Melissa Kress September 13 2012 CSNews JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Convenience stores take on different forms throughout the world, but regardless of where they are located, the key drivers of success remain the same. As noted by the presenters during today’s Nielsen webcast entitled “Global Convenience Market Symposium,” value for the money and additional services are the deciding factors in whether a c-store succeeds anywhere. However, other factors pop up on the must-have list depending on the region. For example, in South Africa, shoppers are looking for an inclusive, one-stop shopping trip, while in Taiwan, shoppers are seeking innovation. In addition to this similar recipe for success, convenience retailers worldwide have several traits in common. Convenience is a premium channel with a younger target group that is a perfect avenue to launch new products, according to webcast moderator Mark Wohltmann, senior manager of the Convenience Competence Center at Nielsen. What…

Amy McNeilage September 14, 2012 The Age If you’re someone who enjoys a 600ml soft-drink with your lunch, you probably don’t consider the beverage “super-sized”. But that’s what New York health authorities have ruled after passing a long-talked-about ban on non-diet soft drink servings. The city’s health board passed a rule overnight limiting sugared soft drink servings to 16 ounces, or 473ml. Various size cups and their equivalent in sugar cubes are displayed as part of New York City Hall’s plans to crack down on the sale of large soft drinks. That means the most common serving size found in Australia – 600ml – would be banned under the rule, which applies to fast-food shops, theatres, workplace cafes and most other places selling prepared food, but does not cover supermarkets or most convenience stores. The 16-ounce limit is only a quarter of the more extreme bucket-like containers available in some…

Farrah Tomazin September 16, 2012 The Age PETROL stations, retailers and other small businesses are feeling the brunt of unprecedented levels of crime. An analysis of police statistics shows a sharp rise in business-related offences over the past financial year. ·According to the latest data, there were 77,676 business victims of crime recorded in 2011-12 – a 4 per cent increase compared with the previous 12 months. Of those crimes: â–  Aggravated burglary against businesses increased by more than 22 per cent. â–  Arson up by almost 19 per cent. â–  Residential burglaries (potentially involving more people working from home) increased by 16.4 per cent. â–  Motor vehicle theft rose by over 23 per cent. â–  Crimes of deception increased by 3 per cent. The number of people driving off from service stations without paying for petrol also increased, by almost 17 per cent, a development police say is ”strongly…

Trent Dalton September 17, 2012 News Limited Network A VOLATILE breed of weekend drinker is staggering into emergency wards across the country, defined as the ”wide-awake drunk” pulsing on a cocktail of alcoholic uppers and downers. As more than 3500 Australians are hospitalised each year with brain injuries caused by assaults, leading medicos are spotlighting the links between youth violence and the mixing of stimulant caffeinated energy drinks with depressant alcoholic spirits. ”It’s the stimulant versus the sedative,” said Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton. ”Your perception of your level of intoxication is decreased. So people are getting more and more intoxicated because they’re a ‘wide-awake drunk’ you might say. It started off with the alcopops but, really, it’s gone to another level.” High-proof alcohols mix with taste-masking, high-energy drinks and the results spill into the floors of emergency wards every Friday and Saturday night, said Dr Hambleton, choking a…

Simon Canning September 17, 2012 The Australian COCA-COLA is to become a music platform when it launches its biggest summer promotion, linking with the streaming service Spotify to offer drinkers access to 50 hits from each of the past 75 years. One year after launching its personalised cans — an Australian campaign replicated around the world — the drinks giant will rebrand its cans as individual years from 1938, with Universal music providing hit songs from each year. Coca-Cola South Pacific marketing director Lucie Austin said there was an enormous challenge trying to top the success of the Share a Coke campaign last summer. “It was incredibly personal, it created connections, which is what Coke is known for, and it let people have a bit of fun with the brand as well,” Ms Austin said. “Coke’s history has always had a strong link to music and we thought music choices…