A record 26,124 attendees experienced four days of education, networking and a look at what’s new and trending in the global convenience and fuel retailing industry during the recent 2024 NACS Show in Las Vegas.
The total attendance for the Oct. 7-10 event was 8.5 percent higher than last year’s turnout and 3.8 percent higher than the previous record in 2018. In addition, there were 8,811 attendees classified as buyers, a 1,447 increase from 2023. Attendees hailed from 68 countries.
Expo highlights new products, category excitement
Organized around five broad categories – in-store merchandise, technology, facility operations, fuel equipment and services and foodservice – the 437,500-net-square-foot expo featured 1,190 exhibitors. This included 157 in the New Exhibitor Area, which provided retailers with a look at products and services that are relatively new to the convenience channel.
The show also boasted a Cool New Products Preview Room, where attendees could scan QR codes via mobile app for any of the 300 products on display. Overall, there were 12,315 product scans, an 11 percent increase from last year.
The top 10 most-scanned products were:
- Little Joe novelty automotive air fresheners – Ride Happy! (Little Joe – Drive International USA)
- New products from CigarBros USA Inc. (CigarBros USA)
- New products from Reichel Foods (Reichel Foods)
- Café Tango Espresso (Frazil)
- CapriSun 12 oz resealable bottle (Kraft Heinz)
- good2grow Chocolate Snackers (good2grow)
- Wonder Sweet Snacks (Flowers Bakeries)
- Customized drinkware (ET Products)
- Flexeserve Zone Lite – Countertop (Flexeserve)
- (tie) Chamoy and tajin candy (Big Ideas Marketing)
Also, the NACS Future of Convenience pavilion showcased industry-specific, digital-first solutions developed for retailers to engage customers, protect their businesses and boost revenue. Hundreds of retailers scanned for more information on TruAge, THRIVR and the EV Charging Analytics Program and previewed the future of digital couponing with PROSPR.
Education sessions
The NACS Show’s 52 Education Sessions posted strong turnouts, averaging more than 230 attendees per session. Three education sessions topped 400 attendees: “Digital and Physical Marketing Strategies for Smaller Retailers” (516), “Crafting Irresistible Promotions for Maximum Impact” (444), and “Global Retail Innovations from Around the World” (414).
There also was a co-located event held prior to the opening of the 2024 NACS Show. The third annual NACS Food Safety Forum drew more than 70 industry leaders to address food safety, foodservice, quality assurance and risk management. The next forum will take place April 8 concurrent with the 2025 NACS State of the Industry Summit in Dallas.
More than 40 education sessions are available for purchase in a streaming audio-video format.
[RELATED: Tech, Foodservice Paramount At 2023 NACS Show]
General sessions
Attendees filled the Westgate’s 3,600-seat Paradise Ballroom for four days of NACS Show General Sessions focusing on customer experience. Juan Bendaña kicked off the event by sharing how to lead with confidence.
The next three days of general sessions dove further into themes related to customer experience. Doug Lipp, former head of training at Disney University, shared how attendees can strengthen their corporate culture, boost performance, amplify employee morale and have fun while doing so.
Then, focusing on the future and how AI and technology will revolutionize retail, Victor Paterno, president and CEO of Philippine Seven Corp. and 2023-24 NACS chairman, and Brian Gray, global mobility retail lead at Accenture, discussed their vision of the future in presentations and in a panel moderated by NACS President and CEO Henry Armour.
The show’s general sessions culminated with celebrity chefs David Chang and Andrew Zimmern, who shared their love for convenience stores in a panel discussion moderated by Casey’s Corporate Chef Andrew Kintigh. A cooking demonstration using food items that are available in most convenience stores followed.
The 2024 NACS Ideas 2 Go program made its debut during the Oct. 8 general session, featuring seven retailers showcasing exceptional retailing. These videos will be available online in the coming weeks.
Other Business at the NACS Show
The 2024 NACS Show wa also a business meeting, with a variety of boards and committees convening. Brian Hannasch, special advisor to Alimentation Couche-Tard, was named 2024-25 NACS Chairman, and Vito Maurici, SVP of sales at McLane Co., was named the 2024-25 chairman of the NACS Supplier Board.
Group Forte and YPF were the 2024 winners of the Convenience Retailer of the Year Award Latin America. Executives from both companies were recognized during the Global Colleagues Reception on Oct. 8. The award recognizes overall excellence that is on display at a specific store within the company’s portfolio. Meanwhile, Yesway and Weigel’s were honored with the Fuels Innovator of the Year Awards, presented by Fuels Market News Magazine.
In addition, more than 250 retailers wrote to their elected representatives using the NACS Grassroots link, urging passage of the Credit Card Competition Act.
At the conclusion of the NACS Show, exhibitors donated thousands of pounds of food to Three Square, a Las Vegas-based food bank.
The 2025 NACS Show is set for Oct. 14-17 in Chicago.
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