Press Releases

Questions have been raised over how effective the Federal Government’s latest plan to tackle the youth vaping crisis will be, especially when it comes to stamping out the nicotine vape black market. Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare labelled today’s announcement a ‘rebadging’ of current failed policy. “Any move to address youth vaping is a positive thing, however our members fear this is simply not going to work because it’s just rebadging current policy framework that even Health Minister Mark Butler has admitted is a failure,” ACCS CEO Theo Foukkare said.  “It’s all well and good to say, ‘we’re going to crack down at the border’ and ‘we’ll work all those details out at another time’, but I don’t think people understand how difficult that actually is and how costly that is.  “If it was easy and affordable, of course that would be the solution, but it…

Small business petrol station owners have called on the Federal Government to help fund critical power grid upgrades that would allow them to install fast charging bays for electric vehicles (EVs). Australian Association of Convenience Stores (ACCS) CEO Theo Foukkare said business owners wanted to offer the renewable energy option, however most were not able to fund the half a million-dollar cost. “We’ve got thousands of AACS members across the nation that want to go green – but they’re not able to get their hands on half a million dollars on their own. The Federal Government’s this week released its Electric Vehicle Strategy, which aims to boost supply and demand of EVs, which Mr Foukkare welcomed. “AACS is supportive of any plan to help Australians reduce emissions,” he said. “However, we really think a government funded program that helps small business owners to pay for these critical upgrades is essential…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has partnered with Hexis Quadrant, to form The Commercial Academy for AACS, and bring bespoke commercial training to retailers and suppliers in the convenience sector. The partnership was announced at last week’s AACS Connect 23 Summit in Melbourne and has already generated a great deal of interest within the industry from suppliers and retailers alike. Through the partnership, AACS members will have access to a range of unique, industry-specific training programs designed to help improve operational efficiency, drive growth, and achieve business goals.Theo Foukkare, CEO, AACS, explained the reason why he feels The Commercial Academy for AACS will become a vital resource for the convenience industry. “Through discussions with retailers and suppliers, it quickly became apparent that a lot of the training programs available are very expensive and in a lot of cases, only available to the larger multinational organisations. “AACS is striving…

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has been accused of launching a smear campaign against thousands of responsible Australian retailers in a desperate attempt to deflect from his failure to shut down the nation’s out of control nicotine vape black market. Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare said comments by Mr Butler, published in the Sydney Morning Herald, that claimed convenience stores and petrol stations were deliberately selling nicotine vapes to children amounted to slander. “We have over 6,500 members who’ve each made a commitment to be responsible retailers, and many are small family businesses trying to make an honest living– yet Mark Butler is demonising them for a problem that he has the power to fix. “There is no doubt kids are getting their hands on dodgy nicotine vapes from shifty shopfronts–but they’re not AACS members. “If Mr Butler – or anyone else for that matter –…

Leading national retail groups representing thousands of small, independent and family-owned businesses across Queensland have applauded the State Government’s crack-down on the sale of illicit tobacco. The leaders of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), the Master Grocers Australia (MGA), and the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) said the QLD Government had listened to industry concerns and taken strong action. Illicit tobacco now accounts for one in five tobacco products consumed in Australia, costing governments almost $4 billion a year in stolen taxes, and putting the health and welfare of all Australians at risk. “The beefed-up legislation is clear recognition of the damage that illicit tobacco is inflicting on law abiding businesses, communities, and the Queensland economy,” AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said. Mr Foukkare said the new legislation would overhaul Queensland’s tobacco laws and help to clamp down on the illicit vape black market behind the youth vaping…

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland must explain why she has failed to block access to the online black market that is responsible for the nation’s youth vaping crisis. Australian Association for Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare said Minister Rowland had not used ministerial powers that allow her to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block illicit websites and issue “take down” notices to social media platforms where vapes are being sold. “We’re in the depths of a youth vaping crisis fuelled by illicit websites and predatory social media users that don’t care who they sell these things to,” Mr Foukkare said. “Our school yards are flooded with vapes that are either being bought online by kids themselves, or by renegade retailers who buy them in bulk and flog them to kids of all ages at their dodgy shops. “We’ve seen that unfold in Victoria, where a recent Herald Sun…