At Your Convenience

Are the Mystery Shop evaluation scores getting too close? 

CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to Cameron Watt, president and CEO of evaluation firm Intouch Insight, in August at the Outlook Leadership Conference. This year, for the fourth time, Rutter's was presented Customer Experience Award for its success.

Watt told CSP about chains' strengths and weaknesses, plus, how the audit might change in the future.

“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 Glennie Bench, president and COO at Southwest Georgia Oil Co. Inc. The Bainbridge, Georgia-based company has about 80 convenience stores under the SunStop brand.

Bench has been in the industry for 32 years and shares how she joined the company and eventually became CFO and then COO. She’ll be one of the attendees at the inaugural C-Store Women’s Event this fall.

As the 2023 NACS Show approaches, CSP Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz connects with the outgoing chairman of NACS, Don Rhoads, CEO of Convenience Group LLC, about the state of the industry and his year at the helm of the convenience-store association. “I think that once we get to October I’ll look back and [conclude this year] has been one of the top activities that I’ve been involved in,” he said.

“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 special edition of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Senior Editor Hannah Hammond talks to leaders from the four founding sponsors of CSP’s C-Store Women’s Event.

Paula Weeks, of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co.; Michelle Patterson of Temple, Texas-based McLane Co.; Danielle Holloway of Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Distribution Co.; and Kevin Martello of Burlington, Massachusetts-based Keurig Dr Pepper shared why they wanted to be sponsors and what they hope to come from this event.

The annual conference will take place Nov. 8-10 in Napa Valley, California.

“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 Choice Market Founder and CEO Mike Fogarty about what it’s like to operate an urban convenience store.  

Fogarty shared how the COVID-19 pandemic made him rethink downtown Denver stores, his new Mini-Mart concept under development and more. His story is part of CSP’s September cover story on the risks and rewards of operating in metro markets.

“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.

This month, CSP brought five convenience-store executives to the general session stage during our annual Outlook Leadership Conference in a session we titled C-Suite in the Hot Seat. During the session, CSP’s Mitch Morrison, vice president of retailer relations, and Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz got to pepper each executive with a series of questions about themselves and what’s new in their businesses.

“At Your Convenience” will present each retailer’s time in the hot seat in a series of podcasts, beginning today with Jim Rose, the vice president of operations for the Pilot Co, Knoxville, Tennessee.

In this special bonus episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Senior Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Julia Lazzara, president of Leading NOW on what it means to be a leader and how companies can help more female leaders succeed.

Leading NOW will combine career development, education, problem-solving and networking experiences to develop women in the convenience-store industry at the inaugural C-Store Women’s (CSW) event in November.

Lazzara gives a preview of what event attendees can expect, and why growing female leadership is important in this podcast.

“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.

The August cover story of CSP magazine is all about labor and hiring. As a companion piece to that story, in this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks to Fady Bazzi, operations manager and co-owner of the 33-store Chillbox, owned by New Haven, Michigan-based Bazco Oil.

Bazzi discusses his convenience-store chain’s practices in attracting and retaining employees, including how and where they advertise to recruit employees, the increased frequency of performance reviews and the Chillbox incentive program, which includes health insurance, 401k plans and paid time off. Bazzi also talks about how to boost the odds of getting quality talent more likely to stay in the job.

“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.

Wegmans is set to open its second New York City supermarket. Buc-ee’s vows to take action on a new convenience store that resembles its name and mascot. And Shipt unveils a new rewards program. 

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.