CONVENIENCE RETAIL IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. From customer expectations and experiences to foodservice growth, technology solutions and category management, the retailer and supplier members of the Convention Content Committee have crafted more than 50 Education Sessions with your business goals and needs in mind.
Schedules are subject to change.
Hear how real career journeys into leadership roles within the convenience industry often begin at the store level. Through personal stories and practical examples, attendees will explore how to identify internal talent, create visible career pathways and help frontline employees see convenience retail as a long-term profession with meaningful opportunities for growth and leadership.
Ballroom E/F/G
As EV adoption accelerates, many convenience retailers are deciding whether they should own their charging infrastructure or simply host it at their stores. This panel brings together a convenience retailer and an EV charging provider to walk through real-word case studies of deploying charging infrastructure at convenience stores. With a focus on practical insights, the discussion will cover key considerations for convenience retailers, as well as how to align charging investments with business goals and measure success. By sharing both successes and lessons learned, this session will
Ballroom C
Aaron Young, Vince Cipollone +1 more
The back bar is evolving as nicotine pouches and alternative consumables compete for limited space. Hear about strategically allocating back bar space across oral nicotine, traditional tobacco, and emerging categories. Gain practical insights on merchandising, balancing profitability with security concerns, and preparing for what the future of the category could look like.
Pavilion 10/11
Using insights from the State of the Industry (SOI) report, this session takes a deeper look at consumer spending patterns, operational variables, and what separates the top deciles from the bottom deciles within the data.
Pavilion 1/2
How real-time reporting uncovers missed age verifications before they become violations. Please note that attendance is first come first serve, and space may be limited!
NACS Future of Convenience Booth (C400)
Category deep dive. What's next in cold, hot, and specialty beverages, and what customers will pay for.
Ballroom A
What does convenience mean to the next generation of shoppers? In this interactive session, we explore how Gen Z and Gen Alpha define convenience with street-style interviews and real-world examples. Attendees will gain fresh perspective on emerging trends, technology expectations, and how younger consumers influence merchandising, branding and experience.
Ballroom B
Frank Gleeson, Crystal Maggelet +3 more
Convenience Connect is an exclusive opportunity for NACS supplier members to hear directly from convenience retailers about how they discover new products and maximize their time at the NACS Show. During this 90-minute session, a panel of retail leaders will share what they look for in new products, how they evaluate potential supplier partners, and tips for making meaningful connections. The session concludes with 30 minutes of networking over light refreshments, giving you the chance to continue the conversation and build valuable relationships. Don't miss this unique supplier opportunity
Pavilion 9
Chris Everson, Webb Roberts +7 more
How do investments to modernize your site translate into profitable growth? Convenience retailers are balancing the rise of the multi-energy forecourt and the changing expectations of today's consumers. The success of EV charging, alternative fuels, and new digital touchpoints will depend on more than infrastructure alone. The retailers that lead the next decade won't simply deploy new technologies , they will seamlessly connect energy, commerce, and customer experiences to build enduring loyalty. This session explores how retailers can combine intelligent site operations with
Pavilion 10/11
As foodservice drives growth in convenience retail, competition with quick-service restaurants intensifies. Learn how to elevate food offerings through menu innovation, kitchen design, and digital integration to meet evolving consumer demands.
Pavilion 1/2
Every year, new legislation and regulations impact the convenience industry. As the saying goes, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” How do some businesses always come out on top? Join industry CEOs as they share how political engagement, relationship building and a culture of advocacy have helped them protect their interests and strengthen the industry.
Ballroom B
Scott Zietlow, Natalie Morhous +1 more
What makes certain leaders energizing to be around, and how can you become one of them? In this session, Emma Seppälä, faculty director of Yale’s Women’s Leadership Program, explores the science and practice of positively energizing leadership. She’ll share practical strategies to build resilience, strengthen relationships and elevate team performance in today’s demanding workplace.
Pavilion 3/4
Tomorrow's winners won't be defined by the technologies they adopt, but by how well they're prepared for continual change. The retailers who thrive won't be chasing the next technology—they'll be building the capabilities that turns new technologies into a competitive advantage. This year's Roadmap explores those capabilities.
Ballroom C
Gray Taylor, Donald Emery +2 more
Explore the key findings from the NACS Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council’s latest study on trip drivers in convenience retail. Find out what motivates consumers to visit stores, what influences their purchasing decisions, and how these behaviors are evolving. The discussion will highlight actionable strategies retailers can use to align with shopper needs and increase trip frequency and basket size.
Ballroom A
Michael Sansolo, Richard Bode +3 more
Hemp-derived THC beverages create an opportunity for growth in convenience stores as an emerging category. Industry experts will explore what retailers need to know about selling these age-restricted products responsibly, how the category fits into convenience retail, and the future of the these products as federal and state legislation and regulations develop.
Ballroom E/F/G
See how mobile driver's licenses and digital IDs are changing in-store verification—and what retailers need to do next.
NACS Future of Convenience Booth (C400)
Retail media networks are becoming a powerful revenue and marketing tool for retailers. In this session, experts will share real-world case studies showing how retailers are using these platforms to create value for their brands and stores. Learn strategies for launching or participating in a network, including how smaller operators can get started and ensure their media offerings deliver measurable ROI.
Ballroom B
Joell Robinson, Tommy Greenberg +2 more
Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for building meaningful connections with your audience. And it all starts with a deep understanding of today’s consumer. This session explores how brands can amplify their values through authentic storytelling, creating narratives that resonate with customers’ changing values & preferences, reinforce brand purpose, and drive long-term loyalty & advocacy. Additionally, we will apply a convenience store lens to these insights to inspire new strategies, e.g. branded merchandise, partnerships, new revenue streams.
Ballroom A
What if your store managers could spend less time on paperwork and more time leading people? This session highlights practical ways to lighten the load, including centralized recruiting models and streamlined administrative processes that cut hours of daily work. Hear how companies like Casey's and TXB are redesigning responsibilities so managers can focus on hiring decisions, team development and culture—not redundant tasks.
Ballroom E/F/G
The NACS Leadership for Success Program brings the brightest industry supervisors together to develop their personal leadership skills and become better leaders. For the past five months, participants have been working on reducing turnover, increasing employee engagement, and developing store managers by creating plans, setting goals, and tracking their progress. They are ready to share the results! Hear what worked (and what didn’t) as they sought to develop and strengthen their teams.
Pavilion 3/4
Make sure your AI investment doesn’t create more complexity than value. This session equips retail leaders with a practical guide to evaluating and purchasing AI solutions and how to avoid costly traps. Explore common pitfalls such as hidden fees, usage-based pricing, subscription sprawl and integration challenges that can undermine ROI. The discussion will break down total cost of ownership across on-prem and SaaS models while highlighting the key questions to ask before making an investment.
Pavilion 1/2
Residential embedded convenience retail is a new category where convenience is the amenity. Hear from leaders at Urban Value Corner Store as they share how their business model rethinks traditional assumptions around traffic patterns, customer engagement and retail placement by operating inside multifamily, mixed-use, student housing, and master-planned communities.
Pavilion 10/11
This session explores how to market a foodservice program in a way that builds trust, reinforces brand credibility, and drives long-term customer behavior—not just short-term traffic. Participants will learn how to evaluate whether their marketing is truly working, align messaging with operational reality, and design foodservice offers that resonate with their core customers.
Ballroom C
Learn how AI-powered search is changing customer discovery—and what you can do to stay visible. Please note that attendance is first come first serve, and space may be limited!
NACS Future of Convenience Booth (C400)
