Industry News

Overall, 25,572 attendees from 74 countries and territories were at the 2026 NACS Show, which took place October 6-9 in Las Vegas. This year’s tally was more than 400 attendees higher than last year, making this the second highest attended NACS Show ever. It also was the third consecutive year that NACS Show attendance topped 25,000. Expo Delivers New Products, Category Excitement Organized around five broad categories (in-store merchandise, technology, facility operations, fuel equipment and services, foodservice), the 442,600-net-square-foot Expo featured 1,090 exhibitors, including 173 exhibitors in the New Exhibitor Area. In addition, the NACS Future of Convenience pavilion showcased industry-specific, digital-first solutions developed for retailers to engage customers, protect their business and boost revenue. Hundreds of retailers held discussions and meetings with NACS staff for more information on TruAge® and THRIVR™.  Education Sessions Draw Big Crowds The NACS Show’s 56 Education Sessions, designed by retailers for retailers, had strong…

Cafes smashed by soaring power and fuel bills, brutal tax whacks and rising interest rates are facing a fresh NSW government-induced headache – new laws that could make selling a simple cup of coffee even more complicated. Under a proposed Minns government bill, cafes will be forced to hand out reusable cups and accept them from customers, without being allowed to charge any extra for the service. The laws would effectively spell the end of disposable takeaway coffee cups in many cafes, with only the smallest venues able to continue using them. The proposal has raised questions about who pays for the cups that go missing and the costs to businesses of collecting and cleaning those cups that are returned. Under a proposed Minns government bill, cafes will be forced to hand out reusable cups and accept them from customers, without being allowed to charge any extra for the service.…

Criminals are producing counterfeit cigarettes with Australian-style plain packaging that could fool the public and authorities, sparking calls for the “urgent” passing of tough new illicit tobacco laws. New intelligence provided to the federal government has confirmed illegal products are being manufactured on an “industrial scale” in Cambodia and other countries in South-East Asia in factories owned, financed and controlled by organised crime groups. Recent offshore law enforcement operations have identified cigarette and tobacco products destined for Australia featuring the country’s standard green plain packaging and legitimate health warnings. This has fuelled concerns the general public and Australian law enforcement agencies will have limited ability to distinguish between illegal and genuine cigarettes on appearance alone. To tackle the issue, the government is seeking support from the Coalition and other senators to pass laws immediately that would give authorities new powers to shut down the illegal tobacco trade. New powers to…

Caltex Unveils Newly Redeveloped D’Aguilar Service Station Caltex has unveiled its newly redeveloped service station in D’Aguilar, strengthening fuel access and supporting future growth along one of South East Queensland’s key transport corridors. The 24-hour site, situated on the D’Aguilar Highway linking Woodford and Caboolture, opened to the public in early October. The Caltex D’Aguilar team yesterday welcomed Campbell Newman AO, along with other representatives from Arcana Capital, to officially mark the opening. Dean Gilbert, General Manager Chevron Australia Downstream (Caltex), said the investment reflected the company’s long-term commitment to customers and regional communities by providing fuel infrastructure they can rely on. “We’re investing in the infrastructure that helps keep Queenslanders moving,” Gilbert said. “Moreton Bay is a key growth corridor, and this site ensures customers have access to the quality fuel and convenience services they rely on today and into the future. “Through a strong partnership with Arcana Capital,…

Reitan Convenience Finland is reinventing its 116-year-old R-kioski network, launching two new formats: the food-led convenience chain Ärrä and the functional-coffee café concept Nivo. Niklas Lilius, CEO of Reitan Convenience Finland, gave Global Convenience a tour of both formats in Helsinki and explained the thinking behind the transformation, which has been influenced by international trend research from Insight Research’s Trends Team. From railway bookstore to Ärrä R-kioski has operated in Finland for 116 years, tracing its roots back to a railway bookstore, Rautatiekirjakauppa, at Helsinki Central Station. The name became so familiar that Finns simply call it “R”. “We have existed in the Finnish market for 116 years with a traditional kiosk concept, and now we are launching something completely new,” says Niklas Lilius, CEO of Reitan Convenience Finland. “We’re taking the essence of what’s existed previously and bringing it into the 21st century.” That meant rethinking the brand itself.…

Backed by a multimillion-dollar innovation hub in Melbourne, the Australian brand has stabilised creatine monohydrate in water, a challenge researchers have chased for decades, and is putting it in a can for the first time: 3g of creatine and Australian spring water, nothing else. Australian sports nutrition brand True Protein has solved one of the supplement industry’s longest-standing scientific problems: keeping creatine stable in liquid. Long regarded as the “holy grail” of sports nutrition, the breakthrough uses a proprietary, purely mechanical process developed with True Protein’s research partners, with no preservatives or chemical stabilisers. Its first product, True Protein Liquid Creatine (355ml, Still), launches in early 2027 at trueprotein.com.au. The launch comes as creatine’s popularity surges. Once seen as a bodybuilding supplement, it is now taken by athletes, everyday gym-goers, women, older adults and people interested in its cognitive benefits. That demand has sparked a wave of new formats, from…