Innovation Showcase

Matt is the commercial lead for JUXTA – A US based corporate start-up bringing new retail formats to retailers using autonomous technology. Juxta was formed in early 2022 and is backed by Vontier Corporation (VNT) – a NYSE listed corporation focused on smarter transportation and mobility. JUXTA’s first product is Nomad - a portable, modular autonomous store which allows retailers to extend their brand to locations unreachable by traditional store formats.

Matt has been involved in the fuel and convenience sector for more than 15 years. Prior to starting JUXTA, Matt held various senior sales and marketing roles at Vontier’s Gilbarco Veeder-Root division,  the global leader in fuelling and convenience technology.  Matt has lived and worked in the US and UK and has developed business with retailers across the globe ranging from major oil companies such as Shell, BP, Exxon-Mobil and Total as well as independent retailers across the UK and Ireland.

Prior to Gilbarco Veeder-Root – Matt has held senior roles at Danaher Corporation, Invensys PLC and GEC. Matt is a graduate of the University of Bath School of Electrical Engineering. 

Mike Hughes is Head of Research and Insight and has over 17 years’ of experience analyzing consumer trends across the food, drink, and supplement industry. Mike has a particular interest in challenging industry perceptions when it comes to assumptions around how consumers think and behave, as well as identifying new and evolving trends across markets. 

Susan is a director of Connolly SPAR, an award-winning retail business with four SPAR stores in Wiltshire. Connolly SPAR has been trading for over 60 years in the area.

She has been actively involved in all aspects of the family’s business since a very young age and has an embedded dynamic enthusiasm for independent retailing.

She strives to expand her knowledge and experience of the retail industry, bringing new ideas and innovation into the family business to promote profit and growth.

Aman currently manages a One Stop franchise store with his mother and older brother.  His family joined One Stop in their previous store in October 2015 and moved to a modern purpose built unit next door in February 2016. Prior to that the family had run a Londis convenience store on the parade since 1993, with Aman being a part of the business from his late teens. 

Aman's work at their One Stop store has seen the family listed on the Independent Achievers Academy UK & Ireland Top 100 stores for the past 4 years and have won 3 category awards for Best Shop Layout, Marketing To Customers and Digital Engagement. He also was shortlisted and received Highly Commended for the Digital Engagement category in the 2018 Retail Industry Awards. 

Aman is always keen on engaging and sharing best practices with other retailers and always looking a new ways to further the family business through new products and innovation.  

Andrew is Head of Trading and Format at Southern Co-op, an independent co-operative operating over 200 convenience food stores across the south of England. He's currently responsible for all the commercial functions of the food retail business and leads the Trading and Merchandising, Buying and Services, Home Delivery, Price and Promotion, Space and Range Planning, Commercial Revenue, Format Development, Retail Implementation and Availability, Supply Chain and Logistics teams. Working in the retail industry for 27 years, in roles across store operations, merchandising and buying. He joined Southern Co-op 14 years ago, moving into the central support functions a year later, where he worked in a variety of commercial roles across multiple disciplines culminating in his current appointment.
 

Sarah joined ACS in 2007 as Events Coordinator, working her way up her current role of Head of Retailer Engagement. Sarah is not leaving events behind, but will continue to have responsibility for the growing portfolio, which  is approximately 50 per year, including study tours and the annual ACS Conference. In her new role her responsibility now includes overseeing all retailer memberships, encouraging more retailers to join and also to ensure that all retailers get the most out of membership.