the Australian market. Guy Bennett, Senior Brand Manager at GC Brands, shared his enthusiasm for the new partnership, highlighting its importance for the brand’s development in Australia. “Hi-Chew is Japan’s number one chewy candy and now a huge brand in a number of markets outside Asia, such as New Zealand and the USA. We’ve seen really strong growth since introduction into the Australian market, but launching four SKUs into a blue-chip retailer like 7-Eleven gives us the opportunity to really support Hi-Chew with a strong presence on the shelf and in store.” The partnership reflects a growing demand for unique, international confectionery in Australia. “GC Brands has a strength in international…

The ACCC has given the green light for Viva Energy’s acquisition of the remaining 50 per cent stake in LOC Global from New World Corporation (NWC), after the fuel giant agreed to divest 14 retail fuel and convenience sites. The court-enforceable undertaking addresses competition concerns related to the overlap between Viva Energy and LOC, which operates over 100 Liberty-branded retail sites across mainland Australia. “Without the divestiture, the ACCC was concerned the proposed acquisition could increase prices and reduce service offerings, particularly in Adelaide and in certain local areas in Darwin, regional Queensland, and regional Victoria,” said ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams. The 14 sites, located in South Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory, and Queensland, will be transferred to Solo Oil Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of NWC. The divestments must occur on or before the finalisation of Viva Energy’s acquisition of LOC. “We consider with the divestments, Solo will become…

Recharge Petroleum has completed the acquisition of the Adelaide Fuel Distributors business from Fredricks Petroleum. The purchase includes the fuel transport assets for bulk fuel and onsite distribution businesses, lubricant warehouses, and ten service stations and unmanned refuelling locations. Adelaide Fuel Distributors was started by Bryson Fredericks in 1971 in Seaford south of Adelaide. The business expanded to operate sixteen delivery trucks delivery bulk fuels and lubricants from depots in Cavan and Seaford. Recharge Petroleum, owned by brothers Neale Crawford and Steven Crawford, has been a bp distributor for over eight years, representing the bp brand in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia, revitalising bp’s market presence in the Northern Territory and now South Australia. “The expansion will leverage the synergies between Recharge Petroleum’s established networks into South Australia, unlocking even more opportunities for our customers to access bp fuel throughout these key markets.” says Mr Crawford The…

Interchange will be in the spotlight in the Reserve Bank of Australia’s upcoming review of payments fees and payments regulation. One influential lobby group has placed interchange front and centre in its submission, one the Independent Payments Forum sums up as “a plan to cut $3 billion in card and mobile payment fees.” In a submission to the Reserve Bank of Australia later this month, the IPF says it will detail a proposal “to slash all the major fees associated with debit and credit card and mobile transactions that currently cost Australians $6.4 billion a year. “The majority of this massive cost burden is currently borne by small businesses and their customers who are often forced to pay three to five times more for card transactions than big retailers” IPF co-founder Warwick Ponder said. Key elements of the Independent Payments Forum plan include: •    Zero interchange on debit transactions…

PepsiCo, Inc., announced its agreement to acquire the remaining 50% interest in Sabra Dipping Company, LLC (Sabra) and PepsiCo-Strauss Fresh Dips & Spreads International GmbH (Obela) and become the sole owner of these companies, which make Sabra and Obela products. The company is currently 50/50 joint ventures that had been formed between PepsiCo and Strauss Group to manufacture, distribute, and sell refrigerated dips and spreads. The joint venture is based in New York and operates in US and Canada. The Obela joint venture is based in Geneva and operates in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. It has focused on the fresh dips category for over 15 years, forming Sabra and Obela as 50/50 joint ventures with the Strauss Group in 2008 and 2012, respectively. It has become a leading hummus brand with nearly $400 million in retail sales in US. This transaction will enable the company to continue to transform its portfolio and drive accelerated innovation to develop more…