C-Store Growth

C-Store growth means better promotions take, staff work, and store profits. The growth occurs  by using analytics and AI technology. It reviews all sales detail from which opportunities are identified. For example, the analysis shows the actual take-rates as well as the stores and cashiers sales rankings. The simple list makes it easy to teach cashiers and fix the product placement at specific stores.  The program then identifies the things you need to do to increase your sales. Operators then use these specific items to start staff selling games, find  stores that are not selling enough and reward top staff.

Owners, as well as area and store managers save time when they have a short list of important work. That is, solving a problem is easier when the precise issue is clear. Having a list of work issues delivered with the supporting facts eliminates time waste. For example, knowing which cashiers are not having the same rate of upselling pinpoints who needs help. Likewise, seeing how two stores with similar traffic are not selling the same allows for a quick inspection to find the issue. The result is c-store growth when top managers focus on the most important sales items.

C-store checklist for fall success with managers preparing seasonal displays

C-Store Checklist for Fall Success: Leadership Made Simple

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | C-Store Tips | Store Manager Development
September 9, 2025 — 

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. …

Crossroads Pantry Markle. 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 cj-store manager.  Her journey began in her hometown. About 40 minutes south of Fort Wayne, in the small town of Markle, Indiana, you’ll find Crossroads Pantry Markle— One of three convenience stores under the crossroads banne

C-Store Leadership Keys: Kitchen to Command

C-Store Growth | C-Store Tips | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability | Store Manager Development
May 1, 2025 — 

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 …

image of a group of people forming a team. The way to c-store growth is the way to building strong teams.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to C-Store Growth

C-Store Growth | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
July 19, 2024 — 

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 …

Image of Five C-Store Operations Drivers and Impediments

Five C-Store Operations Drivers and Impediments

C-Store Control | C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Store Manager Development
April 25, 2024 — 

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 …

Image of new manager enjoying the training process for store opening responsiblities. C-Store onboarding impact every aspect of success.

The Impact of C-Store Onboarding Debt

C-Store Growth | Focus - Accountability Principles | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability | Store Manager Development
August 10, 2023 — 

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 …

Image of happy c-store staff. C-store staff retention is a big part of c-store operations ROI

Three Aspects of C-Store Operations ROI

C-Store Control | C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Store Manager Development
July 16, 2023 — 

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 …

Image of successful store with happy staff running the store. Managers forget numbers to fix problems. Once the problem is identified they work on the root cause with actions they can control. Focusing on strong operations is the main influence to improve store operations

Managers Forget the Numbers to Fix Problems

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Store Manager Development
May 25, 2023 — 

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 …

Image of Don Longo of CSNews at the Food Service Exchange.

Ten Things I Learned at the CSNews Convenience Food Service Exchange

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
May 8, 2023 — 

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 …

Image of store manager stretching and focusing. Store managers thrive when they practice the five keys to grow food sales.

Five Keys to Grow Food Sales

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices
April 10, 2023 — 

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 …

Image of fresh pizza preparation for c-store food service. It is clear that there are five keys to grow food sales. C-store managers thrive when the keys are practiced well.

Management Keys for C-Store Food Service

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
February 5, 2023 — 

Management keys for c-store food service utilize existing store manager skills, but require a few important new skillsets to maximize results. C-store managers have a complex job and the demands on their skills continue to grow.  C-Store operations’ complexity has increased with a combination of new services, technology, marketing and staffing challenges. The expansion of …

Image of ROI representing the concepts for store manager value. Store manager ROI strategy involves three components. Financial impact, store operations and leadership development drive the return on investment. C-Store Performance – ROI of Growth – How much profit from 1%?

Store Manager ROI Strategy

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Focus - Accountability Principles | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
December 19, 2022 — 

Store manager ROI strategy involves three components. Financial impact, store operations and leadership development drive the return on investment. Overall chain health requires each store to provide value in three areas. The return provided to the chain is maximized when all three areas are addressed. That is, the store provides Financial return, Operates well Grows managers …

image of store manager overload. A common issue with c-store management given the stress of staff hiring challenges and the need to focus on development and growth

Does Your Operations System Help Your C-Store Manager Support the Customer Experience?

C-Store Growth | C-Store Technology | Focus - Accountability Principles | Uncategorized
October 26, 2022 — 

With the big investments made into c-store technology, it is important to ask: Does your operations system help your c-store manager support the customer experience?  Too often, the store manager is given more responsibility without adequate system support for the daily operations. Store managers face challenging responsibilities and unprecedented staffing shortages. C-Store operations support systems …