Convenience Matters

Hosted by National Association of Convenience Stores

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Episodes

532

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Whether it's for food, fuel, drinks or snacks — about half of the U.S. population is at a convenience store every day. We sell 80% of the country's fuel and we are 4% of the total U.S. economy. We'll talk about what we see at stores — and what the future may hold — as long as it's convenient.

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60 recent

August 17, 2026Episode 54927 min

Opportunities and Constraints in the Move Beyond E15 - Episode 549

How ethanol blends higher than E15 may offer benefits related to emissions reduction, octane enhancement, agricultural economic activity and energy security. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 25 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute (formerly known as the Fuels Institute). Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.

July 27, 2026Episode 54833 min

Tips to Set the Tone for Customer Experience - Episode 548

Findings from a NACS consumer survey point to simple ways retailers can create a vibe and make their stores places that customers choose. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam is one of the nation's leading political consultants sought after for his ability to help clients achieve victory through effective research-based strategies and messaging. He designs and executes cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative, and data analytics programs for campaigns as well as non-political clients like NACS.

July 13, 2026Episode 54728 min

On the Road With Frank Gleeson - Episode 547

NACS President & CEO Frank Gleeson shares insights from the road and what they reveal about the future of convenience retail. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Frank Gleeson, NACS President & CEO Frank became president and CEO of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) on January 1, 2026, succeeding Henry Armour. He is the fourth person to lead NACS in its 65-year history.

June 29, 2026Episode 54624 min

A First Look at Dolly Parton's New Travel Stop - Episode 546

Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop officially opened for business on June 24, a celebration of how every stop on the highway can feel a little more like home. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard

June 22, 2026Episode 54530 min

Oil Markets After Iran: What Comes Next? - Episode 545

We examine what may come next for petroleum markets as hostilities in the Middle East appear to ease, as well as the longer-term implications. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has 25 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute. Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.

June 8, 2026Episode 54420 min

Building Trust in Your Food Program - Episode 544

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.

May 25, 2026Episode 54329 min

C-Stores Lead the Fight Against Human Trafficking - Episode 543

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.

May 18, 2026Episode 54229 min

How AI Exposes Hidden Costs and Shrink - Episode 542

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.

May 4, 2026Episode 54133 min

Key Signals Shaping the U.S. Economy - Episode 541

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.

April 20, 2026Episode 54023 min

Top Takeaways From the NACS State of the Industry Summit - Episode 540

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.