Industry News

Amazon has opened Amazon Grocery, a new small-format grocery concept it is testing in the same building that houses a Whole Foods Market in downtown Chicago. The 3,800-square-foot store offers a selection of 3,500 products intended as grocery fill-ins, as well as coffee and grab-and-go meals. While customers shopping at Whole Foods Market are looking for natural and organic products, this new format features traditional national grocery brands and household essentials not included in Whole Foods’ natural and organic product mix. “We’re always looking for ways to make it easier for customers to shop for groceries, whether online or in store,” Amazon spokesperson Jessica Martin said in a statement provided to CSP. “We’re testing and learning with a new grocery shopping experience with a small-format store from Amazon under the same roof as Whole Foods Market in the One Chicago building. With this new concept, customers can shop their favorite…

The record 26,124 attendees is 8.5% higher than last year. The 2024 NACS Show, which took place October 7-10 in Las Vegas, demonstrated why the NACS Show is considered the industry’s most comprehensive event and one of the most dynamic retail and food-focused tradeshows. A record 26,124 attendees experienced four days of education, networking, and a look at what’s hot and new in the global convenience and fuel retailing industry. The total attendance was 8.5% higher than attendance from last year and 3.8% higher than the previous record attendance in 2018. In addition, there were 8,811 attendees classified as buyers, an impressive 1,447 increase from last year. The NACS Show is a global event, with attendees from 68 countries. Expo Delivers New Products, Category Excitement Organized around five broad categories—in-store merchandise, technology, facility operations, fuel equipment and services, and foodservice—the 437,500-net-square-foot Expo featured 1,190 exhibitors. This included 157 exhibitors in…

The Conexxus Roadmap looks at where c-store technology is heading—and when. For the past several years, Conexxus, a technology organization that sets standards for the convenience industry, has looked at what the next seven to 10 years of convenience retail will look like—and what technology this industry’s retailers will need on the journey. “The roadmap itself is a forward-thinking methodology that’s about the customer. What does the consumer look like seven to 10 years out, and what available technologies do they have? How are they going to leverage them? And then how do we meet those consumer needs?” said Gray Taylor, executive director of Conexxus. At the NACS Show last week, Taylor and other presenters drove through the roadmap, showcasing the importance that digital media and mobile commerce will have in convenience retail, the tech required for them, and the mandates and standards for adherence that retailers will need on…

UCB & Rural Aid’s partnership began back in June 2022 with a shared objective to develop and support sustainable rural communities throughout Australia by providing economic and emotional assistance. Rural Aid stands with our farmers when they need it most – That’s why they developed the ‘True Mates’ program. A ‘True Mate’ is always there, celebrating the wins, and unwavering when the going gets tough. Once again, this August UCB teamed up with our Trade Partners to show support for our Mates in the Bush. From August 7th until September 6th, UCB donated 10c* per product sold, throughout the UCB network, from the participating Trade Partners below to Rural Aid. (*Pacific Optics 20c), ASAHI, CCEP, Suntory Oceania, Bega Dairy & Drinks, Peters Ice Cream, Streets Ice Cream, Lactalis, Brownes, Redbull, Level, Remedy, Bundaberg, Repco, Pacific Optics (20c), Liaise, Mars Wrigley, Nestle, Mondelez, Pepsico and Patties Foods. UCB are excited and…

In Q2 2024, 20 of 32 reported countries experienced gains in convenience store value sales versus a year ago, according to the Q2 2024 Global Convenience Store Industry Report from NACS and NIQ. The report measures convenience store value sales across several markets, including the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, and Europe. The 41-page report looks at overall sales by country, unit sales increase, and unit price increases, in addition to a deeper dive singling out five “what’s hot” and five “what’s not” categories. Of the countries delivering growth in Q2, five experienced double- or triple-digit growth—down from seven in the prior quarter. Among the 20 countries registering growth, nine were in Latin America, seven in the Asia-Pacific region, and four in Europe. Only five countries had improved growth in Q2 2024 versus the prior quarter—down from twelve in the previous quarter. Except for the Philippines, most countries with…

Retailers have welcomed a plan by the Federal Government to cut greedy debit card fees set by financial institutions, in a move that will save customers up to an estimated $4 billion in unnecessary surcharges each year. Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare said cutting fees would save Australians much needed money and stop retailers from being blamed for a cash grab driven by the banks. Any ban on surcharging would only be supported if the relevant reform to the payments system is implemented to slash card fees levied on retailers. “Retailers have seen their merchant fees explode over the last few years, while the profits of the big banks have continued to balloon. “While major retailers like Coles and Woolworths don’t apply surcharges because they are on strategic rates with the banks, small businesses are often forced to pass on the cost of the electronic payment…