Caltex has raised $291,385 during its annual Starlight Week, raising much-needed funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia. The amount surpassed last year’s total and will help over 7471 kids transform their hospital experience, thanks to the generous support of its people, partners, suppliers, and customers. Lorne Chambers, General Manager of Chevron Australia Downstream (Caltex), said Caltex is proud to be a platinum partner of Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia, raising nearly $5 million to help bring joy to the lives of sick children. “Our teams across Australia donned the yellow and purple to drive donations, and generate support for in-store promotions, bake sales, raffles and Starlight signature events. “A huge shout out to our company owned and operated retail network for their creative contributions that make Starlight Week a truly special occasion and a unique experience for our customers. “We’d really like to thank our amazing customers and suppliers who…

DoorDashers will have convenient access to goods from local restaurants and retailers in 15 minutes or less as it expands its drone delivery to Melbourne. A first for Victoria, the drones took flight on Thursday, delivering to 26 suburbs in Melbourne’s east. The drones can travel up to seven kilometres from their nest at QIC’s Eastland Shopping Centre in Maroondah, and can carry just over 1kg, while travelling at a speed of around 110km/h. Teaming up with drone delivery service, Wing, DoorDash has unveiled the innovative delivery method in the Maroondah City Council area. Spokesperson for Wing, Jesse Suskin, said the drones were a safe and environmentally friendly option. We’re thrilled to kick off delivery in a new state and city, delivering to the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. “Our first Nest in Victoria will be located at QIC’s Eastland Shopping Centre in Maroondah, and cover an area which will give…

Leading retail associations, including the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) and the National Retail Association (NRA), have opposed the Health, Aged Care and Sport Standing Committee’s proposed sugar-sweetened beverages tax. The Committee has recommended that the Australian Government implement a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages that is graduated according to the sugar content. Theo Foukkare, CEO of AACS, said they do not support this proposed simple approach to this very complex issue. “Strong evidence from countries around the world that have implemented a sugar tax clearly shows that this does not achieve the desired health outcome of reducing childhood obesity rates. All it does is increase the price consumers are paying for their beverages without changing behaviour.” Foukkare highlighted the fact convenience retailers continue to provide consumers with choice through increased ranging of low and no sugar products. “In 2024, 49 per cent of all litres sold nationally across all…

A record number of people attended Accredited Distributors’ trade show in Melbourne last week, which also saw its best ever sales result. Held at Marvel Stadium on July 3, the event was a resounding success, with multiple suppliers telling C&I that it was an extremely successful and busy day, with a total of 5947 orders placed and $8,358,420 in sales made. With over 75 exhibitors showcasing their products, the show featured an array of impressive stands, from the iconic Red Bull car parked in the foyer to the Twisties ‘Twist of Fortune’ stand where attendees could have their future told. Not only was it a profitable day for suppliers but also a great day out for the 1992 guests that turned up. Later that evening, guests attended the Showtime Event Centre for an evening of networking and recognition of the year’s top achievers. Attendees mingled the night away with a…

There’s no missing the big changes in the convenience store industry over the past few years. Companies like Wawa and Buc-ee’s are forging their way to new states, while others such as Mountain Express and Foxtrot have gone bankrupt. Fuel sales continue to struggle post-COVID-19 while foodservice grabs an expanding spotlight. It’s a lot to take in. To help break things down, C-Store Dive sorted through NACS and NielsenIQ data from the last three years and pulled out some of the most interesting data points to share — starting with a quick look at the sales data. The evolution of c-store sales There’s no question that gasoline is a massive revenue driver for c-stores. But with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, c-stores became a lifeline for food, snacks and other items in a quick and easy format. And some companies are focused on being seen as a restaurant just as much…

Dive Brief: Zuber Issa, co-CEO of EG Group, has launched a new gas station brand in the U.K., EG On The Move, according to a Tuesday announcement and a source familiar with the situation. Last month, Issa revealed plans to step down and acquire EG Group’s remaining forecourt business in the U.K. and certain standalone foodservice locations for 228 million pounds. EG On The Move — which will be completely separate from EG Group once the deal finalizes this fall — will be the banner for those locations moving forward, the source said. Issa has ambitious plans for EG On The Move, with intentions to surpass 120 sites in the next three years, according to the announcement. Dive Insight: In addition to the 32 sites Issa has agreed to acquire, EG On The Move is opening seven new convenience stores in a trial with The Co-operative Group (Co-op), the largest consumer co-operative in the…