Whether it’s for food, fuel, drinks or snacks — about half of the U.S. population is at a convenience store every day. We sell 80% of the country’s fuel and we are 4% of the total U.S. economy. We’ll talk about what we see at stores — and what the future may hold — as long as it’s convenient.
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A Fresh Focus on C-Store Design - Episode 456
24:58
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Convenience store design has come a long way from the standard 40x60 box. Today, design involves many new elements, including brand strategy. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Amanda Baltazar, Retail & Hospitality Journalist Amanda is a journalist with 20+ years of experience and expertise in foodservice, beverages, restaurants/bars and overa…
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How To Reinvigorate Your Brand - Episode 455
32:09
32:09
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How do you revitalize and reimagine a nearly 90-year-old family brand? Stephanie Stuckey shares the lessons she's learned during her 5-year journey at the helm of Stuckey's. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stephanie Stuckey, Chair, Stuckey’s Stephanie is chair of Stuckey’s. She worked as a trial lawyer a state representative in Georgia and …
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What Makes Gas Station Food Special? - Episode 454
27:22
27:22
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27:22
In rural areas, locals know the best meals come from gas stations. In this episode, Stafford Shurden shares his tips for finding great c-store and gas station food. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, Creator, Gas Station Tailgate Review Stafford is a restaurant owner and farmer from Drew, MS. Over the past four years, between…
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Serving and Selling Food Safely - Episode 453
25:27
25:27
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Foodservice in c-stores accounts for nearly 40% of in-store profits. We're breaking down how you can ensure that food safety remains top of mind. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: David McIntyre, Senior Health & Safety Specialist, EG America David has more than 30 years of experience in culinary, retail and noncommercial…
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Get Your Share of the $6 Billion Antitrust Settlement - Episode 452
23:44
23:44
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Businesses that accepted Visa and/or Mastercard between January 1, 2004, and January 25, 2019, are eligible to claim a share of the antitrust class-action settlement, but they must file by August 30. (NOTE: After this was recorded, the deadline was extended February 4, 2025.) We’ll tell you how. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Doug Kantor, …
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Ethanol and other biofuels are already used in more than 10% of all gasoline purchased in the United States. How much more can be used and what would the impact be on food supply and other considerations? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 20 years of exper…
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Tips to Maximize Your NACS Show - Episode 450
27:06
27:06
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We're flipping the script and answering questions from our Convenience Matters producer on how to maximize your NACS Show experience. Hosted by: Blake Althen, Human Factor Guests: Chrissy Blasinsky, NACS and Jeff Lenard, NACSBy NACS
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Let’s Spread Some Positive News - Episode 449
28:30
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We all could use more laughter and good news, and that's what Tank Sinatra delivers to his 11 million social media followers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Tank Sinatra, renowned content creator Tank Sinatra is the largest and most prolific meme creator on the internet and has been called “The Michael Jordan of memes.” In addition, “Tank’…
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Busting Myths About Internal Audits - Episode 448
24:06
24:06
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From the corporate “police function” to nitpickers and fault finders, there are many myths around internal audits. We're debunking these myths and sharing how you can benefit from the process. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kara Falco, Director of Internal Audit at Casey’s At Casey’s, Kara manages a team of 13 and has participated and pres…
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QSRs Are Competing for Your Business - Episode 447
26:47
26:47
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Food sales continue to grow at convenience stores, especially during a few key dayparts. However, competition from QSRs could encroach on your sales. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: David Portalatin, Senior Vice President and Industry Advisor, Food and Foodservice, Circana David is a trusted industry advisor who works closely with leading f…
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What Top Fuels Retailers Do Differently - Episode 446
32:01
32:01
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32:01
A look at the top 50 fuels retailers by efficiency—including sales at the pump and inside the store—and what you can learn from them. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Brian Norris, Executive Director of Retail Fuels, OPIS Brian has been with OPIS for nearly 20 years. Over the last 13 years, Brian's focus has been ensuring the accuracy and i…
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When you talk to shoppers who seek out businesses, one unique advantage rises to the top — they want to shop at places that have a true understanding of the communities they serve. In other words, they act local. How can your business be seen as a community champion? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Erin Wroge, Senior Director of Energy Mark…
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60 Years of Selling Gasoline - Episode 444
29:30
