The Asia Pacific Fuel Industry Forum (AFPFIF) is the definitive event for businesses that participate in the fuel retail and fuel wholesale markets in the Australasian Region.
Designed by the fuel industry, for the fuel industry, the APFIF provides an annual opportunity for industry participants and other stakeholders to discuss issues that are both internal and external to the fuel industry – as considered from the perspective of industry, consumers and policymakers.
“Too many of these types of events are merely used to provide a platform for service providers to spruik their goods and services via PowerPoint enabled advertisements”, said ACAPMA CEO Mark McKenzie
“While we incorporate a Trade Hall for that purpose, our Conference is designed to expose industry participants to a series of key strategic insights that are likely to be of use in managing their business operations over the coming year, continued Mark.
The Agenda for the 2018 event, which is being held in New Zealand for the first time, is developed around the theme of “FUEL RETAILING AND THE CHANGING CONSUMER DYNAMIC”.
As fuel retailers grapple with an increasingly uncertain outlook that is being shaped by more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies and changing consumer behaviours, questions are rightly being asked about how fuel retailers might transform their business to remain market relevant.
Most retailers in our Region are betting on benefits being realised by a greater investment in the provision of convenience products and services, and have begun transforming their business from a fuel outlet selling ‘chips, chocolates and drinks to one that offers a broad range of food items and convenience services that are matched to the needs of their local market.
While this strategy is on trend with similar developments in Europe and North America, the practical realisation of this potential in the less population dense markets of New Zealand and Australia will likely prove challenging.
Accordingly, the 2018 event seeks to expose delegates to a broad a range views from experts in the areas of community trends research and retail consumer behaviours, as well as world leading automotive industry technologists who will present their perspectives on the likely timeframe for electrification of the national vehicle fleet.
These sessions, together with regular annual updates on the changing face of industry regulation and societal expectations about fuel price transparency, points to a highly informative conference that will be wide-reaching and thought-provoking.
Importantly, this Forum won’t simply bring the Australian fuel industry perspective to New Zealand. ACAPMA, the event organiser, has teamed up with MTANZ to secure senior industry representatives and industry regulators who can provide a local industry perspective to ensure that the conference content is as relevant to NZ businesses as past events have been to Australian and SE Asian delegates.
In addition to the exciting conference program, a separate Trade Hall Exhibition provides the opportunities for fuel retailers to connect with major industry suppliers and service providers from Australia and New Zealand.
But the 2018 APFIF is not all thought-provoking discussion and hard work. The forum also incorporates two elements that are designed to provide a break from intensive conference discussions in some of Auckland’s best venues.
The 2018 Event incorporates the inaugural ACAPMA Classic Golf Day. Supported by United Convenience Buyers and Coca Cola Amatil, this event will be held at the beautiful Maungakiekie Golf Course on Tuesday 4 September.
The annual industry favourite, however, is the APFI Forum Dinner.
This year, this important networking dinner will be held in the surrounds of the stunning aviation display hall of the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Quality New Zealand wines, combined with a delicious menu and engaging entertainment, the dinner is the social highlight of the forum.
All delegate passes include a seat at the dinner and, for those that get in early, an opportunity to participate in the ACAPMA Classic Golf Day (given that places are limited to 144 participants).
Register today at www.apfiforum.com; View the agenda and speakers, arrange meetings with exhibitors and sponsors.
