CStore Decisions

In this episode, we're joined by Pervez Pir, president of retail for Loop Neighborhood Marketplace, who offers an inside look at the company's Loop Neighborhood and Poppy Market banners. Based in California, the chain recently expanded with the acquisition of 11 stores from National Petroleum. From foodservice innovation and car wash services to cutting-edge technology, Pir shares what's driving the brand forward today.

Amanda Yaw, director of marketing for Green Valley Grocery talks about the chain's growth plans and areas of focus from foodservice and technology to new-to-industry stores.

Steve Seymour and Stacy Kline from Country Fair discuss the chain's new flagship store, — which is its biggest location and first city market concept — as well as Country Fair's 60th anniversary year, how the chain is investing in its company culture and its earned wage access program for employees. From the company history to foodservice and technology initiatives to goals for the future, this podcast deep-dives into the Country Fair convenience store chain.

With the second-generation of the family active in management of the company, and fresh off a major acquisition that more than doubles its footprint while adding vertical integration opportunities, H&S Energy has its sights set on continued growth. Today, H&S Energy operates more than 260 stores in California, Oregon and Nevada. The company currently operates under the proprietary banners Power Market, as well as Pinnacle 365, and it's also an Extra Mile franchisee.

Major Itule, CEO of Major Oil, discusses his plans to grow to more than 500 locations. His new concept includes autonomous Convenience Store Portable Above Ground Stations (CPAGs) that take days to build for a fraction of the cost of a traditional convenience store. With the first station opening later this year, he aspires to introduce five to 10 locations per month in 2026. Learn the ins and outs of the unique concept, how it's constructed, how the technology works, the offerings inside the store and the vision behind the new concept.

It's been five years since Chestnut Petroleum Distributors began aligning its fleet of stores under the Chestnut Market banner. Now, with more visibility in its marketplace, Chestnut Market is mastering execution and consistency with help from its Retail Is Detail program while growing through remodels and new store builds. It's also making bold strides with a stronger focus on food and the imminent launch of its new mobile app and loyalty program. Today, the chain operates approximately 75 company-operated convenience stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and it's also a major distributor for Exxon Mobil, Shell, bp, Gulf and Irving, supplying fuel to about 230 locations in the Tri-State area. Now, with the second generation of the family business taking on leadership roles, the chain has its sights set on continuing to expand its footprint in the Tri-State area.

Convenience store chain Triumph Energy is elevating its execution for 2025, rolling out new programs and creating a cohesive experience for customers from its store design to its offerings.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte and Seth Bridges, founder of Rival IQ, discuss the 2023 Social Media Awards. For the third year in a row, Kwik Trip claimed the top spot as the overall winner across platforms. Listen for more on which chains took first and second place on the various platforms. New this year, the social media awards include TikTok, in addition to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bridges details what this year's winners did well, and the trends ahead for social media in 2023. Hint: C-store retailers should consider joining TikTok, if they're not already active on the popular platform.

This month, CStore Decisions Editor John Lofstock speaks with Elie Y.Katz, President and CEO of National Retail Solutions (NRS) to dicuss retail trends, including e-commerce, winning the battle for the last mile and expanding a loyalty program. With vast retail industry knowledge gained from having owned over a dozen retail establishments, Elie has refined insight into the mindset and needs of the retail business owner. Elie coordinated the creation of the NRSPoint of Sale (POS) system and NRS PAY merchant services, combined with a loyalty and rewards network for IDT's five million-plus customers.

Erin Del Conte, executive editor of CStore Decisions, speaks with Christy Patient, regional director of operations at Circle K, co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Council and co-chair of the Women's Council, about her experiences as a woman in business.

CStore Decisions Editor John Lofstock speaks with Elie Katz, President and CEO of National Retail Solutions (NRS) about the trends he is seeing in the retail marketplace. With vast retail industry knowledge gained from having owned over a dozen retail establishments, Elie has refined insight into the mindset and needs of the retail business owner. Elie coordinated the creation of the NRSPoint of Sale (POS) system and NRS PAY merchant services, combined with a loyalty and rewards network for IDT's 5 million+ customers.

