Registrations now open – AACS 2019 Overseas Study Tour

Destination: USA

Want to visit the NACS Show in Atlanta [1st – 4th October] before the AACS study tour starts on October 7th? Contact jeff@aacs.org.au or Yashodha Nair yashodha@ewm.com.au and we will assist you

In 2018 we took our study tour to the amazing China to see the latest innovations.

In 2019 we will visit Los Angeles and San Francisco in the USA. See the latest in innovative retail – convenience stores and others; explore the latest in store and unstaffed store technology and data management and use; interact with key leaders in the famous Silicon Valley; explore on demand fueling for cars as well as driverless car deliveries already taking place…..and so much more…..

Amazing hotels for our group ….. Located in the cool and trendy Soma district, the W San Francisco offers luxurious, yet edgy accommodation. Located in the heart of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Kimpton ‘The Everley’ hotel is a beautiful property large enough to host our group and small enough to feel like home….. and terrific dinners for the group in all areas after the day’s work is done.

Lock the dates in your diaries now so that you don’t miss out – numbers will be limited and the USA is a popular destination.

Dates:
7th to 11th October 2019
Cost:
$7800.00 per person [excludes international travel but includes accommodation, transfers, meals, internal flight. Other personal expenses excluded]

Please contact jeff@aacs.org.au if you wish to discuss the Tour.
[Details subject to change and updates]

Click here to register now

Confirmed visits so far – more to come……

• Amazon Go
  • Checkout-free retail, innovative approach to foodservice and convenience retail. 
  • CSP Daily News
• Filld
  • Visit with their CEO to learn about fuel delivery
  • Convenience Matters Podcast
  • The Drive
• CloudMinds
  • Demo retail technology including digital avatars, smart fridges, and advertisements served up via facial recognition 
  • NACS Daily
  • Business Wire
• Zippin
  • Visit with their CEO to learn about and demo checkout-free retail technology
  • NACS Daily
  • Video
• Standard Cognition
  • Visit their test store and meet with the co-founder to learn about checkout-free retail technology
  • NACS Daily
  • Company website
• Mixt.com’s “Rover”
  • Get lunch at the Mixt Rover in San Francisco. Trying to get a representative to join us, but this will be good either way. Great proximity to our meetings that day.
  • Website
• The Goods Mart
  • Visit with the owner, have coffee and pastries, learn about her health-focused approach to convenience retailing
  • Business Insider
• Schaerer USA’s Coffee Competence Center
  • Schaerer just built a US version of the Coffee Competence Center, and we’ll visit to learn about coffee trends, have “hands-on” training with equipment, and more. Speaking with them on Tuesday to discuss our options, but they’ve welcomed us to visit. 
  • CCC Overview (for the one in Zuchwil. No website yet for the US center)
• Bombay Frankie Company
  • Meet with the owner to learn about his foodservice approach, tour the convenience store, and sample food. This should inspire attendees to think outside of the box for foodservice
  • Food & Wine Magazine

The ‘AACS Convenience Leaders Summit and Gala & Awards dinner 2019’ will take place in Sydney on one day, the 15th August 2019. The AACS Convenience Leaders Summit will be at the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour, to be followed in the evening by the AACS Gala & Awards dinner 2019 at The Star in Darling Harbour.

Attend the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit, hear from some interesting and inspirational speakers throughout the day, network with other industry professionals and then take part in the wrap up quiz on the day and you could win the opportunity to join the AACS overseas study tour to the USA in October with costs paid for by AACS (flights/accommodation subject to some exclusions).

An amazing opportunity to see the very latest convenience and other retail trends and join with others in our industry. Join us on the 15th August at the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit in Sydney for a terrific day.

Be among the first see the latest AACS research into current usage of the Convenience Channel (not specific to Brands) and how it is perceived. What are the Missions they are using the stores for and how does this compare to other stores they use for these same Missions? Which Missions do they not use. The frequency of use of Convenience stores versus other store formats. (including QSR, Supermarkets, Café/Take away shops, Small Grocery Online etc.). What is important to them and what drive the choice of store to make purchases.

What does Convenience really mean to shoppers?

Some of the speakers that you will hear at the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit on August 15th:

Jeff Rogut CEO AACS
Julie Laycock AACS Chair, and Head of Marketing at 7-Eleven Australia
Frank Beard USA
Mark Donaldson VC
Corinne Barclay
Shaun Cousins
Danny Celoni

AACS is now seeking nominations from AACS Member Retailers for the ‘AACS Store of the year’ for 2019.

This year there will be two awards – one for ‘AACS Company operated Store of the year’, and another for ‘AACS Franchise / Independent Store of the year’.

Stores will be mystery shopped twice through an independent company for 2019. These visits will occur from early May until early June 2019.

