Here are the top trends for 2025 that have the potential to shape convenience retail operations and the customer experience.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Lauren Shanesy, Editor/Writer, NACS

Lauren has more than a decade of business journalism experience crafting content for print and online media sites. At NACS she works on operations, strategy and content development for print and digital publications that include NACS Magazine, NACS Daily and Fuels Market News Magazine.

From our most downloaded podcast of 2024, we're revisiting conversations around finding great food at the local gas station. Hear more on these hidden gems.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Stafford Shurden, Creator, Gas Station Tailgate Review

Stafford is a restaurant owner and farmer from Drew, MS. Over the past four years between managing his farm and restaurant, he has traveled the southern United States in search of the best gas station food and filming it from the tailgate of his pickup truck. His popular show "Gas Station Tailgate Review” has amassed millions of views on social media.

Technology is vital for adapting to rapid changes. We're breaking down what it means and what you need to do.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Gray Taylor, Executive Director, Conexxus

Gray has been involved with a variety of projects, including heading global product management for three of the world’s largest retail petroleum equipment and systems suppliers, and as vice president of research and technology at NACS. Gray managed product portfolios that included payment platforms for EMV migration markets from Malaysia to Canada, as well as mobile/RFID payments initiatives.

Tobacco theft is the new face of organized crime. Flavor bans, higher taxes, and raising the legal purchase age to 21 have all contributed to a thriving black market for tobacco and vape products. Hear how you can protect your staff and business against tobacco and vape theft.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

About our Guest:

Rich Marianos, Assistant Director (Retired), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Professor, Georgetown University

Rich is a senior law enforcement consultant, having served more than 27 years at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives fighting violent crime. He most recently served as Assistant Director in the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, and as Special Agent in Charge ATF's Washington Field Division.

He began his career with ATF in September 1987 in the Chicago Field Division where he worked on complex-gang investigations. and was recognized as a national expert using the continuing criminal enterprise and RICO statues to dismantle some of the most dangerous street gangs and organized crimes groups in America.

We're sharing some of the insights and takeaways from the latest Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on credit card swipe fees, and talk about what it means to retailers.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel

Doug has served as legal counsel for NACS for more than 20 years, originally as a partner with the law firms Collier Shannon Scott PLLC and Steptoe & Johnson LLP. He has been NACS in-house counsel since 2021. Doug also served as special counsel and deputy chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In November, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the need for competition in the credit card market. Hear what NACS General Counsel Doug Kantor told committee members on behalf of the c-store industry.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel

Doug has served as legal counsel for NACS for more than 20 years, originally as a partner with the law firms Collier Shannon Scott PLLC and Steptoe & Johnson LLP. He has been NACS in-house counsel since 2021. Doug also served as special counsel and deputy chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

EVs aren’t the only option to reduce carbon emissions. E-fuels could close potential emission reduction gaps in the U.S. or accelerate emission reduction efforts for road transportation.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute

John has more than 20 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute. Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.

Before the AMBER Alert system, there was the Milk Carton Kids campaign in the 1980s. Today, technology is further enhancing the search for missing children—and retailers can help.

Hosted by:

Jeff Lenard

About our Guest:

Gavin Portnoy, Vice President, Communications & Brand, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Gavin builds strategies to elevate NCMEC’s brand, which include creating new partnerships, bolstering existing relationships and working positively and efficiently with NCMEC’s departments and stakeholders to support programs and goals. He joined NCMEC in 2014 after more than 15 years helping organizations build brand awareness and effectively tell their story using the latest business, digital, social and media channels.