With inflation continuing to tick upward and prices at record highs, consumers are feeling the squeeze now more than ever. As a result, they’re seeking value across categories in 2025, from discounted offerings to premium-quality products that justify a larger spend.
As more customers prioritize deals and pull back on discretionary spending, a number of categories are experiencing unit and dollar sales declines from the candy aisle to the cold vault. While many retailers are optimistic that relief is on the way, they’re also focused on innovating to meet changing customer needs, which includes growing private-label product lines, adjusting menus to leverage limited-time offers and highlighting promotions.
This month’s cover story, the 2025 Category Management Handbook, deep dives into the core c-store categories and their subsegments to bring you the latest trends, data, challenges and opportunities impacting each area to help you plan for the year ahead.
As market trends shift, category managers play an important role in updating product selection, optimizing pricing and introducing deals as they look to appeal to inflation-weary customers. From building and maintaining strong relationships with supplier partners to leveraging data-driven insights to help make informed decisions, category managers are essential when it comes to keeping convenience stores competitive, profitable and agile in responding to evolving consumer demands.
Celebrating Category Excellence
That’s why CStore Decisions annually recognizes two category managers who are standing out for their contributions to their team. This year, we’re celebrating Josh Campbell, category manager at Dash In, and Eric Arnold, category manager at Road Ranger, in the 2025 Category Management Awards.
Campbell spearheaded a new cleaning program chainwide at Dash In and has worked on elevating Dash In’s coffee program, from the quality of the beans to store-level processes. He’s sourced new cups and creamers as well as updated fixtures in some of the stores.
Arnold launched the “Bargain Bin,” where Road Ranger customers can get unique products at a bargain price — like $1 T-shirts and $5 hoodies — and he turned it into a $500,000 program for the chain. He also redesigned the in-store layout and established an energy club card that allows customers to buy six energy drinks and get the seventh free. Learn more about Campbell’s award here, and Arnold’s award here.
These awards not only celebrate the individual achievements of these category managers, but they also highlight the expertise, adaptability and leadership driving c-store category success in the industry today.
In addition to recognizing top talent, CStore Decisions also works to foster leadership development among young executives in conjunction with the Young Executives Organization through the annual 40 Under 40 Leaders to Watch list, the Leadership Discovery Program at CStore Connections and the annual CStore Momentum conference.
Leading the Way
This year’s CStore Momentum conference, hosted by Weigel’s, will be welcoming young executives, former and current 40 Under 40 Inductees, and next-generation leaders to Knoxville, Tenn., for engaging sessions, interactive workshops, networking opportunities and an inside look at Weigel’s new commissary. Mark your calendars for Aug. 6-8. Registration will be open soon at CStoreMomentum.com.
