Recorded live at the NACS Show in Chicago, this episode dives into the evolution of foodvenience where great food meets true convenience. Jac Moskalik of Global Partners and Karl Hodgson of Adande Refrigeration joined Nick and Carolyn to discuss how innovation, intentionality, and local connection are redefining what customers expect from modern c-stores. From open kitchens to craveable flavors and community storytelling, this conversation spotlights the future of fresh, fast, and human-centered retail.With special guests:Jac Moskalik, Vice President, Head of Food, Innovation and Strategy, Global Partners LP and Karl Hodgson, Managing Director, Adande RefrigerationHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Nick Scherzer

Frank Gleeson toured the ‘best of the best’ foodvenience operators in the U.S – Nouria, Alltown Fresh, Sheetz, Wawa, Rutters, QuikTrip, KwikTrip, Casey’s, and TXB – and found deep insights to share about each of them. Join Frank, Dan, Mats Danielsen of Liquid Barcodes, and Ryan Oettinger of Invenco by GVR to discover which American retailers stand out for their great food, sites, and hospitality!With special guests:Frank Gleeson, incoming President and CEO of NACS, Mats Danielsen, CEO of Liquid Barcodes, and Ryan Oettinger, Vice President and General Manager, Retail Solutions, North America for Invenco by GVRHosted by:Dan Munford

In the age of energy transition and foodvenience expansion, network planning is a vital science. Explore how the best retailers continuously optimize their networks by analyzing region, mobility data, and sociodemographic factors to make strategic decisions about site placement, redevelopment, and closure. Rich Wilcox and Simon Martin from Kalibrate talk about how mobility retailers use data-driven network planning that accounts for EV adoption and evolving consumer behaviors.With special guests:Rich Wilcox, VP Solution Consulting and EV and Simon Martin, VP International SalesHosted by:Dan Munford and Carolyn Schnare

Khalid Al Omran, founder and CEO of Daily Food Company, shares the story of Maestro Pizza’s rapid growth from a single idea to more than 220 locations across the Middle East. He discusses how pricing, speed, supply chain innovation, and digital loyalty programs have helped Maestro redefine pizza and set new standards for convenience foodservice.With special guest:Khalid Al Omran, Founder and CEO, Daily Food Company/Maestro PizzaHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

Can AI help solve self-checkout theft? In this episode, Matt Redwood, VP of retail technology solutions at Diebold Nixdorf, reveals how AI is transforming self-checkout by cutting theft, improving customer experience, and streamlining store operations. From “nudges” that fix honest mistakes to advanced shrink detection, discover why this technology is poised for rapid adoption across global retail.With special guest:Matt Redwood, VP of Retail Technology Solutions, Diebold NixdorfHosted by:Dan Mundford and Anthoy Wysome

Take a road trip with us to Sweden where Cathrin Iden, network sales manager for the Nordics at Milence, shares how the company is transforming Europe’s heavy-duty transport with secure, driver-focused EV charging hubs. From Sweden’s “green highways” to a continent-wide network, discover the innovations powering the shift to zero-emission long-haul trucking.With special guest:Catherin Iden, Network Sales Manager, MilenceHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford

David Moore, international retail and development director for SPAR International, shares insights from 48 markets around the world, highlighting how convenience retail is evolving across continents. From AI-powered stores in China to trend-driven formats in Europe, Moore explains how SPAR stays agile, local, and future-ready.With special guest:David Moore, International Retail & Development Director, Member of International SPAR BoardHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Dan MunfordRelated links:SPAR International interview: Dan sits down with David Moore (https://www.globalconvenience.com/features/spars-roadmap-global-resilience-local-relevance/)

Bill Reid, chairman and CEO of Rove Charging, shares how his team is building large-scale, customer-first EV charging hubs across California. From 24/7 support to thoughtful amenities, Rove is reshaping what drivers can expect from public charging. Due to a significant change in policy support, EV ownership in the U.S. overall will be slower than in many countries, but California, with an economy the size of Japan’s, is actually on a very similar EV growth track to fast-growing parts of Europe, and this is creating big roadside opportunities. With special guest:Bill Reid, Chairman and CEO, Rove ChargingHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Dan MunfordRelated Links:Rove Best EV Hub profile and video (https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/rove-charging-center-santa-ana-california/)https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/rove-charging-center-santa-ana-california/Best EV Hub in the World 2025 Competition (https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/evhub-2/) https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/evhub-2/

Technology and food innovation are transforming the convenience retail landscape. With insights from the recent Retail Technology Conference, hear from industry expert Frank Gleeson and Alan English, vice president and head of global marketing for Invenco by GVR, as they highlight trends like mobile ordering, EV customer journeys, and the growing role of foodservice in driving customer engagement.Learn more about Invenco by GVR's Retail Technology Conference. (https://www.invenco.com/retail-technology-conference)With special guests:Alan English, Vice President, Head of Global Marketing, Invenco by GVRHosted by:Frank Gleeson and Carolyn Schnare

