McDonald’s will open the first location of its new spinoff brand CosMc’s this week in Bolingbrook, Illinois. The fast-food giant plans to open 10 CosMc’s locations, including nine restaurants in Texas, by the end of 2024 in a test. McDonald’s will then spend a year analyzing data to decide whether it will expand the small-format chain. The name for the new brand comes from CosMc, a McDonaldland mascot that appeared in advertisements in the late 1980s and early 1990s. CosMc is an alien from outer space who craves McDonald’s food. The company has leaned more into marketing its mascots after seeing success with the Grimace Birthday Meal earlier this year. The burger chain first revealed it was creating CosMc’s as a spinoff in July, but withheld more details about its plans. Photos of the Bolingbrook location surfaced on X, formerly known as Twitter, earlier this week. With a menu that includes old favorites such…

Retailers are increasingly taking a community-first approach to marketing, leveraging their understanding of local industries embedded in local culture to build brand awareness and relationships with consumers. But what happens when a retailer is acquired by an international business without that local knowledge?  7-Eleven Australia has successfully used partnerships with aligned and unexpected Australian brands to elevate and position itself  to be a lot more than just a convenience store chain. Now that the brand has been acquired by parent company 7-Eleven International (7IN), the meaningful relationships based on pop-culture and community could disappear in 7-Eleven Australia’s partnerships. Creative agency Andpeople specialises in this strategy and curated a campaign consisting of various activations for Adidas Originals to harness youth culture and community, through a month-long celebration of creative pioneers and emerging Australian talent. Experiences across Melbourne and Sydney celebrated hospitality, art, entertainment, fashion, beauty and floristry. Similarly, 7-Eleven Australia’s recent…

The remodeled location, which grew from about 4,300 to nearly 8,000 square feet, features a second floor with seating for 30 people. Dive Brief: Dive Insight: Rutter’s latest remodel is about 7,800 square feet — nearly double the size of the store’s previous 4,300 square feet.  Beyond the second-floor dining area and enhanced beverage options, the upgraded location also includes new fuel options, such as unleaded 15, flex fuel, ethanol-free and auto diesel, according to the announcement. The remodeled location reflects Rutter’s “commitment to innovation,” Chris Hartman, vice president of fuels, advertising and development for Rutter’s, said in the announcement. “We’re excited to show off our newest store design ideas, which we feel the customers will truly enjoy,” he said. While somewhat rare in the c-store space, Rutter’s two-story location isn’t the first to surface from a major convenience retailer this year. In August, news came out that Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip was finalizing a…

Global energy company bp charge is making significant strides in the electric vehicle (EV) arena in New Zealand, having installed 100 fast charge points across various metropolitan and regional locations. This development marks a major step forward since the launch of bp charge in late 2022, showcasing its commitment to expanding the New Zealand EV charging network and supporting the transition to electric vehicles. Breaking down barriers Matt Elliott, Head of Country at bp New Zealand, emphasised the impact of this initiative, stating, “By providing fast, reliable chargers across the country, bp charge is working to break down the barriers for people considering an EV. It’s all part of bp’s global commitment to provide customers and partners with the energy and mobility they want, where they want it.” The expansion of bp charge not only facilitates the adoption of EVs but also aligns with bp’s broader strategy to cater to the evolving…

Coffee sold at Apco Café 24/7 and Jack’s Café have picked up medals at the 2023 Australasian Golden Bean Competition. Apco Café 24/7, in partnership with roaster Gigante, won bronze medals for both the Signature Blend and Black Silk Blend in this year’s competition. Grinders and Jack’s Café, which is run by Hungry Jack’s and attached to Coles Express stations, won joint gold in the Large Chain category. Robert Anderson, Director at Apco Service Stations, said it was amazing news. “What a journey it has been and so pleased to receive these National Award results again. Reflects on the quality of the product and partnership, so well done to all.” The Golden Bean, the world’s largest coffee roast competition, has been running for 19 years in Australia and aims to support the growth of the coffee industry by rewarding coffee roasters. Sally Byrne, General Manager at Grinders, speaking on Jack’s…