Experience the dynamic insights of Jessica Williams, Founder & CEO of Food Forward Thinking LLC, as she unravels the intricate journey from innovation to execution in the foodservice trends of c-stores and QSRs. Jessica will share insights into identifying trends, fostering innovation, and successfully bringing culinary concepts to life. Don't miss this discussion that blends visionary thinking with actionable strategies for culinary success.

Dive headfirst into the exhilarating world of packaged beverages with the powerhouse expertise of Nik Modi, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets. Brace yourself for a pulse-pounding session into the dynamic landscape of consumer trends and financial analytics that are reshaping the packaged beverage category. Gain valuable insights into market shifts, emerging patterns, and the intersection of consumer behavior and financial performance with the guidance of one of the industry's foremost authorities.

Join us for an exclusive session where Bonnie Herzog, Managing Director and Senior Consumer Analyst at Goldman Sachs, dives deep into the revelations from the latest Nicotine Nuggets survey. This session promises an insider's perspective on the evolving category landscape as Herzog unpacks key findings derived from extensive feedback collected from retailer and wholesaler contacts representing 60,000 locations nationwide. Gain unique insights into emerging trends, shifting consumer preferences, and the factors shaping the future of this dynamic market.

A well-run loyalty program should be so meaningful to your brand that you can track the percentage of gallons and merchandise dollars that are tied to loyalty and if you balanced just the right margin per segment to win the right frequency of both visits and basket size.  
 
Your brands loyalty program is a marketing engine that can become your lowest cost of advertisement given the ability to directly target, personalize, and steer larger wallet share to your business.  This marketing engine is more important today than ever, as the ability to target through other methods becomes thinner given evolving customer privacy standards and laws.  Your loyalty program is a relationship with your customers, and this session focuses on how brands use their loyalty program as a marketing machine to build customer relationships, solve the competing forces of the fuel court versus the convenience store, and ultimately steer wallet share.

Tennessee Whiskey is revered around the globe and the area surrounding Nashville has a rich history with this celebrated spirit. In Barrel to Bottle you discover how this beverage is distilled and have the opportunity to create your own blend of premium Bourbon or Whiskey. 

Your journey takes place at the Pennington Distilling Co. Established in 2011, this independent distillery produces small batch premium spirits in the heart of Nashville. Upon arrival you will be treated to an engaging look at the whiskey and bourbon making process. 

Following the tour, you will join a Master Distiller, along with a knowledgeable staff of blenders, for an in-depth tutorial that will educate your palate on the various complexities derived from different barrels. 

2:15pm: Check-in (Lobby Level)

2:45pm - 3:00pm: Bus departure to Pennington Distillery

3:00pm - 4:00pm: Pennington Distillery Tour and Tasting

4:00pm - 4:15pm: Return to JW Marriott

Your journey begins at the historic RCA Studio B. As one of the first purpose-built recording studios in Nashville, this iconic studio produced hundreds of hits for artists such as: Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. It also helped establish Nashville as an international recording center. You will then get to explore the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the largest museums dedicated to music in the world. With artifacts, photographs, recorded sound, and vintage video, the Hall of Fame reveals the origins, traditions, and honored architects of country music. For anyone who loves the melodies that earned Nashville the nickname Music City, this is the tour for you! 

1:45pm: Check-in (Lobby Level)

2:00pm: Bus departure

2:15pm - 3:45pm: Tour of Country Music Hall of Fame

3:45pm - 4:00pm: Transfer to Studio B

4:00pm - 4:45pm: Tour of Studio B

4:45pm - 5:00pm: Return Transfer to JW Marriott

Step into a world where culinary adventure ignites the senses, as you embark on a hands-on hot chicken dry rub making experience. The air is charged with the aromatic dance of spices, and your fingertips become artists, meticulously blending a symphony of flavors. With each measured scoop of cayenne, paprika, and secret spices, you craft a potion that promises to set taste buds ablaze. The room echoes with the sizzle of anticipation as your custom dry rub transforms a simple chicken into a masterpiece, ready to tantalize taste buds with its fiery charm. Get ready to elevate your spice game and unleash a flavor explosion that will leave your guests craving for more. This class will be held on-site at the JW Marriott Nashville.

