QUICKBITES

Food Trends To Watch In 2023

C-store foodservice traffic is up as customers look to fast food as inflation drives up grocery bills. Meanwhile, trends like crunchy snacks and plant-forward menus are attracting customer attention.

• Visits to convenience stores for foodservice items grew 2% in the three months ending November 2022 compared to a year ago.

• Consumer spending on foodservice menu items at c-stores rose 8% for the three months ending November 2022 compared to a year ago.

• Units of foodservice items shipped to c-stores from broadline foodservice distributors grew 3% compared to a year ago.

• Dollars of foodservice products shipped to c-stores from broadline foodservice distributors increased 13% compared to a year ago.

C-STORES GROW FOODSERVICE TRAFFIC FOR THE QUARTER ENDING NOVEMBER 2022:

• The morning daypart at c-stores grew traffic by 3%.

• The lunch daypart at c-stores saw traffic rise 2%.

• The dinner daypart at c-stores saw foodservice visits grow 2%.

Source: The NPD Group, December 2022

Consumer Snacking Preferences

Frito-Lay’s U.S. Trend Index found customers prefer:

• Crunchy Snacks (70%)

• Sweet Snacks (66%)

• Salty Snacks (61%)

• Filling Snacks (53%)

Fast Food Is Trending

Customers are increasing their searches for fast food, while searching less often for organic food and grocery shopping, according to data from Taboola, which pointed out that, due to inflation, fast food purchases may be more affordable today than a grocery bill. Over the past year, fast food searches grew by 82%.

• Searches for Wendy’s saw a 130% increase.

• Searches for McDonald's had an 82% increase.

• Searches for organic food decreased 103%.

• Searches for grocery shopping had a 155% decrease.

Restaurant Menu Trends In 2023

Customers can expect to see the following trends on menus in 2023:

• Seasonal Plant-Forward Menus

• Contemporary Dining Styles

• Inspiration for Modern Menus

• Sustainability Momentum

• Foodservice Retail Fusion

Source: Culinary Visions, October 2022

Best Foodie Cities

WalletHub compared more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 29 key metrics to determine the best and least expensive cities for foodies, evaluating affordability, accessibility of high-quality restaurants, food festivals per capita, craft breweries and wineries per capita, and more.

Some of the best foodie cities in America include: Portland, Ore. • Orlando, Fla. • Miami San Francisco • Austin, Texas

Source:

Source: Taboola, January 2023, www.taboola.com

Source: WalletHub, “2022’s Best Foodie Cities In America,” October 2022

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

9:00 AM

1:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Golf Outing at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa

Registration

NAG/YEO Board Meeting

NAG Networking Reception

NAG Opening Night Dinner

Registration/Info Desk Open

Breakfast

Welcome/Conference Overview

President | Young Oil Co.

Executive Director | NAG

GENERAL SESSION: BURNING ISSUE #1: Developing and Refining Your Corporate Culture Strategy and culture are among the most important responsibilities for leaders in the workplace as they focus on the never-ending quest to maintain e ectiveness. Strategy o ers a formal logic for the company’s goals, and culture expresses these goals through values and beliefs. A strong company culture instantly reflects the values of a company, its leaders and its employees. What values define your company? What matters most to you and your employees? In this session, retailers will discuss the intense amount of work it takes to develop and maintain an outstanding culture in the convenience store industry and the communities they serve.

March 26 -29, 2023

For additional information, contact NAG Executive Director John Lofstock at jlofstock@wtwhmedia.com

John Lofstock, Executive Director | NAG

Speakers:

• Stephanie Stuckey, CEO | Stuckey’s

• Kevin Smartt, CEO | TXB Stores

• Greg Ehrlich, President | Beck Suppliers Inc.

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM Networking Break

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

GENERAL SESSION: BURNING ISSUE #2: Understanding Foodservice Customers: Forecasting Future Demand Sta scheduling, inventory management, menu analysis, guest satisfaction, profitability and so much more rest on the shoulders of accurate foodservice forecasting. Understanding the foodservice market is more important than ever as store trips are forecasted to drop and third-party delivery services are gaining more traction. This session will examine how customers currently purchase food, what they are looking for and what the convenience store industry can expect over the next three years.

Moderator: Jessica Williams, CEO | Food Forward Thinking

Speakers:

• Derek Thurston, Director of Food Service Operations | Cli ’s Local Market

• Ernie Harker, Brand Therapist | Ernburn Brands

• Brian Scantland, Vice President Fresh Food Operations and Business Planning & Analytics | Thorntons

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM Networking Break

11:00 AM – 12:30 AM Information Exchanges Part 1

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Free Time/YEO Networking

1:30 PM – 6:30 PM NAG Retail Store Tours

Exploring the Best Retail Concepts in Austin

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM Dinner on Your Own to Explore Austin

TUESDAY, MARCH 28

7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Registration/Info Desk Open

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM YEO BREAKOUT SESSION:

