At Your Convenience

In early July, Alimentation Couche-Tard and Canadian cannabis retailer Fire & Flower opened two Fire & Flower shops adjacent to Circle K stores in Grande Prairie and Calgary, Alberta. Now, CSP explores what went behind the partnership—and what this means for convenience retailers looking to invest in CBD and cannabis.

Fridays—also known now as Pizza Day—have become the busiest day of the week at Lakeport Market since the independent convenience store began providing free lunches in mid-March for COVID-19 relief. On this episode of At Your Convenience, CSP editor Hannah Prokop talks with Nicole Roth about Lakeport Market’s COVID-19 relief initiatives and what the c-store means to its Chittenango, N.Y. community.

Convenience-store customers have generally had a positive experience during the coronavirus pandemic, but there’s still plenty of work to be done regarding safety and cleanliness, according to a new Intouch Insight’s benchmark mystery-shop program. CSP editor Brett Dworski is joined by Cameron Watt, CEO of Intouch Insights, who breaks down this new mystery shop study and explains what c-store oper...

Since acquiring Allsup’s convenience stores in November 2019, Yesway has jumped more than 20 spots in CSP’s annual Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of retail outlets. On this episode of At Your Convenience, CSP editor Brett Dworski chats with Tom Trkla, CEO of Yesway, on how the company has reached this growth and the strategies behind its acquisitions and store-development.

On this episode of At Your Convenience, CSP editors Brett Dworski and Jackson Lewis break down the technology that will transform the fueling experience by 2030. This podcast was recorded as part of CSP’s fourth annual Forecourt of the Future series. Listen as Brett and Jackson discuss how the customer experience at the pump will change in the next decade, the importance of personalization at the...

On this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP dives into the makings of the facility and how VERC completed this plan, which was first revealed at a CSP conference in November 2019. Listen as CSP editor Brett Dworski chats with Tyla Vercollone, CBD category manager for VERC, on the challenges of opening the facility, requirements for customers and employees, educational opportunities offered at th...

On this episode of "At Your Convenience," CSP Managing Editor Samantha Oller chats with Charlie McIlvaine, CEO of Coen Markets and a member of the NACS research and technology committee, on the highlights of 2019's NACS State of the Industry statistics as well as how McIlvaine sees COVID-19 reshaping the outlook for the c-store industry. Listen as Samantha and Charlie cover how operators can balan...

On this episode of "At Your Convenience," CSP editors Angel Abcede and Brett Dworski discuss how the tobacco category is faring during the coronavirus pandemic. Listen as Abcede—CSP’s tobacco expert—provides a rundown of how tobacco sales shifted before and after nationwide lockdowns, the latest updates on Altria’s facility shutdowns, how retailers can prepare for PMTA deadlines and more.

This special edition of "At Your Convenience" features CSP editors Hannah Prokop, Jackson Lewis and Brett Dworski as they discuss how convenience-store retailers can gain more traction during breakfast. This episode was recorded as a complement to CSP magazine’s new four-part series Conquering the Dayparts, in which the editors explore how to boost breakfast, lunch, snacking and dinner in c-stores...

This edition of "At Your Convenience" features Eric Slifka and Mark Cosenza, CEO and senior vice president of retail, respectively, of Global Partners LP, as they discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has altered their operations as well as the long-term consumer perceptions of the c-store industry. Listen as Slifka, Cosenza and CSP Editor Brett Dworski discuss how the c-store industry has responde...

On this episode of "At Your Convenience," CSP Editor Hannah Prokop chats with Jackie Stalsberg of Kwik Trip Inc., La Crosse, Wis., this year’s Category Manager of the Year for the center-store category. Stalsberg won the award at CSP’s Convenience Retailing University event in February. Listen as Hannah and Jackie discuss how Jackie separates herself from other center-store category managers, as w...

This episode of “At Your Convenience” features Danny Seals, product marketing manager of fuel dispensers for Gilbarco Veeder-Root, who discusses how c-stores are staying vigilant on gas pump sanitation during the pandemic. Listen as Seals and CSP Managing Editor and Fuels Editor Samantha Oller discuss the process of sanitizing pumps, what areas of the pumps should operators pay closest attention t...

This special edition of "At Your Convenience" features Donna Hood Crecca, principal with CSP’s sister research firm, Technomic, as she discusses the long-term implications of the coronavirus on the convenience-store industry. Listen as Donna and CSP Editor Brett Dworski cover how the pandemic has affected c-store foot traffic, fuel demand, foodservice programs and more, and what it means for the f...

The coronavirus has forced convenience-store retailers to adjust their operations in providing a safe environment for their customers and employees. And while most operators have introduced sanitation and employee wellness plans, Anthony Perrine, owner of independent c-store operator Lou Perrine’s Gas & Groceries, has approached the situation with a different strategy.

The foodservice industry is constantly evolving in the never-ending cycle to please consumer demands. But how will the industry look in three, five or even 10 years? This special edition of "At Your Convenience" features six editors representing CSP and sister brands Restaurant Business, Winsight Grocery Business and Foodservice Director as they discuss what the foodservice industry will look like...

Fuel retailers who have not switched their fuel dispensers to accept chip cards by October will be liable for fraudulent purchases made at their sites. Even so, an industry survey conducted last year by standards group Conexxus suggests less than half of the industry will be ready in time. What does the liability shift mean for retailers who haven’t made the switch? Why is migrating to EMV so diff...

For their February cover story, CSP editors examined the course of events, delving into the volatile politics behind vaping and how that momentum led to the new restrictions on menthol in Massachusetts. In this podcast, Angel Abcede, CSP’s tobacco editor, and Hannah Prokop, center-store editor, discuss the multiple dominoes that led to significant regulatory changes for tobacco.

Alan Adato, merchandising and procurement manager for Yesway, joins CSP’s Brett Dworski to discuss the lessons Yesway has learned regarding CBD in the past six months. Adato helps oversee the chain’s CBD portfolio, which was implemented in August 2019. Listen as they discuss how the chain plans to boost its CBD portfolio in 2020, where Adato sees the CBD regulatory landscape headed and more. This...

CSP’s Brett Dworski is joined by Steve Augustine, vice president of store development for Sheetz, to discuss the company’s growth plans for 2020 and beyond. Listen as Brett and Steve also cover what Sheetz looks for in new store builds, why the company prioritizes restrooms, how they work with Tesla to add more EV stations to their stores and much more.