Criteria will include:

Walk up/drive up appeal

• Ease of access
• Clear signage
• Well presented store front, forecourt, gardens
• Innovation in store
• Added services e.g. money transfer, on line order collection, barista coffee, drive through etc
• Use of digital signage for promotions, menus
• Store layout for customer ease of shopping and efficient service

Product range

• Displays look full and inviting, all price ticketed
• Range is appropriate for store size and location

Food offer

• Well presented food to go offer
• Appropriate range for the day part e.g. breakfast, lunch etc
• Easy to buy allied products e.g. donuts/coffee, sandwiches/drinks etc
• Range to satisfy a variety of tastes
• Coffee machines accessible, and clean

Food quality

• Sandwiches fresh and well in date
• Pies and other heated products hot and ready to eat
• Coffee temperature and flavour is acceptable
• Bakery items fresh

Stores will be independently assessed through mystery shopping and may be nominated from any state.

Winner will be announced at the AACS Gala & Awards dinner in Sydney on August 15th 2019

It’s on again – an opportunity for those in the convenience industry to once again shine on the local stage and to also win a place on the AACS Overseas Study Tour to the USA in September 2019.

What is the AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Award?

The AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Award is a unique opportunity for our younger future leader AACS members to challenge others in Australia thinking about the opportunities for our industry.

Initially, employees from Retailer and Supplier member companies are invited to select candidates aged between 21 and 36 years of age for this year’s competition (candidates must be no older than 36 years of age on 31st of May 2019) .

Participants are to submit a written paper of no more than 4000 words, OR a PowerPoint presentation of 10 slides on the topic. A one page biography is also required at the time of submission.

New judging format

A panel of judges will assess all submissions and select 3 Supplier member finalists and 3 Retailer member finalists. These finalists will then present their responses to a select group of judges from retail and supplier companies, and featuring senior executives from these companies. The two winners selected by these judges will then present to all attendees at the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit in Sydney in August 2019. These winners will join the AACS Overseas Study Tour to the USA in September 2019

Exact dates, venues and timing for presentations will be advised.

The presentations will have a time limit of 12 minutes.
Some members, in the past, have run an internal competition for their staff as a way of selecting their candidates. This is an excellent development program for people working in the convenience channel.

The Topic for 2019

“Convenience retailing is facing a number of challenges that may impact sales and profitability. Some traditionally high volume categories are in decline, and new threats and opportunities such as the focus on obesity and ‘better for you products’ are emerging. How would you recommend tackling the future so that the Convenience industry continues to grow profitable sales by satisfying evolving customer needs? You may use data and information available from other countries in your analysis and recommendation.”

If you do intend to participating, please advise Jeff at jeff@aacs.org.au by Friday 22nd March 2019.

Presentations are to be emailed to Jeff Rogut, CEO, AACS at jeff@aacs.org.au to be received no later than Friday 31st May 2019

By participating you acknowledge that, should you win The AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Award Finals (Presentation), your employer will release you from work obligations to join the AACS Overseas Study Tour in September 2019. The prize is not transferable.

Eligibility

• This competition is open to participants employed by AACS Members. Participants may not have previously received an AACS Scholarship Award/Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Award.
• Entrants must be between the ages of 21 and 36 years as at 31st May 2019.
• There are two Categories of Award. One award will be given in recognition of an outstanding presentation by a Retailer within the channel and another award will recognise an outstanding presentation by a Supplier within our channel of trade.

Things to know

• Financial AACS Members may nominate two entrants to participate in the AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Award for 2019. AACS Diamond Members may nominate 3 entrants.
• The presentation time limit is 12 minutes.
• The finalists may use visual aids in this presentation.
• The winners for both Retailer and Supplier Awards will be announced at the AACS Convenience Leaders Summit in Sydney in August 2019.
• The Retailer and Supplier winner will attend the AACS Overseas Study Tour – expenses paid by AACS [economy air travel, and accommodation – subject to certain exclusions] in September 2019.

The criteria for initial selection will be:

• Addresses the question 40 points
• Innovative thinking 25 points
• Could be implemented 25 points
• Quality of submission & presentation 10 points
• Total: 100 points

We look forward to welcoming our 2019 participants.

The ‘AACS Convenience Leaders Summit and Gala & Awards dinner 2019’ will take place in Sydney on one day, the 15th August 2019. The AACS Convenience Leaders Summit will be at the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour, to be followed in the evening by the AACS Gala & Awards dinner 2019 at The Star in Darling Harbour.

Our theme this year is: Embrace Change

Do not miss a terrific program of speakers bringing a local and international perspective for our industry as well as presentations from the AACS PJ Award competition during the day, followed by the much anticipated Gala & Awards dinner in the evening. This will again be followed by an excellent after party, proudly sponsored by The Distributors.

Also visit the C&I EXPO to be held at the Sydney Convention centre on the 14/15th August.

Click Here to Register Now