Industry News

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are poised to have an enormous impact on convenience retail—and they already know exactly what they want. During yesterday’s Education Session “What’s Convenient Now? Gen Z and Gen Alpha Weigh In,” industry leaders explored how younger consumers shop, what drives them to convenience stores and how retailers can earn their loyalty for years to come. Gen Z alone represents an estimated $6 trillion in c-store spending over its lifetime, according to data presented by Jason Zelinski, session moderator and vice president for North American retail at NielsenIQ. Gen Alpha is expected to have similar influence, putting a combined $12 trillion in potential spending at stake over the next 30 years. For retailers, capturing that spending starts with understanding just how intentional younger consumers are about their choices. “They want what they want. They’re very decisive in their product selection,” said Weigel’s President and CEO Doug…

Lonnie McQuirter, director of operations for 36 Lyn Refuel Station, has been named the 2026-27 NACS chairman. He began his term following the NACS Board of Directors meeting on October 6 during the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas. As director of operations, McQuirter leads 36 Lyn Refuel Station, an independently owned convenience store in South Minneapolis, Minnesota. Known for its commitment to local engagement and promoting locally made goods, 36 Lyn embodies McQuirter’s passion for building strong ties with the community. The store’s dedication to innovation has earned it three Inc. 5000 honors and a place in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal Fast 50.  As NACS chairman, McQuirter also leads the NACS Executive Committee, which provides strategic direction and financial oversight to the association. Executive Committee members are: Also serving on the Executive Committee are 2025-26 NACS Chairman Annie Gauthier, CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company LLC (dba Y-Not…

Deliverect’s Digital Ordering Club convened in Barcelona from 21 to 23 September, and the format lived up to its billing. This is much more than a conference, it is a powerful user event and networking opportunity with cutting edge product reveals and closed-door discussion among senior operators. Insight Research & Global Convenience CEO Dan Munford was in the room to track how the conversation lines up with our own view of the merging of convenience and foodservice. Setting the scale The headline numbers, delivered by Deliverect co-founder and CEO Zhong Xu, set the scale of what’s happening in digital ordering. Deliverect now has 110,000 committed locations, signed and rolling out, as of September 2026, and has processed 1.6 billion orders in total: it took the company seven years to reach its first billion, with a further 600 million added in just the last twelve months, while the broader hospitality market…

Aral runs around 2,400 sites in Germany, making it the country’s largest forecourt brand, and around 100 of those are Autohöfe. In June, Aral Autohof Northeim reopened as the pilot for the company’s new truck stop concept, with 20 hot meals served on proper crockery, a trucker lounge, showers, laundry and AI-supported barrier-free parking with vouchers redeemable in store. By its second month the site was running 7% ahead of comparable Autohöfe on shop sales. With Northeim entered into Best Foodvenience Store in the World 2026, Global Convenience spoke to Oliver Munnes, Head of Aral Fuel Sales, about the business case for long-dwell sites, the balance between HVO and megawatt charging, the REWE To Go partnership, and what the rest of the network can take from the pilot. Aral and the German market Oliver Munnes Aral operates around 2,400 sites in Germany and is the country’s largest forecourt brand. From…

7-Eleven has officially opened a new store in Oakleigh, Melbourne, returning to the suburb where the convenience retailer first established its Australian presence in 1977. The opening marks a significant milestone for the business as it approaches 50 years of operations in Australia, with the new store bringing 7-Eleven’s evolving convenience offering back to the community where it all began. 7-Eleven Australia CEO Fiona Hayes and Chief Retail Officer Marc Costabile were joined by City of Monash Mayor Stuart James, Steve Dimopoulos MP, Sheena Watt MP, business partners, customers and team members for the official opening. The event celebrated the retailer’s history, featuring photographs from the original Oakleigh store opening in 1977 and a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Hayes said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the company’s beginnings while looking towards its future. “Oakleigh holds a special place in our history and it’s wonderful to be back in…

Under new powers, the VIPER Taskforce and Tobacco Licensing Victoria (TLV) have closed 61 stores linked to organised crime caught selling illicit tobacco in just four weeks. The new enforcement powers came into effect on 9 September under the Tobacco Act 1987 and allow TLV and Victoria Police to issue 90-day closure notices to any store found to be selling illicit tobacco. Since that date, the two agencies have closed 61 stores linked to organised crime and seized over two million illicit cigarettes, over 40,000 vapes, over 120kg of loose tobacco and over $500,000 cash. The operation is statewide, with VIPER and TLV having visited stores in Deer Park, Geelong, South Geelong, Corio, Thomson, Werribee, Colac, Forrest, Footscray and Lalor so far. The deployments will continue across the state in the coming weeks. The VIPER Taskforce is specifically targeting illicit tobacco stores linked to organised crime, including syndicates with offshore…