Getting Involved: Why Young Executives Need Political Relationships

All politics are local, and for convenience store operators, that means having a personal relationship with the legislators who can enact laws that a ect your businesses. These relationships can be complicated and di cult to develop, but they are vital for the c-store industry. Young leaders should be working on these relationships, but they need advice that’s realistic, granular and nuanced when it comes to making political connections. In this exclusive Young Executives Organization (YEO) workshop, hear what you can do to build political relationships and mentor young leaders who are beginning to journey into the cut-throat world of politics.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

GENERAL SESSION: BURNING ISSUE #3: Exclusive NAG Research: The Convenience Experience Report

The National Advisory Group (NAG) has partnered with Bluedot to learn exactly what Americans think about convenience stores and quick-service restaurants (QSRs) today, and what drives their behavior, sentiment and loyalty. These findings will be presented for the first time at NAG and o er a glimpse into the current customer experience, how digital and mobile solutions influence customers, as well as expectations for the convenience stores of the future across key categories, such as foodservice, fuel, snacking and tobacco.

John Lofstock, Executive Director | NAG

Speakers:

• Nate Brazier, President and COO | Stinker Stores

• Judy Chan, Vice President | Bluedot

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Networking Break

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM NAG Networking Reception

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM Dinner & Awards Ceremony

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM WORKING BREAKFAST: NAG Custom Research. The Impact of Digital Programs on Convenience Store Foodservice Sales and Consumer Loyalty

Digital has transformed foodservice, reframing customer expectations at convenience stores, restaurants and beyond. How are c-store retailers maintaining their food base and standing out with digital tools and promotions? Based on custom research fielded for the NAG audience, we will explore how consumers are utilizing digital platforms to engage with c-stores. We’ll uncover ordering and delivery trends as well as the impact on basket size and customer loyalty. Our retailer panel will explore various data points and share insights on how they plan to adapt to customer expectations.

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

GENERAL SESSION: BURNING ISSUE #4: Developing Your Long-Term Fuel Strategy

The future of convenience stores is being reshaped by the increasing integration of electric vehicles and other alternative fuels. How long it takes for these fueling methods to a ect your business depends on where you live. In this session, hear from leading authorities on how your forecourt will evolve over the next five years and what steps you can take now when building new stores to be ready for future changes.

Speakers:

• Sridhar Sudarsan, Chief Technology O cer | SparkCognition

• Daillard Paris, Director of Petroleum Supply and Trading | Sheetz Inc.

• Peter Rasmussen, Founder and CEO | Convenience and Energy Advisors (CEA)

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Networking Break 11:00 AM – 12:15 AM Information Exchanges Part 2

1. Micro Stores, Food Trucks and Non-Traditional Locations

2. Human Resources: Attracting Top Talent

3. Tobacco, CBD and Cannabis in C-Stores

4. Foodservice: Diversifying the Menu

5. Leadership for Young Executives

6. Foodservice: What Retail Leaders Are Doing From Apps to Delivery

7. Growing Loyalty and AI Programs

8. Buying, Selling and Financing Options

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Lunch

Speakers:

• Abbey Karel, Vice President of Business Development, Convenience Retailing | Bounteous

• John Lofstock, Executive Director | NAG

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM GENERAL SESSION: BURNING ISSUE #6: Private-Label Product Branding

The convenience store industry is seeing a rapid rise in private-label branding across all categories. Private labels are often cheaper than national brands, which is a solid selling point as financially strained consumers tighten their purse strings. Two advantages — high availability and low price — have also made private-label products considerably more appealing to consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift toward private labels also benefits retailers, since these products are typically more profitable for them. Furthermore, high-quality private labels can gain a devoted following and become a powerful driver of customer loyalty. In this session hear from three leading retailers on why they are continuing to develop and expand private-label products.

Erin Del Conte, Executive Editor | CStore Decisions

Speakers:

• Nick Triantafellou, Director of Marketing & Merchandising | Weigel’s Inc.

• Kristine Modugno, Director of Category Management | Nouria Energy Corp.

• Alan Adato, Senior Merchandising and Procurement Manager | Yesway/Allsup’s Convenience Stores

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM Networking Break

GENERAL SESSION: BURNING ISSUE #5: Connecting Next-Generation Loyalty, Payments and POS Systems

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

A number of next-generation technologies are converging, including loyalty, payments and point-of-sale (POS) systems. At the intersection, retailers expect a better, di erentiated customer experience and returns to the bottom line. These technologies are enabling hyperpersonalized customer experiences, seamless payments, mobile ordering, self-checkout and other benefi ts. How are c-stores combining these technologies? What are the expectations for increased store operating profi t? Our panel of distinguished retailers will answer these questions and more.

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM Networking Break

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM IDEAS BOOT CAMP

Best practices and a conference wrap up

Speakers:

• Brian Unrue, Director of Operations | Clark’s Pump-n-Shop

• John Lofstock, Executive Director | NAG

11:30 AM Conference Wrap-Up and Takeaways

12:00 PM Departures