CONNECT 2025 Award Winners

AACS has been at the forefront in recognising and honoring excellence within the convenience retail industry. The AACS Industry Awards are now entrenched as the gold standard of awards, setting the bar for best practices, innovation & retail format development in the Australian Convenience retail landscape.

Peter Jowett Awards

Retailer Awards

Supplier Awards

Peter Jowett Award

AACS Industry Awards at Crown, Melbourne on 27/3/2025. Photo: Darren K / Event Photos Australia

2025 winners: Ed Ratcliffe, 7-Eleven (Retailer) & Emily Tipping, Suntory Oceania (Supplier)

Award Criteria

Retailer Awards

Store of the Year

bp Caboolture North

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Corporate Store of the Year

bp Caboolture North

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

INDEPENDENT STORE OF THE YEAR

SUPPLY Boorooma

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

RETAIL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Chevron Australia

Criteria

For the Retailer Group of the Year and all Supplier of the Year Awards, the Convenience Pulse program provides the detailed platform for retailers & suppliers to complete a 360-degree review of performance over a 12-month period, with a mid-year progress check also in place. This review is undertaken by all Retailers & over 70 supplier partners to determine how the supplier & key retailer awards are won.

Key performance criteria includes:

ESG Strategy
Business Practices
Personnel
Category Management
Marketing (Supplier) & Execution (Retailer)
Supply Chain & Processes

25%

Supplier Awards

Supplier of the Year

Suntory Oceania

Criteria

Key performance criteria includes:

ESG Strategy
Business Practices
Personnel
Category Management
Marketing (Supplier) & Execution (Retailer)
Supply Chain & Processes

25%

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

Monster Strawberry Dreams

Criteria

Key performance criteria includes:

ESG Strategy
Business Practices
Personnel
Category Management
Marketing (Supplier) & Execution (Retailer)
Supply Chain & Processes

25%

Grocery & General Merchandise

Pacific Optics

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Snacking

Pepsico

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Telecommunications

Sim Connect / Telstra

Criteria

Key performance criteria includes:

ESG Strategy
Business Practices
Personnel
Category Management
Marketing (Supplier) & Execution (Retailer)
Supply Chain & Processes

25%

Tobacco

Philip Morris Limited

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Food Service

Patties

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Beverages

Suntory Oceania

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Confectionary

Mondelez

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

Distributors

The Distributors

Criteria

There are two categories with the overall winner of the two categories being the Australian representative at the NACS Best of the Best Retailer of the Year award.

The two Categories are:

Company Owned or Franchised Site
Privately Owned Site

Scoring Criteria	% Allocation
Store Format & Innovation	10%
Technology, Loyalty, Payment	10%
Product Range	10%
People Development	10%
Customer Service Initiatives	10%
Results/Performance	25%
General Impression/Relevance	25%

MULTI SITE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

2 - 10 Stores

NPG Retail

Criteria

Entry Criteria	Weighting %	Looking for Info On	How Will it be Measured
Results & Performance	30%	Total shop sales as a % vs LY Key category growth performance as a % vs LY Average transaction value (actual number & growth) Food service contribution to sales Coffee cups sold per day Profitability growth as a %	· Submission on Detail on AACS Template with detailed information and photos · Reviewed by Industry Panel of six judges
People Development	20%	Training programs to develop staff Ongoing people development programs
Retail Format & Innovation	20%	How have you developed the store format to cater to your customers’ needs?
Category Management	10%	Understanding processes and trends, utilising insights to drive category growth
Business Practices	10%	Negotiations, strategy and planning
Execution in Store	10%

AACS Industry Awards at Crown, Melbourne on 27/3/2025. Photo: Pat Brunet / Event Photos Australia

11 – 20 Stores

NA for 2024

Criteria

Entry Criteria	Weighting %	Looking for Info On	How Will it be Measured
Results & Performance	30%	Total shop sales as a % vs LY Key category growth performance as a % vs LY Average transaction value (actual number & growth) Food service contribution to sales Coffee cups sold per day Profitability growth as a %	· Submission on Detail on AACS Template with detailed information and photos · Reviewed by Industry Panel of six judges
People Development	20%	Training programs to develop staff Ongoing people development programs
Retail Format & Innovation	20%	How have you developed the store format to cater to your customers’ needs?
Category Management	10%	Understanding processes and trends, utilising insights to drive category growth
Business Practices	10%	Negotiations, strategy and planning
Execution in Store	10%	Execution Results, Planogram Compliance, Promotional Support

21 – 70 Stores

Vantage Fuels Bowser Bean

Criteria

Entry Criteria	Weighting %	Looking for Info On	How Will it be Measured
Results & Performance	30%	Total shop sales as a % vs LY Key category growth performance as a % vs LY Average transaction value (actual number & growth) Food service contribution to sales Coffee cups sold per day Profitability growth as a %	· Submission on Detail on AACS Template with detailed information and photos · Reviewed by Industry Panel of six judges
People Development	20%	Training programs to develop staff Ongoing people development programs
Retail Format & Innovation	20%	How have you developed the store format to cater to your customers’ needs?
Category Management	10%	Understanding processes and trends, utilising insights to drive category growth
Business Practices	10%	Negotiations, strategy and planning
Execution in Store	10%	Execution Results, Planogram Compliance, Promotional Support

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CONNECT 2025 Award Winners

Peter Jowett Award

2025 winners: Ed Ratcliffe, 7-Eleven (Retailer) & Emily Tipping, Suntory Oceania (Supplier)

Retailer Awards

Store of the Year

bp Caboolture North

Corporate Store of the Year

bp Caboolture North

INDEPENDENT STORE OF THE YEAR

SUPPLY Boorooma

RETAIL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Chevron Australia

Supplier Awards

Supplier of the Year

Suntory Oceania

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

Monster Strawberry Dreams

Grocery & General Merchandise

Pacific Optics

Snacking

Pepsico

Telecommunications

Sim Connect / Telstra

Tobacco

Philip Morris Limited

Food Service

Patties

Beverages

Suntory Oceania

Confectionary

Mondelez

Distributors

The Distributors

MULTI SITE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

2 - 10 Stores

NPG Retail

11 – 20 Stores

NA for 2024

21 – 70 Stores

Vantage Fuels Bowser Bean

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