Convenience Matters

A convenience store with its own brewery? Yep! Chicagoland PRIDE Stores have even more innovation and excitement in the works. Related Links: The PRIDE Stores 93 Octane Brewery Parent Petroleum Ideas 2 Go: Parent Petroleum's Brewing Success The Big Question Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Mario Spina, owner and CEO, Parent Petroleum Mario is the owner and CEO of St. Charle...

Retail fueling experts break down current market conditions affecting the price per gallon. Related Links: NACS Fuels Resource Center Fuels Institute Hosted by:  Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Paige Anderson, Director of Government Relations, NACS Paige represents NACS members before Congress and the administration on policy issues relating to fuels, energy, cyber and data security, consumer data p...

From culture to automation, Jared Scheeler shares how his company is tackling labor challenges. Related Links: "Thinking Big," NACS Magazine, January 2022 Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Jared Scheeler, CEO, The Hub Convenience Stores Scheeler, who is also the 2021-22 NACS chairman, began his career in the convenience industry in 1998 while attending the University of M...

Not all emissions are equal. A new study explores how energy can determine where EVs and hybrids reduce emissions. Hint: It varies considerably by region. Related Links: Fuels Institute Life Cycle Analysis: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles   Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute John Eichberger leads the Fue...

What President Biden's address means for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Related Links: Merchants Payments Coalition NACS Advocacy   NACS Day on the Hill Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Doug joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team t...

From flavored milk to supporting service dogs and veterans, Kurt Weigel shares how the 90-year-old company is just getting started. Related Links: Weigel's NACS Ideas 2 Go | Weigel's NACS HR Forum Smoky Mountain Service Dogs Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Britt Brewer About our Guest: Kurt Weigel, Recruiting Manager, Weigel's Stores Inc. You'll find Kurt Weigel at the Powell, Tennessee-based Weige...

Vehicle sales trends have massive implications for the economy and the future of fueling. What's affecting sales now, and what could change in the next five years? Related Links: National Automobile Dealers Association NACS Fuels Resource Center Fuels Institute Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and John Eichberger About our Guest: Patrick Manzi, Chief Economist, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)...

Foodie, writer, and TV personality Al Hebert is passionate about food and where to find it: at the local gas station. Related Links: Gas Station Gourmet NACS Magazine Hosted by:  Chris Blasinsky and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Al Hebert, Founder, Gas Station Gourmet Al Hebert lives for America's gas stations. He created Gas Station Gourmet in 2007 and has been writing his column for NACS Magazin...

From subscription snack boxes to opening The Goods Mart at 30 Rockefeller in New York City, Rachel Krupa is redefining convenience one store at a time. Related Links: The Goods Mart NACS Ideas 2 Go: Doing More and Doing Good Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky and Britt Brewer About our Guest: Rachel Krupa, Founder, The Goods Mart Rachel Krupa has had her finger on the pulse of the health and wellness indu...

Our conversation explores how 7-Eleven's Evolution stores are a testing ground where customers can experience the retailer's newest innovations and products. Related Links: NACS Ideas 2 Go: 7-Eleven's Evolution NACS Ideas 2 Go: Retail Evolution Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Molly Long, Vice President of Store Evolution & Design, 7-Eleven Molly Long is responsible for all design-related a...

German retailers are redefining and adapting to new consumer behaviors and their expectations of Berlin's convenience retail market. Related Links: NACS Convenience Summit Europe NACS Magazine | Berlin: The Future of Convenience Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky About our Guests: Christian Warning, Managing Director of The Retail Marketeers Warning is the founder and managing director of The Retail Marke...

The customer experience starts at the forecourt and extends to the inside of the store. Add a local and community focus to the mix and retailers can create a winning offer. Related Links: Cenex Cenex LIFT Initiative Hosted by:  Jeff Lenard About our guest: Akhtar Hussain, Director of Refined Fuels Marketing, Cenex Akhtar Hussain is the director of refined fuels marketing at CHS, where he is respon...

This timely episode discusses what convenience retailers could expect as the nation's highest court prepares to rule on OSHA's vaccine mandate. Related Links: Subscribe to NACS Daily NACS Webinar: OSHA's Vaccine Mandate Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Kantor joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with...

