In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Rachel Gignac speaks with Scott Hartman, president and CEO of Rutter's, and CSP's 2025 Retail Leader of the Year. Rutter’s is No. 79 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.The two spoke at CSP's Outlook Leadership conference in August about his RLOY recognition and the philosophies that have guided his 54-year career in the convenience-store and fuel industry. Hartman started in the business at just 12 years old, learning every role from stocking shelves to managing stores to leading one of the most innovative convenience store companies in the country. He shares stories of mentorship, family and the lessons he’s learned about leadership, teamwork and staying ahead in an industry defined by constant change.Hartman recalls vacation adventures with his family, the lessons golf has taught him about patience and perseverance and how he balances his commitment to employees with time for personal well-being. As a leader, Hartman views his role as more of a coach than a boss. He said he's invested in nurturing both people and ideas and is unafraid to break new ground in technology, foodservice and even in-store gaming experiences.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks with Matt Pavich, senior director of strategy and innovation at Alpharetta, Georgia-based Revionics, about how artificial intelligence (AI) assists convenience-store retailers in pricing new products.On this podcast, Pavich discusses why pricing a brand-new item—with zero historical sales data—is a persistent struggle for the average c-store retailer.The interview also goes beyond new items and into how AI helps c-store retailers navigate the complexity of tariffs, inflation and high consumer price sensitivity across their entire assortment.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Scott Smith, vice president of IT at convenience-store chain Parker’s Kitchen. Parker's Kitchen is No. 73 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.Speaking from CSP’s C-StoreTEC forum, which was held Oct. 27-29 in Plano, Texas, Smith shared how the Savannah, Georgia-based chain of more than 100 stores uses artificial intelligence (AI) now, and what opportunities there may be for it in the future.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Aisha Jefferson, QuikTrip’s corporate communications manager. Jefferson shares how she’s risen through the ranks at the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based convenience-store chain through nine promotions. She also shares the challenges she’s faced in her career, along with what’s helped her along the way. QuikTrip is No. 9 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.The two spoke at CSP’s Convenience-Store Women’s event, which was held Nov. 3-5 in San Antonio.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to Abigail Cerra, director of marketing at Chestnut Market, New Paltz, New York. They talk during CSP’s C-Store Women event, which was held Nov. 3-5 in San Antonio.Cerra talks about the importance of understanding the financials behind business decisions. She and Gignac discuss how leaders in the convenience-store industry can read early financial signals, leverage data to make smarter choices and navigate the evolving landscape of digital payments, self-checkout and delivery. Cerra also shares practical advice for emerging leaders on strengthening their financial intuition and spotting the story behind the numbers in their own organizations.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to RaceTrac’s Vice President of Marketing Jamie Miller and Executive Director of Digital and Store Technology Tyler Grubbs. Speaking from CSP’s C-StoreTEC forum, which was held Oct. 27-29 in Plano, Texas, Miller and Grubbs shared how the marketing and technology departments collaborate. They also spoke to RaceTrac’s upgraded rewards app and how they work with the company’s various brands, from RaceTrac to Gulf Oil to Raceway to Potbelly.Atlanta-based RaceTrac is No. 17 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Michelle Patterson, vice president of marketing and communications at McLane Company Inc., and Jason Read, director of store operations at Wawa, about how to build your personal brand. The three sat down at CSP’s third-annual C-Store Women’s event in San Antonio, Texas, to discuss how leaders in the convenience industry can build and maintain their own personal brand and growth in their careers. The learnings came from Patterson and Read’s power team, a group of people who had attended CSW in 2024 and worked throughout the year to develop tips on establishing a personal brand. “At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to Jesse Wolcott, assistant director of information technology at Royal Farms. They speak at C-StoreTEC, where Wolcott was part of a session on artificial intelligence (AI) strategy in convenience stores. Wolcott shares how Baltimore-based Royal Farms is leveraging AI, challenges with implementation and goals.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to Terry Valdivieso, chief financial officer at Atlantis Management Group. Valdivieso discusses the role of technology in the company's expansion and operational efficiency. Among additional topics, she shares insights on the implementation of suggested ordering systems and the future integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance data analysis and decision-making.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editors Hannah Hammond, Heather Lalley, Chuck Ulie, Diane Adam and Rachel Gignac discuss their biggest takeaways from the 2025 NACS Show.The NACS Show took place Tuesday through Friday at McCormick Place in Chicago.
