Be the first to know when registration opens for the 2023 NACS State of the Industry Summit. Plus, get updates on special room rates within our NACS-designated hotel block. We’ll alert you as soon as details are confirmed!
The NACS State of the Industry Summit is the only event that delivers insights—not just facts—on the latest financial, operational, categorical, regional market, and consumer trends in convenience.
- Get a first-look at the consumer, financial and operational data months before the SOI Report is released.
- Benchmark your business against competitors in your region and across the country.
- Get ahead of trends before they get ahead of you with the latest economic, consumer, convenience and adjacent channel trends that impact your business.
- Retailers and industry experts share insights that will help you capitalize on trends, avoid pitfalls and optimize the performance of your business.
Leading retailers and industry partners who want to make data driven decisions and appreciate the value of using insights and benchmarking to improve their businesses. See who attended this year (PDF).
- Chief executives, presidents, & owners
- Senior leadership across the organization
- Staff from key functions:
- Analytics/Data/Insights
- Category Management
- Finance
- Marketing
- Merchandising
- Operations
- Real Estate
With more than 50 years of convenience industry data, analysis and strategic insights behind it, NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit provides the data-powered answers you need to help set the course forward for your business. Each spring, we bring together top business speakers, industry experts, and top-performing c-store retailers to help break down the latest consumer, financial and operational data across the convenience channel—live from the stage. Held over two fast-paced days, this year’s SOI Summit is the industry’s only event where convenience retailers gain access to the newest metrics—as well as industry trends, opportunities and ‘watch-outs’—in essential topic areas such as finance, labor, store operations, merchandising and motor fuels.
This is a sample agenda; the 2023 agenda details will be released later this year.
SOI Summit Retailer Strategy Session
Technology Solutions Center Open
Session Description
New in 2022! Visit the Technology Solutions Center for perspective on the latest technology impacting convenience retail from leading providers. Technology company representatives will be available throughout the Summit to discuss how their solutions can help your business grow, improve back-office operations, and elevate your customer experience.
Networking Reception
NACSPAC Lounge After Hours
Networking Breakfast
Technology Solutions Center Open
Session Description
New in 2022! Visit the Technology Solutions Center for perspective on the latest technology impacting convenience retail from leading providers.
Technology company representatives will be available throughout the Summit to discuss how their solutions can help your business grow, improve back-office operations, and elevate your customer experience.
General Session
Be the first to hear industry performance benchmarks, trends and headwinds from an operator who successfully grew his business during an unprecedented 2020 and 2021. Charlie will share his perspectives on how convenience retailers can foster long-term growth and operational efficiencies within their own companies as he dissects the 2021 data. His sage insight and financial acumen provide a critical backdrop to the important lessons this past year has taught us, unlocking key priorities for the future of convenience retail.
Networking Break/Technology Solutions Center Open
General Session
- The Changing Face of the Convenience Shopper
Session Description
The voice of the shopper has never been more important! As consumers engage with retailers, navigate digital pathways and seek convenient solutions in an uncertain financial future, understanding their wants, needs and influences is essential to strengthening their loyalty and shopping behavior. Leroy will share “moment of truth” insights from the 2021 NACS Convenience Voices™ study, delivering important data and learning on consumer shopping behaviors, loyalty program effectiveness and answers to why customers choose your store over the competition—and vice versa.
- Convenience Industry Economic Outlook for 2022 and Beyond
Session Description
Resilience was the theme for retail in 2021. Retailers had to confront the continued effects of new variants of the coronavirus, rising costs of labor and shipping, supply chain bottlenecks, and inflationary pressures, among others. Forced to innovate by circumstances, convenience retailers added new ways to shop, more convenient delivery and pick-up options and leaned into new ways to attract, retain and reward talent. As retailers look to strategically choose the levers that can balance operational priorities in an increasingly disrupted marketplace, John will share essential insights that can help you understand where to focus investment, resources and energy in 2022 and beyond.
Networking Lunch
Technology Solutions Center Open
Session Description
New in 2022! Visit the Technology Solutions Center for perspective on the latest technology impacting convenience retail from leading providers. Technology company representatives will be available throughout the Summit to discuss how their solutions can help your business grow, improve back-office operations, and elevate your customer experience.
Category Presentations
- Candy & Snacks
Session Description
Changes in shopping patterns, consumption and mobility collided in 2021 and continue to impact how your customers shop the candy and snacks categories. Tim will break down the 2021 candy and snacks data and share his perspectives and insights from the strategies employed at Newcomb Oil.
