The Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion

Convenience Store News and Altria launch a new platform for discussion, innovation, engagement and action

IT’S BEEN A YEAR since George Floyd’s death. The recent conviction of Derek Chauvin has done little to quell the nationwide protests and unrest, which have sparked conversations about race and justice in the workplace and at home.

Convenience store industry companies, many of which have programs in place, are now prioritizing heightened awareness and action around their diversity programs.

To facilitate engagement among all stakeholders in the convenience channel around diversity and inclusion (D&I), Convenience Store News is partnering with exclusive underwriter Altria Grouop Inc. to launch an industrywide initiative. This new platform is a multi-touch digital and print program that will focus on the business case for c-store retailers and their supplier partners to place a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

The first phase of the program’s rollout has already begun. Modeled after our successful Top Women in Convenience Advisory Board, we’ve started to form a c-store industry Retailer D&I Advisory Board. So far, the board consists of representatives from companies that have exhibited strong diversity among their leadership. Derek Gaskins of Yesway, Elisa Goria of Alimentation Couche-Tard/Circle K, and Treasa Bowers of 7-Eleven are our charter members. Watch for announcements of additional members over the next few months. The initiative will officially launch June 15 with a special webcast in which I’ll be joined by Gaskins, Jayson Council, a thought-leader on diversity and an associate faculty member at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, and Altria’s Danielle Holloway, senior director for industry engagement. We will discuss:

• Why is diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) important in our industry? • How do you maximize DEI? • What’s missing from current best practices? • How important is philanthropy and community activation? • From a futurist standpoint, what’s next? • What do we need to know about DEI that we don’t know? • Where is a good starting point? • How do we self-diagnose? • How can we leverage data? • What are some areas that we can control, micro and macro, to create change?

In addition to a series of educational webcasts, the new CSNews D&I platform will include guest columns in our magazine from D&I experts (see page 84), and a virtual networking conference.

We believe this new platform will result in real innovation, engagement and action that will improve the convenience store industry.

For comments, please contact Don Longo, Editorial Director, at (201) 855-7606 or dlongo@ensembleiq.com.

EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (2013-2021)

2018 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award Finalist, Best Editorial Use of Data, June 2017 2013 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award Best Single Issue, October 2012 2013 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award Finalist, Best Profile, August 2012

2016 American Society of Business Press Editors, National Azbee Awards Gold, Best How-To Article, March 2015 Bronze, Best Original Research, June 2015 2016 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Gold, Best How-To Article, March 2015 Silver, Best Original Research, June 2015 2015 American Society of Business Press Editors, National Azbee Awards Silver, Best Profile (long form), February 2014 2015 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Gold, Best Special Supplement, November 2014 Silver, Best Profile (long form), February 2014 2013 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Bronze, Best Editorial/Commentary, July 2012 2020 Eddie Award, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Series of Articles, September 2019 2018 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Website Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2017 Business to Business, Editorial Use of Data, June 2017 2017 Eddie Award, Folio: magazine Winner, Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, May 2017 Honorable Mention, Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, June 2016 2016 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2015 Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, August 2015 2015 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, February 2014 2014 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2013 Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, February 2013 2013 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: magazine Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2012

2020 Trade Association Business Publications Intl. Tabbie Awards Honorable Mention, Best Single Issue, September 2019 2016 Trade Association Business Publications Intl. Tabbie Awards Silver, Front Cover Illustration, June 2015 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Brett Atherton

Bolla Management

Laura Aufleger OnCue Express

Rick Crawford

Green Valley Grocery

Edward Davidson

ER Davidson & Associates (7-Eleven Inc., retired)

Jim Hachtel

Eby-Brown Co.

Chris Hartman

Rutter’s

Ray Johnson Speedee Mart

Jack Lewis

GPM Midwest

Joe Lewis

ExtraMile Convenience Stores

Ruth Ann Lilly

GPM Investments

Danielle Mattiussi

Maverik Inc.

Vito Maurici

McLane Co. Inc.

Matt Paduano

Lakeport Markets

Jonathan Polonsky Plaid Pantries Inc.

Greg Scriver Kwik Trip Inc.

Bill Stein Core-Mark

Roy Strasburger

StrasGlobal

2021

COVER STORY PAGE 38

34

88

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

COVER STORY

38 Ready to Rebound Despite being ravaged by an unprecedented pandemic, the convenience store industry may be better positioned than ever for the future.

