This year at the NACS Show, NACS launched the Convenience Retailer of the Year Award Latin America and awarded two winners: Lion Place Cardales and LiSTO! Castaños. Executives from both companies were recognized among their convenience retail peers during the Global Colleagues Reception on October 5.

Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lion Place Cardales is operated by FGC Fuels Marketing, a new, independent fuels retailer with ambitions to revolutionize the convenience store industry in Argentina.

Lion Place Cardales opened in October 2021 and is located near a highway entrance/exit in a new suburban development area outside Buenos Aires. The concept was created to stand out from the crowd, meaning the architecture and layout of Lion Place is designed to impact the customer in a way that shifts their conception of a service station in Argentina. Food is a huge part of the concept, with multiple foodservice and coffee offers alongside a carefully curated convenience range in a spacious retail environment.

The judges agreed that FGC Fuels Marketing is hitting high marks on its goal to “make a real impact on the way people think about fuels and convenience, making them more relevant in the 21st century” with its Lion Place Cardales location.

LiSTO! Castaños is located in the historic San Isidro district in Lima, Peru. Operated by Corporacion Primax S. A. Foodservice takes center stage with an impressive Peruvian coffee selection ranging from drip coffee to indulgent cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos and espressos crafted from freshly ground beans. Product ranges feature classic convenience items that cater to families and households, including an exclusive liquor cellar that elevates customers' at-home celebrations.

For this location, which was remodeled in 2022, the judges agreed that LiSTO! Castaños has enhanced the customer experience by introducing self-checkout, digital signage and menu boards, self-serve coffee and roller grill options and adding more seating.

The NACS Convenience Retail Awards recognize and promote convenience retailing excellence and provide retailers with the opportunity to showcase their innovation and creativity to the global retailing community. NACS offers Convenience Retail Awards in Asia-Pacific, Europe and now Latin America.

“Latin America is an excellent market for convenience and fuel retailers who excel at innovating and adapting to their local customer needs,” said Henry O. Armour, NACS president and CEO.

For more information, visit www.convenience.org/awards.