Global Issues Definitions

Strategic Issues

Advanced Retail Technology
Use of sophisticated retail technology (automated labor management, predictive technology, AI, integrated information systems, unmanned stores, etc.).

Alternative Fuels
Availability of LPG, LNG, Methanol, Bio-fuels and Hydrogen.

“Better for You” Foodservice Focus
Distribution of heathier food choices (salads, free-from, diet-specific, organic, low-carb, high protein).

Commercial Social Media (for brand building/advertising purposes)
Usage of twitter/facebook/instagram/etc for retail brand and promotion advertising.

Data Security
Sophistication of measures against intensity of cyber-attacks, protection of consumer and employee data, etc.

Electric Vehicles
Significant growth in newly registered electric vehicles each month; increase of charging points.

Environmental, Social, & Corporate Governance (ESG)
Intensity of push from investors and the society for companies to be engaged in ESG topics.

Focus on Operational Re-Engineering
Acceptance of applying scientific and mathematical methods to analyze and optimize operational efficiencies and labour productivity.

Food Safety
Scale of public awareness and corporate implementation of food safety standards; adoption of food safety culture.

Foodservice
Ubiquity, breadth and depth of foodservice offerings in convenience- and fuel-retail.

Gamification (for consumer promotion)
Extent of using gamification in consumer-facing marketing schemes.

Gamification (for employee training)
Extent of using gamification for employee training, motivation, etc.

Extent of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives
Extent of companies pursuing CSR initiatives to positively impact the environment, other issues of societal concern, employees or consumers.

Labour Management Technology
Investment in new technology to manage staff (HR tools, hiring tools, time management tools, communication tools, etc).

Labour/Talent Shortages
Degree of labour shortages leading to longer hiring times, more job vacancies and/or less qualified staff.

Last Mile Fulfillment (delivery, click & collect)
General availability of click & collect or home delivery from c-stores and fuel-stations by retailers and/or third party providers.

Loyalty Schemes
Extent of convenience- and fuel retailers offering loyalty schemes.

Mobile/Contactless Payment Systems
Degree of implementation of mobile- and contactless payment systems at POS.

Omnichannel Retailing (online-to-offline ecommerce)
Extent of convenience- and fuel retailers also offering ecommerce.

Pay-At-Pump
Availability of pay-at-pump at fuel stations.

Self-Checkout
Availability of self-checkout checkout at c-stores and fuel stations.

Self-Service Fueling
Extent to which self-service vs. attended fueling is available.

Services (as a revenue stream)
Breadth of services in c-stores and fueling stations such as, but not restricted to, bill pay, laundry, dry cleaning, post office, dog wash, etc.

Supply Chain Logistics
Advancement of warehousing design and setup, sophistication of inventory and assets management and the efficiency of the logistics network.

Sustainability (as a societal concern)
Degree of public awareness and medial push for more sustainable products & processes.

Vertical Integration in The Supply Chain
Extent to which convenience-and fuel retailers are integrating backward in the supply chain (self distribution, packaging, manufacturing, etc.)

Regulatory Issues

Alcoholic Beverages
Number, strictness and enforcement of laws and rules, regulating the sales of alcoholic beverages.

Cannabis/CBD
Degree of openness to allow the sales of CBD and CBD infused products in multiple categories.

Carbon Reduction/Taxes
Intensity of mandatory actions for companies to reduce CO2 or pay taxes on CO2 emissions.

Container Deposits
Existence of mandatory bottle/coffee-cup/plastics/etc recycling through item deposits and empty item returns/reverse vending.

Credit/Debit Fees
Rate of retailer fees to banks/card companies credit and debit card transactions.

Energy Drinks
Number, strictness and enforcement of laws and rules, regulating the sales of energy drinks.

Food Safety
Level of regulation on cold chain systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and other food safety management systems (FSMSs). Could also address requirement of governments and regulators on retailer development of a food safety culture.

Labor
Degree of regulation of labor related issues such as minimum wage, working hours, zero hour contracts, statutory sick leave, etc.

Plastics
Number of laws addressing production and disposal of single use plastics. Tackling plastic pollution like single use bags, straws, packaging, etc.

Sugar/Fat/Salt
Number, strictness and enforcement of laws and rules, regulating the sales of sugary, fatty, or salty foods.

Tobacco Regulations
Number, strictness and enforcement of laws and rules, regulating the sales of tobacco products.