2026 Conference Agenda

April 19–21, 2026 · Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Marriott Downtown

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  • April 19, 2026


  • April 20, 2026


  • April 21, 2026


  • Where
    Florida Ballroom Foyer

  • Where
    Florida Ballroom Prefunction & Duval Ballroom/Foyer

  • Store tours will stop at the following:

    Buc-ee's — 200 World Commerce Parkway, St. Augustine, FL

    Buc-ee’s St. Augustine location features 104 fueling stations, more than 50,000 square feet of shopping and 70 flavors of fountain drinks, as well as fudge made in-house, a Texas barbeque offering and more than 20 types of jerky. The site opened in February 2021. A destination in itself, Buc-ee’s is known for its massive footprint, high-volume operations, and cult-like following. From expansive merchandising to best-in-class cleanliness standards and foodservice execution, this stop showcases how scale and experience come together to drive traffic and loyalty.

    Gate — 3011 International Golf Pkwy, St. Augustine, FL

    GATE Petroleum operates 72 convenience stores across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Today’s store tour is at GATE Store #1224 located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. Opened in 2015, the store is 6,540 square feet and is a GATE Fresh Kitchen location. In 2025, the company introduced a Made-To-Order food program at its 32 Fresh Kitchen locations, allowing customers to customize freshly prepared meals through self-service kiosks. The menu includes breakfast and lunch sandwiches, bowls, burgers, chicken tenders, personal pizzas, lettuce bowls, and more. An ongoing focus of the company is the My GATE Rewards loyalty program. My GATE Rewards continues to expand, offering discounted meal bundles, fuel savings, and experiential prizes. Members earn points on in-store purchases that can be redeemed for fuel discounts, along with club savings on beverages, pizza, and soft-serve ice cream. Customers can download the GATE app to register and take advantage of these offers.

    Wawa — 11381 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL

    ​​Wawa Store 5470, located on the westside of Jacksonville, opened on August 21, 2025. The store sits in a developing area, supported by significant growth projects such as Diamond Springs, a new community being built seven miles away that will feature a lagoon and approximately 2,500 homes. The location also benefits from its position along an expanding segment of the toll road, which is being extended to cross the St. Johns River and connect to I‑95. Residential development continues along both Normandy Boulevard and Chaffee Road, contributing to increased traffic and customer demand. The competitive landscape is evolving as well, with a Gate store planned 3.5 miles away at Normandy and POW-MIA Memorial Parkway, a Daily’s five miles away at I‑10 and Chaffee Boulevard, and a Dunkin’ Donuts directly across the street. Additionally, the nearby Herlong Airbase — located 2.8 miles from the store — along with multiple warehouses in the area, serve as key sources of consistent customer traffic. Store 5470 has also established meaningful community partnerships, earning a Business Partner Award from Westside High School in recognition of its support for teachers and the football program.

    The RaceTrac Pritchard Travel Center — 6635 Pritchard Road, Jacksonville, FL

    This RaceTrac site opened in November 2022 as RaceTrac’s 10th travel center in the fleet – (RaceTrac just opened its 43rd travel center on March 18.) Inside the +8,000-square-foot store, guests can find a wide variety of made-in-store food and drinks to fuel their busy days. Options include hand-crafted pizzas, sandwiches, healthy salads, fresh fruit cups and a Swirl World frozen yogurt bar with endless toppings. Coffee lovers can choose from six blends of RaceTrac's “Crazy Good Coffee” with all the fixings. And of course, all the convenience store favorites are available, from Nathan's Famous hot dogs to delicious Tornados and other roller grill treats. A spacious, well-lit front court offers residents and travelers a variety of competitively priced fuel options. The new travel center also serves the needs of local small to mid-size fleet drivers and construction vehicles with a spacious rear canopy, including lanes of high-flow diesel and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) options at the pump. CAT scales are also available for professional drivers.
    Where
    Meet at Main Lobby Entrance, Along Water Street

  • Join us for a lively welcome reception session where c-store attendees can connect, network, and kick off the event with great conversations and refreshments.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • The evening is free so you can explore Jacksonville, Florida and have dinner on your own or with friends.

  • Where
    Florida Ballroom Foyer

  • Join us for breakfast before the day’s sessions begin. Enjoy a variety of morning favorites while connecting with fellow attendees. It’s the perfect opportunity to fuel up, ease into the day, and start meaningful conversations before the program gets underway.

    Presented by:
    Where
    Florida CD

  • At CStore Connections, our 1:1 Strategy Meetings are intentionally designed to deliver the most productive 10 minutes of your year. You get a direct, curated introduction to solution providers that have specifically developed programs for small and mid-sized convenience retail chains.

