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Gama spoke to Jeff Lenard, Vice President of NACS Media & Strategic Communications, ahead of the latest edition of the NACS Show.
What are your expectations for the NACS Show 2025?
We always focus on what attendees say they most want at the event. They tell us they like the format of the NACS Show: four days of learning, buying and selling, networking and fun — all designed to help attendees grow their bottom line.
At the same time, they want a different experience every year. This year the NACS Show theme is “Level Up” and we will create unique, fun experiences that showcase how retailers innovate in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
The NACS Show brings together 24,000-plus attendees from nearly 70 countries. We expect to see a lot of energy and collaboration at the NACS Show that can continue to push our industry forward.
Read more Tradeshow Look Aheads in the next issue of Gama News.
How is the convenience trade navigating the current economic and geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and other challenges?
There are always big challenges that retailers around the world face, whether related to inflation, fuel prices, economic uncertainty or other issues. A lot of these issues are beyond their control, but they do need to understand how these bigger issues impact consumers — both in how they feel and how they spend.
We will have session topics that will focus on best understanding today’s consumer and how you can provide the best value for them, no matter what the big-picture economic climate is like.
What major product and consumer trends are you seeing in convenience retail in 2025?
There is no better place to see the future of our industry than the NACS Show. It’s always fun to sample the new flavours, line extensions and brand-new food and beverage items that can help grow your sales. We’ll see if some of those trends from last year — like pickle flavouring and sour and spicy snacks — are as plentiful as they were last year.
But attendees will also see and hear a lot of new solutions to help reduce expenses, and that is especially important to appeal to the price-sensitive customer seeking value.
About the NACS Show
Every year, the NACS Show brings together convenience and fuel retailing industry professionals for four days of learning, buying and selling, networking and fun — all designed to help participants grow their bottom line. We hope to see you in Chicago from 14th to 17th October.
