Press Releases

For an industry known for its ability to adapt quickly, the way customer behaviours and preferences have shifted in the past two months, as the pandemic has played out and panic buying has subsided, has helped reveal the true value of convenience.   According to new research commissioned by the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) and undertaken by Convenience Measures Australia, the most compelling reasons people still choose to shop at convenience stores over alternatives is trust in the hygiene standards in store, and to avoid large crowds. Customer preferences to shop at convenience stores on the basis that they are safer and less crowded has held true since the pandemic broke in March. On the other hand, the new research shows initial spikes in demand for grocery items has levelled as more traditional convenience product categories return to the fore. AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said the industry’s investment…

The latest KPMG Report into illegal tobacco in Australia in 2019 is further support for the recently published ‘AACS Road to recovery’ document for our industry in a post COVID -19 era. “Moratorium on further tobacco excise increases and greater law enforcement at ‘street level’ on sales of illicit tobacco:  we have seen the steady growth of illicit tobacco sales in our country, taking away sales from legal and responsible retailers and suppliers as well as robbing the government of excise. Certainly we see the excellent work that Border Force is doing in making seizures of large quantities of tobacco products, however products are still making it to street level and being sold at prices far cheaper than legitimate products with no taxes being paid. As the cost of legal tobacco increases consumers shifts their purchasing to these illicit products which are sold to people of all ages. Its time…

The Australian convenience industry achieved solid growth of 2.1% in merchandise sales (excluding petrol) in 2019, with the performance of the Food and Beverages category in particular catapulting the value of the channel to nearly $8.8 billion. While calendar year 2019 was categorised by various challenges in retail trade conditions, convenience once again proved its value proposition to consumers, with the AACS State of the Industry Report shining the spotlight on the categories which will shape the future of the industry. The 2019 report was launched online this week to AACS members. Food was a clear standout, with Food sales up nearly 6% to $4.038 billion. On the flipside, Non-Food categories delivered sales of $4.738 billion, down by more than 1% on the 2018 result. The decline is in part due to the Tobacco category delivering growth of 0.83% in 2019 compared to 6.4% the previous year.                The number of…

The NSW Government’s introduction of a $5,000 fine for people who cough or spit at workers has been welcomed by the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) with CEO Jeff Rogut saying other states and territories should follow suit. “The fact that these fines are necessary is disgraceful but the abhorrent actions of a few endanger the lives of many and these people need to be dealt with harshly,” says Mr Rogut. “We believe there is a need for all states and territories to implement similar fines in a clear message to these people that their actions are completely unacceptable and will be penalised. “Most people would simply never consider engaging in this type of behaviour, let alone at a time when stress and anxiety is heightened because of COVID-19. “For those that do engage in this behaviour, our message is clear: we won’t tolerate it. We have strongly urged…

With convenience stores and petrol stations officially recognised as essential services for people to rely on, the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has reinforced the importance for these stores to be afforded the same consideration as the major supermarkets when it comes to the supply of critical hygiene items. AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said it’s business-as-usual for convenience stores to implement extremely high hygiene standards, a practice which relies on the regular supply of sanitisers, antibacterial wipes and other hygiene products. But the current climate has heightened the importance of best practice hygiene, placing a strain on the supply of these products. “We are proud to be playing such a vital role in communities across Australia and it’s a responsibility we take seriously. But in order to best serve customers, there are areas in which we require support. We are in discussions with key suppliers to ensure frequent deliveries…