---
title: "C-Stores Turn to Smarter Data Strategies"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/f276010a-61d6-476e-9a8c-6e33a4d8c553
source: "CStore Decisions"
original_url: https://cstoredecisions.com/c-stores-turn-to-smarter-data-strategies/
author: "Erin Del Conte"
category: "Specialty retail"
industry: "Retail"
segment: "Specialty retail"
published: 2026-05-15T15:46:40.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:17:48.365Z
image: https://cstoredecisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/tap-to-pay-unsplash-.jpg
---

# C-Stores Turn to Smarter Data Strategies

**TL;DR:** Convenience store operators like Friendly Express and Loop Neighborhood are refining their data strategies to improve operations and marketing. They are leveraging AI and real-time analytics to create a stronger foundation for future growth.

*By Erin Del Conte, originally published in CStore Decisions on 2026-05-15. [Read the original](https://cstoredecisions.com/c-stores-turn-to-smarter-data-strategies/).*

## Story

Retailers are refining their data strategies, leveraging AI and real-time analytics to improve operations, personalize marketing and create a stronger foundation for future growth.

As technology advances, convenience store operators are reevaluating their data strategies to ensure they’re gathering clean, useful data that can help them offer more targeted experiences now or in the future.

“Our approach to data has evolved from simply gathering information to focusing more on how to make it useful,” said Amy Wood, director of enterprise IT for Friendly Express, which operates 38 convenience stores in Georgia. “Like many organizations, we can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of data available, so we are increasingly focused on identifying what matters most.”

Wood added that the most valuable data to Friendly Express currently is any data that can help the c-store chain improve operations, marketing and customer understanding.

“We are also beginning to use AI tools to help filter through that data and determine how to apply it more effectively across the business,” she said.

Loop Neighborhood, which operates 156 c-stores in California under the Loop Neighborhood Market and Poppy’s Market banners, considers itself a data-forward company. “We have evolved to looking at near-real-time sales information,” explained Sanjit Bajimaya, director of IT for Loop Neighborhood Market. “He added that the chain’s “decision tree” is built on the data. “We have created a data lake to normalize data from different sources.”

Lassus Bros. Oil Inc., with 35 c-stores in Indiana and Ohio, partnered with a c-store retail analytics and consulting company to “enhance data analytics capabilities and put actionable insights directly into the hands of our managers and operations teams through the (partners’) portal and real-time scoreboards,” said Brittany Wilchar, director of sales & marketing for Lassus Bros. The partnership has allowed Lassus to move past static reporting into daily performance management.

“Our teams now have visibility into key KPIs (key performance indicators) such as sales, category performance and operational metrics in a way that is simple, consistent and easy to act on,” she said.

The move has also been valuable in developing leaders because it creates accountability and clarity around expectations and provides managers with the information they need to take ownership of their role.

“Ultimately, this has strengthened our ability to drive consistent execution across stores while building a more data-driven culture throughout the organization, she added.

As technology continues to reshape convenience retail, operators who embrace AI, retail media and data-driven personalization are expected to be the best positioned to engage customers and grow profits.

Staying ahead of these emerging technology trends isn’t an option anymore, because technology is moving ahead with or without your buy-in and shaping customer expectations and behaviors at a rapid rate.

A strong tech stack is becoming the blueprint for success across industries and is expected to be a core part, if not the very foundation, of the modern convenience store for the future.

## Entities

- Retail (sector)
- CStore Decisions (publication)
- ai technology (topic)
- Erin Del Conte (person)
- targeted marketing (topic)
- convenience store operations (topic)
- Loop Neighborhood Market (company)
- data strategies (topic)
- retail analytics (topic)

---
Originally reported by Erin Del Conte, CStore Decisions (https://cstoredecisions.com/c-stores-turn-to-smarter-data-strategies/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/f276010a-61d6-476e-9a8c-6e33a4d8c553).