Mendy Meriwether has joined NexChapter as VP, foodservice practice. In this role, she will lead the development of menu strategies, stage-gate innovation processes, category management systems and execution frameworks that help convenience and grocery retailers convert foodservice into a high-margin growth engine. Why a renewed focus on Foodservice:
- In 2024, foodservice accounted for 27.7% of in-store sales at U.S. convenience stores and 38.6% in-store gross margin dollars, per NACS data.
- Prepared foods, broadly defined, comprised about 72.6% of that foodservice revenue, reflecting the importance of fresh, high-margin items.
- According to Technomic, c-store foodservice growth is projected to outpace quick-service restaurants in 2025, as consumers increasingly shift trips to convenience formats.
Meriwether brings years of operator experience and food and beverage leadership to this role. She previously led foodservice strategy and execution at Wawa and EG America, designing menu systems, optimizing supply chains and driving unit-level profitability. She is known for translating insights into operational excellence.
“Mendy is the real deal. She’s led foodservice at scale for years, and she knows how to turn strategy into action. Bringing her onto our team shows we’re serious about helping retailers make foodservice a true growth engine,” Art Sebastian, founder & CEO of NexChapter, said.
“Over the years, I’ve led initiatives in menu innovation, supply chain integration, category planning and operational execution, all with a common goal: to make foodservice a differentiator. At NexChapter, I’ll work with retailers and partners to build the frameworks, systems and discipline needed to scale great programs across markets. My mission is to embed foodservice excellence into the DNA of their operations,” Mendy Meriwether added.
Meriwether joins NexChapter’s core leadership, which includes Art Sebastian, Mike Templeton, Matt Riezman, Matt Van Gilder and Ben Wynkoop.
Founded in 2024, NexChapter is a strategic advisory firm dedicated to driving innovation at the intersection of retail and technology. The company partners with retailers in convenience, grocery and technology to accelerate digital transformation and unlock new growth opportunities in retail media, loyalty experience, e-commerce, merchandising and foodservice. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, NexChapter combines deep industry expertise with forward-thinking strategies to help clients transform their business.
