As more consumers vouch for better variety, quality, and positive shopping experiences.  South African private equity firm Millat Group and global energy business Puma Energy have concluded an agreement to roll out internationally-recognised retail store brand ‘Circle K’, at Puma Energy’s forecourts across the country. The move is anticipated to improve South Africa’s convenience store landscape According to a statement, the partnership grants Millat an exclusive licence to develop Circle K stores around the country. This comes after the brand’s owner Alimentation Couche-Tard and Millat Convenience concluded a franchise deal to bring the global convenience store to local markets. “Unlike other forecourt operations, where petrol often takes precedence over stores, we have inverted the model with the intention of our outlets becoming sought-after destinations in themselves,” adds Millat Group CEO Hamza Farooqui. “Apart from a welcoming ambiance and décor, we will offer a variety of freshly made (on-site), chef-inspired food,…

FROM KWIK CHEK TO TEXAS BORN, THE COMPANY IS ZONED IN ON DELIVERING CUSTOMERS THE LOCAL EXPERIENCE. ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Texas Born (TXB) Stores has rebranded from its previous store concept of Kwik Chek to a convenience store that focuses on fresh local food and its local (Texas) roots. It’s one of the innovative c-stores featured in the NACS 2022 Ideas 2 Go program, showcasing TXB’s reimagined retail concept located in Georgetown, Texas, an Austin suburb. “Rebranding a whole company was a monumental effort,” said TXB Stores CEO Kevin Smartt on this week’s episode of Convenience Matters. “It just happened to coincide with a period in my life where I was trying to process where the industry was going, who we were as a company and how we would grow up and compete in the convenience store world.” The rebrand started small. While the company was still Kwik Chek, the retailer used the term “Texas…

Hydrogen fuel trials are emerging across Australia, but a project in Tasmania is seeking to create an entirely renewable energy-generated supply chain — from green hydrogen production through to distribution. Key points: Tasmania will see a hydrogen fuel supply chain trial, as governments and the private sector look at ways of introducing the zero-emissions fuel Heavy freight sectors are likely to be the first to take up hydrogen, using converted trucks in Australia Widespread mainstream hydrogen uptake – including of consumer vehicles – could still be some way off, but regulators hope the trials will help speed up the process The state will soon have hydrogen fuel pumps at several service stations as governments and the private sector combine to try fast-track the uptake of zero-emissions vehicles in the heavy transport sector. The commonwealth will provide $5 million to LINE Hydrogen, which plans to have its solar-powered hydrogen production facility…

A well-known chocolate brand is switching to paper packaging in a bid to avoid excess plastic waste. Key points: Some popular Australian chocolates will be packaged in paper from April Mars Wrigley has pledged all packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 The company expects the same level of freshness to be maintained with the paper packaging Mars Wrigley bars such as Mars Bars and Snickers will begin the transition to paper wrapping in Australia in April, with all chocolate produced by the company to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. It is expected to eliminate more than 360 tonnes of plastic from the nation’s supply chain. Research and development director Chris Hutton said using paper packaging was a world-first for the company after two years of research at its Ballarat site.  “The paper is fully sustainably sourced and Forest Stewardship Council-certified, so it’s really important that we drive to improve sustainability outcomes through things like…

Andrew Kouimanis, VP of Partnerships and Innovation at Auror From North America and the UK to Australia and New Zealand, the causes and complexities of fuel retail crime are rapidly changing. More incidents are occurring and new people are involved. Take fuel theft in New Zealand for example, where the total value of fuel drive-offs has increased by approximately 78% in 2022, according to data from the Auror platform looking at events during the same time period in 2021. And consider the surge in fuel theft (“bilking”) in the UK over the past year, hitting record levels by some indices. As with all retail crime – especially Organized Retail Crime (ORC) – the realities for your team, customers, and business are serious. Factor in rising retail violence and the changing fuel theft landscape cements itself as an urgent topic to address together. We’ll do exactly that in this post by…

The new $55 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and logistics facility highlights the brand’s commitment to Australian food production, manufacturing, supply chain and jobs. The 10,000-metre square facility bolsters the brand’s continued growth and profitability. The new site can produce over 1.2 million fresh, quality meals every week – doubling current production. Sydney, Australia 30 November 2022 – One of Australia’s fastest growing food technology companies, My Muscle Chef, opens its new $55 million manufacturing and logistics facility in Yennora, Western Sydney. The state-of-the-art site provides additional capabilities across food manufacturing, technology and logistics, boosting employment opportunities in the local community and contributing to economic growth for Western Sydney. Supporting a 20 per cent increase in the My Muscle Chef team, the new facility has capacity for a 600-strong workforce spanning trained chefs, food technology engineers and technicians, quality assurance, alongside operations, finance, product development, marketing and software engineering. The company’s investment…