AACS awards top Aussie retailers

AACS recently held the AACS Gala and Awards dinner at the Sydney’s Town Hall. The event was graced by top Australian retailers and suppliers.

AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said the Summit and Gala Awards have taken on increased significance this year, as some of the major issues impacting the convenience industry – from petrol theft to illicit tobacco and packaged alcohol – have emerged in a broader public sense.

“In the future, when we look back on 2017 with the benefit of hindsight, it could well prove to be a bellwether year for the convenience industry in Australia,” Rogut said.

The Retailer of the Year was given to AA Petroleum; the Supplier of the Year award went to Pacific Optics; Karen Alarcon of BP and Joseph Addamo of Philip Morris picked up the coveted AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Awards for retailers and suppliers and Alyssa Milton of 7-Eleven was named the AACS Women in Convenience Woman of the Year.

“We’ve seen the Red Tape Committee recommend packaged alcohol be able to be sold through our channel, we’ve seen a major political party announce its intention to criminalise petrol theft, and politicians and the pubic alike are waking up to the enormity of the illicit tobacco market in Australia,” said Rogut.

“These issues are not new to those of us in the industry, but the fact they are growing in importance in the public consciousness demonstrates that the voice of small business can still be heard.”

The winners of the AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Awards honoured the up and coming talent in convenience. The awardees will be embarking on an overseas study tour in October’s to Orlando and to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Chicago.

“The AACS Convenience Industry Leadership Summit reinforced the importance for us to maintain our focus on innovation, of advocating for a more level playing field in retail, and working more collaboratively in a supplier-retailer sense. And our Gala Awards enabled us to acknowledge the important contributions and achievements of our industry’s leading lights, and have some fun in the process,” he said.

AACS Awards – all winners by category

Retailer of the Year

Finalists:

AA Petroleum

BP

7-Eleven

Winner: AA Petroleum

Supplier of the Year

Finalists:

Pacific Optics

The Distributors

Coca Cola

Winner: Pacific Optics

Beverage & Dairy Supplier of the Year

Finalists:

Schweppes

Coca Cola

Parmalat

Winner: Coca Cola

Snacking Supplier of the Year

Finalists:

PepsiCo

Peters Ice Cream

Unilever Streets

Winner: PepsiCo

Confectionery Supplier of the Year

Finalists:

Nestle

Mars

Mondelez

Winner: Mondelez

Food on the Go Supplier of the Year

Finalists:

Mrs Macs

PFD

Patties

Winner: Mrs Macs

Tobacco Supplier of the Year

Finalists:

Imperial Tobacco

Philip Morris

Richland Express

Winner: Philip Morris

Service Provider of the Year

Finalists:

IRI

ShopperTracker

Advantage

Winner: IRI

Grocery & General Merchandise

Finalists:

Pacific Optics

Repco

Winner: Pacific Optics

Distributor of the Year

Finalists:

Metcash

The Distributors

Winner: The Distributors

Telecommunications Provider of the Year

Finalists:

Optus

Vodafone

Winner: Optus

Company Operated Store

Finalists:

BP Ringwood

Caltex Foodary Concord

BP Marsden Park

Winner: BP Ringwood

Franchised/Independent Store

Finalists:

7-Eleven Harristown

BP Smeaton Grange

Westoil Petroleum Bundanoon

Winner: BP Smeaton Grange

AACS Women in Convenience Awards

Woman of the Year: Alyssa Milton (7-Eleven)

Store Operator of the Year: Joanne Hodgson (7-Eleven)

Rising Star of the Year: Sara Cockman (Morris Corp)

AACS Peter Jowett Convenience Industry Award 2017

Retail winner Karen Alarcorn (BP)

Supplier winner Joseph Addamo (Philip Morris)