There's a reason why our brains love to get information fast! And our Hot Seat session delivers with burning questions, hot topics, and answers to the industry’s most pressing issues. Steve Holtz and Mitch Morrison sit down with c-store top industry leaders to fire off questions in a mini one-on-one interview. In "blink and you'll miss it" fashion, if you're not here, prepare for some serious FOMO!

In this session, Donna Hood Crecca explores Technomic's top predictions of macro trends influencing c-stores through 2030 and driving imperatives ranging from contactless payments, to EV, foodservice, and more. You'll gain insights on why and how to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive in an increasingly shifting landscape.

There is a huge opportunity to capitalize on data and age and identity verified consumers to extract maximum business value. Given the availability of new technologies and partners for retailers, the opportunity to leverage member data and age and identity verification programs with CPGs is greater than ever. Learn from industry leaders about how they view the role of data in transforming the customer experience and how to focus on mission-critical data.

From swiftly changing customer expectations to inflation and the after-effects of supply chain issues, c-stores are still dealing with a myriad of challenges that put pressure on in-store staff, field management, corporate leaders and profit margins. Join this session to learn about recent industry trends and the various solutions our customers have deployed to succeed. 
 
Additionally, explore 'The Modern Store', a vision for how retailers can combat their most pressing problems by aligning business need with process and technology. This meets retailers where they’re at on their modernization journey and enables them to increase employee engagement and efficiency, heighten inventory accuracy and visualization, and guarantee customers have a smooth in-store encounter.

In the world of declining demand & endless options, traditional indicators like gallons sold and loyalty signups are no longer reliable. Innovators have shifted focus to what drives the most profit: people. In this session, we’ll share invaluable insights & trends across 50,000 retailers nationwide. Hear first-hand from our panel of experts how they successfully use data and digital strategies to place people at the forefront of their businesses.

Have you walked your customers’ journey?

Many solutions were deployed over time with unrealized benefits. When not fully integrated, visible gaps diminish the customer journey and fall short of delivering a consistent brand experience across touchpoints. A Unified Commerce strategy provides a framework focused on customer-facing solutions to leapfrog costly backend systems and support.

Join us as we share strategies to modernize retail and deliver a seamless customer experience.

It’s an exciting and dynamic time for our company. As the leader in an evolving industry, we have the duty and the opportunity to shape a better future for adult tobacco consumers, our employees, shareholders, and the c-store community.  In 2020, we announced our Vision, which is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future. We’ve enjoyed decades of strong financial success from the cigarette business, and now our Vision is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future. Today, over 20 million U.S. adult smokers seek less harmful alternatives to cigarettes.  This is a pivotal moment. With adult smoker demand for smoke-free alternatives, innovation, and an appropriate regulatory framework, we have an unprecedented opportunity in front of us to transform this industry. Join us for an interactive session to learn more about our shared path forward and how we can continue to work together to achieve our shared business goals.

According to a recent QSR Drive Thru Report by Intouch Insight, “Operators must address three critical elements that consumers want in the QSR experience: accuracy, convenience and speed.”  As convenience retailers move further into foodservice programs and compete more directly with QSR’s, we must do the same. 
As noted by Hank Armour in his recap from the 2023 NACS SOI Summit, “there’s no denying our stores have a labor-intensive model, and there’s a lot of angst in our industry around labor availability and increases in labor costs.”  Hank went on to write, “The secret is to you have to re-engineer your entire operation at store level – every task and process to drive more labor productivity”.
Is re-engineering innovation?  Does re-engineering stem from inspiration, driven from challenges such as labor shortages or does it stem from a desire to offer an enhanced experience or does it develop as an answer to a better consumer experience?  Where do retailers look for innovative inspiration?   
Our session host, Kay Segal of Business Accelerator Team will explore the above questions and more during this fast-paced panel with lead industry retailers.

Now more than ever, fuel and convenience leaders need to be able to demonstrate the impact that their advertising and marketing spend is having on revenue generation and corporate strategy.

During this session, explore the top trends shaping pump-to-store strategies, and discover the latest customer insights hitting the industry.