In a recent “At Your Convenience” podcast, CSP sat down with industry experts Bill Flack, senior vice president, head of foodservice strategic business, and Ed Shabaz, vice president of sales, director-foodservice and CPG, both from Ajinomoto Foods North America. According to Flack and Shabaz, this trend is being driven primarily by younger demographics including millennials and Gen Z consumers.Latin American cuisine continues to dominate growth, with core items like tacos and burritos expanding to include trending options such as Birria tacos and elote. Empanadas are particularly well-suited for the convenience channel, showing 12% menu growth due to their portable nature and operational efficiency.On the Asian front, dumplings and pot stickers are gaining significant traction. These handheld items appeal to consumers seeking authentic global experiences while offering retailers operationally friendly solutions that require minimal labor and hold well under heat lamps.Listen to the full “At Your Convenience” podcast episode above for deeper insights into how convenience retailers can successfully implement global flavor programs and stay ahead of emerging food service trends.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Julia Lazzara, president of Leading NOW, during CSP’s Outlook Leadership event in August. The two talk about CSP’s upcoming C-Store Women’s event, which takes place Nov. 3-5 in San Antonio, Texas.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Diane Adam talks with David Spross, executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Washington, D.C. The two talk at CSP’s Tobacco Plus Forum, held in September in Schaumburg, Illinois.On this podcast, Spross discusses the Food and Drug Administration’s plan to fast-track nicotine pouch authorizations, state excise taxes and challenges of the illicit e-cigarette market.
On this special edition of the CSP podcast At Your Convenience, Melissa Vonder Haar introduces listeners to supplier members of the CSP C-Store Cannabis Board. Vonder Haar is managing director of TradeWorks for iSee Store Innovations and chair of CSP’s C-Store Cannabis Board. Board members were required to apply for their seats and were selected for their diversity in the segment, how long they’ve been in business and more. Listen in for the advice these suppliers have for convenience retailers looking to get into the hemp-THC space. Suppliers appearing on the podcast, in order, are: Jake Bullock: co-founder & CEO of CannDavid Daily: founder at GRAVAngus Rittenburg: co-founder & CEO of WynkLenard Gega: vice president of Hemp, CuraleafDaniella Segal: head of Delta 9, Charlotte’s WebKoby Licciardo: SVP of sales, NOWADAYSBlake Patterson: chief revenue officer, Keef BrandsGenya Akselrod: founding partner, Looner Cannabis
In a recent episode of “At Your Convenience” podcast, CSP’s Abbey Lewis spoke with Kara Calderon, head of underage access prevention at Reynolds, and Stephanie Sikorski, CEO of TrueAge, about the collaborative efforts to prevent underage access to tobacco and nicotine products. The conversation highlighted how industry partnerships between manufacturers, retailers and technology providers have contributed to lower rates of underage tobacco use. Reynolds' strict marketing protocols and contractual obligations with retailers, combined with TrueAge's innovative age verification technology, have created an ecosystem that effectively prevents youth access to age-restricted products. The discussion also addressed current challenges, including the rise of illicit vape products targeting youth, and future initiatives to strengthen underage access prevention efforts.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editor Chuck Ulie talks with Deb Bowman, category manager at Rhodes convenience stores, from CSP’s Center Store Forum on Sept. 9 in Lombard, Illinois.Rhodes, based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is operated by PAJCO Inc.On this podcast, Bowman talks about some of the most fun and challenging parts of her job—and how she doesn’t see an end in sight to the avalanche of flavor innovations. She also shares how Rhodes has expanded its meat snack section in response to the growing GLP-1 trend.
In this episode of At Your Convenience, CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Art Sebastian, founder and CEO of NexChapter. They spoke at CSP’s Outlook Leadership event in August about the report, which details five outlooks for the convenience-store industry, based off the 2025 Outlook Report Survey and data from CSP’s sister research firm Technomic, NielsenIQ and Upside. The full report will launch in October, and it will also be featured in CSP’s October magazine issue. Sebastian, who is also the chair of CSP’s C-StoreTEC advisory board, also talked about the speakers he is looking forward to hearing at the C-StoreTEC event, taking place Oct. 27-29 in Plano, Texas. Learn more about that conference here.
In this episode of “At Your Convenience,” CSP Editors Diane Adam and Rachel Gignac speak to Adit Gupta, founder and CEO of Lula Commerce, about the company's new nicotine delivery services.Convenience-store retailers in states where nicotine delivery is legal can now sell and deliver these products on DoorDash with Lula. Lula's Visual ID Verification captures and verifies government-issued IDs at checkout, not just at delivery. Geo‑fencing prevents orders from regions where tobacco delivery isn’t allowed.
In this episode of CSP's "At Your Convenience" podcast, CSP Editor Rachel Gignac talks to ExtraMile's director of operations, Dennis Francis, about the chain's Mystery Shop scores.Recorded live at CSP's Outlook Leadership conference in August, they touch on the categories ExtraMile performed well in, including interior, coffee and employees.While Worcester, Massachusetts-based Nouria, which also won in 2024, received the first-place score in the Mystery Shop audit, Pleasanton, California-based ExtraMile came in second, with a score of 96.84%, and York, Pennsylvania-based Rutter’s received the third-place score of 96.53%. This podcast was recorded before the winner was announced. “At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.
In this episode of At Your Convenience, CSP Executive Editor Hannah Hammond talks to Danielle Gutierrez-Stone, senior director of retail operations at Pony Express. They spoke at CSP’s Outlook Leadership event in August about the challenges of running a small chain, being a female leader in the convenience-store industry, what it means to work for a "Native American"-owned company and more. Ho-Chunk Inc. is the parent company of Pony Express. It’s based on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in northeast Nebraska. Pony Express first opened for business in 1996 in Winnebago, Nebraska, according to its website.