The Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted record volumes of illicit tobacco and vape products during the 2024–25 financial year, with new data revealing an average of 120 detections every day. Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, the ABF made 23,097 detections of illicit tobacco, seizing 2.53 billion cigarette sticks and 435.46 tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco. This equates to more than 2,091 tonnes of illicit tobacco products seized, preventing an estimated $4.36 billion in duty evaded. These figures represent a staggering 320 per cent increase in cigarette stick seizures and a 67 per cent increase in total tobacco seized compared to four years ago. In the same period, more than six million illicit vaping products were also detected, seized, and destroyed by the ABF before they could be sold illegally in the community. ABF Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Commander Ken McKern said the agency’s enforcement activities extend beyond…

A Queensland court has ordered six stores involved in the sale of illicit tobacco to shut down for up to six months as part of a crackdown on the illegal trade. A Queensland court has ordered six stores involved in the sale of illicit tobacco to shut down for up to six months as part of a crackdown on the illegal trade. The judgement handed down in the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Friday was the first of its kind in the state after laws aimed at eliminating the unlawful supply of smoking products came into effect in September 2024. The legal action was launched by Queensland Health in June following raids by officers from Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) in partnership with the Queensland Police Service on the stores in Hervey Bay, 300 kilometres north of Brisbane. WBHHS said more than 480,000 illicit cigarettes, 70 kilograms of loose…

APCO is thrilled to announce the opening of its brand-new Mt Duneed location on Wednesday, July 23rd — marking a first of its kind site for the proudly local, family-owned service station brand. This isn’t just a servo refresh, it’s the new face of convenience, featuring the Cafe24-7 barista-made coffee and fresh food that you know and love, but now complete with the very first ever Anderson’s Supermarket! From daily essentials to quality takeaway, Mt Duneed locals will enjoy an elevated, one stop shop destination for fuel, coffee, fresh foods and supermarket shopping! What truly sets this store apart is the value it brings to the community. From affordable groceries and fortnightly specials to everyday low prices on essentials and fresh produce, this store is designed to deliver more for your dollar — without compromising on quality or convenience. With pricing comparable to major supermarkets, APCO Mt Duneed offers a…

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s decision to step away from a proposal to buy the Japanese parent company of 7-Eleven was being chalked up as a “missed opportunity” a day after it announced its pullback. Shares in the Laval, Que. Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s decision to step away from a proposal to buy the Japanese parent company of 7-Eleven was being chalked up as a “missed opportunity” a day after it announced its pullback. Shares in the Laval, Que.-based company closed up eight per cent at $74 on Thursday as the market digested the news that there would be no deal between Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. and Couche-Tard, which accused its takeover target of “lack of constructive engagement.” “I understand why they had to do this, but it’s disappointing that the other side wouldn’t engage constructively, strategically and long term,” said Brian Madden, chief investment officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel…

One of Australia’s largest private ATM suppliers, Macquarie Group-backed Next Payments, is removing more than 40 of its machines from suspected illegal tobacco stores. Next Payments chief executive Tim Wildash announced the move after an ABC investigation found ATM companies were cutting deals with tobacco criminals and installing their machines in high-turnover illegal cigarette shops. Mr Wildash said he had not been aware of the extent of the issue until the ABC’s reporting, and he was insisting the company remove ATMs from the outlets. “If they [the shops] are not legal, we’re not going to provide services,” Mr Wildash told the ABC. The ABC found in some cases Next Payments had deals with criminals or associated businesses to host its machines, even after the men had been caught by police for breaches of tobacco offences or for handling of proceeds of crime offences. The removal of the Next Payments machines…

In our recent blog, we looked at the relationship between fuel and food’s often complementary offer but with occasionally competing priorities. As a continuation of that theme, we now consider what each industry can learn from each other – kicking off with what QSR can learn from fuel retail. If you’re looking for a vertical that’s seen disruption in the last decade, QSR is right at the top. Covid accelerated a sales channel transformation that was already underway, with takeout vying alongside click and collect, drive-thru, and dine-in. Delivery, in particular, went from luxury to necessity. Suddenly, every square meter of a restaurant’s real estate had to work harder. QSRs have responded well by optimizing space, squeezing margin, and applying flexibility across channels. But while they’ve been adapting at pace, fuel has been managing similar complexity for decades. Fuel retail tends not to grab headlines in the same way some of…