Industry News

Inside the 2026 AACS Down Under Study Tour, South East Queensland South East Queensland turned on its best spring weather last week for our AACS Down Under Study Tour, and across two days, 81 delegates worked their way through thirteen convenience stores from the inner north of Brisbane to the southern end of the Gold Coast. The tour ran on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September, based out of The Alva Hotel in Fortitude Valley. Two coaches ran each day on different routes which allowed both groups time to speak with each of the retailers and explore the stores.  AACS CEO Theo Foukkare commented that “the retail visits showcased some of the latest innovations that are being implemented in Australian convenience retail today. Technology showcased included in store self checkout, various loyalty programs, customer led data segmentation strategies, point of sale operating systems, online ordering platforms & in store retail media networks…

Retailers say Victoria is becoming a ‘lawless state’, with ‘anarchy’ and ‘carnage in the streets’ as organised gangs, repeat offenders and violent thieves terrorise workers and family businesses. For more than half a century, the Porposch family has run its supermarket in the tiny Victorian town of Longwarry. Then organised crime came crashing through their front door. Last September, Janet and John Porposch found a handwritten note taped to their Friendly Grocer giving them 24 hours to contact “the Commission” on WhatsApp. They took it to police and did not make contact. Six days later, a stolen Subaru was repeatedly rammed through the front of their supermarket in the middle of the night. “It’s bewildering. It just blows my mind,” Mrs Porposch told The Nightly. “I still can’t get my head around it. “We just feel it’s a different world nowadays.” The Commission is the name used by a suspected…

Houston − Equilon Enterprises LLC, doing business as Shell Oil Products US (Shell), has signed an agreement to increase its equity from 33% to 100% in Tri Star Energy, LLC, a convenience store operator and fuel distributor operating across the southeastern United States and anchored in the Nashville market. The acquisition makes Shell the full owner of an additional 320 fuel and convenience retail sites in Tennessee and surrounding states, as well as supply agreements with 552 more dealer-owned locations. “Tri Star has built a strong business with high-quality assets, a dedicated team and a loyal customer base. The transaction is fully aligned with our growth strategy to focus capital on businesses in which we have distinctive advantages and can create long-term shareholder value,” said Machteld de Haan, President of Downstream, Renewables and Energy Solutions, Shell plc. Shell already has the largest branded fuel network in the US, with approximately 12,000…

7-Eleven has been named winner of the Canstar 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Small Business Fuel Cards. The award is based on a survey of over 2,000+ small business owners, and 7-Eleven scored highly across account management tools, its loyalty program, wide acceptance across fuel stations, and transparency of fees. Respondents told us what made the experience a positive one: 🔹 Easy to use with good expense tracking. The card was described as simple to use, helping business owners track and manage fuel spending alongside discounts and savings. 🔹 Convenient locations. The number and convenience of 7-Eleven locations was also considered as a real plus. Well deserved recognition, congratulations to the whole team at 7-Eleven Australia A special thank you to Ryann Mills, Elissa Pipertzis and Julian Thomson for their hospitality.

Automated foodservice platform will serve hot sliders in 2 minutes without traditional kitchen staff or infrastructure. Murphy USA customers will have the chance to buy a White Castle burger from some of its larger-format convenience stores. The burgers won’t be served by a human, though—they’ll come from a robotic restaurant in a box.  The autonomous foodservice platform, developed by Automated Retail Technologies, will launch featuring fast-food hamburger chain White Castle, El Dorado, Arkansas-based Murphy said Thursday.  The initiative was driven by customer insights that highlight demand for convenience, high-quality food options that fit busy schedules, quick trips and on-the-go occasions, Murphy USA said.  The test will also allow Murphy USA to evaluate how autonomous foodservice can enhance the customer experience within its existing operating model and store footprint. The platform allows Murphy USA to introduce hot, branded food without the space, labor, infrastructure and complexity associated with a traditional restaurant or full…

Texas Born (TXB) on Wednesday announced that Nate Brazier is the new president for the Spicewood, Texas-based retailer, effective immediately. Kevin Smartt will continue to serve as owner and CEO.   As president, Brazier (pictured above) will focus on leading the company’s day-to-day operations, TXB said.  With more than 50 locations spanning 200,000 square feet of property in Texas and Oklahoma, TXB said it currently has five additional stores slated for future builds. Smartt said that expanding the leadership capacity of TXB marks a big step in where the company is heading. “Welcoming Nate to the TXB family is a direct reflection of where we’re headed,” Smartt said. “We’re building the organization and leadership team capable of operating a best-in-class convenience retail experience for our guests. Brazier brings more than a decade of convenience-store industry experience, most recently serving as president and CEO of Stinker Stores, where he strengthened operations, expanded the company’s store footprint and…