Erin Del Conte, executive editor of CStore Decisions, speaks with Joy Almekies, senior director of food services, Global Partners about her experiences as a Gen X woman in the convenience store industry.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Kendra Meyer, the vice president of real estate development for Casey's, to learn more about her experiences as a millennial woman in the workforce.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte and Seth Bridges, founder and head of product for Rival IQ, discuss the 2022 Social Media Awards. Bridges explains the methodology behind the awards and what the winners are doing well. He also shares best practices on social media for retailers for the year ahead.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Amanda Shymanski, digital marketing & advertising manager for QuickChek. Shymanski shares her experiences as a woman in business and what she wishes she knew when she was first starting out.

Thomas Mulloy, senior editor with CBDRetailTrends.com and CStore Decisions magazine, welcomes Jeff Ragovin, chief commercial officer with Fyllo, a company whose mission is providing compliance-first solutions for highly regulated industries. Ragovin discusses the difficulties for CBD manufacturers and retailers in navigating a continually shifting regulatory landscape.

John Lofstock, editor of CStore Decisions and executive director of the National Advisory Group (NAG), speaks with Horacio Gavilán, of the Hispanic Marketing Council (HMC); and Suzy Silliman, of National Retail Solutions (NRS), about the growing impact Hispanic shoppers are having on the convenience store market.

Erin Del Conte, executive editor with CStore Decisions, speaks with Carly LaBeau, retail accounting administrator for FriendShip Stores and Beck Suppliers. A millennial, LaBeau talks about her experiences in the c-store industry as she celebrates her 11th anniversary with FriendShip, as well as FriendShip's culture of rewarding employees.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Polly Flinn, president of GetGo and executive vice president of Giant Eagle. Flinn has seen the convenience store industry evolve over the years. Today, more businesses are becoming more accepting of different styles and working to call in more voices. Flinn shares some of her experiences over her more than 25-year career and offers advice to the younger generation.

CStore Decisions Editor-in-Chief John Lofstock and Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speak with Datassential Trendologist Mike Kostyo about food and delivery trends.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Sandy Deel, director of HR services and benefits for Thorntons Inc., to learn more about Deel's experiences as a Gen X woman in the convenience store industry. Deel discusses how things have changed since the era of power suits, and how having a mentor helped her navigate her career, as well as advice for the younger generation. This podcast is sponsored by Bic.

Candice Clark, CFO of Clipper Petroleum, talks with Erin Del Conte, executive editor of CStore Decisions about her experiences as a women in the convenience store industry, and the importance of creating environments that welcome a more diverse workforce.

Pilot Flying J was recently recognized in CStore Decisions' 2021 Tech Innovation Awards for their work with contactless payments. To learn more, Erin Del Conte and Frank Beard reached out to Tyler Tanaka—the vice president of digital and loyalty marketing at Pilot Flying J. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including why Pilot Flying J is leaning-in on mobile app strategies, contactless payments, and even drive-thrus. If you missed our coverage of the 2021 Tech Innovation Awards, be sure to click the link below: https://cstoredecisions.com/2021/05/12/2021-tech-innovation-awards/

What's next for convenience retailers now that the outdoor EMV deadline has passed, and what should they consider when thinking about the business case for EV charging? Patrick Raycroft, W. Capra Consulting Group's convenience and energy vertical lead, joins Erin and Frank in this episode of CStore Decisions Live. Topics include: - What the EMV deadline means for retailers - Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) and tokenization - The challenges retailers face with EV charging - Why EV charging makes sense for some retailers but not others - And much more... Click below to read Raycroft's latest article, "What Comes After Outdoor EMV." https://cstoredecisions.com/2021/05/07/what-comes-after-outdoor-emv/

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte talks with Kelsey Capellino, category manager for United Pacific. Capellino, talks about the challenges of being a millennial woman in the workforce. Kelsey and Erin discuss generational differences in finding one's voice as a woman in business as well as navigating the pressures of social media, balancing family and work, expectations, having difficult conversations and setting boundaries.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Stephanie Doliveria, vice president of human resources for Sheetz, about her experiences as a women in convenience and member of Gen X, the challenges women still face today, as well as how Sheetz is leading the way with a new paid maternity and parental leave policy. She also shares advice for young women starting their careers.

