Why Customers 'Quit' Stores - Episode 552

Doug Kantor of NACS highlights what the midterm election means for the industry, from swipe fees to SNAP to new committee leaders and the lame-duck session. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Doug Kantor, NACS SVP Government Relations & General Counsel Doug Kantor joined NACS in 2021. Prior to that, he was a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP where he worked with a range of clients, including NACS, to address public policy issues ranging from fuels to financial services. Doug also established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives. He is an Executive Committee Member of the Merchants Payments Coalition.

2025-26 NACS Chair Annie Gauthier delivered a compelling keynote at the Top Women in Convenience awards ceremony that took place at the 2026 NACS Show. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Annie Gauthier, 2025-26 NACS Chairman and CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Co. LLC Annie Gauthier is CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Co. LLC. Based in Mansura, LA, the company was founded in 1970 by Edmond St. Romain and serves as a fuel broker for a 25-dealer network, all branded Shell or unbranded. The company owns and operates 16 Y-Not Stop convenience stores.

At the 2026 NACS Show, NACS Chairman Lonnie McQuirter shared compelling stories about how convenience stores matter, and how they take care of their people and communities. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Lonnie McQuirter, 2026-27 NACS Chairman; Director of Operations, 36 Lyn Refuel Station Lonnie leads 36 Lyn Refuel Station, an independently owned, community-focused convenience retailing location in South Minneapolis, MN. Known for its commitment to local engagement and promoting locally made goods, 36 Lyn embodies Lonnie's passion for building strong ties with the community.

Whether it's your first NACS Show or you're a seasoned veteran, we're sharing some tips and tricks to make sure all attendees have a fantastic experience this year in Las Vegas. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

For most customers, it only takes two negative experiences before they stop visiting a specific c-store or QSR. While that doesn't mean they are leaving the brand, it does change the overall brand loyalty equation. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard   About our Guest: Matt Pereira, Co-founder and CEO, Seurat Analytics Matt is a co-founder and CEO of both Seurat Analytics and ChargeWonder. He published the research paper, "Same Brand, Different Store Experience."

A look at how employment trends are impacting c-store operators and other channels that directly compete with them, and how retailers can capitalize on these trends to improve their operations. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Chris Wise, NACS Research Analyst Chris Wise manages the NACS Talent Insights Dashboard, which provides the latest available convenience industry benchmark data in key human resource categories of compensation, turnover and benefits.

How can independent operators take advantage digital platforms or AI? We'll break down the questions to ask for finding a cost-effective solution that works for you. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard   About our Guest: Babir Sultan, CEO, FavTrip Babir is the CEO of FavTrip, which has three locations around Kansas City. The company also has a highly successful online presence, with 122,000 subscribers on YouTube alone.

How ethanol blends higher than E15 may offer benefits related to emissions reduction, octane enhancement, agricultural economic activity and energy security. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 25 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute (formerly known as the Fuels Institute). Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.

Findings from a NACS consumer survey point to simple ways retailers can create a vibe and make their stores places that customers choose. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam is one of the nation's leading political consultants sought after for his ability to help clients achieve victory through effective research-based strategies and messaging. He designs and executes cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative, and data analytics programs for campaigns as well as non-political clients like NACS.

NACS President & CEO Frank Gleeson shares insights from the road and what they reveal about the future of convenience retail. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Frank Gleeson, NACS President & CEO Frank became president and CEO of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) on January 1, 2026, succeeding Henry Armour. He is the fourth person to lead NACS in its 65-year history.