62 Navigating the Road to Recovery As more Americans begin to venture out again, c-stores can map out an improved customer journey for them.

VIEWPOINT

3 The Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion Convenience Store News and Altria launch a new platform for discussion, innovation, engagement and action.

8 CSNews Online

30 New Products

FEATURE

76 The Future of Fueling Alternative fuels, electric vehicle charging stations and other technologies are changing the face of the forecourt, and c-stores need to start preparing now.

SMALL OPERATOR

34 What Is Your Brand? You are known by the reputation you have earned in running your business.

30

EXPERT’S VIEW

84 The (DEI) Marathon Continues… The business benefits of diversity and inclusion efforts will vary by company, and culture won’t be achieved overnight.

TWIC TALK

86 Ina Strand, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. The 2020 TWIC Woman of the Year feels strongly about seeing the glass ceiling come down.

STORE SPOTLIGHT

88 A Convenient Concession Experience GetGo Café + Market opens its first-ever arena store, teaming up with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

INSIDE THE CONSUMER MIND

106 The CBD Opportunity More than a quarter of c-store shoppers buy CBD products, but not necessarily at c-stores.

INDUSTRY ROUNDUP

14 Speedway Officially Changes Hands 18 Retailers Fight to Change Debit Card Swipe Fees 22 FDA Turns Its Focus to Menthol & Flavored Cigars 24 Eye on Growth 24 Fast Facts

26 Retailer Tidbits

28 Supplier Tidbits

79 18

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

FOODSERVICE

70 Finding Creativity With Condiments Sauces are a broad landscape that can be endlessly innovated upon.

FOODSERVICE

73 The Trust Factor As consumers seek out safety, branded food concepts at c-stores answer the call.

TECHNOLOGY

79 Transformative Technologies Rethinking IT needs and embracing emerging trends can bring c-store retailers to the next level.

8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60631 (773) 992-4450 Fax: (773) 992-4455 www.csnews.com

BRAND MANAGEMENT Vice President/Group Brand Director Paula Lashinsky (917) 446-4117 plashinsky@ensembleiq.com EDITORIAL Editorial Director Don Longo (201) 855-7606 dlongo@ensembleiq.com Editor-in-Chief Linda Lisanti (201) 855-7608 llisanti@ensembleiq.com Senior News Editor Melissa Kress (201) 855-7618 mkress@ensembleiq.com Senior Editor Angela Hanson (201) 855-7619 ahanson@ensembleiq.com Managing Editor Danielle Romano (201) 855-7604 dromano@ensembleiq.com Contributing Editor Renée M. Covino (303) 741-3377 reneek@aol.com Contributing Editor Tammy Mastroberte (201) 280-2614 tmastroberte@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES & BUSINESS Associate Brand Director & Northeast Sales Manager Rachel McGaffigan (774) 212-6455 rmcgaffigan@ensembleiq.com Associate Brand Director & Western Sales Manager Ron Lowy (330) 840-9557 rlowy@ensembleiq.com Associate Publisher & Midwest Sales Manager Kelly Fischer (773) 992-4464 kfischer@ensembleiq.com Account Executive & Classified Advertising Terry Kanganis (201) 855-7615 tkanganis@ensembleiq.com Classified Production Manager Mary Beth Medley (856) 809-0050 marybeth@marybethmedley.com EVENTS Executive Vice President, Events & Conferences Ed Several (860) 830-8321 eseveral@ensembleiq.com AUDIENCE List Rental MeritDirect (914) 309-3378 Marie Briganti Subscriber Services/Customer Care contact@csnews.com TOLL-FREE: (877) 687-7321 FAX: (888) 520-3608 PROJECT MANAGEMENT/PRODUCTION/ART Vice President, Production Derek Estey (877) 687-7321 destey@ensembleiq.com Creative Director Colette Magliaro (973) 607-1320 cmagliaro@ensembleiq.com Advertising/Production Manager Ed Ward (773) 992-4418 eward@ensembleiq.com Art Director Lauren DiMeo (973) 607-1321 ldimeo@ensembleiq.com

CORPORATE OFFICERS Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Litterick Jane Volland

Chief Innovation Officer

Tanner Van Dusen Chief Human Resources Officer Ann Jadown Executive Vice President, Events & Conferences Ed Several Senior Vice President, Content Joe Territo

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