The convenience store industry continues to grow sales at record numbers, but the stakes have never been higher as convenience store owners face competition from multiple retail channels. As competition increases across the board, savvy retailers are learning to take cost out of their operations to run lean, efficient top quartile businesses.
The National Advisory Group (NAG) has been working overtime to create an environment where small, mid-sized and family-owned retailers can interact with each other and share ideas for reducing operating costs and increasing sales.
The proof can be found in our first-class educational lineup for the 2015 NAG Conference in Santa Fe, N.M.The list of speakers at this year’s conference reads like a who’s who of the best companies in the convenience store and petroleum industry, including Speedway, RaceTrac, KwikTrip, Thorntons, CST Brands/Valero, Phillips 66, Flash Foods, Mapco, Tri Star/Daily’s, Ricker’s, Wallis Oil, Road Ranger, Fabulous Freddy’s, Zarco USA and more.
Additionally, panel moderators include Fran Duskiewicz, retired president of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes and Ed Collupy, former vice president of information services for The Pantry.
This is a powerful agenda aimed at helping make you a better convenience store retailer.
Plus, this year’s conference includes several events for the convenience store industry’s next-generation executives. The mission of NAG’s Young Executives Organization (YEO) is to cultivate young talent in the c-store and petroleum industry through implementation of education and networking. YEO accomplishes this mission by leveraging the experience of NAG members to help foster superior leadership skills.
In addition to the educational sessions, the conference will feature retailer information exchange study groups and opportunities for networking either one-on-one or in groups. Below is a breakdown of sessions and speakers.
Burning Issue #1: How to Boost Profitability by Reducing Swipe Fees
Speakers: Jenny Bullard, chief information officer, Flash Foods Inc.; Jeremie Myhren, vice president of information, technology, Road Ranger.
Moderator: Ed Collupy, executive consultant, W. Capra Consulting Group.
Burning Issue #2: Driving Foodservice Sales Through New Technology
Speakers: Shannon Harvey, foodservice program manager, Ricker Oil Co.; Rachel Mehl, specialized category manager, Wallis Cos.; Scott Zaremba, president and CEO, Zarco USA.
Moderator: Ed Burcher, president, Burcher Consulting Inc.
Burning Issue #3: Defining Your Retail Culture
Speakers: Tony Harris, president, Thorntons Inc.; Henry Martinez, senior vice president of human resources, CST Brands; Glenn Plumby, senior vice president of operations, Speedway LLC.
Moderator: Fran Duskiewicz, retired president, Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes.
Burning Issue #4: Finding Your Foodservice Niche: Defining What it Takes to be Great at Foodservice
Speakers: Rick Hamilton, vice president of operations, Daily’s; Paul Servais, food service zone leader, Kwik Trip; Bart Stransky, executive director, merchandising, RaceTrac Petroleum.
Moderator: Dr. Nancy Caldarola, president and general manager, the Food Training Group.
Burning Issue #5: Why Loyalty Programs Connect with Convenience Store Customers
Speakers: Howard Curtis, director of marketing and customer relations, MAPCO Express; Scott Leonard, director of loyalty programs, Phillips 66; Fred Smith, president and CEO, Fabulous Freddy’s.
Moderator: Nikhil Joseph, analyst, emerging technologies, Mercator Advisory Group.
Burning Issue #6: Consumer Insights with: Study Hall Research: For the second consecutive year, NAG and Convenience Store Decisions have partnered with Study Hall Research to gain exclusive insight into the needs of today’s convenience store customers.
In addition to all of this, NAG will feature an Ideas Boot Camp with 10 game-changing ideas retailers can take home with them that are guaranteed to boost retail profitability with retail expert Randy Fulkerson.
This is one conference you cannot afford to miss. Visit www.nagconvenience.com to register.
