Lou Perrine’s Gas & Grocery has been a staple of Wisconsin’s Kenosha community since 1954. Since taking in 2008, Anthony Perrine has worked tirelessly to grow and differentiate the company. This episode is full of practical advice about branding, marketing, operations, and more, but we do discuss edgy topics. Use your headphones if you’re at work!

It's a new decade! Al and Frank reflect on retail's evolution in a conversation with fuel and c-store expert, Sam Herro. From defunct department stores to the Tesla Cybertruck, we cover a lot of ground. 

For the past decade, Sam Herro has sought innovative ways to change the how, what, and where of fueling. In his most recent role as the Director of Fuel for Kum & Go, he did just that—leading the development of one of the nation’s largest retail portfolios of biofuel blends that included E15, E85, and biodiesel. Sam also served as a member of an innovation team dedicated to proposing new and forward-thinking ways for Kum & Go to maintain its position as one of the leading retailers in the United States.

We're going international! Al and Frank chat with Nic Moulis, director of FuelnGo in Australia.

Nic has spent more than 25 years as an operator and commentator in the Australian petroleum industry. Starting work at the front counter of a service station and convenience store, Nic progressed to become the owner of a multi-site retail and petroleum wholesale jobber business. As CEO of the one of the industry’s leading associations (Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association), he advised governments on the fuel industry—including appointments to Competition Reviews, Alternative Fuels Advisory Groups, and Fuel Consultative Committees. Nic continues to be called upon by Australian media outlets as an expert commentator on the petroleum industry. His knowledge has helped consumers and operators understand the market. Called on to speak at international conferences, Nic is recognized for his understanding of the Australasian Pacific fuel supply chain.

In our first episode, Al and Frank speak with Kent Couch.

Dubbed "the convenience-store innovator of Bend, Oregon" by a 2016 article from The Atlantic, Kent Couch's Stop and Go Mini Mart is famous for offering dozens of beers, kombucha, and other beverages on tap. His beer cave resembles an actual cave, the restrooms are upscale, and his uniformed attendants greet customers by name. Couch is also a founder of the Growler Guys franchise. Currently, Growler Guys operates in five states. Couch also serves on the board of In Our Backyard—an organization dedicated to eradicating human trafficking. 

A cluster balloon pioneer, Couch made international news beginning in 2007 for his attempts to fly a deck chair attached to hundreds of balloons. His final flight was in 2012.