How is labor management adjusting in the age of COVID-19? For the 13th consecutive year, CStore Decisions and Humetrics have collaborated on the annual Human Resources Benchmarking Survey, which polled c-store leaders about HR practices, labor challenges, and headwinds. Erin and Frank unpack the 2021 report. Buc-ee's is also in the news for expanding to Kentucky, and DoorDash is making noise about their two new dark store formats. (No, not DashMart. They're testing one called Dandelion Organic Grocery and another called A-Mart Asian Grocery)

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Lisa Dell'Alba, CEO of Square One Markets, about navigating the unique challenges women face in the workforce. Dell'Alba talks about finding her voice as she stepped into her father's shoes as CEO of the company, coming into your own in the business world, and navigating your own and societal expectations.

Erin and Frank chat with Jon Cox, GetGo's vice president and chief merchandising officer. This episode, sponsored by Apter Industries, dives deep into changing consumer habits, GetGo's use of Grabango's checkout-free technology, delivery trends, and what's on the horizon for fuel and convenience retailers.

What's in store for convenience retailers in 2021, and is eCommerce actually taking over the world? Erin Del Conte and and Frank Beard speak with John Lofstock, the vice president of CStore Decisions and executive director of the National Advisory Group and Young Executives Organization.

CStore Decisions Associate Editor Isabelle Gustafson talks with Cliff's Local Market Director of Foodservice Derek Thurston about its foodservice program this past year and its plans for 2021. The Central New York-based-, 19-store chain has experienced sales dips in the breakfast daypart, for example, but some foodservice items, like whole pizzas and local beans, have seen huge success.

For this year's social media awards, CStore Decisions partnered with social media analytics company Rival IQ to track 65 convenience store chains' performance across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter from November 2019 to November 2020.  In this podcast, CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte and Rival IQ Founder Seth Bridges discuss the award winners. Bridges shares insights on the methodology behind the awards as well as what other convenience stores can learn from what the winners did well.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with social media expert Gini Dietrich, founder of Spin Sucks and author of the book “Spin Sucks,” about social media trends as we head into 2021. Dietrich shares insights on how the pandemic has impacted social media trends, which platforms convenience store retailers should be targeting and top tips for success.

CStore Decisions Senior Editor Thomas Mulloy, who also manages companion website CBDRetailTrends.com, talks with Casey Taylor, vice president of client development for market research firm CivicScience about growing opportunities and strategies for brick-and-mortar retailers looking to join the CBD marketplace.

Joe Marelle, the CEO of Tobacco Superstores in Marion, Arkansas, sits down with CStore Decisions Editor John Lofstock to talk about the state of tobacco and nicotine and what to expect over the next year.

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Daniel Burrus, global futurist, speaker and best-selling author to learn more about the tech disruption on the horizon for 2021 and how c-stores can position themselves for success.

WGSN Director of Food & Drink and established trendologist Kara Nielsen spoke with CStore Decisions Associate Editor Isabelle Gustafson about the latest food and beverage trends to come out of the pandemic — from oat milk to canned cocktails to hatch chile and more — and what to look for in years to come.

Terry Gallagher, president of Smoker Friendly International, sat down with CStore Decisions Editor John Lofstock to discuss the state of the tobacco industry, pending legislation and how to be a responsible tobacco retailer.

CStore Decisions' Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Slaton Whatley, director of operations of Whatley Oil Co., and a third-generation member of the family business. The Columbus, Ga.-based company operates Zelmo’s Zip In Convenience Stores. Slaton shares the chain’s growth plans in the months ahead. Among other initiatives, the company is remodeling its fleet of company-owned stores in Georgia and Alabama, building new-to-industry locations and is set to build a new headquarters and bulk wholesale plant in 2021.

Boston-based fruit smoothie machine maker smoodi is the brainchild of a pair of engineers who also harbor an entrepreneurial spirit. Senior Editor Thomas Mulloy and CStore Decisions Live talked with Munich-born Pascal Kriesche, one half of the duo collaborating to deliver fruit-based smoothies to customers looking for a refreshing beverage that’s healthy, fresh and clean – while featuring transparency in ingredients. Plus, as the machine mixes the customized healthy beverages, it’s also fun to watch!

CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Sal Hassan, president and CEO of H&S Energy, and his son Amir Hassan, operations coordinator for H&S Energy. The family-owned company is expanding its network of company-owned Power Market convenience stores and ExtraMile locations, while launching a wholesale distribution branch, proprietary delivery service, loyalty program and developing its first cashierless store. Listen as we talk about running a family business, and H&S Energy's growth plans.

CStore Decisions Associate Editor Isabelle Gustafson catches up with Central Washington University (CWU) Executive Chef Joe Ritchie about the campus' new Fresh Bar Concept, which offers healthy food options using fresh produce grown right on campus, as well as some more traditional comfort food staples. At the start of the fall semester, the campus dining program is also launching mobile ordering and working to keep dining options fresh, safe and convenient for students and staff.

Viral "Joe" Patel immigrated to the United States at the age of 10 along with his immediate family. By his teenage years, he was working in his grandfather's convenience store. Now, he and his brother — along with other family members — operate a small chain begun with the purchase and renovation of one store, growing with the new build of another and acquisitions of a handful more. This family-owned business never misses a chance to maximize its resources — doing many of its own renovations, embracing energy efficiency and pursuing new revenue via multi-function financial kiosks. Join C-Store Decisions Senior Editor Thomas Mulloy in a chat with Patel about Speed Mart's journey.

CStore Decisions’ Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Jeremie Myhren, chief information officer for Rockford, Ill.-based Road Ranger convenience stores, and the chairman of the Young Executives Organization (YEO) about blockchain. Blockchain was invented in 2008 in response to the financial crisis. But what exactly is it, how does it work and what do convenience store retailers need to know? Myhren gives a basic overview of blockchain for those who aren’t familiar with the concept, and then shares how it’s being used today in retail — including at companies like Walmart and Starbucks. He also talks about how it’s relevant to convenience store chains specifically, and why it’s important for c-store retailers to pay attention to blockchain now. Myhren also gives a preview of some of the deep-dive blockchain information he’ll be sharing in his upcoming National Advisory Group (NAG) virtual session presentation on Sept. 9, at 2 p.m., and how c-store retailers can sign up (for FREE!) to be included in that presentation. Listen in to learn more!

CStore Decisions Associate Editor Isabelle Gustafson speaks with North Carolina-based Cruizers Director of Foodservice Chris Postlewaite, who joined the 26-store chain in May. Postlewaite shares his plans for improving upon and expanding Cruizers' foodservice program, with a focus on pizza and fried chicken.

CStore Decisions magazine is recognizing Charge Up convenience stores as a Chain to Watch in the year ahead. CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with young executive entrepreneur Irfan Tejani, the president and CEO of Tejani Holdings Inc., the parent company of Charge Up, about his path in growing Charge Up from one to 40 locations in just 10 years, as well his growth plans for the future and his advice for other young executives.

As the Hemp-CBD marketplace evolves amidst an inconsistent regulatory framework, brick-and-mortar retailers are faced with questions about product quality, choosing reputable suppliers and complying with federal, state and local guidelines. Selling CBD host and CStore Decisions Senior Editor Thomas Mulloy welcomes Daniel McGee, chief legal officer with Solari Hemp, and Chris Howard, vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer with Forth CBD, to help make sense of it all.

CStore Decisions' Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Steve Gu, CEO and co-founder of AiFi, to learn more about NanoStore and the future of autonomous checkout.

CStore Decisions Editor John Lofstock talks with Suzy Silliman, the Senior Vice President, Data Strategy and Sales for National Retail Solutions (NRS) about the impact independent urban convenience stores are having on mainstream retail trends.

Michelle Arthur, loss prevention and tobacco buyer for Montana's Town Pump convenience store chain, joins C-Store Oracle and CStore Decisions Senior Editor Thomas Mulloy to discuss tobacco-free nicotine on demand products, merchandising and sales trends.

CStore Decisions’ Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Tanner Krause, president of Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go, which operates more than 400 convenience stores in 11 states. Following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the resulting outcry and protests across the country, a lot of businesses are asking questions, including “how do we become part of the change that is needed — not just for this moment but long-term?” Krause shares how Kum & Go is working to be part of the change, especially by listening to the voices of people of color and educating themselves and their team, and how convenience stores can lead right now in their communities and to be part of the push for a more inclusive world.