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On June 10, 1964, a convenience store outside Denver sold 124 gallons of gas and ushered in the modern era of self-serve fueling. Today, c-stores sell that much gas every 0.02 seconds. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Roscoe, convenience industry icon John was named one of the “50 most influential people in convenience store industry” b…
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Join the Industry’s Biggest Celebration of Heroes - Episode 443
19:54
19:54
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Every July 24, roughly 1 in 5 convenience stores—and a growing list of supplier partners—celebrate the heroes in their communities. The event, 24/7 Day, draws enormous media coverage and brand awareness for participating companies. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stephanie Sikorski, NACS VP Marketing, and Executive Director, NACS Foundation…
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Encouraging Shoppers To Be Kind - Episode 442
25:19
25:19
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Data shows that 9 in 10 people who work in local shops have experienced verbal abuse over the last year. The ASC's ShopKind program unites retailers to address these behaviors. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores (U.K.) James was appointed ACS chief executive in 2006. He has led …
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What We Heard at the NACS SOI Summit - Episode 441
21:24
21:24
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The 2024 NACS State of the Industry Summit delivered insights on c-store industry performance metrics. Hear how this year is shaping up and the tools you need to make data-driven decisions. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS …
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How To Build Your Confidence - Episode 440
27:51
27:51
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27:51
With 85% of the population saying they have low self confidence, odds are that at times, you may be one of them. Find out how you can break the cycle. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Juan Bendaña, keynote speaker Juan is an internationally recognized speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change…
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My Favorite Food Recipe Is Great Service - Episode 439
32:15
32:15
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Foodservice is growing at convenience stores and represents 30% of inside sales. Chef Joe Arvin shares how you can keep elevating your food offer. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Joe Arvin, Celebrity Chef Chef Joe Arvin is a two-time Culinary Federation gold medalist, three-time Chicago Fight Club champion, and finished 6th and 23rd place a…
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Three Requirements for Effective Brand Positioning - Episode 438
33:00
33:00
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Brand positioning is a significant part of business because it’s ultimately about how you communicate your offer to customers—and if it resonates. We'll share common pitfalls that businesses fall into and how to fix them. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kathy Guzmán Galloway, Head Wizard, The Clarity Wizard With 20 years of CPG experience, …
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What's Going On With EV Sales? - Episode 437
30:19
30:19
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EV sales were down year over year Q1 of 2024, slowing a steep increase in sales over the past few years. We're discussing what drove this change and what it means for convenience retailers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 20 years of experience in the fu…
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Do You Have a Culture That Rules? - Episode 436
27:36
27:36
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Culture is the cumulative effect of what people see, hear, experience and believe. In this episode we're breaking down how industry leaders can build a high-performance culture. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Mark Miller, Author and Co-Founder, Lead Every Day Mark is a seasoned business leader, a Wall Street Journal a…
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What Consumers Say About Convenience Stores - Episode 435
30:39
30:39
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30:39
Consumers are in a better—but not great—mood than a year ago. NACS surveyed consumers to capture their perceptions of convenience stores related to gas prices, crime and jobs. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam Rosenblatt is one of the nation’s leading political consultants sought after for…
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My Favorite Restaurant Served Gas - Episode 434
24:40
24:40
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24:40
Are they convenience stores/gas stations that serve food, or restaurants that happen to have gas? A new book visually explores these community destinations. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kate Medley, Photojournalist and Author of “Thank You Please Come Again” Kate Medley is a North Carolina-based visual journalist and filmmaker documentin…
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How Celebrity Chef Andrew Zimmern Is Changing C-Store Foodservice - Episode 433
25:34
25:34
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The convenience industry's foodservice future is bright thanks to its commitment to innovate. Hear how a regional distributor is working with a celebrity chef to elevate its offer. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Andrew Zimmern, Celebrity Chef Chef Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personali…
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Creating a Unique Community Partnership - Episode 432
25:23
25:23
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Convenience stores are integral to the communities they serve—for the products they sell and how they give back. Hear how one relationship ties mobility with a local need. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Renée Power, CMO/GM Mobility Marketing North America, Shell Renée is a natural collaborator with a track record of strong vision articula…
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