Convenience Matters

Winners of the 2017 Fuels Institute Case Competition, Georgetown students Mary Fay and Jesse Spodak, discuss how their model for a new transportation energy system would rely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power fleets of autonomous, light-duty vehicles for shared use in urban areas.

Small format retailing around the world differs in shapes and offerings, but one thing remains the same – delivering convenience and striving for excellence. We talked with industry icon, Frank Gleeson, about the state of European convenience retail and NACS as an international trade association.

With more than 2,700 stores throughout the eastern U.S., Speedway knows that it takes differentiation and benchmarking to be the best at what they do. Glenn Plumby will share some stunning figures about the convenience industry released by NACS Research. Glenn also will share how deeply Speedway is committed to community involvement as the largest contributor within the convenience store industry to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in addition to United Way.

Hear what’s hot in supermarkets, retail and trends that convenience retailers need to be aware of to stay on top of their game from the SupermarketGuru, Phil Lempert.

Hear from fuels expert, Ron Sabia, former president of Gulf Oil, as he talks about the impact of disruptions like hurricanes on fuel supply.

With nearly 1,950 stores in the Midwestern U.S., Casey's General Store's Julie Jackowski talks about the company's past, present and future. Hear how Casey's insists each store feels like home for customers and employees by embracing great tasting food, providing a clean and comfortable environment in their stores and creating a secure business infrastructure.

NACS has committed to the Partnership for a Healthier America to help guide convenience stores to serve healthier options to customers. As the first retail association to join PHA, NACS has a plan to revolutionize the industry to help curb the American obesity epidemic.

One of the most innovative ideas in the convenience store industry – study groups to help make each other better operators – actually came from another industry.

It’s okay to look in the rear-view mirror, but what’s more important lies ahead for the convenience retail industry. We will talk with Nielsen's retail analyst Todd Hale about what really matters to consumers and where they will be shopping in the coming days.

The fuel retailing industry has proven itself resilient in the face of regulations, supply disruptions and demand fluctuations. We talk with former NACS Chairman Tom Robinson to get a retailer's take on the fuels market, regulatory environment and consumer optimism.

As the 2016-2017 NACS Chairman, Rahim Budhwani has promised a legacy of caring, giving back and inclusivity. We talked with Rahim about his innovative foodservice offers, his views about the convenience industry's future and the importance of being a part of the community.

The Fuels Institute E85 retail market report takes a deep dive into retail daily sales data to uncover whether E85 pricing really matters to consumers.

Have you ever wondered which gas station serves the best cow tongue in Arkansas or has vegan food in Virginia? Hear from the Gas Station Gourmet guru, Al Hebert, as he shares tales of the best food finds and unique local fare and flare he’s discovered on his travels.

“‘C-store’ doesn’t just stand for ‘convenience store’ – it stands for ‘community store’” was arguably the most quoted line from the 2017 NACS Show general session stage. We look at consumer survey data and broader consumer trends that show how communities embrace the “community store” and offer ideas and resources to help you engage more closely in the community. The hosts build the business case for why community relations is important – and share how NACS can help retailers tell their story in the community.

Approximately one-third of all Americans are considered obese, and the percentages are increasing. As more consumers look toward diets and other solutions to gain control of their weight, there is another problem, known as “infobesity.” Simply put, there is too much information about nutrition and it’s becoming more difficult to make the right nutrition choices, especially when there is conflicting information. Like any food product, too much information is unhealthy. We’ll talk about what retailers and consumers can do to find the best food information quickly.

If you haven’t been to an automobile showroom in a few years, you’ll be in for a surprise next time you go. Automakers are putting a big emphasis on a few new fuels and power sources, as well as some amenities that make your car feel more like your living room. We’ll take listeners through some of the bigger trends on display from the 2017 Washington Auto Show – and discuss what it means to retailers.

Computer hacking has dominated the political discussion for most of the past year, but hacking goes well beyond politics. From data breaches to malware and ransomware, every business—or even every computer—is vulnerable. What can businesses do to best protect themselves from attacks—and what can they do to prepare for broader threats beyond their control? The hosts talk to Gray Taylor about all of the potential cyberattacks that businesses face—and what they can do to mitigate their risk to their businesses.

With 500-plus stores throughout 6 states, Sheetz is regarded as one of the most successful convenience retailers in the country. From its popular MTO sandwich program to its work with the Partnership for a Healthier America and its recognition as one of the best companies to work for, Sheetz has a lot of things going for it.  But at the same time, it’s also continually looking to reinvent itself. What are the trends that are driving change and how can retailers take advantage of them? The hosts talk to Sheetz CEO Joe Sheetz about how the company is continually seeking out new opportunities and addressing challenges that are common to convenience retailers.

Recent challenges with adjusting to a deregulated market in Mexico have led to an unusual sight: Mexicans coming across the border simply to buy fuel for their vehicles. Recent price increases and shortages are part of the growing pains for the Mexican petroleum market that is in the early stages of adjusting to a deregulated market for the first time in nearly 80 years. The hosts talk to their guest about how the recent challenges facing Mexico’s deregulated fuels market affects the United States.

There has been much more focus on the “crumbling infrastructure” related to how vehicles travel on the roads and bridges in the United States. But what about the infrastructure that supplies the 12 million barrels of transportation fuel that is required every day? And what are the critical considerations for any new fuels introduced to the market—especially how they must fit into an existing infrastructure?   The podcast examines the research findings in a Fuels Institute report that evaluates the U.S. supply chain, how it works and what limitations/weaknesses exist at each point to accommodate diverse fuel specifications and achiev­ing higher rates of biofuels penetration. Understanding the fundamentals of this complex system is essential for anyone considering introducing a new product into the market or adjusting market dynamics for any reason.