Many years ago, when the National Advisory Group (NAG) was preparing to relaunch the Young Executives Organization (YEO), I reached out to John MacDougall, the venerable founder of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes in New York, and asked him for advice. John was an excellent source for NAG because he believed in the association and…
Loop Comes Full Circle
Vintners Distributors has been in the convenience store business for four decades. The industry has evolved immensely during that time as it embraced self-service gasoline, foodservice and alternative fuels. But even those big changes seem to pale in comparison to the monumental shift in consumer demands we are experiencing today. Generations Y and Z are…
What Kind of C-Store Leader Are You?
By John Lofstock, Editor Learning how to be an effective leader is critical for anyone looking to move into a senior leadership position. However, for leadership to be effective, it must be built on a solid foundation consisting of a clear mission, a vision for the future, a specific strategy and a culture conducive to…
Creating an Emotional Connection with Customers
It’s no secret that we are experiencing unprecedented times across retail. Customers now have access to anything and everything they want in seconds right from their smartphones. Delivery is available on demand for everything from a new car to breakfast sandwiches. Frictionless retail, where customers can walk into a store, pick up what they want…
Kwik Trip: 2018 Chain of the Year
With its unsurpassed vertical integration and decades-long commitment to co-workers, guests and the communities it serves, the chain exemplifies what it means to be a “people company.” By John Lofstock, Editor Honesty and integrity, respect, humility and innovation. These are the words that define Kwik Trip Inc.…and it shows. The La Crosse, Wis.-based convenience store…
Building an Entrepreneurial Culture
It has been a great few months for all of us here at Convenience Store Decisions as we got to spend some time learning about Kwik Trip, the Wisconsin retailer who earned our 2018 Chain of the Year honors. The one thing that stands out at Kwik Trip is the caliber of its people. KT’s…
Tracking Foodservice Trends
Understanding what your customers want from foodservice will go a long way in meeting their daily need for fresh foods. By John Lofstock, Editor Just a decade ago, convenience stores were struggling to penetrate the foodservice market. The industry battled with a reputation problem that had many people wondering if it could effectively shed the…
Convenience Stores and Trusted Partnerships
Shoppers come to convenience stores to get their needs met. But if retailers don’t fully understand what shoppers want, efforts to capture more of their business will probably miss the mark. This has been one of the biggest challenges facing c-stores over the past couple of years, especially as retail is changing so dramatically. Retail,…
CSD Accepting Nominations for the 2018 40 Under 40 Leaders to Watch
The convenience store industry proves time and again that innovation and hard work are the foundation that supports steady, meaningful growth. This growth isn’t only important from a sales standpoint, but is vital to a company’s long-term stability when analyzing the human element. Convenience store companies must be able to produce young talent that will…
Nurturing Leaders and Your Corporate Culture
Corporate culture must be well defined to best entice top talent to join your ranks. By John Lofstock In today’s competitive convenience store industry, your corporate culture values and what you stand for are just as important to customers as the products you sell. More precisely, it is what defines your brand in the community…