2:00pm - 2:45pm: Check-in (Lobby Level)
3:00pm - 5:00pm: Class starts at JW Marriott Nashville

Embark on a musical journey from the JW Marriott, delving into Nashville's vibrant culture and rich history. On this tour, you'll get to see some of Nashville's most iconic venues such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the legendary Ryman Auditorium. We'll wander down Lower Broadway, where live music fills the air, and uncover Nashville's hidden gems. Bring your walking shoes because we may even stop at a convenience store or two!

1:45pm: Check-in (Lobby Level)
2:00pm: Depart JW for Walking Tour
4:45pm - 5:00pm: Return to JW Marriott

Join us for a Networking Breakfast tailored for C-Store Women Power Team members and those interested in attending the CSW event in 2024! Hear the latest updates and engage in meaningful conversations with fellow CSW Power Team members. Don't miss the opportunity to continue building valuable relationships within the C-Store industry.

We're all too familiar with buzzwords such as KPI, disruptor, synergy, thought leader, and others that we hear on a daily basis. Join us for a candid, unscripted conversation with your retail peers as we dive deep into real substance on these topics and more. Discover what industry leaders have to say about going beyond the buzzwords to share practical insights, experiences, and strategics for tangible success. 

One in every three c-store customers are consciously searching for new brands and products to try. This session features McLane leaders discussing the latest trends and strategies in bringing emerging brands to c-store shelves to differentiate your product inventory, gain competitive advantage, and deliver a more personalized shopping experience to the communities your locations serve. 

The list of demands to drive repeat customers, drive in-store traffic and delight customers grows year over year. Join the industry experts at Stinker’s and Punchh to learn how loyalty programs built five years ago can be (reimagined, refreshed, elevated) to help brands grow in the next five years. Learn what levers and plans Stinker’s is using to expand, evolve and refresh their loyalty programs to meet demands, stay competitive and delight customers.

This presentation will delve into the remarkable potential of digital and technology transformation within the convenience store industry. As technology rapidly advances, convenience stores have an unprecedented opportunity to adapt and thrive in a digitally driven world. From automated checkout systems to personalized customer experiences, this transformative journey promises to revolutionize how convenience stores operate. We will explore innovative strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and real-world success stories that showcase how embracing these changes can enhance profitability and customer satisfaction in this ever-evolving landscape.

There may be no other time in history when the retail world has been rocked by so much change. Permanent shifts in consumer behavior and societal norms, a rapidly transforming technological landscape and unpredictable economic conditions, all present extraordinary challenges for retailers across categories and geographies.

Against this already volatile background, competition has reached unprecedented levels, offering consumers anything they want, wherever and whenever they want it. Thus, the traditional strategic cornerstones of convenience, selection, price, and even product exclusivity, have become shaky footholds from which to achieve enduring competitive success.

So how can the business win?

Based on research from his bestselling book Resurrecting Retail: The Future of Business in a Post-Pandemic World, futurist Doug Stephens will share a simple, yet profoundly effective strategy framework that enables any business or brand to cut through the chaos in their market, prioritize investments, forge radical consumer value and achieve uncontested dominance in their category.

 

As one of the strongest traffic drivers for convenience stores, today’s consumer wants innovation and variety.  Hear how your CMOY Finalists are attacking some of the biggest topics and trends in their category.  What innovation is coming this year and how will it affect your store? 

As one of the strongest traffic drivers for convenience stores, today’s consumer wants innovation and variety.  Hear how your CMOY Finalists are attacking some of the biggest topics and trends in their category.  What innovation is coming this year and how will it affect your store?

As one of the strongest traffic drivers for convenience stores, today’s consumer wants innovation and variety.  Hear how your CMOY Finalists are attacking some of the biggest topics and trends in their category.  What innovation is coming this year and how will it affect your store? 

