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Community

We’re big on giving back and to date, we have given more than $85,000 to local community groups, sporting clubs, charities and schools.

Jack & Co Wins Big: Australia’s 2025 Independent Convenience Store of the Year & Overall Convenience Store of the Year

Community, Jack & Co News / /

We’re absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news: Jack & Co Northwood has been crowned both the 2025 Independent Convenience Store of the Year and the 2025 Overall Convenience Store of the Year at the prestigious AACS Awards. 🎉

This is a monumental moment for our business, our team, and our community—and we couldn’t be prouder.

Public recognition has already begun flowing across the industry, with AACS and partners publicly congratulating Jack & Co Northwood for taking out both national titles, calling it a “well‑deserved win” and a testament to our innovation, leadership, and customer experience.

A Win Built on Community, Coffee & Customer Experience

These awards celebrate the best in the Australian convenience retail industry, and for us, they validate everything we’ve been working toward: redefining what a convenience store can be.

From day one, our goal at Jack & Co Northwood has been simple—create a neighbourhood hub where locals feel at home. Our award submission says it best: we’re not a service station with food; we’re a café-led, fresh-food market and modern convenience space built around community needs.

Every detail of Northwood was designed with purpose:

A Café-First Store Experience
  • Over 400 barista-made coffees served daily.
  • Heritage-inspired design, warm timber features and open prep areas.
  • A store layout that feels more like your favourite local café than a petrol forecourt.
Fresh Food, Made In‑House
  • Sandwiches, salads, bircher, fruit cups, smoothies and fresh OJ made onsite daily.
  • Over 38,724 oranges squeezed annually.
  • Our own bakery cart filled with croissants, donuts, muffins and slices.
Local, Boutique & Better-For‑You Range

More than 40% of our products come from small or local suppliers.

Convenience Powered by Innovation

Northwood embraces technology that enhances the customer experience while keeping the visit simple and seamless. From digital loyalty to flexible ordering options and modern payment solutions, our goal is to give customers faster, easier ways to enjoy Jack & Co.

People at the Heart of Our Success

Our team is what truly sets us apart. Every staff member plays a crucial role in creating the warm, welcoming experience Jack & Co is known for. We invest heavily in people, focusing on service, consistency and the “little things” that turn everyday visits into memorable moments.

Built With and For Our Community

Jack & Co Northwood reflects the needs of the community it serves. Our menu, product mix and in‑store experience evolve continually based on feedback, local trends and customer habits. This community‑first approach has helped us earn the trust and loyalty of locals who visit us regularly.

AACS Recognition: Why It Matters

The AACS Awards are the highest honours in Australian convenience retail, celebrating excellence across innovation, service, store design and customer experience.

Winning both major national categories highlights that Jack & Co Northwood is not just performing well—it’s setting a new benchmark for what convenience retail can be.

Thank You to Our Community

To our incredible team, loyal customers and supportive suppliers—this achievement belongs to all of you.
We’re grateful every day for the chance to serve our local neighbourhood, and this recognition inspires us to keep lifting the standard for convenience retail in Australia.

Jack & Co Wins Big: Australia’s 2025 Independent Convenience Store of the Year & Overall Convenience Store of the Year Read More »

Swapping Textbooks for Flat Whites: Year 11 Students Get a Taste of Real Business

Community, Jack & Co News / /
Taree High Excursion at Jack & Co Taree
Year 11 students visiting Jack & Co in Taree

There’s learning in a classroom… and then there’s real learning. Last week, a bunch of bright Year 11 Business Studies students got a fresh take on their studies when they ditched the whiteboards and headed out on an inspiring excursion to Jack & Co and The Dairy at John’s River. Safe to say, this wasn’t your average school day.

With notebooks in one hand and curiosity in the other, the students explored two thriving local businesses and saw firsthand what makes a business tick—from the ground up. From Jack & Co’s barista-made coffee and fresh-baked sandwiches to the hands-on, paddock-to-plate magic at The Dairy, the day brought classroom theory to life in the best way possible.

The timing couldn’t have been better. These future founders are just kicking off their Major Project, where they’ll cook up business plans for new ventures in the Taree area. Getting up close with real entrepreneurs gave them more than just inspo—it gave them the fuel (and confidence) to dream big and think local.

A massive shoutout to our Taree Store Manager Jason for hosting the group and sharing the stories of hard work, resilience, and keeping it real in business made a lasting impact.

And of course, this day wouldn’t have happened without the support of the RIEP program, the organising teacher Mrs Houlahan, the awesome Erin Lute, and Kristy Trenchard for being there every step of the way.

At Jack & Co, we love seeing young people connect with local business—because when you mix fresh ideas with fresh coffee, there’s no limit to what you can create.

 

Stay tuned… Taree’s next big thing might just be brewing.

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Rainbow Warriors: Shining a Light on Ability, Not Disability

Community / /

Rainbow Warriors is a local soccer club modified for young people with disabilities aged 5-25 years old to come play soccer and socialise with like minded people in a safe and respectful space surrounded by nothing but positivity and support. Rainbow warriors is fully run by a small group of amazing volunteers with the goal of wanting to make a difference in young people’s lives with additional needs within our community.

Rainbow Warriors Taree

They play every Saturday morning for 1 hour before enjoying a sausage sizzle kindly donated by the community.

 

Rainbow Warriors is a safe space for these kids to gain lifelong friendships and gain social skills that are so important in life. Jack & Co are pleased to support the Rainbow Warriors by providing encouragement awards to players at their annual presentation night.

