Last Thursday, the Australian Association of Convenience Stores had their annual awards for convenience standouts.
With this years theme being Embrace Change, 700 of Australian convenience industry’s best came together to recognise the most outstanding individual and company efforts in the sector.
The AACS Gala & Awards Dinner followed the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit held yesterday at the Sydney Convention Centre. The Summit is the most important date in the Australian convenience calendar and yesterday’s attendees heard from a range of inspirational speakers from both inside and outside the industry, and also received a detailed briefing on brand-new research commissioned by AACS on convenience shopper attitudes, motivations and behaviours.
AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said the Convenience Leaders Summit and Gala Awards take on new meaning each year as the convenience industry – and retail in general – evolves at a rapid pace.
“The landscape for the retailers and suppliers in our industry is changing before our eyes. New technology, different expectations from customers, the rise of certain categories and decline of others, shifting regulations for specific products and the role our stores can play in people’s lives are all changing,” Rogut said.
“Our challenge is to embrace this change. If we do so with a positive outlook and a foundation in customer service, year-on-year growth for the Australian convenience industry is more than possible.
“The AACS Convenience Leaders Summit and the Gala & Awards Dinner are an opportunity for everyone to take stock, recognise the efforts of the best and brightest in our industry, and re-set for the challenges ahead,” he said.