Trending Topics

There are myriad issues that convenience stores face every day, whether inside the store, on the forecourt, in the back office or in the boardroom. Here are some of the many topics that NACS can help you discuss and develop strategies around to enhance your business.

Convenience Store Food

Our industry specializes in all things food and beverage related, from safe food handling and fresh produce to the cold vault and the pizza oven.


Foodservice
Foodservice is an industry differentiator and a double-digit contributor to inside sales for convenience stores.


Food & Beverage Trends
NACS Magazine captures what’s hot in convenience stores to satisfy hangry, hunger and thirst cravings.


Food Safety
Resources from NACS, allied industry groups and associations, and the federal government can help you enhance your safe food-handling practices and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.


Healthy Options
Gain new ideas for increasing sales and meeting consumer demand for healthy food and beverage choices.

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Energy Provider: Fuels and Electrification

C-stores are America’s primary source for fuel, selling nearly 80% of the gasoline purchased in the country. As more fuels and vehicle energy choices come to market, c-stores can meet the fill-up and EV recharging needs for nearly 40 million drivers each day​.


Electric Vehicles
Plan for an EV future by exploring opportunities to offer charging services to your customers and determining how to enable EV charging when the time is right.


Fuels Resource Center
Our resources provide an insider’s view of how fuel is produced, refined and ultimately sold at c-stores across the United States. And, we look at some of the issues that could affect an otherwise easy and convenient fill up.

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Merchandise Inside the C-Store

Inside sales hit a record $255.6 billion in 2020 as customers frequented their local convenience store to fulfill their daily shopping needs. Managing products, prices, placement and promotions can help you deliver excitement, build bigger baskets and increase trips.


Category Management
Effective category management helps drive sales, reduce out-of-stocks and deliver new and exciting products to the millions of shoppers who stop by a c-store each day.


CBD and Cannabis
What you need to know now about the legality of selling CBD products and getting ready for cannabis.

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Growing Your Workforce

Convenience stores provide 2.34 million jobs in the United States, offering career opportunities and job development in a fast-paced and energetic environment. Here are tools and resources to help you recruit, train and retain your best employees.


Human Resources
Attracting and keeping top talent can feel like pushing a boulder uphill. Fortunately, NACS has benchmarking metrics, resources and events that can help.


NACS State of the Industry Compensation Report
The latest data, trends and best practices on compensation, benefits, recruitment and turnover as reported by 85 retail companies, representing more than 15,000 stores of all sizes and over 262,000 employees.​


Good Jobs Institute
The Good Jobs Strategy, which is a combination of investment in people and smart operating choices, increases employee productivity, motivation and contribution and promotes operational excellence.

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Supporting Our Communities

Convenience stores strengthen the communities they serve. Each year our industry contributes more than $1 billion to charitable and community groups. C-stores are champions for their communities in the fight against human trafficking, hunger, helping youth in peril and supporting local causes and nonprofits.


Community Relations
Companies and their employees work hard to support those in need, whether it’s through food donations, roundup campaigns for local nonprofits and charities, or helping communities recover from disasters and other emergencies.


Food Waste
To fight hunger in your community, these four steps can help you create a food donation program.


Human Trafficking
With close ties to the community, convenience retailers are positioned to share important messages that employees and customers can use to raise awareness against trafficking and help victims.

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Crisis and Disaster Management

C-stores face multiple challenges that could disrupt operations. Here are resources that can help you define the best course of action to keep your employees and customers safe.


Coronavirus
In March 2020, NACS began compiling resources to help the industry navigate the COVID-19 crisis, including information about how to educate employees about the vaccines and other vaccine-related human resources advice.


Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
As good neighbors in the community, your teams can provide much-needed food and fuel to first responders and residents before, during and after an emergency or disaster.


Security and Safety
Convenience retailers want their employees and customers to feel safe. That means prioritizing security practices and implementing safety programs in their stores and paying attention to crime deterrence potential like store layout, design, technology and forecourt lighting.

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Future-Proofing Your Business

Through successful and strategic sustainability programs and practices, you can position your business for future growth while enhancing your sustainability goals.


Sustainability
As more businesses incorporate sustainability goals into KPIs, NACS resources and partnerships provide access to information to enhance your strategies.

Technology Innovations

From the forecourt to the back office, convenience stores invest in new and data-driven technologies to create operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience.


Conexxus
Learn why you should adopt technology standards to improve business processes, reduce costs and increase productivity for your c-store operations.


TruAge
Enable faster, simpler and more secure digital ID verification with TruAge.


EMV
EMV technology is an important security tool, but it only protects against one kind of fraud: the misuse of stolen card information. Much more needs to be done to enhance card security.


Skimming
Retailers can protect customers from criminals who use skimming devices to steal credit or debit card information.