To learn more about the club head over to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rainbow-Warriors-FC-100057753756049/

As we sat at Rainbow Warriors- “Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome.”

Arthur Chan

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Community Partnership : Saltwater Boardriders Club

Community / /
Saltwater Board riders club

The Midcoast Saltwater Boardriders Club is a grassroots sporting club based at Old Bar NSW who bring together over 100 members for monthly short board surfing competitions and community fundraising events.

The club operates monthly competitions from March to September each year and caters to kids from 4 years (Super Groms) up to adults of any age. They pride themselves on being a very inclusive club who welcome and support all members.

The club relies on community partnerships such as the one formed between Jack & Co to enable them to offer monthly prizes to division competition winners, maintain the upkeep for equipment required for the competitions as well as supporting junior members who may need to travel for competitions.  In addition to the monetary support Jack & Co provides, we also provide BBQ supplies for their egg and bacon rolls at their monthly competition days.

 

Not only does this group bring together community members with a similar interest, but they also hold an annual fundraising day called the Kev Lee Memorial cup which raises funds for the Manning Based Hospitals Oncology unit. At their most recent event they raised over $3000 for the cause which is run in memory of their long term member and former president Kev Lee.

For local clubs, like the Saltwater Boardriders club, they rely on local sponsorship to encourage more members and so that participation is affordable and accessible for all. Jack & Co take pride in being a local store that supports local grassroots clubs.

Community Partnership : Saltwater Boardriders Club Read More »

Variety Bash : Aaron Somers raises money for kids in need

Community / /
Variety Bash Aaron Somers

Ever since Aaron Somers was a boy, he wanted to be part of the Children’s Charity Variety Bash.  After facing a few health issues of his own in 2016, Aaron and his father decided they wanted to give back to a great cause and it seemed like a perfect way to do this whilst having a bit of fun.  Variety is a Children’s Charity that has been helping to give children who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability a fair go in life for nearly 50 years.

Aaron went in search of the perfect vehicle and found one located in Western Australia. Sight unseen, he took the plunge and bought the car to turn his dream into reality.  Due to COVID restraints, it took over 4 months to get the vehicle relocated from WA to Taree, leaving only a few weeks to get the vehicle ready for the 6 day Variety bash event. 

Aaron and his father worked many late nights to get the car in its best condition and collected every spare part they could find to take on the trip.  They set off in May 2022 on the journey that started in Newcastle and headed to the Central West stopping at towns such as Dubbo, Cobar, Forbes, Wagga Wagga and back to the Hunter Valley.  

They had one minor mishap when the car broke down due to a distributor problem… which happened to be one of the few parts they didn’t have.  They were lucky enough to get a local mechanic to help them out and get back on their way to the next stop.

 

One of the highlights was doing the trip with his 72 year old dad who is already talking about doing the bash again next year.

 

Being part of the Variety Bash comes with many expenses including the purchase of the car, car parts, fundraising, fuel and accomodation along the way.  Jack & Co was pleased to support Aaron with subsidising some of the fuel costs. We love to give back to locals who are making a difference and proud to support Aaron in the 2022 Variety Bash.

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Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union

Community / /
Lane Cove Junior Rugby Club
Jack & Co LFJRU
Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union Club

Jack & Co are proud to sponsor the Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union Club in 2022. The sponsorship helps to fund the clubs equipment such as shirts, shorts, socks, footies, backpacks and training resources.  

The Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union Club (LCJRUC) is one of the 8 Village Clubs that comprise the Gordon District and offers boys and girls the opportunity to play rugby from Under 5s through to Under 16s.

The club prides itself on its community feel and on providing opportunities for boys and girls of all abilities to be able to play the game at the standard they enjoy and are comfortable with.

Jack & Co local store are all about doing our bit in the local community and we can’t think of a better partnership than the local rugby club.

Every year we budget funds to go back to the community. If you have a local event in our store area, please reach out, we’d love to chat.

Want to read more Community stories?

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The Mount George Billy Cart Derby is coming!

Community / /

The Mount George Billy Cart Derby and Spring Festival is a thrilling annual event hosted by the Mount George Public School P&C. The community event sees families can work together to build their own unique billy cart and race it on event day in our Billy Cart Derby. Now in its 6th year, the derby is a community fundraiser for the school and also assists with the running costs of the local hall. 

The Spring Festival has something for everyone including the orange rolling competition, art exhibition, market stalls, car show and and live music. 8:30am-3pm.

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The Mount George Billy Cart Derby is coming!Read More »

The Mount George Billy Cart Derby is coming! Read More »

Jack & Co Supports Smiles2U

Community / /

North Shore Mums Smiles2U is a 100% voluntary charity which aims to bring care and comfort to the many children, adults and carers who pass through the Emergency doors of our local hospitals every day. Their packages are made to help everyone’s needs when disaster strikes. These packs have been carefully put together with items to support the patient with comfort and care whilst going through a very challenging time in their lives.

 

Jack and Co supports Smiles2U

How Jack and Co are supporting Smiles2U?

Smiles2U are running an Online Auction to help them raise more funds so they can continue supporting families and children during their hospital stay.

The Smiles2U online auction kicks off on Wed 12th July 2022 until 27th July, 2022 with over $40,000 worth of donated goods up for grabs. 

Jack and Co are pleased to support the Smile2U Online Auction with a hamper of goodies valued at over $200. The hamper includes a 10 free coffee voucher plus a handpicked select of your favourite boutique brands from Jack and Co.

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