Industry News

APCO Service Stations is thrilled to announce that we’ve once again been awarded Canstar Blue’s 2026 Most Satisfied Customers – Petrol & Service Stations. This marks four years in a row that Australians have rated APCO highest in customer satisfaction, an achievement we’re incredibly proud of and deeply grateful for. Based on independent research of more than 2,000 Australian consumers, this year’s award sees APCO continue to outperform the market across key categories. We received five star ratings in critical areas including Customer Service, Price of Petrol, Store Appearance, and Overall Satisfaction. Being recognised for a fourth consecutive year is a testament to the strong and consistent experience our customers receive every time they visit APCO. As a family-owned and operated business, it’s a true honour to see our values reflected in our customers’ feedback. Price of Petrol and Customer Service once again emerged as the leading drivers of satisfaction.…

NACS president and CEO outlines what will define the next era of convenience retailing—and what retailers should focus on now. As the convenience industry continues to evolve, foodservice, technology and advocacy are several powerful levers the industry can pull to advance the future of the channel. NACS President and CEO Frank Gleeson recently shared his perspective on how these forces intersect—and why they matter now more than ever—during a recent Convenience Matters podcast. Foodservice: A Competitive Advantage Hiding in Plain Sight Gleeson believes the industry is uniquely positioned to compete head-to-head with quick-service restaurants (QSR). He emphasized that foodservice is no longer a supporting act in convenience—it’s a strategic differentiator. “We are a threat to QSRs,” Gleeson said, pointing to the convenience industry’s unmatched locations with the best real estate as well as speed of service. While fuel-only customers may visit once a week, food and beverage customers make decisions on where to…

We are proud to present the 21 entries from 12 countries in this year’s ‘Smartest Store in the World’ competition. These stores represent the very best in innovation and showcase how technology is driving a better customer experience and improving productivity across our industry. Thank you to the teams that accepted the invitation to be part of this global programme. We’re proud to showcase the incredible work they’ve put into delivering outstanding innovation. These competitions support our ongoing initiative to elevate industry learning by sharing and celebrating success. Here are the 21 entries for our inaugural year: 7-Eleven, China 7-Eleven, Philippines 24SJU, Sweden bk World, Germany Canadian Tire, Canada Carma Coffee, UK Chestnut Market, USA Continente, Portugal eccovia, Germany FairPrice, Singapore FamilyMart, China View Entries What Next? Our global panel of expert judges have begun their evaluation. Their aggregated scores will result in our 2026 shortlist, which will be announced…

Timeline shift comes as 7-Eleven reports same-store sales dip, inflation pressuring consumer spending. Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of c-store giant 7-Eleven, on Thursday said the company’s possible initial public offering (IPO) of its North American convenience-store and gas station business has been delayed, with the earliest possible timing shifted to fiscal year 2027. The Tokyo-based company initially said that it determined to pursue an IPO of SEI, its convenience store business in North America known as 7-Eleven, by the second half of 2026 on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges. “The board is confident that an IPO at this time is the best path to unlock significant value for group shareholders and position SEI for accelerated growth,” the company said on March 6, 2025. Seven & i reported on Thursday in its financial results presentation for fiscal year 2025 that the IPO has now been pushed “at the earliest” to fiscal…

Australians are paying more for petrol than we ever have but some drivers aren’t paying at all. Watch video here.

Border Force has warned the fight against illegal tobacco and its links to organised crime will not be won without dealing with the high prices of legal products, despite the agency revealing it is seizing almost 6 million illicit cigarettes a day. In a submission to a parliamentary committee examining the explosion in the illicit market and a collapse in federal tobacco excise collections, Border Force said simply beefing up policing of the illegal trade was not enough to offset ‘‘strong consumer demand”. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is under internal political pressure to give the states and territories an extra $300 million to target illicit tobacco sales, while the legal tobacco trade is calling for a cut in excise rates, which many experts believe have encouraged the illegal trade. Tobacco excise, which as recently as 2020 was the federal government’s fourth-largest tax source, has collapsed over the past five years. By 2029-30, an estimated $65 billion in…