BP UK Retail MD Jo Hayward shares insights on their Cromwell Road EV hub transformation, which exceeded EV charging expectations by 20% within its first week. Learn how BP is pioneering the shift from traditional fuel to electric charging together with ‘Made to Order’ fresh food concepts and strategic network planning.Related link:bp pulse Cromwell Road, London, Entry profile – ‘Best EV Hub in the World’ 2025 (https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/bp-pulse-cromwell-rd-london-uk/)With special guest:Jo Hayward, Retail MD, BP UKHosted by:Dan Munford and Carolyn Schnare

What can convenience food service providers learn from a successful fast-casual restaurateur? John Iannucci, CEO of Escalante’s Fine Tex Mex & Tequila and Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar, shares his expertise on optimizing food service operations, exploring strategies for balancing quality with speed, leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences, and addressing industry challenges such as third-party delivery and payment processing.With special guest:John Iannucci, CEO, Escalante’s Fine Tex Mex & Tequila | Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila BarHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

We have a new winner for the Best EV Hub in the World and it is Shell Recharge in Shenzhen China! We talked with Chuan Hu, Shell’s VP Mobility and Convenience China and Elaine Kanak, Vontier’s CMO, about the winning site and worldwide EV growth. We’re looking forward to our visit to Shenzhen this September, where we’ll dive into the city’s remarkable embrace of ‘new energy’ vehicles, now accounting for more than 60% of all cars on the road in China’s third-largest metropolis.Read more and see a video about the Shell Recharge winning site in Shenzhen: https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/shell-recharge-shenzhen-china (https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/shell-recharge-shenzhen-china)Many thanks to the sponsors of the Best EV Hub in the World 2025 competition, Vontier and Visa. These global companies are vital in supporting our industry through the mobility transition.With special guests:Chuan Hu, VP Mobility and Convenience China, Shell and Elaine Kanak, Chief Marketing Officer, VontierHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford

How does Irish convenience retail giant Maxol harness technology to excel at its world-renowned customer-centric strategy? Join Brian Donaldson, CEO of Maxol, and Brad Sandys from Urgent as they discuss the evolution from fuel-focused operations to modern multi-energy hubs designed around exceptional customer experiences.See Maxol's entry in The Best EV Hub in the World Competition. (https://www.globalconveniencestorefocus.co.uk/best/entries-25/maxol-newbridge-kildare-ireland)With special guests:Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group and Brad Sandys, Head of Business Development, UrgentHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Nick Scherzer

Antonio Swad, founder of Wingstop and Buzz Brands, joins hosts Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff, CEO of The Moseley Group, to share the unconventional story behind two boundary-pushing brands. From his early days at Wingstop revolutionizing wings at the center of the plate to exploding into the convenience landscape with a bold new CPG disruptor, Swad reveals how thinking differently—and not always listening to customers—can sometimes be the secret sauce to building a powerhouse franchise.With special guest:Antonio Swad, Founder of Wingstop and Buzz BrandsHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

Discover how EG America's president and CEO John Carey is reshaping company culture as the foundation for transformation across convenience retail. Carey and hosts Harry Milloff and Carolyn Schnare dive into the intersection of design, digital tools, and customer engagement. Hear how EG America is aligning food, AI, localization, and loyalty to build stores that are destinations—not just stops.With special guest:Jon Carey, President and CEO, EG AmericaHosted by:Harry Milloff and Carolyn Schnare

QSR veteran Ned Lyerly, Ned Lyerly, CEO and Founder of Starheel Ventures, LLC, learned a new word on this week’s episode – foodvenience! Ned, Harry Milloff and Carolyn Schnare discuss the balance between speed, quality, and operational efficiency in all forms of foodservice. Hear Ned’s insights on menu design, drive-thru innovation, and creating exceptional customer experiences.With special guest:Ned Lyerly, CEO and Founder, Starheel Ventures, LLCHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff

The iconic Jacob Schram joins us this week to talk about his leadership philosophy, the energy transition, and the future of convenience retail. Drawing from his 35 years of experience with major brands like Circle K and Norwegian Air, Schram shares insights on running businesses at two clock speeds, navigating the complexities of EV adoption across different markets, and why great people and operations remain the hardest elements for competitors to copy.With special guest:Jacob SchramHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Dan MunfordRelated Links: Jacob Schram’s "The Essence of Business" book on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/essence-business-Jacob-Schram/dp/B075CDQPRC)

Casey’s CEO Darren Rebelez reflects on his journey from West Point to leading one of the nation’s largest convenience store chains, emphasizing the company’s focus on people, community, and foodservice as key differentiators. The conversation explores challenges such as declining cigarette sales and shifting fuel demand, along with Casey’s growth strategy and commitment to delivering customer value.With special guest:Darren Rebelez, President and CEO, Casey's General StoresHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Frank Gleeson

World retail travelers, Mark Wohltmann, director of NACS Global and host Dan Munford, share their travels and observations of retail around the world. Highlighting key trends and innovations in various markets, hear why it is important for retailers to hit the road (or air) to learn from each other.With special guest:Mark Wohltmann, Director, NACS GlobalHosted by:Dan Munford and Carolyn Schnare

Popeyes, a leading global QSR brand, is renowned for its consistency and ability to keep loyal customers. Hear how foodvenience retailers can effectively compete with QSRs and why “surprise and delight” is a bad way to go about it.With special guest:Jordan Cusner, Former Head of Guest Insights, Popeyes Louisiana KitchenHosted by:Carolyn Schnare and Harry Milloff