In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” Senior Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Chris Smith, president of McLane’s retail business.

Smith shares how he got to the role he’s in today by being placed in a stretch opportunity—one he was put in before he was ready to help him grow in new areas. They also talk about how their Convenience-Store Women’s (CSW) event power team is working on finding ways to reward and retain top performers in the industry.

“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 Diane Adam talks with Damon Bail, vice president of Hop Shops and the retail division with Valor Oil, about the retailer’s marketing success in the least likely places—convenience-store bathrooms. Hop Shops stores in Kentucky have achieved unprecedented success thanks to the now viral disco bathrooms in six of its stores.

Bail talks about how the disco bathrooms has exceeded everyone’s expectations and how the concept has positively changed the relationship between the consumer and the cashier at the c-stores with the disco bathroom. 

Valor Oil is a distributor of petroleum products in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Owensboro, Kentucky-based company also operates 10 Hop Shops in northern Kentucky. 

“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.

Join Dover Fueling Solutions Amy Cearley and Kendra Keller as they discuss how women are innovating in the industry, what trends are hot right now and where the c-store and fuel industries are heading.  

In this “At Your Convenience” podcast, in partnership with C-StoreTEC, guest host Art Sebastian dives into the dynamic world of digital commerce and online ordering in the convenience-store industry.

Sebastian, NexChapter CEO, is joined by Kristin Sword from Jacksons Food Stores, Meridian, Idaho, and Adit Gupta from Lula Convenience, Philadelphia, to discuss the accelerated shift to digital commerce, driven by COVID-19 and the evolving demands of convenience consumers. Together, they explore the strategic execution behind successful digital commerce, the importance of quality training and the future of Jackson’s digital initiatives. Plus, they offer valuable tips for retailers just beginning their digital commerce journey.

Tune in to learn about the power of partnership and how technology and strategy combine to drive growth in the convenience store sector, and don't miss out on future C-StoreTEC webinars, podcasts and the upcoming conference.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks to Ryan Blevins, the director of food and beverage innovation at Powell, Tennessee-based Weigel's convenience stores.

Blevins also touches on getting customers to turn a gas trip into a foodservice-shopping trip, Weigel’s eight new sauces and more.

Weigel’s is a family-owned and -operated c-store chain that has been serving East Tennessee since 1931. With 70 locations, Weigel’s is dedicated to providing their customers with quality products and exceptional service.

“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,” David Poulnot, vice president of fuel and c-store at Upside, shares findings from the technology company's C-Store Report released this month.

He talks about how despite sales growth headlines, convenience-store revenue has decreased when inflation is considered, dropping 19% between January 2021 and January 2024.

Shoppers are making fewer c-store trips and buying less because of cost concerns and replacing visits with grocery trips. 

Poulnot said that digital personalization is the most effective way to face this issue because by connecting one-to-one, retailers can collect individual return on investment per transaction.

Upside is a marketplace that connects consumers with brick-and-mortar retailers through personalized offers. It uses artificial intelligence (AI)-driven personalization technology to enhance purchasing power.

“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 Patricia Coe, senior director of client leadership, for Advantage Solutions Convenience Division, and Doug Middlebrooks, senior vice president of channel sales, for Advantage Solutions.

The three talked about how convenience-store sales reached a new high in 2023, the time it takes for c-store customers to decide what to buy, how quickly food is consumed after it’s purchased and more.

Advantage Solutions, Clayton, Missouri, helps build brand value for manufacturers and retailers through insight-based sales, marketing and technology solutions.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” Scott Negley, senior director of product management at Dover Fueling Solutions, and Doug Haugh, chief commercial officer at Vertex Energy, talk about a broad-view perspective on the realities of converting the nation to use electric vehicles (EVs). The pair, who spoke in March at the Dover Fueling Solutions conference in Austin, advocate for “decarbonizing the grid” in order for the transportation industry to successfully reduce carbon emissions with EVs.

They also talk about how other alternative fuels are an important piece of the puzzle, and how their impact is not to be ignored. Negley describes the ideal transformation as “a balanced approach.”

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” NexChapter CEO Art Sebastian talks with Mike Caldwell, manager of loyalty at Yesway, and Jake Kiser, general manager of Stuzo PAR.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks to Farley Kaiser, senior director of culinary of innovation at McLane Fresh.

Kaiser (pictured) discusses the power of limited-time offers, breakfast still holding the title of king, and how lunch remains a strong focus of development—and opportunity.

McLane is one of the largest distributors in America and a partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide. McLane offers customizable solutions for retail and restaurant customers from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising.

In August 2023, McLane unveiled McLane Fresh, an expanded foodservice-at-retail program designed for convenience stores and intended to elevate the dining experience in c-stores.