Nouria Energy Corp., based in Worcester, Massachusetts, took home first place in CSP's annual Mystery Shop audit done in partnership with Intouch Insight, an Ottawa, Ontario-based data analysis firm.

CSP Editor Rachel Gignac spoke with Nouria's director of operations, John Pszeniczny at CSP's Outlook Leadership conference in August, where the Mystery Shop winner was announced.

Nouria stood out with a revealed audit score above 98% in seven categories, which counts for 60% of the overall score. In the Mystery Shop portion, 40% of the overall score, the chain also received above 98% in five areas, including appropriate noise levels and well stocked stores.

Pszeniczny talked about the chain's attention to cleanliness, investment in educating employees and raise and rebuild transformation.

At CSP's Outlook Leadership conference in August, CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talked to Nate Brazier, CEO; Billy Colemire, vice president of marketing and brand; and Jeff Pidlypchak, vice president of operations at Stinker Stores, about its performance in the annual Mystery Shop audit.

With a score of with a score of 96.18%, Boise, Idaho-based Stinker Stores took home second place in the Mystery Shop audit, after first-place winner Nouria. It was the chain's first year participating in the audit. The leaders from Stinker discuss cleanliness, its new loyalty program revamp, a people-first focus and more.

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks with Dawn Boulanger, vice president of marketing at Tri Star Energy, Nashville, which operates Twice Daily convenience stores and White Bison Coffee shops.

Boulanger discusses her company being a finalist in the 2024 CSP/Intouch Insight Mystery Shop audit, covering what they do on a daily basis to have scored so well—from the sandwich cooler to exterior, from coffee to restrooms.

The two spoke at CSP's 2024 Outlook Leadership conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, in August.

“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.

CSP's Mystery Shop audit has tracked how convenience stores improve standards year-over-year in terms of pump island, exterior, interior, restrooms, dairy cooler, fountain drinks, coffee, sandwich cooler and employees.

There has been an increase in convenience-store shoppers that view a c-store as a competitor to quick service restaurants, said Cameron Watt, president and CEO of Intouch Insight, an Ottawa, Ontario-based data analysis firm that conducts the audits in partnership with CSP.

At CSP's Outlook Leadership conference, Watt talks to CSP Vice President of Content Strategy, Abbey Lewis, about what the data revealed as well as the top three finalists out of the ten participants: Nouria (No, 1), Stinker Stores (No.2) and Tri Star Energy (No. 3).

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editors Rachel Gignac, Hannah Hammond and Chuck Ulie recorded from CSP’s Outlook Leadership conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Each shared highlights of the event, which featured general sessions and innovation forums with leading convenience-store retailers and suppliers on a variety of topics key to the industry.

Listen to find out what they learned.  

“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 Alison Ritchie, the new president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS), based in Albany, New York.

Ritchie discusses the challenges convenience-store operators must navigate when it comes to the tobacco category. She also gives an overview of how illegally smuggled tobacco products in New York means lost revenue for convenience stores.

“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 Steve Morris, president of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Retail Management Inc.

Morris discusses leveraging technology to handle today’s labor woes, the importance of maintaining menu consistency while sprinkling in limited-time offers and how getting customers inside a c-store starts with the moment they’re looking at the building.

Retail Management Inc. handles the operations, marketing and accounting functions for any small-format retailer including convenience stores and truckstops, vape shops and liquor stores. Operations include staffing and supervising, product replenishment and ordering and vendor negotiation.

“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 VP of Content Strategy, Abbey Lewis, talks to Restaurant Business’ Editor in Chief, Jonathan Maze, about the future of online delivery in both restaurants and convenience—and how consumers really feel about those wait times and fees.

Tune in to hear about what we’ve learned about the major delivery players, and some exciting news on a new delivery study that you can only find at Restaurant Business and CSP.

“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.

Vice president of retail operations support has been at the convenience-store chain for 25 years

In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Senior Editor Hannah Hammond interviews Rebecca Mott, vice president of operational accounting at EG America.

Mott (pictured), who attended the Convenience-Store Women’s (CSW) event in November, shared tips on how companies can help match a mentor with the right mentee, and how she’s a better mentor today because of her past experiences.