C-Store Growth

C-store foodservice consistency is what separates average operations from high-performing ones. Building a successful program isn’t just about adding new menu items, it’s about creating systems that teams can execute consistently, no matter the location. That’s exactly what Greg has been focused on. With over two decades in restaurant kitchens and now leading foodservice development …

C-store leadership workshops often sound good in theory but in practice, many fail because managers don’t buy in or don’t see immediate value. Jonathan, a multi-store operator, took a different approach. By committing fully to C-store leadership workshops and aligning his managers around shared conversations, clear data, and consistent habits, he saw stronger teamwork, better …

Strong convenience store performance begins with effective leadership. The best c-store managers aren’t stopping at schedules and cigarette counts. They’re developing people and driving culture to build resilient, profitable stores. This article explores strategies from industry leaders on how c-store manager leadership is developed from within and why it matters for long-term success. C-Store Manager …

New seasons bring new opportunities. Fall is no different. A c-store checklist for fall success helps us to find simple and important ways to keep our customers engaged.  Fall brings its own busy rhythm, back-to-school mornings, football weekends, cooler weather, and candy season. Customers expect quick service, warm food, and shelves stocked with their favorites. …

DD Bennett shared her experience with c-store leadership keys: Kitchen to Command. Her path to c-store manager was not smooth and was not without setbacks. She shares her story of living the full life of starting work, marriage, parenting, and ongoing career growth. Her success is an example of building a great career as a …

While working to help c-store manager, we found  a funny thing happened on the way to c-store growth. In order to work on growth, store managers needed to focus on a lot of different parts of their operations: Growth, Profits, Value, Satisfaction, Simplicity, Improvement, Self-Motivation, Efficiency, Helpfulness, Caring, Development, Usefulness, Happiness – who doesn’t want all …

The changes and competition in the convenience retail world demands strong operations. Building a brand, having loyal customers and establishing a strong community presence cannot be attained and sustained without reliable operations. The convenience business is about people: your customers and your staff. Your operations determine how well you deliver convenience through your staff to …

Given the challenges with c-store staffing, c-store operators benefit by addressing the impact of c-store onboarding debt. All business are impacted by their ability to hire, train, manage and develop their staff. The recent challenges, such as Covid, created many changes to the working environment and significantly changed the labor costs and work expectations. Just …

There are three main aspects of c-store operations ROI. C-Store operations have a virtually unlimited capacity to grow and attain on-going improvement. These results are evident with successful chains such as Casey’s, Kwik Trip, Wawa, Sheetz, and others. They show the power of great businesses that have both a strong operational system and the ability …

Managers forget the numbers to fix problems. A store manager cannot make a customer buy anything. They can only address how the store operates. The key is store manager problem solving. They must manage staffing, stocking, inventory, finances, cleanliness, preparation and how the store operates. Their work directly influences the customer experience. Before they fix …

The presenters at a recent food-service-focused-c-store conference provided a unique perspective on their successes. C-Store operations have already or may soon become primarily focused on food service. The presenters included a single store operator, several top 10 chains, investment bankers, leading vendors and leading consultants in the convenience space. Here are the ten things I …

Surveys of c-store managers identify five keys to grow food sales.  Food service is critical to the future success of most c-stores. A strong store manager can typically thrive in a store with great food offers as many of the jobs are the same as non-food stores. However, there are key differences. Preparing and supporting …