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INDUSTRY UPDATES: CONVENIENCE AND IMPLUSE RETAILING EXPO 2024
CONVENIENCE AND IMPLUSE RETAILING EXPO 2024
Convenience unleashed
With over 120 exhibitors and more than 1500 attendees through the door, the 2024 C&I Expo and Industry Symposium provided the perfect place to wheel, deal, network, and learn.
THE 2024 C&I EXPO and Industry Symposium held at MCEC Melbourne on 29-30 October, brought together retailers, suppliers, and industry experts for two days of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences with the latest trends and products in the industry.
A constant flow of visitors ensured suppliers were kept busy and most importantly got in front of both big players in the P&C space as well as small-to-medium operators.
- Safa de Valois, Group Publisher, C&I Media
Safa de Valois, Group Publisher of C&I Media, said it was another great event and expressed his gratitude to the exhibitors the effort put into their stands, as well as a big thank you to the two sponsors – Sanitarium and Posca Hydrate.
“A constant flow of visitors ensured suppliers were kept busy and most importantly got in front of both big players in the P&C space as well as small-to-medium operators.
“The expo floor was bustling with innovations in food and beverage, technology, and convenience solutions. Attendees were treated to a range of products and services designed to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and drive business growth.”
Julijana Manolis, Marketing Manager from Fresh-Food, which launched its new product Fr!sky iced coffee at the expo said it was a great place to launch.
“We have seen so many customers come through from a range of different retailers, including food service, petrol, and convenience.”
The event also provided ample networking opportunities, allowing industry professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and explore collaborative possibilities. This was evident at the buzzing networking drinks on Tuesday evening, sponsored by Posca Hydrate, allowing attendees a bit of downtime to catch up and continue conversations from the day over canapes and drinks.
An Industry Symposium to savour
Starting each day was the C&I Industry Symposium, sponsored by Sanitarium, which featured a lineup of industry thought leaders and subject matter experts who delivered engaging sessions on trends, consumer behaviour, and future opportunities within the petrol and convenience channels.
Day one of the Industry Symposium
Day one saw de Valois open the session by welcoming all attendees before passing on to Deb Cooper, Sales Director, New Zealand at Suntory Oceania, who MCed the symposium.
First up was Theo Foukkare, CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS). Foukkare discussed the channel’s performance for the first half of the year before moving on to some of the advocacy work that AACS is currently undertaking.
“We champion convenience to enable our members to thrive. Everything that we do, every day, whether it be advocacy, talking to politicians, bringing people together to foster conversations with our events held throughout the year, or sharing insights and information both locally and globally, is about championing convenience.”
Foukkare spoke about the areas of advocacy for AACS, which include retail crime, merchant payments, alcohol, tobacco, and health including opposing a proposed sugar tax.
Robert Tedesco, Vice President and General Manager A/NZ of Global Merchant Services for American Express, then took to the stage to speak about how loyalty can play a part in growing a business or brand.
“Loyalty in our context is more about the nudge. It’s about giving people a reason to come back again and again. When people feel seen, rewarded, and appreciated, they not only repeat their custom, but they also advocate for a business.
“And while loyalty has always been important, it’s more critical now than ever because consumers are more discerning. They’re prioritising value, trust, and personalised experiences. The question we’re grappling with is this – how do we build loyalty in a world where customers have more choice and more reason to switch than ever before?”
Tedesco then discussed the path to customer loyalty is about doing the right thing by customers and communities and finding ways to authentically engage both.
Following Tedesco, Brett Higgins, Managing Director of Boxx Brands, spoke about the synergies and opportunities that exist between QSRs and the convenience channel.
“We all share the same customer now and that’s changed significantly over the last few years. Convenience is well positioned and you’re in a very strong position to be able to grow QSR, and for QSR to grow with you and to increase your offer.
Higgins gave examples, both locally and globally, of different ways in which QSR and P&C can complement each other and help each other grow.
“QSR and convenience belong together. If you look at the US, if you look at Europe, if you look at how some of these convenience offers have grown over time. Australia is ready to step into that space.”
Up next was Mark McCaffrey, Pacific Retail Lead at NIQ, who spoke about the Australian consumer outlook and the landscape that retailers and suppliers are facing.
“Despite some of the challenges we face, with cost-of-living pressures and the pressures on the consumer, there are opportunities.”
McCaffrey spoke about the “superpower of convenience” and the different types of values.
“There are two types of values. And we talk about the tale of two values. One value being in a cautious consumer, who is buying with intent. They need to seek savings. Cost savings, price savings, they’ll look for promotions.
“Then there are the values that you hold dear. The values that are important to you. The things you’re willing to pay more for and convenience is one of them. It is our superpower. Time is one of our most precious commodities. It’s something we all value.”
Day two of the Industry Symposium
The second session of the 2024 C&I Symposium featured a stellar lineup of speakers offering valuable insights to the P&C industry.
First up we heard from Bradley Shaw, Manager of External Affairs and Communications at Philip Morris International (PMI), who provided insights into the size and scale of the illicit tobacco market and what needs to be done to address it.
Next up, Ren Frisé, Executive Director of Digital, Data and Technology at Enigma, took the stage to discuss how brands and retailers can capture the Gen Z market and provided practical strategies that businesses can implement right now to grow their market share.
Frisé spoke about AI and the positive influence it can have on streamlining and simplifying certain aspects of your business, and how best to utilise it, again offering practical and actual solutions to harness its power.
Daniel Nassif from Till Payments was up next and discussed how rapid changes in payments are reshaping customer experiences in the P&C sector. Nassif explained it’s all about speed, ease, and meeting new consumer expectations.
“Once you know who your customer is you can start building customer experiences. Start thinking about how your customer experience is different to your competitor, or anyone else in the market, because they will excel. A unified paying experience is key.”
Finally, Skye Jackson, Area Lead Growth and Change at 7-Eleven, spoke at a high level about how 7-Eleven is leading growth and change in the convenience industry, how they continue to revolutionise the channel, and why it is important for both retailers and suppliers to work together.
“7-Eleven has a clear strategy and that’s to change the face of the Australian convenience channel. My message to retailers and the suppliers we work with is that we all have a responsibility to transform this journey.
“The more that we compete to improve our offers, and to provide a better service to our customers, the stronger we make our channel and the better it is for all of us.”
Overall, the two sessions offered valuable insights into how businesses can adapt to shifting consumer expectations, leverage emerging technologies, and further elevate their businesses.
The C&I Expo is back in 2026
The C&I Expo is taking a break in 2025 and will return in an exciting new partnership with the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) in March 2026.
