NACS Is Convenience
NACS, the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing, was founded August 14, 1961, as the National Association of Convenience Stores. NACS is an international trade association representing more than 2,200 retail and 1,800 supplier company members. NACS member companies do business in nearly 50 countries around the world, with the majority of members based in the United States. The U.S. convenience store industry, with 146,294 stores across the U.S., posted $569 billion in total sales for 2006, with over $405 billion in motor fuels sales.

Since 1961, NACS has been an advocate for the convenience retailing industry providing industry information, knowledge and connections to ensure the competitive viability of our members' businesses.

The diversity of NACS membership reflects the diversity of the convenience store and petroleum marketing industry and our commitment to developing a robust competitive environment for our members.

The NACS Mission
The mission of NACS is to represent the industry and to assist retail members in increasing their current and future effectiveness and profitability by:

• Providing knowledge, solutions and connections needed by the industry;·
• Improving the image of the industry;·
• Impacting government action beneficial to the industry through the active participation of its membership;·
• Anticipating and facilitating change which ensures the long-term viability of the industry;·
• Maintaining a financially independent association; and·
• Fostering productive, efficient relationships with industry suppliers.
  

NACS Focus Statements
NACS seeks to accomplish this mission through five focus statements, refined and developed by the retail membership:

1. We will understand, communicate and advance the customer's drivers for purchasing through the convenience store channel.
   
   
2. We will seek to defend and grow the core categories by ensuring a level playing field and where possible rejuvenate and/or reinvent the way the industry goes to market.
   
   
3. We will facilitate ways to generate sales/profits on our real estate (as nothing is permanent).
   
   
4. We will define and promote (market) the characteristics of Employer of Choice and develop programs/tools/solutions in each component area.
   
   
5. We will assist the industry in lowering its costs of inventory acquisition and distribution thereby enabling convenience to be the determinative factor for customers.