Embracing Change at the Fuel Island

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—On this week’s episode of Convenience Matters, “Gas Pump Disruption,” NACS hosts Paige Anderson, director of government relations, and Donovan Woods, director of operations for the Fuels Institute, discuss what disruptors might be coming with Ron Sabia, board member and former president of Gulf Oil, and Joseph Zietlow, industry and trade association manager of Kwik Trip Inc.

Retailers and industry professionals alike came together to share best practices and swap ideas at the recent FUELS Institute 2019 meeting. “At the meeting, I realized how much change is going on in the industry,” said Zietlow. “I also got to learn everything from what’s going on with crude oil and how crude oil is going to speed up […or slow down…] the evolution of electric vehicles. … We’re going to be in the energy business, not the fuel business. I came away from the conference with more questions than answers from all the great topics that were brought up.”

“I’m constantly impressed by the breadth of the transportation industry,” Sabia said. “There’s always a fresh perspective.”

When you look at the future of mobility, the retail community adapts well to whatever comes along. What should drive those changes—government or market? “Government wants to drive decisions on gas services, but we want to give our customers what they want, not what we want them to have,” said Zietlow.

Each week a new Convenience Matters episode is released. The podcast can be downloaded on iTunes, Google Play and other podcast apps, and at www.conveniencematters.com. Episodes have been downloaded by listeners more than 60,000 times in 80 countries.

Alternative Fuels Consumers Dealers Demand Distribution Future Retailing Trends