A Conversation with the NACS Chairman

This week’s Convenience Matters podcast features 2016-2017 NACS Chairman Rahim Budhwani.

April 25, 2017

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — “We exist because of our importance in communities. C-store does not stand for convenience store, it stands for community store,” said Rahim Budhwani in the latest Convenience Matters podcast released this week.

In “A Conversation with the NACS Chairman,” cohosts John Eichberger, executive director of the Fuels Institute and Carolyn Schnare, NACS director of strategic initiatives, talk with the current NACS chairman about his innovative foodservice offers, his views about the convenience industry's future and the importance of being a part of the community.

Looking back to 2005, Rahim talks about how he provided free food and drinks to first responders helping the community after Hurricane Katrina struck Birmingham. “We didn’t make one sale at that store for a month—but it grew our business. Our support showed that we cared. And the community noticed.”

Rahim asserts that the key to success as an independent operator is to try new ideas and learn from your experience, especially in foodservice, which he sees to be the point of differentiation for convenience stores in a channel-blurring retail market. Leaning on his culinary background, he offers food with local appeal like tamales, tacos, tortas and chilaquiles. From there, Budhwani adds a twist, using his background with Indian cuisine, to create chicken curry tacos and maharaja tacos.

“Rahim has such an optimistic approach as chairman which is testimony to the successful status of the industry. Because of the strong entrepreneurial spirit of its’ retailers, it is an in unbelievable testament to this industry” said Eichberger.

A new Convenience Matters podcast will be released every week, focusing on topics related to convenience stores. Episodes of Convenience Matters can be downloaded on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and at convenience-matters.com. Since its launch in February 2016, it has been downloaded in more than 65 countries and total downloads per week have doubled over the past year.

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