The Future of Convenience

Frank Gleeson toured the ‘best of the best’ foodvenience operators in the U.S – Nouria, Alltown Fresh, Sheetz, Wawa, Rutters, QuikTrip, KwikTrip, Casey’s, and TXB – and found deep insights to share about each of them. Join Frank, Dan, Mats Danielsen of Liquid Barcodes, and Ryan Oettinger of Invenco by GVR to discover which American retailers stand out for their great food, sites, and hospitality!

With special guests:

Frank Gleeson, incoming President and CEO of NACS, Mats Danielsen, CEO of Liquid Barcodes, and Ryan Oettinger, Vice President and General Manager, Retail Solutions, North America for Invenco by GVR

Hosted by:

Dan Munford

In the age of energy transition and foodvenience expansion, network planning is a vital science. Explore how the best retailers continuously optimize their networks by analyzing region, mobility data, and sociodemographic factors to make strategic decisions about site placement, redevelopment, and closure. Rich Wilcox and Simon Martin from Kalibrate talk about how mobility retailers use data-driven network planning that accounts for EV adoption and evolving consumer behaviors.

With special guests:

Rich Wilcox, VP Solution Consulting and EV and Simon Martin, VP International Sales

Hosted by:

Dan Munford and Carolyn Schnare

Khalid Al Omran, founder and CEO of Daily Food Company, shares the story of Maestro Pizza’s rapid growth from a single idea to more than 220 locations across the Middle East. He discusses how pricing, speed, supply chain innovation, and digital loyalty programs have helped Maestro redefine pizza and set new standards for convenience foodservice.

With special guest:

Khalid Al Omran, Founder and CEO, Daily Food Company/Maestro Pizza

Hosted by:

Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

Can AI help solve self-checkout theft? In this episode, Matt Redwood, VP of retail technology solutions at Diebold Nixdorf, reveals how AI is transforming self-checkout by cutting theft, improving customer experience, and streamlining store operations. From “nudges” that fix honest mistakes to advanced shrink detection, discover why this technology is poised for rapid adoption across global retail.

With special guest:

Matt Redwood, VP of Retail Technology Solutions, Diebold Nixdorf

Hosted by:

Dan Mundford and Anthoy Wysome

Take a road trip with us to Sweden where Cathrin Iden, network sales manager for the Nordics at Milence, shares how the company is transforming Europe’s heavy-duty transport with secure, driver-focused EV charging hubs. From Sweden’s “green highways” to a continent-wide network, discover the innovations powering the shift to zero-emission long-haul trucking.

With special guest:

Catherin Iden, Network Sales Manager, Milence

Hosted by:

Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford

David Moore, international retail and development director for SPAR International, shares insights from 48 markets around the world, highlighting how convenience retail is evolving across continents. From AI-powered stores in China to trend-driven formats in Europe, Moore explains how SPAR stays agile, local, and future-ready.

With special guest:

David Moore, International Retail & Development Director, Member of International SPAR Board

Hosted by:

Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford

Related links:

SPAR International interview: Dan sits down with David Moore -https://www.globalconvenience.com/features/spars-roadmap-global-resilience-local-relevance/

Bill Reid, chairman and CEO of Rove Charging, shares how his team is building large-scale, customer-first EV charging hubs across California. From 24/7 support to thoughtful amenities, Rove is reshaping what drivers can expect from public charging. Due to a significant change in policy support, EV ownership in the U.S. overall will be slower than in many countries, but California, with an economy the size of Japan’s, is actually on a very similar EV growth track to fast-growing parts of Europe, and this is creating big roadside opportunities.

With special guest:

Bill Reid, Chairman and CEO, Rove Charging

Hosted by:

Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford

Related Links:

Rove Best EV Hub profile and video: https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/rove-charging-center-santa-ana-california/

Best EV Hub in the World 2025 Competition: https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/evhub-2/

Technology and food innovation are transforming the convenience retail landscape. With insights from the recent Retail Technology Conference, hear from industry expert Frank Gleeson and Alan English, vice president and head of global marketing for Invenco by GVR, as they highlight trends like mobile ordering, EV customer journeys, and the growing role of foodservice in driving customer engagement.

Learn more about Invenco by GVR's Retail Technology Conference: https://www.invenco.com/retail-technology-conference

With special guest:

Alan English, Vice President, Head of Global Marketing, Invenco by GVR

Hosted by:

Frank Gleeson and Carolyn Schnare

BP UK Retail MD Jo Hayward shares insights on their Cromwell Road EV hub transformation, which exceeded EV charging expectations by 20% within its first week. Learn how BP is pioneering the shift from traditional fuel to electric charging together with ‘Made to Order’ fresh food concepts and strategic network planning.

Related link:

bp pulse Cromwell Road, London, Entry profile – ‘Best EV Hub in the World’ 2025: https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/bp-pulse-cromwell-rd-london-uk/

With special guest:

Jo Hayward, Retail MD, BP UK

Hosted by:

Dan Munford and Carolyn Schnare

What can convenience food service providers learn from a successful fast-casual restaurateur? John Iannucci, CEO of Escalante’s Fine Tex Mex & Tequila and Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar, shares his expertise on optimizing food service operations, exploring strategies for balancing quality with speed, leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences, and addressing industry challenges such as third-party delivery and payment processing.

With special guest:

John Iannucci, CEO, Escalante’s Fine Tex Mex & Tequila | Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar

Hosted by:

Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff