Convenience stores are one of the fastest growing food segments, with foodservice (prepared food, commissary, hot, cold and frozen dispensed beverages) representing nearly 28% of inside sales in 2024, according to NACS State of the Industry data.
With more labor intensive and sophisticated foodservice programs being developed and executed within our industry, food safety is essential. It's also important to make sure your teams have a solid foundation in the whys behind your company's food safety procedures and protocols.
The NACS Food Safety Forum is developed and administered by convenience industry food safety, foodservice, quality assurance and risk management leaders. This is the only retail-focused event of its kind for the global convenience community.
Content focuses on four principles:
- Consumer safety
- Clean and quality experiences
- Protecting our brands
- Empowering our teams to do the right thing
Participants will become more engaged and empowered to:
- Recognize how certain behaviors can enhance and protect their teams, customers and brand.
- Lead collaborative solutions that address safe food handling challenges.
The NACS Food Safety Forum will feature retailers and food safety experts from across the industry. The event will begin at 2:00 p.m.CT on Monday, April 13, and conclude by 4:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 14. Check back often for updates.
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1:00 PM
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Registration & Exhibits Open
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2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
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Welcome & Opening Remarks
Frank Gleeson, President and CEO, NACS
Amy Costello, Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Casey's General Stores
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2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
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Understanding the Food Safety Risks
The top five food safety risks are not only the most frequent culprits of a foodborne illness; they also result in the most health inspection violations. This session sets the stage for discussions ahead by connecting how these risks influence everything from handwashing and sanitation to technology, allergens and leadership.
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3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
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Building Consumer Trust With Your Food
Jeremy Zenlea, Vice President, Health and Safety, EG America
Perceptions of the convenience industry shape whether customers believe “gas station food” is high quality and safe. This session brings together an academic and a c-store retailer to explore how the industry can raise the bar on food safety, build trust and strengthen its reputation for exceptional food.
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3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
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Networking Break
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4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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CEO Perspectives on Food Safety
Moderator: Jay Ellingson, Chief Scientific Officer, Kwik Trip, Inc.
Panelist: Scott Zietlow, CEO and President, Kwik Trip, Inc.
Food safety starts at the top. Hear from industry CEOs as they share how leadership, culture and accountability shape food safety strategies across their organizations—and how their approach drives trust, consistency and brand integrity.
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5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
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Is It Risky or Not?
Ben Chapman, Ph. D., Department Head and Interim Associate Director of Extension, NC State
Donald W. Schaffner, Ph. D., Extension Specialist in Food Science and Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University
Risky or Not is a short podcast where Dr. Ben and Dr. Don answer your questions about whether something is risky or not. Cold pizza at midnight? A two-day old glass of water on the nightstand? Cooking stuffing Inside the turkey? Join Dr. Ben and Dr. Don as they use their expertise with a dose of humor to tackle real-world food safety scenarios. Bring your questions!
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5:30 PM
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Day 1 Wrap Up
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5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
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Welcome Reception + Tabletop Exhibits
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7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
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Networking Breakfast & Exhibits Open
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8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
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Table-Top Discussions (Optional)
Join fellow participants over breakfast to network and share ideas.
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8:45 AM
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Welcome Back
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8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
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Effective Sanitation Solutions
This session shares sanitation practices that focus on strategies to improve food safety, prevent cross-contamination and ensure food-safe working conditions in convenience stores.
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9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
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Tech-Driven Food Safety
Technology is redefining how convenience retailers approach efficiencies in safe food handling. This session features retailers sharing real-world examples of innovation, collaboration and solutions that keep food safe and operations running smoothly.
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10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
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Networking Break
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10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
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Allergens Under Control
From bakery to commissary to prepared foods onsite, understanding the Big 9 allergens and how to mitigate risk. A nutrition and allergy expert shares practical strategies for identifying, managing and communicating allergen information to help protect customers and build trust.
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11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
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Networking Lunch
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12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
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Mock Civil Trial
Event participants become courtroom jurors of a fictional mock civil trial to better understand the potential for legal liability related to a foodborne outbreak.
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2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
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Networking Break
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2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
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Driving Food Safety From the HQ to the C-Store
Moderator: Amy Costello, Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Casey's General Stores
Diverse perspectives on building a culture of food safety throughout the entire organization—from the HQ to the stores. Food safety professionals within decentralized retail chains share how what begins at corporate carries throughout the entire operation: from supply chain to production, to storage, distribution, and ultimately to retail and customers.
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3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
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Speaker Q&A and Closing Remarks
What we saw, what we heard and next steps.
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Show Bio...
Frank Gleeson became NACS president and CEO on January 1, 2026. He has deep experience in foodservice and convenience retailing. As president & CEO of Aramark Northern Europe from 2017–2024, he oversaw a team of over 20,000 employees across 2,800-plus locations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), which served an estimated 1 million meals a day. Before Aramark, Gleeson was retail director at Topaz Energy Group and vice president retail of Statoil Ireland (now Equinor), where he led the development of the first American-style convenience store in Ireland. Most recently, he served as chairman of the National Oil Reserve Agency in Ireland.
Gleeson was on the NACS Board of Directors for 11 years, including his term as 2018-19 NACS Chairman. In addition, he was a board member and chairman of Retail Ireland, a board member and president of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and a board member of the Irish Transport Authority.
- Retailer Member: $529
- Retailer Non-Member: $629
- Supplier Member: $699
- Supplier Non-Member: $999
If you have questions regarding registering for the NACS Food Safety Forum, please email foodsafetyreg@convenience.org for assistance.
Media individuals/organizations must be vetted by Chrissy Blasinsky, Digital & Content Strategist, to attend the Food Safety Forum, and are not eligible to attend/participate in the NACS State of the Industry Summit.
Register Now
Conveniently located close to the O'Hare International Airport, the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel serves as the location for the 2026 NACS Food Safety Forum. For room reservations, visit 2026 NACS Food Safety Forum - Hotel Reservations to secure your room online. Reservation deadline is March 19, 2026 to receive the NACS group rate of $175 plus tax, per room per night. Remember to book early! All rooms are based on availability and are not guaranteed until you confirm your own reservation.
Airports:
Weather:
- April weather in the Chicago area is typically pleasant, with average temperatures in the low to mid-50s, but the meeting rooms may get chilly so bring layers, just in case.
As a NACS Food Safety Forum partner, your company will stand out as a leader in foodservice and safe food handling solutions for the convenience industry.
The Food Safety Forum is one of a few NACS event partnership opportunities available, providing access to a concentrated audience focused on the latest food safety advancements and protocols. Your support positions your brand as an essential partner in elevating food safety and food protection programs across the convenience industry.
If you are interested in being 2026 NACS Food Safety Forum partner, reach out to Brandi Mauro at bmauro@convenience.org.