We are a network of virtual forums dedicated to discussing the most important topics, trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping businesses today. Our mission is to leverage our collective experiences, insights, and perspectives to enhance your business, foster new ideas, and encourage fresh perspectives.
We Confront Challenges
In today’s retail landscape, we face a multitude of opportunities and challenges. From emerging competitors and unexpected trends to shifting legislation and disruptive technologies, we delve into it all and freely share this vital information with you.
We Find Solutions
Think of us as your business’s GPS, guiding you from where you are to where you want to be. We provide the opportunity for you to follow in the footsteps of those who have traversed similar paths before, learning from their experiences along the way.
We Share Knowledge
Sharing Today to Shape Tomorrow reflects VGN’s mission to keep you informed through our free Vision Reports about our dynamic world, enabling you to anticipate future trends, events, and disruptions more effectively.
Vision Group Network Groups
Each Vision Group is designed to address our members' most pressing challenges and anticipate emerging trends.
Convenience FoodserviceVision Group
ELEVATING CONVENIENCE FOODSERVICE WITH GAME-CHANGING SOLUTIONS IN THE CONVENIENCE/MOBILITY INDUSTRY.
We invite industry leaders to meet virtually, once a quarter, to discuss, debate, and share experiences and ideas for the betterment of all. Our goal is not conformity but problem-solving and forward-thinking. We make these discussions and perspectives accessible to everyone, through our presentations and acclaimed free Vision Reports.
Expand your vision
Our VGN members are visionaries who contemplate the future with imagination, curiosity and wisdom.
Our Vision Reports were created for individuals like you, empowering you to remain informed about local or global developments to better anticipate forthcoming trends, events, and disruptions.
Ideas and Perspectives
The fusion of diverse perspectives, real-world experiences, and collaborative exchanges during virtual VGN meetings equips you with invaluable insights and actionable strategies. These resources enable you to gain a deeper understanding of current challenges, identify solutions, and capitalize on business opportunities.
Vision Reports
The insights gathered from our meetings are shared with everyone through our extensive collection of Vision Reports.
These reports offer clarity on current business challenges, potential remedies, and emerging opportunities.
Be In the Room
Each Vision Report's "In The Room" transcript fully captures the nuanced dynamics of opinions and ideas, serving as a catalyst for your own innovative solutions and action plans.
As our mission isSharing Today to Shape Tomorrow,we are an open information resource accessible to all, guided by the principle that "a rising tide lifts all boats." We believe in harnessing the collective wisdom of the best and brightest minds to support both you and your organization.
110+
Brilliant Minds
75+
Companies
100+
Topics Discussed
100%
Free Vision Reports
Why VGN Stands out
That’s easy. We prioritize being informative, transparent, and accessible.
Informative
Leading subject matter experts join our members in robust discussions, providing not only expert views but also real-world experiences. These firsthand insights allow you to understand what worked, and what didn’t, and evaluate what it means for your business.
Transparent
VGN Vision Reports’ transparency is unparalleled. We offer full transcripts of meetings, allowing you to track the progress of ideas and understand the nuances of the comments. By knowing who is speaking, you can compare their company’s experiences with your own.
Accessible
Our commitment to sharing information drives our accessibility. We provide free downloads of Vision Reports to the public and present our content at conferences and seminars. With our Vision Reports, you can access detailed information at no cost to you or your colleagues.
Illegal tobacco sales often stay hidden in store data until losses are already severe. Operators can build an expected sales benchmark from existing POS data to catch illicit trade intrusion early, then turn that customer loss into a foodservice growth opportunity.
Myra Kressner reflects on attending the NACS Convenience Summit Europe in Warsaw, Poland, where networking with VGN members and global retailers, along with store tours across fuel stations, convenience chains, and foodservice concepts, reinforced how customer experience and destination shopping continue to shape convenience retailing worldwide.
Lonnie McQuirter recounts a visit to Żabka Group's Warsaw headquarters, examining how the Polish convenience giant built retail media, app-based loyalty, and autonomous Nano stores into new growth engines. McQuirter draws transferable lessons for independent operators, from auditing fixed assets to finding the small, unglamorous gaps in a customer's day worth closing.
The CTVG July Vision Report examines how c-store IT leaders can move beyond collecting and connecting data to building trustworthy infrastructure and leveraging AI to turn operational signals into actionable business insights. Topics include semantic layers, data governance, AI prompting best practices, hallucination risks, and real-world retailer experiments already delivering results.
The July GCVG Report examines how convenience retailers worldwide are navigating regulatory pressure, illicit trade, and the decline of legacy categories. The meeting explored strategies around foodservice investment, technology adoption, and non-fuel revenue growth as operators work to build more resilient business models before market disruption forces their hand.
The June CFVG Vision Report examines how c-store operators can build practical, customer-led food programs. Key themes include starting with behavior over brainstorming, using operational guardrails, leaning on supplier and distributor partnerships, and testing small before scaling. Strong execution of the core offer remains the foundation for successful, differentiated foodservice innovation.
Kristina Anderson, Chief Service Officer, Midwest Petroleum Company, talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network's and Vision Reports.
Annie St. Romain Gauthier, Y-Not Stop
Annie St. Romain Gauthier, CFO/Co-CEO of Y-Not Stop, talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
Robert Hampton, Jackson’s Food Stores
Robert Hampton, VP Technology Services & Innovation, Jackson’s Food Stores talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
Zsuzsa Hordai, SPAR International
Zsuzsa Hordai, Head of Strategic Projects, SPAR International talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
Raymond Huff, HJB Convenience Corp.
Raymond Huff, President, HJB Convenience Corp. talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
Lonnie McQuirter, 36 Lyn Refuel Station
Lonnie McQuirter, Director of Operations, 36 Lyn Refuel Station, talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
JP Patel, Hari 1 dba Fish River Food Mart
JP Patel. CEO Hari 1 dba Fish River Food Mart, talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
Babir Sultan, Favtrip
Babir Sultan, President of Favtrip, talks about being a member of the Vision Group Network and Vision Reports.
What VGNmembers say:
Raymond Huff
HJB Corp.President
I'm glad the meeting outcome will be public. I love sharing my point of view to support the greater good. This can help "normalize the playing field". I appreciate having large, medium and small retail companies as members and really enhoyed the collaborative effort of the group that you don't often get in meetings.Nick Peters, Campbell Oil
The CLVG meetings are excellent. The agenda really hones in on some of the most pressing issues facing our industry today, from evolving regulatory and labor challenges to technology’s impact on operations and consumer engagement. I thought the discussions weren’t just surface level; they brought out thoughtful perspectives that can help us all as leaders make better, more informed decisions.
Overall, any time you’re able to share ideas and debate strategies with the brightest minds and most experienced leaders in our field, it’s a great thing. The meetings provide exactly that—a forum where collaboration, curiosity, and exchange help each of us learn and grow.Joe Hamza, COO Nouria
Founders
Myra Kressner
Founder, Kressner Strategy Group With over 40 years knowledge and experience cultivated by strong relationships, Myra Kressner brings value to the marketplace by developing and facilitating strategic engagement for suppliers and retailers in the consumable retail industries.
President, StrasGlobal CEO, Compliance Safe Eva Strasburger, brings an international perspective to everything she does. For the last thirty years, has provided operational and infrastructure support and management consulting to retail operators.
CEO, StrasGlobal President, Compliance Safe Roy Strasburger is an expert in convenience retailing and a thought leader in the retail industry. He is a frequent columnist, conference presenter, and webinar and podcast participant.