How a small and mighty convenience store owner is inspiring other independent retailers to take their business to the next level. Related Links: NACS Ideas 2 Go: "The Hub" Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Jared Scheeler, CEO of The Hub Convenience Stores Inc., is the 2021-22 NACS Chairman. He began his career in the convenience industry in 1998 while attending the Univer...

Sharing your company story leads to more engaged employees and customers. Related Links: NACS Magazine Article: The Storyteller Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Rose Johnson About our Guest: Kendal Netmaker, Founder, Netmaker Enterprises Kendal Netmaker is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and gifted keynote speaker who is on a mission to empower and motivate people worldwide by sharing his story t...

Solar energy can equal great savings for retailers. Hear about the benefits, challenges and processes to getting started with solar. Related Links: Converting to Renewable Energy (NACS Sustainability Toolkit) Reducing Energy Use (NACS Sustainability Toolkit)   Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Paige Anderson About our Guests: John Zimmerman, Partner, Amerlight Energy John enjoys providing sound guida...

Catch up on the facts and the science behind the five-second rule, handwashing and third-party food delivery. Related Links: NACS Food Safety Resources "Risky or Not" Podcast "Food Safety Talk" Podcast Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Dr. Don Schaffner, Extension Specialist in Food Science and Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University Don Schaffner, Ph. D. is the E...

A vehicle charging area can be more than just chargers in the parking lot corner. Consider a customer-centric experience to surprise and delight charging guests. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and John Eichberger About our Guest: Brent Gruber, Senior Director, Global Automotive at J.D. Power Brent Gruber leads the global automotive supplier practice and the company's electric vehicle experience studies. A...

Whether privately held, publicly traded or seeking access to capital, bankers and investors are asking companies for their ESG plan. What will you show them? Related Links: ESG Integrity Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Ryan Scott, Vice President, HBW Resources Ryan Scott is Vice President for Risk Management and Sustainability Reporting for HBW Res...

What's going on with gas prices? We have the answers. Related Links: OPIS website NACS Blog: Why Gas Prices Are Rising When They Should Be Falling? NACS Blog: Who Makes Money Selling Gas? NACS Fuel Resource Center Hosted by:  Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Tom Kloza, Global Head of Energy Analysis, OPIS Tom has covered downstream oil markets for over 40 years. A magna cum laude graduate of St. Franc...

Encouraging repeat customer business is an art form. Hear what works and what can really turn a consumer off. Related Links: Episode #249 Loyalty Matters. A Lot. Let's Talk Loyalty Podcast Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS, and Rose Johnson, Audience Development and Production Manager, NACS About our Guest: Paula Thomas, Host of "Let's Talk Loyalty" Podcast Paula Tho...

Consumers will embrace a brand that stands for something, cares about the community, and shares their values. Kum & Go is one convenience retail company that goes beyond leading with purpose and models its entire operation around it. Related Links: NACS Managing Food Waste Guide   Kum & Go/Krause Group 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report  Episode #298 Resolving Food Waste as a Business Sol...

Serving up a foodservice program that is fast, safe and delicious is important for convenience retailers. Having the technology to support it is critical. Related Links: Supplyit NACS Research Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Jayme Gough, Research Manager, NACS Jayme Gough is an experienced researcher and PMP at NACS with a Biochemistry degree from...

Convenience is about speed and choice. In this episode, we talk with innovative Founder and CEO of Choice convenience stores in Denver to hear how he has mastered food, technology and most of all, choice. Related Links: Choice Markets NACS Ideas 2 Go: Choice Markets For you Pfish fans Shop Talk LIVE #26 Redefining U.S. Convenience In a Digital Age – With Kwik Chek & Choice Markets Hosted by: Jeff...

In this rapid-fire Q&A, hear what may affect convenience retailers in U.S. legislation and policy. Related Links: NACS Advocacy Issues Take Action on NACS Issues Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare About our Guests: Anna Blom, Director of Government Relations, NACS; Doug Kantor, General Counsel, NACS; Jon Taets, Director of Government Relations, NACS In their roles at NACS, Anna Blom, Doug Kantor and Jon T...