Convenience Matters

Enough dancing around, it's time to look ahead at the future of cars because an electric reality is coming quickly - very quickly if you live in places that mandate it soon like the UK. We're talking about what the future might hold for cars, customers and travel. Related Links: The Future of the Car & Roadside Retail Shop Talk LIVE Global Convenience Store Focus Electric Vehicle Council NACS topic: Electric Vehicles NACS Convenience Summit Europe The NACS Show 2021 Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute About our Guest: Dan Munford, Executive Director, InsightResarch Dan Munford is a recognized expert on the European and international convenience and fuel retail markets. He has unrivalled knowledge of and connections into European convenience & fuel retail operators at the highest level. As Managing Director at Insight Research, Dan originated the NACS relationship that has been an important part of the Insight and N

How did gas prices get where they are in 2021 and what are some long-term implications for where gasoline demand and prices are going over the next few years? All that and more on this week's episode. Related Links: NACS Fuels Resource Center  OPIS Blog OPIS Homepage Fuels Institute Report: Proposals to Ban the Sale of Combustion Engine Vehicles Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute About our Guest: Denton Cinquegrana, Chief Oil Analyst, Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) In more than a decade with OPIS, Denton has covered nearly all markets for which OPIS has price discovery. Before being named Chief Oil Analyst, he was Executive Editor for U.S. Refined Products, overseeing day-to-day market coverage operations. During his time as a Markets Editor, his primary focus was on the heavily benchmarked U.S. West Coast. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1997 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Media.

The Colonial Pipeline transports more than 100 million gallons of fuel each day from Houston, Texas, to the New York Harbor. Hear how refined product moves across this 5,500-mile system, and how it comes back online after a disaster strikes. Related Links: Interview with Daniel Gordon, VP & Chief Commercial Officer, Colonial Pipeline Company Consumer Energy Alliance Pipelines for America How Refineries and Pipelines Resume Operations NACS Fuels Resource Center Fuels Market News Colonial Pipeline Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, The Fuels Institute and Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS About our Guest: Daniel Gordon, VP & Chief Commercial Officer, Colonial Pipeline Company Daniel Gordon is Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer. In his role, Gordon leads Colonial’s commercial affairs functions by maximizing opportunities to grow the company and position Colonial for long-term success. Gordon brings approximately 20 years of commercial affairs experience to his

Engaging customers is something Disney and convenience stores have in common. A former Disney employee-turned-convenience retailer shares how c-store employees can delight and exceed customer expectations each day with positive experiences that build brand loyalty and repeat customers. Related Links: https://www.convenience.org/Topics/HumanResources https://www.convenience.org/events/HR-Forum https://www.convenience.org/events/HR-Executive-Circle https://www.sprintmart.com/employment/ Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guest: Chris McKinney, Director of Human Resources, Sprint Mart With experience spanning some of the world’s most recognized and admired companies, Chris McKinney now leads Human Resources strategy and operations for a suite of companies: Victory Marketing, LLC (dba Sprint Mart), Burgers & More, Inc. and Morris Petroleum, Inc. Chris believes people are a company’s largest asset and dedicates

The Retailer Deep Dive series showcases industry leaders who are staying ahead of the ever-changing consumer and retail landscape. In this episode, Lonnie McQuirter of 36 Lyn Refuel Station shares how he relies on his NACS community to grow and how his Minneapolis community relies on him to thrive. Watch additional videos at convenience.org/36Lyn. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guest: Lonnie McQuirter, Founder, 36 Lyn Refuel Station 36 Lyn Refuel Station is a small, independently-run convenience store that specializes in providing locally sourced food to communities in South Minneapolis. Thirteen years ago, Lonnie McQuirter bought 36 Lyn Refuel station, which “was in desperate need of TLC,” embracing the challenge of turning the store into a place that provided not just gas, but healthy food and community connections.

With more people leaving their home kitchens and exploring new foods, convenience stores and restaurants are ready to re-capture customers. Mark DiDomenico of Datassential shares his insights on food and menu trends transpiring in 2021. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS About our Guest: Mark DiDomenico, Director, Customer Success, Datassential Mark DiDomenico has been following trends in the Foodservice market for 30 years, working for food manufacturers like Kellogg and Sara Lee, as well as research and insights providers like the NPD Group and Datassential. In his current role, Mark is leveraging his significant experience helping both manufacturers and retailers develop strategies and tactics to support marketing and sales activities as well as new product development and innovation.  

