Highlights from 2021

Evolving Faster than Change

There is not a better word than pivot to define what our industry accomplished to address ever-changing regulations, rapidly evolving consumer preferences and a slew of new challenges including labor shortages and supply disruptions. NACS also took on these challenges and was there to support retailers to deliver the knowledge, connections and advocacy that define the value of NACS.

There is not a better word than pivot to define what our industry accomplished to address ever-changing regulations, rapidly evolving consumer preferences and a slew of new challenges including labor shortages and supply disruptions. NACS also took on these challenges and was there to support retailers to deliver the knowledge, connections and advocacy that define the value of NACS.

1 Hosted the largest in-person trade show in the United States during a 20-month period, bringing together 17,000+ industry leaders to the 2021 NACS Show.

2 Used new digital platforms to bring together industry leaders at the NACS State of the Industry Summit, Human Resources Forum, the government-relations-focused Day on the Hill, two global summits and five executive leadership events, plus several NACS In Store events with members of Congress.

3Told the industry’s story to consumers and the media in the largest-ever 24/7 Day (July 24), where more than 30,000 stores celebrated their local connection to the essential workers in their communities.

4 Addressed the labor shortage, hosted a series of webinars to help retailers find, hire and retain workers in the ever-changing post-pandemic economy, plus successfully advocated to issue a national hours of service waiver for truck drivers transporting fuel with success.

5 Created TruAgeTM, a new digital solution that enhances current age-verification systems and protects user privacy. Within a year, the program had gone through initial pilot tests and is supported by the two largest U.S. tobacco groups, two largest U.S. brewers two largest e-cigarette manufacturers—more than 130 retail companies that represent 22,000-plus convenience store locations in the United States.

6 Brought together industry leaders for an honest discussion around inclusion, diversity, equity and awareness in the first-ever NACS IDEA Conference.

7 Published a timely whitepaper showcasing how convenience retailers are adopting last-mile fulfillment, delivery services, options for accepting orders, and the difficulties retailers face with adopting last mile fulfillment services.

8 Communicated the industry’s voice on OSHA’s proposed vaccine mandates that would have placed impossible standards for retailers to fulfill, which ultimately led to them being struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

9 Began developing the industry’s first and only Convenience Store Food Safety Risk Culture Maturity Model, which captures the feedback of nearly two dozen global convenience retail companies. The model is expected to be launched in early 2023.

10

Launched a redesigned NACS Magazine and Fuels Market News Magazine, significantly enhancing two of the many industry-leading communications platforms to share and exchange insights and analysis, including NACS Daily, the weekly NACS Convenience Matters podcasts and the NACS Ideas 2 Go videos.

The highlights only tell part of the story! Read more about NACS in 2021.

NACS Annual Report