As needs of the U.S. consumer change, modern tools are offering convenience retailers new solutions to craft better foodservice programs. By Erin Del Conte, Senior Editor As convenience stores continue to up their foodservice game, technology is offering ways to better meet crucial goals, from labor management to speed of service to food safety to…

The convenience store industry continues to evolve and where it ends up as robotics and personalized delivery gain traction is anyone’s guess. But one thing for sure is that how customers feel about your brand and your services will likely determine where they make their purchases. Robbie Kellman Baxter, a business consultant focused on how…

Nametags can take your customer service level up a notch. By Tony Huppert Today, customer service matters more than ever at convenience stores, and the simple act of ensuring all employees wear nametags can help customers feel more connected. Nametags have been a point of discussion for my wife Trudy and I for years. As…

So many products, so little time. By John Matthews. A category manager will massage their planograms in search of the “unicorn” of displays, spending hour upon hour trying to get it just right. While the customer clearly appreciates the latest products, sometimes they just appreciate their product in stock and on the shelf. It can…

Automakers are looking for ways to tap into the sustainability trend. By Jon Scharingson, Renewable Energy Group Inc. As vehicle trends go, convenience stores would do well to pay attention to the Ford F-series. It has been the best-selling truck in the U.S. since 1977 and the best-selling vehicle of any kind for 35 years,…

By John Lofstock, Editor. From great corners, clean restrooms and modern facilities to fresh food and a wide selection of popular snacks, convenience stores are committed to delivering outstanding service. This commitment is evident in the industry’s growing sales numbers at a time when other retail channels are struggling to break even. This service-driven culture…

Innovation in 2018 will be about retailer & solution provider collaboration, thinking about not only the new, but extending what’s in place today. By Ed Collupy It’s a journey that more convenience/petro retailers and service providers, large and small and from all corners of the U.S., are making each year. Off to the Big Show—the…

By John Lofstock, editor-in-chief There’s no doubt that 2017 will be regarded as one of the most challenging years ever for the convenience store and petroleum industry. While the economy has strengthened, the stock market rallied and unemployment fell to a 15-year low, the convenience store industry was hit hard by a host of local…

Gaining control over store inventory is a necessary step to boosting your bottom line. By Ed Collupy When store operators talk about inventory and cash management I always hear them talk about it in terms of accountability, control and operational improvement. How they get there, even with similar objectives, isn’t always the same. Many put…

As the year ends, it’s a time for reflection and to look into the future.  By Ed Collupy It’s that time of the year when it’s always good to take time to look back, reflect, and muse – where did the time go, what did I accomplish, how have I helped others, what’s changed since…