Recap: The 2026 CStore Connections Conference

Small, mid-sized, family-owned and regional chains flocked to Florida for three days of networking, education and information exchanges.

The CStore Connections conference took place April 19–21 in Jacksonville, Fla., where c-store retailers gathered to network with peers, learn and share ideas.

On the opening day of the conference, attendees had the option to board a bus and tour some of Jacksonville’s local convenience stores, including Buc-ee’s, GATE, Wawa and RaceTrac. Upon return, the event officially kicked off with a welcome reception.

Ai and foodservice

The second day of CStore Connections began with an opening general session. Titled “AI at Work: Transforming the Future of the Convenience Store,” it featured Amy Wood, director of enterprise IT for Friendly Express Inc.; Michael Salafia, CEO of Re-Up; Mike Wilson, chief operating officer of Cubby’s Inc.

; and Scott Smith, VP of IT for Parker’s Kitchen. Erin Del Conte, editor-in-chief of CStore Decisions, moderated the panel. The panelists — from chains of different sizes — gave voice to the various applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in a c-store setting, including data analysis, out-of-stocks, security and more.

The next general session was titled “Optimizing the Kitchen: Boosting Foodservice Profitability While Managing Costs.” Jeremy Haack, director of food service at Kwik Trip; Mario Spina, owner and CEO of Parent Petroleum Inc.; and Beth Hoffer, VP at Weigel’s, comprised the panel.

Del Conte moderated once more. Here, panelists touched on managing foodservice expenses without sacrificing quality. They covered effective pricing, efficient inventory management, commissary and self-distribution models, and maximizing labor efficiency.

Transparency with and from vendors is important, the panelists agreed, to help manage costs. Being able to buy in bulk and self-distribute through a commissary, if you have one, is also a big advantage.

After the general sessions, attendees took a short networking break before coming together in small groups for the renowned Burning Issue Exchanges. The heart and soul of CStore Connections, the exchanges allowed attendees to pick a topic in which they were most interested and discuss it with a smaller group of peers.

New this year, breakout educational sessions on various topics from foodservice marketing to merchandising mastery to reimagining loyalty were held in the afternoon, along with another round of Burning Issue Exchanges, followed by the Retail Leaders Exchanges — discussion groups exclusively for retailers.

Keynote and leadership

At the end of the second day, attendees gathered to hear this year’s keynote session from Stinker Stores President and CEO Nate Brazier.

Stinker Stores, CStore Decisions’ 2025 Chain of the Year, currently operates 93 convenience stores across Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. The chain is known for its people-first culture and its commitment to continuous improvement, which especially shines through its employees — the company’s No. 1 priority, according to Brazier.

Great companies, he said, are never built by one person — they’re built by teams (Stinkin’ awesome teams, in his own words).

When it comes to building company culture, Brazier noted, nothing happens by accident.

“Culture exists in every single company — the question is whether you’re intentionally building it or reacting to it,” he said.

Brazier mentioned that Stinker’s culture was built with intention every step of the way. And the results are clear — in 2025 alone, Stinker Stores improved employee tenure by 45% and reduced turnover by 37%.

“Great companies don’t leave culture to chance — they own it. And more importantly, they live it,” he said. “Culture speaks before anyone says a word.”

Following the keynote, attendees had dinner on their own and then returned for an after-hours networking event in the Connections & Cocktails Lounge.

Tobacco and future trends

On Tuesday morning, the final day of the show, c-store professionals were greeted with a breakfast session that dove into the ever-changing tobacco category. Tony Battaglia, trade relations specialist for Philip Morris International U.S., shared how the landscape is shifting away from traditional cigarette sales and into new segments like modern oral nicotine and other tobacco products.

Following breakfast, a panel of retailer experts took the stage: David Barkett, director of retail operations, Triumph Energy; Glennie Bench, president and chief operating officer, Southwest Georgia Oil Co.; and Joe Hamza, chief operating officer, Nouria. The session was moderated by Del Conte. The panelists discussed competition in the c-store space in a session titled “C-Store Strategies in the Face of Changing Competition.” All panelists agreed that competition is not something to be afraid of; rather, it is the fuel that drives the industry forward.

After that talk, another round of panelists took the stage in a session titled “The Future of Convenience & How to Future-Proof Your Chain.” Moderated by Greg Ehrlich, president, Beck Suppliers, speakers included Ashley Evans, fresh food and dispensed beverage manager, BP US Convenience & Mobility (ampm, Thorntons, TravelCenters of America); Tyler Grubbs, VP of retail & digital technologies, RaceTrac; and Jared Scheeler, CEO, The Hub Convenience Stores.

Each panelist represented a unique perspective — BP US Convenience & Mobility’s footprint extends across its ampm, Thorntons and TravelCenters of America banners, with more than 1,500 stores across the country. RaceTrac operates over 800 locations in the U.S., plus its recently acquired quick-service restaurant brand, Potbelly. The Hub Convenience Stores has five stores in North Dakota.

Each panelist agreed that the future of convenience revolves around a few key developments, with AI leading the charge into the future.

Later on Tuesday, attendees got the chance to sit in on another round of breakout educational sessions, two more rounds of Burning Issue Exchanges with new topics, and a closing recap session led by CStore Decisions’ Del Conte and Beck Suppliers’ Ehrlich.

Tuesday’s closing night reception celebrated CStore Decisions’ 2025 Class of 40 Under 40 Leaders to Watch. The 40 Under 40 Inductees who were in attendance were each awarded a special pin during the ceremony.

CStore Connections also celebrated longtime industry veteran Doug Galli and awarded him the Lifetime Award for Convenience Retailing, which is the event’s lifetime achievement award. Galli is the eighth recipient to receive this award, and he is retiring from The Reid Group and Crosby’s after more than 20 years. Galli has been an advocate for the retail community and served as the National Advisory Group board chairman from 2019–2021.

Lenny Smith, VP of Crosby’s, presented the award.

“Through his leadership, Crosby’s grew to over 80 stores. But, more importantly, he built structure that made the growth possible,” said Smith. “He built up the old organization; he established the merchandising and support teams — those things that we all dream about, to be able to create from the sandbox. That’s what Doug was able to do.”

Smith ended his remarks with this: “It’s just not a company that he’s helped out. It’s truly a whole industry that he’s helped out.”

Galli accepted the award to a rousing standing ovation.

“Convenience retailing isn’t just about transactions. It’s about people, communities and the everyday connections that we make,” said Galli.

He noted his appreciation for Crosby’s and the Reid family, who fostered development among their employees.

“Over the years, I’ve seen this industry evolve in incredible ways. What hasn’t changed is at the heart of it, the commitment to serving customers and communities with consistency, care and innovation,” he said. “(…) It’s a privilege to be a part of the evolution.”