Convenience Matters

Convenience stores are one of the fastest-growing channels for high-quality and fresh food. Hear insights on how to build and maintain customer trust in your foodservice offers.
Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:
Amy Costello, Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Casey's
Amy oversees all facets of food safety for Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey's, including regulatory compliance and food safety programs for supply chain, distribution, transportation and retail operations. She served as moderator for the 2026 NACS Food Safety Forum.

The convenience store industry has become known for its support of anti-human-trafficking efforts. Hear more on how you can join the cause.

Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard
 
About our Guests:
Chris Elliott, Executive Director, BPAMA
In 2025, Chris was appointed as the executive director of BPAMA, a not-for-profit trade association representing bp-branded marketers and BP. Previously, he spent 36 years with bp and Amoco, with assignments spanning both the sales and marketing sectors.

Cheryl Csiky, Executive Director, In Our Backyard
Cheryl is the executive director of In Our Backyard, a national anti-trafficking nonprofit. Its Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT) program equips convenience stores with no-cost training on human trafficking for their employees and provides "Freedom Stickers" that feature the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888) and are now displayed in more than 50,000 convenience stores across the country.

Higher gas prices make theft and inventory mismanagement even costlier. This episode shares how AI can help reduce shrink and tighten inventory control.
Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:
James Hervey, EVP and Head of Petroleum and Convenience, Verifone
James has been in the convenience retail industry for more than two decades, including the past 11 years at Verifone where he has helped lead market development and product marketing. He previously worked at NACS and Radiant Systems.

The U.S. economy remains resilient, driven by consumer spending, jobs and AI. We examine what's sustaining it, and what could change.
Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:
Thomas Weinandy, Principal Research Economist, Upside
Dr. Weinandy studies consumer spending patterns and the broader forces shaping today's economy and provides clear, data-driven perspectives on inflation, consumer behavior and the challenges and opportunities facing retailers and suppliers alike.

We look at the big industry numbers and trends discussed at the 2026 NACS State of the Industry Summit -- and how they could impact your business.

Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard, NACS Vice President of Media & Strategic Communications
Jeff leads the association's industry-wide external communications campaigns to advance the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve. He also serves as lead spokesperson and has conducted more than 6,000 media interviews about trends and innovations at convenience stores.