Energy North’s Haffner’s chain added a new flagship store in Lawrence, Massachusetts in May, featuring convenience items, gasoline, a car wash and a unique take on foodservice.

In this "At Your Convenience" podcast, CSP Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz talks with CEO Jeff Black about how the chain embraced community history and relationships to create a unique c-store model.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Senior Editor Hannah Hammond interviews Amanda Buehner, senior vice president of retail events and media for Winsight LLC, on the company’s new C-Store Women’s Event.

The two talk about what attendees can expect in November, why this event is being held and the challenges women face at work.

For more information on the event, visit cstorewomen.com or contact Buehner at [email protected].

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Senior Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Melissa Vonder Haar, freelance journalist and speaker who has worked on CSP magazine’s The Future of Behind the Counter issue for several years.

The two discuss pending Food and Drug Administration regulations, what challenges are top of mind for tobacco category managers, alternative products and more. 

Click here to read The Future of Behind the Counter 2023 issue.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

As the convenience-stores industry goes through a remarkable period of mergers and acquisitions, private label is having a moment—two issues creating opportunities for retailers.

In this "At Your Convenience" podcast, CSP Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz talks with branding expert Todd Maute, a partner at CBX, about building a retail brand and expanding it to private-label products.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to Carly Schildhaus, senior manager of public affairs at the National Confectioners Association, about bold flavor and brand combinations, social media influence, pack sizes and more in snacks and candy. 

The Sweets & Snacks Expo showcased these trends with innovative products. Schildhaus talks about what to expect going forward.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

Retailers are remarkably optimistic about the opportunities for foodservice growth in convenience stores. CSP’s annual State of Foodservice survey shows 73% of retailers expect improvement this year.

In this At Your Convenience podcast, CSP Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz talks through the survey results with Foodservice Editor Chuck Ulie.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

Beverage brand SunnyD recently announced it is introducing a new drink that contains 4.5% alcohol geared toward adult consumers. This is the latest example of traditional non-alcohol beverage brands introducing new pre-packaged alcohol drinks.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks to Marbet Lewis, founding attorney and team manager at Miami-based Spiritus Law, about this trend. Lewis represents alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers such as bars, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and pharmacy chains. Lewis discusses the effects COVID-19 had on this trend and how the retail market, flooded with a variety of products, has traditional brands innovating to reach new customers.

The April issue of CSP magazine serves as the convenience-store industry’s Category Management Handbook, providing year-end sales data from IRI/Circana, Technomic, McLane Co. and others to paint a picture of what’s selling in c-stores today, and where the industry’s biggest product segments are heading.

In this At Your Convenience podcast, CSP Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz talks through data collected for the issue with editors Hannah Hammond, Rachel Gignac and Chuck Ulie.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks to Savannah Johnson, manager of the food category, at Knoxville, Tennessee-based Pilot Co., on trends she’s seeing, new products Pilot is offering, and more.

The discussion includes Johnson talking about a new product playing off Pilot’s large pizza business: cheesy breadsticks debuting in June that customers can customize with toppings. She also discusses the company’s New Horizons project, which include the strategy of improving the display of food and beverage products.

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talk to Gary Hemphill, managing director and COO of research at New York-based Beverage Marketing Corp., on trends he’s seeing in ⁠⁠packaged beverages⁠⁠.

The discussion covers bottled water, energy, sports drinks, carbonated soft drinks, milk, juice, ⁠⁠alcohol⁠⁠—even CBD.

Hemphill says he’s seen nothing short of remarkable pricing increases recently, often in double digits depending on the category. It’s a historical high for ⁠⁠beverage ⁠⁠prices, both alcohol and particularly nonalcohol, in all categories, he says.