Industry News

Walk the NACS Show Expo and you can learn a lot about where consumer tastes are headed. There were hundreds of in-store merchandise and foodservice exhibitors on the Expo floor this year, which meant a lot of new products to see and, more importantly, taste. I certainly didn’t make it to every booth, although I gave it my best shot. Amid all the fried chicken, pizza, candy, snacks and seemingly endless beverages, some flavors stood out again and again. Some were new, some were nostalgic and some were still riding their wave of popularity (pickle, I’m looking at you). Some flavors that once seemed like a fleeting viral moment are proving they might actually be here to stay. Here are five trends that stood out on the Expo floor. 1. Nostalgia Beckons, but with a Refresh When times are uncertain, familiar flavors can offer consumers a sense of comfort. But…

The Victorian opposition is promising to extend how long shops can be shut down if they are found selling illegal tobacco. Liberal leader Jess Wilson has unveiled the party’s plan to crack down on the illicit tobacco and vape trade which it says has been linked to arson attacks at 300 Victorian businesses and homes. The Opposition is planning to increase the existing short-term closure orders from 90 days to 150 days if it wins the upcoming election. It says that would bring Victoria in line with stronger closure provisions in South Australia. The Liberals would also change laws to allow landlords to terminate a tenant’s lease without compensation as soon as a short-term closure order is issued against a tenant. Other measures proposed by the Liberals include banning ATMs at retailers found selling illicit tobacco or operating without a licence and allowing authorised officers to seize all tobacco and…

The policing minister has promised new legislation on the use of live facial recognition (LFR) in public areas that she says will introduce stronger safeguards to ensure it is used in a proportionate way. Sarah Jones said a government consultation suggested the public “by and large” supported LFR, but wanted reassurances around how it is used. The Metropolitan Police said LFR was “making London safer” and had led to more than 3,000 arrests in the past two years. However, privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the technology “is treating everyone who walks by as a suspect by default – you have to prove that you’re not someone that the police is looking for”. ‘Indiscriminate tool’ The government launched a public consultation on developing a future legal framework for LFR last December and is now setting out its response. Privacy campaigners have previously criticised an “alarming escalation” in police use…

From 5 November 2026, new rules apply to the sale of nitrous oxide in New South Wales under the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2026. AACS contributed to NSW Health’s 2024 consultation on these reforms, and NSW Health has now written to stakeholders confirming the final requirements. The aim is to cut misuse, particularly among young people, while keeping the product available for legitimate food, medical and industrial uses. If you sell nitrous oxide in any of your NSW sites, here’s what changes. The retail rules These apply to in-store sales, direct online sales and sales through third-party platforms: What’s exempt The rules don’t apply to nitrous oxide used for therapeutic purposes, nitrous oxide in containers designed to be mounted and used in a motor vehicle, or nitrous oxide supplied for industrial use by a full member of the Australia New Zealand Industrial Gas Association. Different rules also apply…

The Australian Taxation Office has revealed yet another increase in the 2024-25 alcohol excise tax gap, one indicator of the scale of alcohol excise non-compliance. The latest tax gap was estimated at $1.234 billion, up from $1.169 billion in 2023-24 and $732 million in 2020–21. This represented a 68.6 per cent increase over the past five years. Missing alcohol tax now accounts for 13.7 per cent of overall expected alcohol excise revenue, four percentage points more than the year prior and the first time the gap has totalled more than 10 per cent of forecast tax revenue. The figures come amid growing concerns over illicit alcohol, following UNSW-led research which found vodka containing methanol and plastic contaminants widely available in Melbourne liquor retail and a spike in criminal activity believed to be connected to the illicit alcohol trade. Retail Drinks CEO Michael Waters said the figures reinforce the organisation’s warnings…

Last week, ReddyExpress and OTR’s Minions and Monsters Retail Campaign won the award for the Best Retail Marketing Campaign at the 2026 Licensing International ANZ Excellence Awards, recognising a campaign delivered in partnership with NBCUniversal Media. Shell OTR and Shell Reddy Express came together to deliver a seamless and engaging customer experience across Australia. This national campaign, and the recognition it has received, highlight the strength of Viva Energy Australia‘s retail network. Exclusive collectibles and exciting in-store experiences brought the campaign to life for customers through a coordinated national activation. The campaign showcased how strong brand partnerships can create memorable customer moments while driving outstanding retail outcomes. We’re incredibly proud to see this campaign recognised and would like to thank NBCUniversal Media for their partnership in bringing Minions and Monsters to life across our network. Thanks to Nicki Geddes, Connor Hurley, Melanie Green and Atomic 212º for all your hard…