Following the best ever attendance at the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores’ (AACS) annual AACS Leadership Summit held yesterday, last night’s AACS Gala Awards again proved a huge success, with the industry’s most outstanding professionals and innovative organisations honoured.
Caltex was named Retailer of the Year for the second year consecutive year, while Coca Cola won Supplier of the Year.
AACS CEO, Jeff Rogut, said the Summit earlier in the day was well attended by more than 300 people, who heard from some of Australia’s and the world’s leading industry minds, with this number swelling to nearly 600 people in attendance for the awards dinner.
“The annual AACS Convenience Leaders Summit and Gala Awards have taken a significant step this year, in terms of reach and importance. As an industry we recognise the challenges and also the opportunities, and the atmosphere over the course of the day was one of confidence and conviction,” Mr Rogut said.
“The focus on innovation is already driving improved performance in the convenience channel, and the awards are an important way to recognise the investments made by those individuals and businesses at the forefront.
“It is clear that, as we continue to develop talent and innovate for the future, the retailers, suppliers and associated entities in our industry can maintain the optimism that has underpinned their recent performance, as they strive to serve their customers as best they can,” he said.
Consistently one of the most anticipated and hotly contested awards, the AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Award, which honours the up and coming stars of the industry, was won by Jack Murphy-Cruise of BP on the retailer side and James Neill of Philip Morris on the supplier side.
Both winners will now prepare for the AACS overseas study tour to London and Amsterdam in October, and then on to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Atlanta.
AACS Awards
Retailer of the Year
Finalists: AA Petroleum, Caltex, 7 – Eleven
Winner: Caltex
Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Smiths, Mondelez, Coca Cola
Winner: Coca Cola
Beverage & Dairy Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Frucor, Coca Cola, Parmalat
Winner: Coca Cola
Ice Cream and Snacking Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Smiths, Peters Ice Cream, Unilever Streets
Winner: Smiths
Confectionery Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Stuart Alexander, Wrigley, Mondelez
Winner: Mondelez
Food on the Go Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Mrs Macs, PFD Fresh to Go, Patties
Winner: Mrs Macs
Tobacco Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris, Richlands Express
Winner: Philip Morris
Service Provider of the Year
Finalists: IRI Aztec, Shopper Tracker/Advantage Australia, Nielsen
Winner: Shopper Tracker/Advantage Australia
GM/Publications/Telecoms Supplier of the Year
Finalists: Pacific Optics, Optus, Vodafone
Winner: Pacific Optics
Distributor of the Year
Finalists: C Store Distribution, Dicksons, The Distributors
Winner: The Distributors
Company Operated Store
Finalists:
BP Marsden Park
Caltex Starmart Annerley
Night Owl Southport
Winner: BP Marsden Park
Franchised/Independent Store
Finalists:
Westside Petroleum Blayney
Caltex Starmart Greenfields
Caltex Starmart Upper Coomera
Winner: Caltex Starmart Greenfields
AACS Store of the Year 2016
APCO Easy Shop Mildura
AACS Peter Jowett Award Winners
Supplier
James Neill – Philip Morris Limited
Retail
Jack Murphy-Cruise – BP
Congratulations to all winners, and all who participated in this year’s awards.
Sign up to C&I’s free bi-weekly newsletter here to receive the latest industry news every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow C&I on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.