welcoming 2023 With New Partners in Innovation

Erin Del Conte • Executive Editor

AS WE RING in 2023, convenience store retailers continue to grapple with inflation, labor shortages and an uncertain economy.

As headwinds point to the rise of electric vehicle (EV) charging and the continued decline of gas demand, c-stores are adding EV chargers and ramping up their foodservice programs, finding new ways to draw shoppers to their stores.

Customers are expecting more from c-store foodservice today. Many c-stores are responding by creating fresh proprietary food offerings and adding drive-throughs as they look to compete with quick-service restaurants. Meanwhile, technological advancements are moving at a breakneck pace. Many retailers made big strides with technology during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Others are just getting started implementing orderahead, delivery and mobile apps. More retailers are testing self-checkout and frictionless checkout solutions. Some are upgrading their loyalty programs and utilizing key data to better respond to the demands of their core customers.

The start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the two years that have followed taught us that convenience stores are even more adaptable than we ever thought possible and able to rush through rapid change seemingly overnight. In the throes of this evolution, supplier partners have been crucial to helping convenience stores innovate and evolve.

As retailers navigate the way forward in 2023, supplier partnerships will continue to be invaluable in helping retailers meet the demands of the moment. On the pages that follow you’ll find a number of leading suppliers that are prepared to help c-stores find success in 2023 across all areas of the c-store landscape — from technology to tobacco and from food and beverage to center store categories. Don’t hesitate to reach out and make a connection today to help accelerate innovation at your c-store chain and drive your business forward in the new year

ADD Systems

ADD Systems® works hand-in-hand with clients throughout the U.S. and Canada to understand the needs of the convenience store, wholesale petroleum, propane, heating oil, commercial bulk fuels, HVAC, and lubricants industries. 2023 marks ADD Systems’ 50th anniversary, and our goal has always been to develop the best software solutions that exceed the needs of our clients, today and tomorrow. ADD Systems is more than a software provider; we are a true partner, committed to client success.

ADD Systems

6 Laurel Drive Flanders, NJ 07836

P: 800.922.0972

973.252.3803

E: info@addsys.com www.addsys.com

ADD SYSTEMS® SOFTWARE

helps you spend less time on administrative tasks and more time providing a great customer experience and improving your financial position. Designed with trusted client advisors from top industry chains, ADD software exemplifies a modern convenience store application, with unprecedented efficiency and visibility into your operation, tighter merchandise and fuel management, and efficient data access.

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI)

Get customizable, timely reports with actionable information sent automatically. These reports can be driven by exception, containing only information that needs attention.

Customized KPI Dashboards and Scorecards give accurate, quickly consumable snapshots of store activity.

Inventory Management

Minimize shrink by scanning at the POS, scanning store invoices, and taking full advantage of a centralized price book. Reduce out-of-stocks by implementing strong inventory controls and using picture-based shelf tags for effective planogram management.

Labor Utilization

Reduce labor expense through better staffing decisions. Understand your traffic and transaction trends with simple graphical reports.

Category Management

Maximize sales using store traffic to understand customer shopping. Analytical reports provide a precise view of sales velocity, helping you meet customer demand and manage vendor purchases. With this information, you ca highly effective promotions to drive larger basket sizes.

Scan Data Benefits

Automatically submit cigarette scan data to take advantage of financial incentives.

Wholesale Fuel Efficiency

Automatically send scheduled wholesale price quotes based on costplus, percentage or customer contracts. Deliver profitable wholesale loads with accurate margins that incorporate “best buy” logic for vendors, terminals and freight. Expedite dealer network processing by importing fuel sales from your gas station dealer network and credit card receipts from your major oil company processors for quick reconciliation and settlement. Manage a host of dealer commission structures efficiently and automatically.

Partner Agnostic

Choose who you want to work with. ADD interfaces with multiple related partners like wholesale distributors and POS providers. Partners such as Skip and Vroom can offer contactless service to your customers, while Electrum and Velocity offer proven loyalty solutions. Interfacing with ADD provides the additional services you need.