The NACS Show is officially underway in Chicago at the McCormick Place Convention Center. The show began with a number of education sessions, in addition to a kick-off party for attendees.
In an education session titled “The Snack Breakdown,” Anna Kjerrumgaard, director of category management for Center Store at RaceTrac, broke down some of the key trends that are defining the snacks category today, both at RaceTrac and the industry as a whole.
According to Kjerrumgaard, the category is evolving at an unprecedented rate, driven largely by Gen Z and consumers’ desire for new and unique products. Kjerrumgaard noted that customers are increasingly seeking three themes from their snacks — intense and unique flavors, retro campaigns and limited-time offers (LTOs).
“Snacks are now seen as a culturally shared moment,” said Kjerrumgaard, mentioning also that snacks have begun to play a larger role in the average consumers’ diet rather than being filler in between meals.
“C-Stores outperform other segments in the perception of assortment, innovation availability, signage and pleasant shopping experience,” she noted.
In a subsequent session titled “Learning From the Fuel Retailers of the Year,” editorial director and founder of Fuels Market News Keith Reid shared this year’s Fuel Retailers of the Year. For chains with 100 or more sites, QuikTrip took the top slot, with Rotten Robbie being named the Fuel Retailer of the Year for chains with 100 or fewer locations.
Tom Robinson, chairman of Robinson Oil Corp., shared with the crowd some of his insights into the fuel space in general, in addition to what he has seen at Rotten Robbie.
“We are very fuel dependent — the stores will not carry us if the fuel does not work out,” mentioned Robinson.
Robinson dove into how retailers can stay agile and flexible in an ever-changing market, while leveraging their unique strengths in the process.
One thing that will never change, he mentioned, is that c-store retailers will always be competing for every penny when it comes to fuel pricing. To stay competitive, Rotten Robbie offers a variety of fuel grades, including renewable diesel at every site, while keeping a close eye on margins.
Following this session, Steve McKinley, CEO and founder of Urban Value Corner Store, took the stage to talk culture, developing a company purpose and employee training, among other topics.
Urban Value Corner Store’s sites are located within several apartment buildings across Texas. The chain’s purpose is “to improve the living experience of the residents,” which shines through in every decision the company makes.
To accomplish this, McKinley said, each employee is diligently trained to focus on two pillars of the business — customer service philosophy and leadership philisophy.
McKinley stressed that employees need to be aware of their purpose and the company’s purpose in their specific role, and doing so will lead to increased productivity and a more positive company culture.
The NACS Show continues through Friday, Oct. 17. Stay tuned for more updates from CStore Decisions.
