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At the 2025 NACS Show, Alex Olympidis, President of Operations at Family Express, shared how the company reduced employee turnover to 36% by rethinking labor investment, increasing gross profit per labor hour, establishing clear pay raise paths, and introducing specialized cleaning roles.
The 2025 NACS Show concluded in Chicago. In addition to the association welcoming its first new CEO in two decades, retailers and suppliers showcased grand visions from store expansion to global cuisine. C-Store Dive summarized the key highlights of this year's show: pickle flavors swept the snack aisle, new solutions for store safety technology emerged, experts advised retailers to build a solid technology foundation before deploying AI, competition has expanded to vape shops and coffee chains, and functional and packaging innovations in beverages became a focal point.
The U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is undergoing significant policy adjustments, with an expected reduction of approximately $186 billion between 2025 and 2034. A joint survey by NACS and FMI shows that convenience stores must bear upfront compliance costs of up to $1 billion to adapt to the new rules, along with ongoing maintenance costs of $379 million per year. This article breaks down the financial and operational impact of SNAP reform on the convenience store industry through three key numbers.
Meat sticks are transforming from cheap, high-salt, heavily processed snacks of the past into protein-rich portable snacks, becoming one of the fastest-growing categories in the U.S. food industry. Manufacturers like Chomps, Jack Link's, and Archer are expanding production, with industry sales reaching $3.3 billion in 2024, up 10.7% year-over-year.
U.S. immigration enforcement efforts continue to escalate. Although convenience stores are not primary targets, operators still need to prepare proactively. David Jones, a partner at Fisher & Phillips law firm, noted during a NACS webinar that employee training is key to responding to ICE visits. He recommends ensuring I-9 form compliance, conducting external audits, using E-Verify tools, and establishing clear response procedures: distinguishing between judicial and administrative warrants, designating a spokesperson, and marking private areas. Penalties for violations can reach up to $28,000 per incident, and operators may even face criminal charges.
A ConocoPhillips spokesperson confirmed to C-Store Dive that the company expects to reduce 20% to 25% of its global workforce, including contractors. Most layoffs are expected to be completed by the end of the year. The company had approximately 11,800 employees across 14 countries at the end of 2024. Previously, Chevron and BP had also announced large-scale layoff plans.
Usman Bashir, a real estate tycoon featured on Shark Tank Pakistan, is also the CEO and co-owner of the American convenience store chain BrakeTime Corner Market. He claims that the business, founded by his father in 2004 and currently operating about 300 stores, is the cornerstone of his $700 million net worth. In an interview, Bashir detailed the company's rapid expansion from just 5 stores in 2014, the Pakistani back-office support team born out of internal theft during the pandemic, and his ambition to grow to 1,000 stores through new locations and enhanced food service offerings.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Wednesday that Kwik Trip has agreed to pay $35,000 to settle a disability discrimination claim brought by a former employee. The employee, who requested reasonable accommodations due to medical restrictions, was misunderstood by the company and had their hours reduced to about 9 hours per week, forcing them to resign. Kwik Trip will hire a consultant to enhance ADA compliance training and will be subject to EEOC oversight for two years.
According to a report released by Traliant on August 6, 2025, the incidence of workplace violence continues to climb, with 30% of employees witnessing workplace violence (up from 25% in 2024) and 15% experiencing it personally (up from 12% in 2024). Industry differences are significant, with 46% of employees in the hospitality sector reporting witnessing violence. Although 75% of employees have received prevention training, only 60% are willing to report incidents without anonymity guarantees. 93% of respondents support state legislation mandating prevention plans, similar to requirements in California and New York.
In late 2021, Hy-Vee, a Midwest supermarket and convenience store operator, announced plans to enter Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee, originally aiming to open 21 stores by 2023. As of 2025, except for entering Indiana through the acquisition of Strack & Van Til, most other projects have not started or have been shelved. The company cites inflation and construction costs as factors, currently focusing on Indiana, but many local officials report no updates for a long time, with some project permits expired or revoked.