As one of the strongest traffic drivers for convenience stores, today’s consumer wants innovation and variety.  Hear how your CMOY Finalists are attacking some of the biggest topics and trends in their category.  What innovation is coming this year and how will it affect your store?

As one of the strongest traffic drivers for convenience stores, today’s consumer wants innovation and variety.  Hear how your CMOY Finalists are attacking some of the biggest topics and trends in their category.  What innovation is coming this year and how will it affect your store? 

As one of the strongest traffic drivers for convenience stores, today’s consumer wants innovation and variety.  Hear how your CMOY Finalists are attacking some of the biggest topics and trends in their category.  What innovation is coming this year and how will it affect your store? 

5:00pm - 6:00pm

6:15pm - 7:30pm

Saddle up as we celebrate the outstanding talent of category management in CSP’s 9th annual Category Manager of the Year Awards. The CMOY awards honor category managers who are pushing the convenience-store industry forward. All attendees are welcome to join us for a plated 3-course dinner while we recognize c-store professionals from across the industry in eight major product categories. Come raise a glass with us in honor of all the nominees! 

Saddle up, y'all! Get ready for a rip-roaring good time at the After Party of the Year – hosted at none other than the honkiest, tonkiest joint in Nashville: Honky Tonk Central! This ain't your ordinary shindig – it's a leap year extravaganza that comes around only once in a blue moon! From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, we'll be turning the bar into a foot-stompin', heart-pumpin' haven of good vibes and great tunes. Dust off those dancing boots, because we're about to two-step our way into a night you won't forget! Buses will depart from the JW Marriott Lobby at 8pm.

Competition for cold dispensed beverage sales is heating up, with fast-food and c-stores vying for consumer occasions. Offering a relevant selection will sharpen your competitive edge, but what’s relevant varies by consumer demographics. Join Technomic to learn what today’s consumer is seeking, and how cold dispensed beverage preferences differ by age group and other characteristics. Incorporating these insights into category planning will help ensure your store’s selection is best positioned to grow visits and sales. 

This analysis will investigate the most recent trends in the c-store confectionery category. We’ll determine if the pandemic had an influence on the consumer preferences for product form and flavor:  Do consumers now prefer standard bars or king sized bars?  Is there a greater trend to purchase peg bag versus single bar?  Are chocolate items preferred over non-chocolate; mints over gum?  This presentation will highlight how to optimize c-store product mix to maximize sales in this center store category.

The traditional ‘refueling’ customer is changing, from an ICE vehicle driver who may be ‘in and out’ in a few mins to EV drivers who will need to stick around for at least 20-30 mins, and in many cases longer.  Since the driver does not need to stay with the vehicle while charging, they will seek to engage in other activities whether that’s a bite to eat or top-up shopping or something else.  This is where what’s on offer at the destination becomes more important.  Hosts must recognize that they are looking new user behavioral types, and more will develop as adoption increases. Each of these brings a different set of preferences and different considerations when selecting a location to charge their EV.  Understanding the consumers habits, preferences and behaviors and tailoring the offer will be the key to success.

This session is designed to empower category managers with practical insights, guiding them through the intricate landscape of customer segmentation, category role, product selection, sku rationalization, supplier relations, and innovation. Discover actionable strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.

This interactive session is designed to empower managers with the skills and strategies needed to cultivate exceptional teams and drive organizational success. Explore the critical role that effective team dynamics play in shaping company culture, productivity, and overall performance. Learn practical techniques for fostering collaboration, trust, and innovation among team members. Discover how investing in the development and well-being of your team can yield significant returns for the entire organization. Leave with actionable insights and tools to inspire and lead your team to new heights, ultimately shaping the future of your company.

2023 was quite the year as operators  were integrating acquisitions while making significant investments in their brand development. Foodservice, digital rewards, enhanced store designs and marketing initiatives headlined their agendas to strengthen their hold on loyal customers while capturing new patrons.