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opportunities. Taking place at a key point
in the business planning cycle, the event also provides valuable insights that many retailers use to help shape their strategies and investment priorities for the year ahead.
“ There will also be several curated areas showcasing new products,” Jeff elaborates.“ The Cool New Products Preview Room will provide extended access to view many of the new products in our channel. The Convenience Catalyst Showcase will highlight new and emerging products from suppliers not exhibiting this year, while the New Exhibitor Area will feature about 170 companies new to the industry. This gives retailers a great chance to see new products and ideas that they might not normally find in our channel.”
Networking opportunities
The NACS Show’ s education program is shaped by the NACS Convention Content Committee, bringing together retailers and suppliers to identify the topics and trends most relevant to the industry. Developed using retailer feedback, industry insights and emerging business priorities, the 53-session program will explore key challenges and opportunities facing convenience retailers today. Highlights include the Ask the Expert roundtable, leadership insights from Yale University’ s Emma Seppälä and the NACS Women’ s Leadership Program, and a strong focus on artificial intelligence, with sessions exploring AI’ s real-world applications, investment considerations and impact on everyday operations.
“ As far as networking opportunities are concerned, we have a Kick-Off Party on the first day and scheduled networking breaks throughout the NACS Show,” Jeff adds.“ While it’ s tempting to use that time to catch up on work, try to use it to talk to other attendees. Pretty much everyone has something interesting to share about their business.”
Foodservice and technology continue to be two of the biggest areas of transformation within convenience retail, and both will be key themes at the NACS Show. Foodservice now accounts for around 28 percent of in-store sales, highlighting its growing importance. But success depends on understanding customer needs and creating an offer retailers can execute consistently and become known for. Visitors can explore the latest foodservice innovations on the expo floor while gaining insights from industry experts through the Education Sessions to help shape their own strategies.
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