Amber Williams, Head of Gas and Convenience Partnerships at Cardlytics will be joined onstage by leaders from top fuel retailers as they discuss how their brands are leveraging data to inform customer acquisition and loyalty efforts.

Discover your inner artist while exploring the unique plein air style of painting to create an original masterpiece. Originating from the French term "en plein air," this style celebrates the beauty of natural surroundings. What better way to spend a lovely morning at Terranea with fellow spouses!

• 1:00pm-1:15pm - Check-in
• 1:15pm-3:00pm - Painting

Sign up to receive a Terranea Gift Card, which you can use to indulge in a day of pampering at the spa, relish a delectable meal at the cafe or any of the other restaurants on property, peruse the Terranea store, and more. Gift cards can be picked up at the Outlook Leadership registration desk starting Monday, July 31 at 4:00pm. Please note there is only a limited amount of gift cards and you must sign up in your registration to receive one. 

Consumers, categories, and competitors are evolving – what are the strategic imperatives and growth opportunities for packaged and dispensed beverages? To thrive in a highly competitive marketplace, join Technomic to understand the shifting demographics and emerging category trends to drive traffic and sales. 

The convenience store landscape is in the midst of a radical revolution. As consumer preferences and technology shift rapidly, how and why customers visit your stores is changing. With that comes the need to evolve – but where do you focus first?
Join Steritech President Doug Sutton for a lively panel discussion featuring several c-store trendsetters as they delve into 4 emerging trends that can supercharge your sales and attract customers. The panel will also look at data and insights from Steritech's 430,000 annual food safety, workplace safety, and operational excellence assessments to set the stage for trend versus reality – and how you can close the gap between them. 

New entrants driving disruptive innovation within the banking and financial services sector are causing consumer shifts in preferred partners, desired services and how they transact. This disruption represents both opportunities and threats to retailers. InComm Payments, Vice President, Mark Smith will provide an overview of this disruption, the key players and dive into some of the threats and opportunities facing the Convenience retail sector. 

Do your customers love you? Are they loyal? And what are you doing to deliver and differentiate your customer experience? Our 17th annual Intouch Insight-CSP Operational Audit and Mystery Shop evaluates a cross section of store execution and looks at some of the challenges the industry is facing. Offering exclusive analysis of 10 leading chains, Intouch Insight President & CEO Cameron Watt shares what customers want from convenience stores, how convenience stores are meeting their demands, and how new channels are impacting everyone. The Intouch-CSP Customer Experience Award will be handed out to this year’s winner.

It's no longer science fiction! A.I. burst into the marketing field with text, image, and video generators to revolutionize the way all marketing materials can be produced. By adopting to this tech, we’re able to be faster, more creative, and more efficient…if we know how to properly use it! In this session, branding expert Ernie Harker will introduce you to these new, powerful A.I. tools and explain how to leverage their use for your companies benefit. We might not have robots working in our office, yet, but this is getting us close!

Successful businesses have successful leaders.  They understand the way the business operates, know how to make strong decisions, and navigate the complexities of internal and external power dynamics. To ensure the future success of your business (this means revenue, growth, return on investment, and customer satisfaction), you need the best leaders running your business AND in your talent pipeline.  YOU play a critical role in their development.  In this session, we will unveil potential sources of talent and help you become a catalyst for expanding your senior leadership pipeline.

Andrew Whitworth, Super Bowl LVI Champion and former Los Angeles Rams Offensive Lineman shares his inspiring journey of perseverance, teamwork, and triumph both on and off the field. Whitworth delves into the strategies, mindset, and teamwork that propelled him to the pinnacle of success in professional football. Drawing upon his experiences, he inspires us to embrace dedication, resilience, and leadership, empowering us to overcome obstacles and reach our own goals. Prepare to be motivated and uplifted by this exceptional athlete and role model!

5:30pm - 6:00pm

Meet Super Bowl LVI Champ Andrew Whitworth. Don't miss the chance to meet the legendary former LA Rams Offensive Lineman after hearing his inspiring keynote!