As convenience retailers consider new layouts, flavors and technology, the ability to be efficient with operations will be key, experts say. From a flurry of M&A activity to the downfall of Mountain Express, 2023 was packed with storylines for the c-store industry. Will 2024 reach those same heights? It’s hard to say for certain in such a complex, competitive and rapidly changing industry. But in speaking with experts over the past few weeks, we feel like we have a pretty good idea of some of the key themes that will emerge over the next 12 months. Change is a word that has increasingly come to define the industry as it continues to push beyond the smokes-and-Cokes operating model. And that evolution will continue to build momentum in 2024, experts say. Store innovation, company consolidation and the elevation of foodservice to compete with, and even supersede, restaurant fare, promise to be dominant trends. As companies deal…

In the competitive landscape of Singapore’s Food and Beverage (F&B) industry, one name has rapidly emerged as a force to be reckoned with – Gopizza.  Touted as Korea’s leading AI-powered pizza brand, Gopizza has not only captured the taste buds of locals but has also left an indelible mark on the market in just three years since its launch. Recently, we had the opportunity to delve into the intriguing story behind its meteoric rise and its ambitious regional expansion plans, courtesy of an exclusive interview with Kelvin Sia, the regional CEO of Gopizza.  Under Sia’s leadership, the company’s presence in Singapore has grown to an impressive 27 stores since its inception in 2020. It also recently opened a new store at Changi Airport Terminal 2 in Singapore. Focusing on innovation “The integration of cutting-edge AI technology throughout our pizza-making process has revolutionised our operations, allowing us to deliver consistent quality and speed,…

NEW ZEALAND’S DECLINE IN  SMOKING in the past four years is extraordinary – equivalent to what took two decades to achieve. New Zealand has recently had some of the most dramatic decreases in smoking in the world, including for Māori and highly deprived groups. Almost a quarter of a million fewer Kiwis are now smoking daily, and it puts us in a tiny club of countries that have smoking rates under 7 per cent. What we have in common with these successful countries is people switching from smoked tobacco to less harmful alternatives. To reach the smoking goal of 5 per cent or less (that is, 95 per cent or more of all adults being “smokefree”), around 100,000 smokers need to quit over the next two years. Our decline in smoking in the last four years is extraordinary – equivalent to what took two decades to achieve. The unprecedented progress shown in the…

AI is a non-negotiable for retailers. As the driving force behind a new era of hyper-personalisation, efficiency and sustainable retail experiences, its impact on the way we shop cannot be understated.  So as more and more retailers integrate the benefits of AI into their growth strategy, what will be next for this transformative technology? And how will it shape the way we shop? Today’s consumers are craving a truly unique shopping experience. Imagine a world where your shopping needs are not just met, but anticipated, simplifying the decision-making process like never before. The idea of data as the new currency is nothing new, but what is really setting retailers apart is how this data is used. We are only at the beginning, and as brands begin to scale their AI utilisation, its full spectrum ofbenefits for consumers and retailers alike will be uncovered. AI is a business necessity for retailers…