Independent Payments Forum Australia today congratulated Australian Payments Plus (AP+) on taking three, long-awaited and necessary steps towards fairer debit card fees for small businesses and their customers – but warned there was still a very long way to go to have any meaningful impact. As debit cards are the “new cash” and Australia’s favourite retail payment method, today’s AP+ announcements are very welcome, but they also come with a lot of cryptic caveats and willmean little without regulatory and industry support. “While there is a lot more to be done, today’s announcement is a positive step which begins toaddress the massive disparity between debit card fees charged to small businesses and theircustomers compared to big business,” IPF co-founder Warwick Ponder said. “To succeed it will need commitment from both the industry and the regulator. Lower fees have been available for some time, what we really need to see is…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) hosted its sold out Down Under Study Tour last week, with the event a resounding success. With 90 enthusiastic attendees, the two-day tour through Adelaide left attendees with a wealth of new insights and the opportunity to meet and network with industry peers. All attendees were extremely impressed with the level of maturity and offer development in the Adelaide market. The two days were packed with visits to a range of innovative convenience and grocery stores along with the state-of-the-art Drake’s Supermarket distribution centre providing attendees an understanding of the latest store formats and offers, and the chance to witness first-hand how industry leaders are pushing the boundaries of convenience retailing. Each stop was an opportunity to delve deeper into what makes these stores stand out in a competitive market. The highlight of the tour, for many attendees, was meeting and engaging with…

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced that it will meet its target to use 100 per cent renewable electricity across Australian operations by 1 January 2025. This milestone is one year ahead of schedule and is made possible by signing a new ten-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with global renewable energy leader ENGIE. Orlando Rodriguez, Managing Director at CCEP Australia, said the partnership with ENGIE and the VPPA have accelerated their progress towards reaching the RE100 target in Australia. “This will make CCEP one of the first FMCG players in the country to achieve the RE100 commitment and is an important milestone for our business. “As the maker and distributor of some of the world’s most popular beverages, we have set a series of ambitious targets to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact. To reach our renewable electricity goal in Australia, we have engaged in strategic power purchase…

Suntory Oceania has kickstarted production at its new multi-beverage manufacturing facility ahead of the drinks group’s launch mid next year. Costing more than $400 million to construct, the 17-hectare carbon-neutral site has been described by Chief Supply Chain Officer Ian Roberts as “the largest single FMCG investment in Australia in over a decade” and will serve as a manufacturing and distribution hub for the Suntory Oceania’s multi-beverage portfolio of 40+ brands. “The start of production at our world-class facility represents a pivotal moment for Suntory Oceania,” said Darren Fullerton, CEO at Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania. “With this new site we are well positioned to disrupt and ignite the category with our full multi-beverage offering.” Suntory Oceania – a $3 billion partnership between Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory – has kickstarted its production with some of its non-alcoholic beverage brands ahead of transitioning into alcoholic production around the end of June next…

Digital punch cards and geofencing are among the techniques operators are using to reach guests. NATIONAL REPORT — Today, mobile phones are a staple for customers of all ages, and something most people don’t leave home without. Convenience store retailers are capitalizing on this and finding new ways to use the device to engage customers and offer an even more convenient experience. Customers are not only open to interacting with retailers digitally, but they also expect it in many cases. “In today’s world, the consumer is expecting a seamless omnichannel experience. The same way the interact and shop in stores should extend to the mobile experience,” said Terry Lyles, digital marketing manager at Family Express Corp., the Valparaiso, Ind.-based operator of more than 80 convenience stores. “We spend so much time merchandising to optimize the shopping experience in-store and that should extend digitally.” Customers have always wanted a seamless and…