In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” Rachel Gignac, conference content manager at Informa, talks to Cameron Watt, president and CEO of Intouch Insight.

Their conversation explores how the annual Mystery Shop audit, which CSP partners with Intouch Insight for, has evolved over the past two decades, from basic service checks to a more comprehensive focus on cleanliness, food safety and overall customer experience. Watt shares how technology is reshaping service speed and satisfaction and how operators are using these insights to strengthen loyalty and operational performance.

He also looks ahead to emerging trends and how convenience retailers can continue raising the bar to meet growing consumer expectations.

Check out more from CSP Daily News: https://www.cspdailynews.com/

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” Melissa Vonder Haar, CSP Cannabis Forum Board chair and managing director of TradeWorks for iSee Store Innovations, speaks with Cann Co-founder Jake Bullock and Chris Bambury, president of Bonneau Markets.  The conversation took place at the inaugural CSP Cannabis Forum by Informa, held in March. 

They dive into the complex landscape of hemp beverage regulations and what they mean for convenience retailers.

Learn about the current state of hemp beverage regulations, why they matter, and how convenience retailers can advocate for responsible policies in this evolving market.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks with Brayton Heinz (left), inside sales director at Coffee Cup Travel Plazas, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

Heinz talks about being part of a four-store, family-run convenience-store chain—as well as data analysis, negotiating to maximize profitability and keeping up with today’s many trends.

On this podcast, Heinz also discusses how Pokemon is back, keeping food waste to a minimum and the quick-service restaurants they have in their stores.

Check out more from CSP Daily News: https://www.cspdailynews.com/

Read more from Chuck Ulie: https://www.cspdailynews.com/profile/chuck-ulie

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” Scott Estrella, senior category manager at Majors Management, speaks with CSP Cannabis Forum Board Chair and Managing Director of TradeWorks for iSee Store Innovations Melissa Vonder Haar, and her father, Joe Vonder Haar, co-founder of iSee Store Innovations. The conversation took place at the inaugural CSP Cannabis Forum by Informa, held in March. 

The three talked about how attitudes about cannabis in the convenience-store industry have changed over time, and what opportunities there are in the channel today. Melissa Vonder Haar also shared her journey to advocate for both the cannabis and convenience industries.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Diane Adam talks to Josie Johnson, manager of 36 Lyn Refuel Station in South Minneapolis. 

On this podcast, recorded March 25 at the CSP Cannabis Forum in Lombard, Illinois, Johnson, who is a member of CSP's C-Store Cannabis Board, discusses being a c-store retailer who carries hemp-THC products. Minnesota was the first state in the country to legalize products containing hemp-THC.

Read more from CSP: https://www.cspdailynews.com/

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Dr. Thomas Weinandy, principal research economist at Upside.

The two discussed the conflict in Iran and how measures like the Jones Act waiver are aiming to help supply chain disruptions in the oil market. Weinandy also shared how events abroad are affecting U.S. fuel prices—and how consumers are responding at convenience stores and gas stations. 

“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 with Matt Van Gilder, vice president of omnichannel at Des Moines, Iowa-based consulting firm NexChapter, which helps retailers with loyalty, retail media and digital commerce strategy.

Their discussion focuses on foodservice and e-commerce, including how the digital channel is the new front door of the convenience store and one of the primary ways customers find a business and its offerings.

On this podcast, Van Gilder discusses the advantages the digital channel brings when it comes to communicating and how convenience stores are approaching 30% of transactions for foodservice through digital channels. He also talks about how retailers must do more than just build a digital platform—they must plan to grow it.

This episode of “At Your Convenience” is part two of CSP’s conversations with the 2026 Category Manager of the Year (CMOY) finalists. 

• Listen to part one here.

Finalists were named in seven categories: behind the counter, center store, dispensed beverages, foodservice, loyalty + tech/operations, nonalcohol and alcohol. And winners were announced during CSP’s Convenience Retailing University event, which took place Feb. 24-26 in Austin, Texas. 

At the event, the finalists stopped by CSP’s podcast booth to answer three questions about category management. Here are some of their responses.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Diane Adam talks to Matt Hautau, vice president of merchandising of Core-Mark, a wholesale distributor to the convenience channel based in Westlake, Texas. 

In this podcast, recorded Feb. 11 at the Core-Mark Midwest Expo in Indianapolis, Hautau unpacks the latest in consumer behavior and how Core-Mark works with vendors and suppliers to get the right products to store. He also discusses the importance of data when it comes to what’s a hit or a miss in the c-store channel.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP talks with the 2026 Category Manager of the Year finalists. 

Finalists were named in seven categories: behind the counter, center store, dispensed beverages, foodservice, loyalty + tech/operations, nonalcohol and alcohol. And winners were announced during CSP’s Convenience Retailing University event, which took place Feb. 24-26 in Austin, Texas. 

At the event, the finalists stopped by CSP’s podcast booth to answer three questions about category management. 

Here are some of their responses. Look out for part two, coming out March 24.