Strategy and culture are among the most important responsibilities for leaders in the workplace as they focus on the never-ending quest to maintain effectiveness. Strategy offers a formal logic for the company’s goals and culture expresses these goals through values and beliefs. A strong company culture instantly reflects the values of a company, its leaders and its employees. What values define your company? What matters most to you and your employees? In this session, retailers will discuss the intense amount of work it takes to develop and maintain an outstanding culture in the convenience store industry and the communities they serve.

Staff scheduling, inventory management, menu analysis, guest satisfaction, profitability, and so much more rest on the shoulders of accurate foodservice forecasting. The importance of understanding the foodservice market is more important than ever as store trips are forecasted to drop and third party delivery services gain more traction. This session will examine how customers currently purchase food, what they are looking for and what the convenience store industry can expect over the next three years.

Digital has transformed foodservice, reframing customer expectations at convenience stores, restaurants and beyond. How are c-store retailers maintaining their food base and standing out with digital tools and promotions? Based on custom research fielded for the NAG audience, we will explore how consumers are utilizing digital platforms to engage with c-stores. We’ll uncover ordering and delivery trends as well as the impact on basket size and customer loyalty. Our retailer panel will explore various data points and share insights on how they plan to adapt to customer expectations.

The convenience store industry is seeing a rapid rise in private label branding across all categories. Private labels are often cheaper than national brands, which is a solid selling point as financially strained consumers tighten their purse strings. Two advantages—high availability and low price—have also made private-label products considerably more appealing to consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The consumer shift toward private labels also benefits retailers, since these products are typically more profitable for them. Furthermore, high-quality private labels can gain a devoted following and become a powerful driver of customer loyalty. In this session hear from three leading retailers on why they are continuing to develop and expand private label products.

Best practices and a conference wrap up