- Foodservice
Session Description
Foodservice is a driving force in our industry, with more retailers evolving and expanding their programs to win trips and boost transactions in this highly competitive food-to-go landscape. Matt will also share insights on how Sheetz remains top-of-mind with their customers.
Networking Break/Technology Solutions Center Open
Category Presentations
- Beer/Wine/Spirits
Session Description
Did the bolstered 2020 sales of alcohol continue into 2021? We’ll recap the category innovation and dynamics that drove sales and margin growth, as well as highlight how the industry’s operational agility created a playbook for navigating times of economic uncertainty.
- Packaged Beverages
Session Description
One of the top in-store traffic drivers is never short on product innovation and programs that allow operators to keep pace with consumer preferences. Mary will share how packaged beverage growth and trends are not only changing shopper behaviors and traditional cooler sets, but also how well retailers are navigating these opportunities to bring flavor, fun and excitement to their stores.
Networking Break/Technology Solutions Center Open
Category Presentations
- Private Label
Session Description
In times of inflation, consumers will find new ways to stretch their dollar and managing spending. As private-label product availability grows and sales expand across the convenience retail landscape, Kristine will share critical insights on what matters most in developing and delivering a successful private brands program. She will highlight shopper insights on private-label appeal, category-specific data and her perspectives on private-label product growth at Nouria.
- Tobacco
Session Description
Cigarette, tobacco and OTP are best characterized as one of the biggest twists in a year full of turns! Kevin will share insights on how regulatory and marketplace volatility is reshaping the role of the back bar at 7-Eleven and across the industry, giving you new insights on the outlook ahead for tobacco products.
The Future of Verifying Age-Restricted Products
Winning Trips and Growing Baskets in an Increasingly Digital Path to Purchase
Session Description
The definition of convenience has changed. It is no longer simply a physical location, but the direct result of the experience a shopper has when connecting with the products and services they need. Digital convenience is transforming how shoppers search and discover banners, brands and experiences. Lori will bring to life the importance of being visible where and when shoppers are looking as she shares insights on how digital convenience has changed the path to purchase.
Closing
Networking Reception/Technology Solutions Center Open
NACSPAC Lounge After Hours
Networking Breakfast
Technology Solutions Center Open
Session Description
New in 2022! Visit the Technology Solutions Center for perspective on the latest technology impacting convenience retail from leading providers.
Technology company representatives will be available throughout the Summit to discuss how their solutions can help your business grow, improve back-office operations, and elevate your customer experience.
Introduction and Overview
Legislative Update
Session Description
The Biden Administration is now in its second year and the issues and opportunities on the docket for convenience retail have intensified as our industry grapples with the social, political and economic priorities of the 117th Congress. Doug and Lyle will share details on the legislative landscape and the outlook ahead in the wake of the 2022 mid-term elections.
Regional Breakout Sessions (concurrent) Region Map
Session Description
NACS has defined six geographic regions that represent Total U.S. convenience retail landscape. The data for these regions shed important light on how variances in geography, employment, economic factors, etc. impact performance across the industry. Each session, led by a convenience retail industry executive, will provide critical insight from the newly-released SOI data at the NACS region level. Each session reveals performance and category metrics specific to the respective operating market followed by Q&A.
- Region 1
- Region 2
- Region 3
Break
Technology Solutions Center Open
Session Description
New in 2022! Visit the Technology Solutions Center for perspective on the latest technology impacting convenience retail from leading providers.
Technology company representatives will be available throughout the Summit to discuss how their solutions can help your business grow, improve back-office operations, and elevate your customer experience.
Regional Breakout Sessions (concurrent) Region Map
Session Description
NACS has defined six geographic regions that represent Total U.S. convenience retail landscape. The data for these regions shed important light on how variances in geography, employment, economic factors, etc. impact performance across the industry. Each session, led by a convenience retail industry executive, will provide critical insight from the newly-released SOI data at the NACS region level. Each session reveals performance and category metrics specific to the respective operating market followed by Q&A.
- Region 4
- Region 5
- Region 6
Fuel Outlook
Session Description
Although fuel demand almost returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, supply issues during the first half of the year—including labor and truck driver shortages—remained a pain point for both operators and consumers at the pump. Denton will break down the 2021 energy landscape, including the future of alternative fuels, and address the industry headwinds in a year that’s already experienced record-breaking gas prices.
Closing Remarks
See who attended the 2022 NACS State of the Industry Summit (PDF).
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QUESTIONS?
If you have questions regarding registering for the SOI Summit, please contact soireg@convenience.org for assistance.
If you have questions regarding SOI Summit marketing, including on-site marketing, please contact sdodge@convenience.org for assistance.