Although environmental, social and governance (ESG) planning is voluntary, that could change with legislative efforts to drive greater sustainability programming in the future. What does this mean for convenience retailers as they consider how and when to implement ESG planning? Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, The Fuels Institute About our Guest: Jeff Hove, Vice President, The Fuels Institute Jeff Hove recently joined The Fuels Institute to deliver objective, fact-based analysis about the transportation energy sector. The Fuels Institute is a non-advocacy research organization dedicated to studying issues affecting the vehicles and fuels markets. Prior to joining the Fuels Institute, Jeff spent more than 20 years in the transportation sector in a variety of roles, most recently as vice president of the Alternative Fuels Council, a software-based compliance project of NATSO, the national trade association focused on travel plaza and truck stop owners, focused on renewable/low carbon fuel blendi

The great penny debate continues! Although many Americans support the penny, others say the currency doesn’t make sense. Listen to our conversation with the co-directors of “Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?” for both sides of the debate. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Zach Edick and Jamie Kovach, Directors, "Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?" Zach Edick and Jamie Kovach are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team based in Austin, Texas. The pair met in art school and have been working and creating together since. Zach has spent the last decade working as a director and cinematographer on various commercial, narrative, and music video projects. He recently co-directed “The Tacos of Texas,” a documentary mini-series produced by ITVS for PBS Digital Studios, and “Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?,” a feature documentary about coin production. Jamie received her MFA from the University of New Mexico i

The Retailer Deep Dive series showcases industry leaders who are leading the way by staying ahead of the ever-changing consumer and retail landscape. In this episode, Rachel Krupa at NYC's The Goods Mart shares some ideas that helped her business survive and thrive during the difficult year that was 2020. Watch additional videos at convenience.org/thegoodsmart. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

From climate change to taxes, NACS lobbyists highlight some of the top industry issues already taking shape in the new 117th Congress. Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS About our Guests: Paige Anderson, Director of Government Relations, NACS and Jon Taets, Director of Government Relations, NACS In their roles of Directors of Government Relations for NACS, Paige Anderson and Jon Taets work to protect the best interests of the convenience and fuel retailing industry before Congress and federal government agencies — especially against rules and regulations that can have a negative impact on business.

From electric vehicle policy to emissions regulations, what will fuel travel look like in 2021? What will the incoming Biden Administration mean for travel and for vehicle sales in the U.S.? Hosted by: Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute and John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute About our Guest: Dave Ruisard, U.S. Products Editor, Argus Media From gasoline to residual fuel oil to distillates to crude oil, David Ruisard has extensive experience in the US markets. He first became a market reporter when he joined Platts in 2001 as their US Gulf coast gasoline and distillates reporter. Before the oil markets, David was an award winning news reporter and is a proud graduate of Baylor University.

Convenience store marketers and merchandisers have to be on their toes, especially this year. We talked with the legendary Derek Gaskins on his experiences in the industry, with the pandemic and what he thinks makes the c-store industry awesome. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Britt Brewer, Marketing Manager, NACS  

When it comes to food safety in convenience stores, retailers agree that it is not a competitive advantage. The host of the popular Risky or Not podcast series joins us today to talk about safe food handling practices for retailers. Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS and Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute

What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine deployment in the U.S. as it relates to essential convenience store front-line employees. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Anna Ready-Blom, Director, Government Relations, NACS In her role of Director of Government Relations for NACS, Anna Ready-Blom works to protect the best interests of the convenience and fuel retailing industry before Congress and federal government agencies — especially against rules and regulations that can have a negative impact on business. Doug Kantor, Partner, Steptoe and Johnson, LLC Doug Kantor works in tandem with the NACS Government Relations team advocating for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. At Steptoe, Kantor provides governmental advocacy, strategic advice, and legal counseling services to a range of clients before the Congressional and Executive branch agencies, and he provides legal representation for clien

As President Joe Biden’s Cabinet takes shape, we talk with the NACS lobbying team at how his picks might affect the convenience retailing industry. Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS  

Despite its challenges, 2020 forced retailers to accelerate innovation which resulted in positive changes quickly. In this episode, we will look at all retail and talk about which of those new technologies may stick around for a while. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

Chaos should not be what the "C" stands for in C-Store. Learn how to endure, survive and thrive in chaos as well as how to support your employees during their trying times. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS

Which vehicles will people be buying in 2021, what will they be doing and where will they be going with them? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute

Take a trip with us to Sweden to hear about Reitan Group convenience stores and their super fresh food, self checkout technology and cashierless stores. Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

Heroes can be everywhere - in stores, in homes, in schools - and now, more than ever, we need them. You can be someone's hero. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Britt Brewer, Marketing Manager, NACS