NACS Convenience Summit Europe in Warsaw Poland
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.
Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
The 2026 NACS State of the Industry Summit reinforced that behind all the data, metrics, and technology, customer experience remains the essential growth driver. Myra Kressner highlights a standout presentation introducing a framework for building loyal brand advocates, reminding convenience retailers that the brands that ultimately stand apart are those that make customers feel valued, understood, and remembered.
Customer Experience Above All
The 2026 NACS State of the Industry Summit reinforced that behind all the data, metrics, and technology, customer experience remains the essential growth driver. Myra Kressner highlights a standout presentation introducing a framework for building loyal brand advocates, reminding convenience retailers that the brands that ultimately stand apart are those that make customers feel valued, understood, and remembered.
Five Key Takeaways from the 2026 NACS Food Safety Forum
The 2026 NACS Food Safety Forum made clear that food safety is now a strategic business imperative. Key themes included supply chain complexity, supplier verification, allergen management, the role of AI and technology, and the urgent need for science-backed industry standards. Culture, leadership, and transparency are becoming core differentiators for convenience retailers expanding their foodservice offerings.
VGN on the Road, in the Room, and Ahead of the Curve
VGN was on the move in April. Myra Kressner, Eva, and Roy Strasburger attended NACS CSA 2026 in Shanghai, gaining fresh perspective on Asian convenience retail and urban consumer behavior. VGN also joined Kinetic12's foodservice innovation panel, and Roy Strasburger contributed a Convenience Store News piece on the future of convenience retail, inspired by travels through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Key Insights from Blue Ananta’s UK Independent Retail Owners Forum
The Strasburgers and retailers from the UK and Ireland toured Mumbai in March 2026 gaining firsthand perspective on one of the world's fastest-moving retail markets. From kiranas to Reliance Retail's 19,000-store empire, the visit revealed a market defined by scale, fragmentation, and relentless innovation, including a "quick commerce" sector projected to reach $200 billion by 2027.
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NACS Convenience Summit Europe in Warsaw Poland
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.
Generation Żabka: The Next Wave of Convenience
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.
EV Arbitrage – Is It for You?
Explores how bidirectional EV batteries could solve the "duck curve," the gap between declining solar production and rising evening electricity demand. Drawing on a discussion with Jose Bueno-Torre of the Center for Community Energy, Strasburger examines electricity arbitrage opportunities for both EV owners and convenience retailers.
