Committees

As convenience retail enters a more digital and customer-centric era, talent strategy must evolve in lockstep. This committee explores how to modernize learning and development, prepare the workforce for new roles in digital and data, and unlock career paths that improve retention and build internal bench strength. From frontline associates to HQ analysts, the future of work in convenience retail demands rethinking how we train, mentor, and grow our people.

The store remains the core of convenience retail, but it’s overdue for a digital overhaul. This committee is focused on turning the store into a connected, intelligent environment, from the forecourt to the checkout, from inventory to employee task management. By modernizing physical touchpoints and enabling data-driven execution, retailers can improve customer experience, unlock operational efficiency, and generate new revenue through retail media and automation.

This committee is focused on building a smarter, more connected digital marketing engine for convenience retail. From loyalty KPIs and customer lifetime value to practical AI use cases, the group explores how to drive growth through personalized engagement and data-driven decision-making. As teams manage leaner budgets and complex tech stacks, the goal is to define the metrics that matter, unlock actionable insights, and stay ahead of fast-moving customer expectations.

This committee is rethinking merchandising for the modern convenience store by bringing together data, technology, and collaboration with marketing. As digital channels expand and store execution becomes more complex, success requires unified calendars, real-time insights, and tighter alignment across teams. From on-shelf availability to retail media enablement, the merchandising function is evolving into a strategic engine for growth and efficiency.

Foodservice continues to be a growth engine for convenience retail, but scaling it comes with challenges in labor, training, and complexity. This committee focuses on how to enable foodservice teams through smarter scheduling, modern training methods, and the right kitchen technologies. By borrowing best practices from QSRs and embracing automation, AI, and digital tools, retailers can deliver consistent, high-quality food experiences at scale without burning out their teams.