Anne Kothawala

Anne Kothawala

President & CEO, CICC

Author Profile

Anne Kothawala is president and CEO of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada. The national, not-for-profit council represents retailers, vendors and distributors, who put the needs of the customer first. The council advocates for the diverse and dynamic convenience channel by representing their interests at the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, while also providing access to industry data, research and best practices to help them with critical business decisions.

ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR

6/2/2025
Contraband tobacco—a crime wave impacting us all
Legal tobacco sales have dropped 13% in units and 8% in value for the year ending March 31.

Anne Kothawala
5/5/2025
Corner stores at a crossroads: A call to action for Canada’s new government
A relentless tariff war with the United States, soaring costs to keep shelves stocked and a thriving black market for nicotine products are hurting our industry.

Anne Kothawala
4/7/2025
Fighting for certainty in uncertain times: One win at a time
Retailers across all sectors, including the convenience industry, are under pressure to meet this growing demand for homegrown products.

Anne Kothawala
2/9/2025
United we win, divided we fall
Whether American or Canadian owned, our retailers, distributors and vendor partners have one thing in common: Supporting Canada, its economy and communities.

Anne Kothawala
1/12/2025
Welcome to 2025: A year of uncertainty and change
Increased attention on the border an opportunity to reinforce the linkages between contraband tobacco and organized crime.

Anne Kothawala
12/16/2024
Looking back at at year of change for Canada’s convenience stores
This year has demonstrated the power of a unified industry voice—one that speaks not just to government but also for the millions of Canadians who rely on us every day.

Anne Kothawala
11/18/2024
A turning point for Canada’s convenience industry?
Results from CICC’s 2024 State of the Industry (SOI) report.

Anne Kothawala
10/21/2024
CICC president makes presentation at House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
CICC asks for removal of credit card interchange fees on the tax portion of sales and to be allowed to sell nicotine replacement therapies.

Anne Kothawala
8/26/2024
All we are asking for is fairness concerning the sale of nicotine pouches
Since last November, CICC members have adopted responsible retailer guidelines for the sale of these products.

Anne Kothawala
7/28/2024
Celebrating Canada’s Convenience Industry: National Convenience Week August 26-30th
C-stores are community hubs, gathering locations for residents to talk about what’s taking place in their backyards.

Anne Kothawala