The third day of the 2025 NACS Show featured a changing of the guard for NACS. Longtime leader Henry Armour will move into a new role at the end of the year, while Frank Gleeson will take the helm of the organization as President and CEO. The two executives shared the General Session stage with Brian Hannasch, former CEO of Circle K and 2024-2025 NACS Chairman of the Board, who also shared his perspective on transitions and leadership.
Here's what the NACS Media team saw and heard at the NACS Show on its third day.
Innovating faster and better. It’s obvious when walking the NACS Expo floor that the rate of innovation is accelerating. “It almost feels like a fashion business,” said Kevin Martello, an executive at Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP). Each new generation of products is bolder than the one before. KDP shared an expansive lineup of products at its booth—“a drink for every occasion”—including its first foray into single-serving Mott’s juices (a possible bundle win for breakfast).
“Innovation that sticks” was the theme at the Hershey booth. The sweets and snacks company has a hit with its Reese’s/Oreo collaboration, which exemplifies its data-driven approach to new products. It’s eye-catching, social media friendly and multi-textural, with bold flavors and a hint of nostalgia for some consumers: It’s a product that captures the 2025 trends. —Ben Nussbaum, Editor-in-Chief
Nostalgia. With Millennials and Gen Z now accounting for about 32% of consumer spend, brands are leaning into fueling these generations’ nostalgia with flavors and collaborations from their childhood.
“Millennials and Gen Z’s love nostalgia. When they see brands from their childhood, they want to engage in that nostalgic space. Gen Z grew up with a very different flavor profile than previous generations,” said Jason Zelinski, vice president, convenience and growth accounts at NIQ during the Education Session “What’s Really in the Can? Selling Alcohol-Infused Products.”
On the NACS Show floor, General Mills is highlighting its Gushers All Blue pack—the first-ever Gushers package featuring only the Blueberry Grape flavor. The product is targeted directly at Millennials’ childhood nostalgia.
Nostalgia-evoking products were visible throughout the Expo hall, including RC and Slice sodas. In the New Exhibitor Area, Doughbrick’s showcased pizza-inspired chips created by popular internet personality David Dobrik that aim to evoke the nostalgic feeling of pizza parties. —Noelle Riddle, Writer and Editor
Your people matter most. Ask any convenience retail leader what makes a business successful, and chances are their answer will be people.
During the “Women Leading the Way in Convenience” Education Session, Elizabeth Hoffer, vice president of Weigel’s Stores, said she always tries to remember that her employees don’t work for her—she works for them.
“If you’re not serving a customer directly, you’re serving someone who is serving a customer,” said Frank Gleeson, incoming president and CEO of NACS, during Thursday’s General Session on leadership with Henry Armour and Brian Hannasch. It’s a mantra he has followed throughout his retail career.
“We value our frontlines. We came from stores, so we understand the value of our people, the jobs they do for our customers and the importance of the teams they serve,” said Gleeson. “The best leaders have to have a service and hospitality mindset for their people, so that their people can have it for our customers.” —Lauren Shanesy, Writer and Editor
Unpacking AI. Forget any and all preconceived notions about artificial intelligence. If you thought it was just for complicated technology or writing a college essay, you were only partly right. The consistent references to AI throughout the NACS Show Education Sessions suggest we should think of it with a “yes, and” mindset. Can AI drive traffic via online search? Yes, and it can parse your sales data to drive a store reset. Can AI generate apps just by asking? Yes, and it can identify the personas of the consumers using your apps, further defining how best to personalize offers to them. Can AI verify deliveries by matching products received invoices? Yes, and it can forecast fuel volumes for a given week given local events and weather patterns. Can AI create a shopper heat map? Yes, and it can develop sales reports directing a store manager to delay a new order based on what’s in the back room.
“AI is a power drill compared to a screwdriver,” said Babir Sultan of Favtrip. “It’s more accurate. It saves time. It’s faster.” —Steve Holtz, Contributing Writer