UCB 2025 proving progress is better than perfection for achieving success

UCB store operators, suppliers and supporters descended on the Gold Coast last week for  the UCB 2025 Conference under the theme “Change is Good, Progress is Better”, where they came together to learn, to work, to connect and to have a little fun.

The UCB Stores (United Convenience Buyers) Conference and Trade Show for 2025, kicked off with registration.

Delegates checked in and registered, then took the time to have a casual catchup with colleagues suppliers and friends at the impressive pop up Bega Group C-store in the lobby of the always wonderful RACV Royal Pines Gold Coast.

After a relaxed check in with colleagues and suppliers at the impressive pop up C-Store in the lobby after registration the delegates hit the ground running with the learning and working kicked off on Day 1 with the Asahi Beverages  Business Sessions.

UCB CEO Darren Park opened the event and outlined the importance of the convenience category delivering time to customers, giving them a Fast and Easy, a simple and frictionless experience, in the wider context of business progress…because Change is Good, but Progress is Better.

Antonia Tolich, Category and Channel Strategy Manager, Asahi Beverages, took delegates behind the curtain for the unknown but aligned alcohol segment. Highlighting that there has been a shift from beer to RTD (Ready To Drink) like the category hero Hard Rated. Antonia drew out synergies outlining that 31% of Gen Z liquor purchases are ‘unplanned’ and lack brand or location ‘loyalty’ and 12% of all liquor purchases are ‘last minute’ which poses an opportunity for alignment in the convenience format.

Theo Foukkare CEO of AACS (Australian Association of Convenience Stores), provided a preview of retail stats and trends and a recap of the State of the Industry Report, before leading a panel discussion on the illicit tobacco challenge.

Elisha Radwanowski, Executive Manager Employment and Compliance for Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA), took delegates through the realities of employment compliance as a moving target that MUST be tackled. Going “full ostrich” is not an option. Compliance is an “elephant”, eating it in one sitting is impossible, but one bite at a time, taking the incremental steps that are required to move towards the goal is what is needed…because Progress is better than Perfection.

Brock Giblin put Progress into perspective by sharing, for the first time ever, his very personal experience of survival and growth following a car accident that left him with severe burns to over 70% of his body.

Delegates left the Business Sessions informed, inspired and energised as they headed into the first full session of the Trade Show for a working dinner before letting their hair down (with a special guest) at the Lactalis Afterparty.

 

DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Hot off the heels of a surprise performance of his band Six and Out at the after party the night before, Australian cricket legend Brett Lee joined delegates for the Dare Charged Breakfast in the Bega Group Cafe for a rare peek behind the curtain of his iconic career in a live interview with another Australian cricketer Greg Ritchie .

Good food, great chat and the much needed caffine of a heap of Dare Charged delegates left read to Fire On All Cylinders for the networking events.

In the tradition of the event Day 2 saw delegates treated to a day of social networking at one of the intese Networking Activity Sessions;

• The Asahi Beverages Golf Classic
• The Monster Energy Go Kart Championship
• Steggles Winery Tour
• Gatorade Inc Top Golf
• PFD Food Services Pty Ltd Cocktail Experience
• Nestlé Day Spa

Even the almost constant rain could not get in the way of some serious (and not so serious) fun.

 

Day 2 wrapped up with a Fire and Ice dinner presented by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners where the networking turned to fun under the stars followed by the Mother Afterparty and Rokeoke!

 

DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

 

After a couple of days (and nights) of learning, networking and a little fun it can be hard to be your best and take a clear head into the day…but Posca Hydrate had the delegates covered with the Recovery and Focus Breakfast.

A truly unique product and approach…that this morning came with a Posca Powered arm wrestle between Merrick Watts and Andrew Johnson…left delegates energised and focused for the business insight sessions on Day 3 presented by Mondelēz International.

The learning continued  with the first of the days Business Insights Sessions, where again the focus was on Progress, on arming delegates with the information they need about themselves, their industry and their customers, that they need to make Progress towards their own goals and business success.

Darren Park, CEO at UCB, kicked off the session with a deep dive into the realities of ‘executing’ for success onsite. The key message was a simple one…Progress towards success is a game of inches. Success is a result of the incremental change, of focused hard work and of innovation with the support of partners for delivery and information. Moving the dail (or couch) alone is almost impossible, but with the right people in your ‘execution’ team, backing and supporting you – all retailers, or all sizes can achieve innovative and record breaking success.

Brad Cooper, GM Commercial Insights at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners spotlighted the real world value that customer insights can deliver when he presented a recent case study of two almost identical sites, 750m away from each other in an almost identical demographic and socio-economic environments. Gut intrinsic led to the roll out of the same offer in both locations due to their overwhelming similarities, however a detailed review of the customer data revealed fundamental differences in customer demand and purchasing patterns that allowed for the instore offer to be tweaked to optimise for the differences, rather than standardise. Customer driven instore strategic decisions lead to deeper customer satisfaction and greater success. To put it another way – its not so much ‘knowledge is power’, it is more ‘information is growth’.

Mark McCrindle, strategic demographic expert, expanded delegates horizons by exploring the five trends shaping the future of convenience and retail towards 2030.

Mark explored the impacts trends including;
– economic uncertainty and pressure,
– demographic change,
– intergenerational transfer,
– technology and connection,
– redefined methods, styles and engagements at work
are having on the pathway to success today, and what businesses need to do now to be ready for the ongoing impacts these trends will continue to drive into the future.

Armed with practical ‘information’ (data in context delivering value) delegates took a quick morning tea before heading back for more insights.

The Business Insights Sessions concluded with a bang with two keynote presentations that left the room buzzing

First up Philip Lowe, former governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia gave delegates an open and insightful presentation on the boarder economy, payments schemes and customer pain points…and the quirky commitment to cash in the Australian market (iykyk).

Janine Allis, Founder of Boost Juice and all round “person”, shared her story, and more importantly, what her journey has taught her about living her best life.

Life lessons to remember;
– the meaning of life is learning
– how winners think
– don’t settle for mediocrity
– customers rule
– the most expensive business idea… ‘we’ve always done it that way’
– be kind to yourself
– say YES! …it is how you open doors to opportunities
– people are people

 

 

 

TRADE SHOW AND EXPO

Armed with information and motivation from each of the Business Insight Sessions delegates headed into the Trade Show for the last time to convert those learnings into business opportunities.

 

 

RELAX AND RECOGNISE

The work all done it was time for recognition and fun.  The Bega Group ‘Where the Magic Happens’ was the perfect setting for some costumed fun.

 

 

 

Suppliers and new products were recognised with the Annual Awards.

2025 Conference Supplier of the Year:

• Carbonated Beverages and Sports Drinks – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
• Energy Drinks – Suntory Oceania AND Red Bull
• Functional Drinks and Water Asahi Beverages
• Confectionery – Mondelēz International
• Snacking – PepsiCo
• Food Manufacturer – Patties Food Group
• Flavoured Milk – Bega Group
• General Merchandise – Pacific Optics
• Wholesaler/distributor – The Distributors
• New Product of the Year – Bega Group Dare NSA Triple Espresso 500ml

Trade Stand of the Year – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Trade Rep of the Year – Renee Ross,  Bega Group

Trade Partner of the Year – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

 

The party kept on at the V After Party with the rock stylings of Killer Queen.