    8:00 AM - 8:10 AM - Meetings Round 1
    8:15 AM - 8:25 AM - Meetings Round 2
    8:30 AM - 8:40 AM - Meetings Round 3
    8:45 AM - 8:55 AM - Meetings Round 4
    9:00 AM - 9:10 AM - Meetings Round 5
    9:15 AM - 9:25 AM - Meetings Round 6


    Learn more at: https://www.cstoreconnections.com/11-strategy-meetings/
    Where
    Pensacola

  • Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it's here and already reshaping the convenience retail landscape. In this eye-opening session, discover how AI is being used by forward-thinking c-store operators to enhance foodservice operations, streamline labor management, and solve everyday business challenges. You'll learn the steps you should be taking now to lay the groundwork for tomorrow.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • In a competitive convenience retail landscape, a profitable foodservice program can be a game-changer — but only if costs are kept in check. This session dives into practical, high-impact strategies to manage and reduce foodservice expenses without sacrificing quality or customer satisfaction. Join us as we explore strategies for keeping costs down. This session will touch on effective pricing, efficient inventory management, commissary and self-distribution models, and maximizing labor efficiency. Learn how reducing food waste, leveraging local sourcing and integrating the right technology solutions can drive bottom-line results.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Where
    Florida Prefunction & Duval Ballroom

  • During our Burning Issue Exchanges, attendees select from one of four topic rooms and join others interested in that topic for a discussion on experiences, challenges, solutions and more.

    Choose 1 of 4 options

  • Where
    Salon A

  • Where
    Salon B

  • Where
    Jacksonville

  • Where
    Pensacola

  • This lunch session provides a valuable opportunity to connect with peers over a shared meal. Engage in informal networking, exchange ideas, and build relationships in a comfortable and collaborative setting.

    Presented by:
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Choose 1 of 3 options

  • In today’s competitive convenience retail landscape, effective merchandising is more than product placement — it’s a strategic tool for driving sales, enhancing the customer experience and boosting basket size. This session will explore proven merchandising strategies tailored for the c-store environment, from optimizing product adjacencies and signage to leveraging data and seasonal trends.
    Where
    Salon A

  • Loyalty in the convenience channel is evolving—fast. In this session, we’ll explore how leading retailers are reimagining loyalty programs to go beyond discounts and points, creating deeper, more personalized connections with customers.
    Where
    Salon B

  • From how to manage multi-generational teams to building culture across an organization, today’s retail leaders must adapt to meet the demands of a rapidly changing industry. Hear how successful retailers are navigating generational differences, encouraging collaboration, and aligning their organizations around core values to thrive amid ongoing transformation.
    Where
    Pensacola

  • During our Burning Issue Exchanges, attendees select from one of four topic rooms and join others interested in that topic for a discussion on experiences, challenges, solutions and more. Choose 1 of 4 options

  • Where
    Florida Salon A

  • Where
    Salon B

  • Where
    Jacksonville

  • Where
    Pensacola

  • Where
    Florida Prefunction & Duval Ballroom

  • Retailers break into assigned groups of non-competing retailers to discuss challenges, solutions and opportunities
    Where
    Miami, St. Augustine, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Florida A, Florida B, 4 Groups in Florida CD

  • Nate Brazier, CEO of Stinker Stores, CStore Decisions’ 2025 Chain of the Year award winner, shares an inspiring keynote on the power of company culture. Discover how a strong, values-driven culture can drive performance, attract top talent and foster innovation — and learn firsthand how Brazier has strategically shaped a thriving culture at Stinker Stores, a 105-store chain with locations in Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado, in a relatively short time. Every organization has a culture — whether it’s intentionally developed or passively formed. If you’re not actively investing in it, you’re relinquishing control over what it becomes. In this keynote, Brazier shares why culture isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s a strategic advantage — and how leaders can create a thriving, engaged organization from the inside out.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Join us for a cocktail reception. Whether you’re reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting new ones, this is the perfect opportunity to unwind and mingle with fellow attendees.
    Where
    Florida Prefunction

  • Grab some new friends and head out on your own to enjoy dinner and explore Jacksonville.

  • Join fellow attendees for after hours cocktails and networking.
    Where
    TBD

  • Where
    Florida Ballroom Foyer



  • Presented by:
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Kick off the day with breakfast with fellow attendees and an educational breakfast session on the evolving preferences of adult nicotine consumers, presented by PMI.

    Presented by:
    Where
    Florida CD

  • As top-quartile chains expand outside their traditional operating areas, small and mid-sized regional chains are having to adapt to heightened competition. Retailers discuss how they’re staying competitive, from maximizing store profitability and leaning into the advantages that come with being mid-sized to adding vertical integration.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Change is coming fast — and the most successful convenience store operators will be those who prepare for it now. In this forward-looking session, we’ll explore the key trends, technologies, and consumer behaviors reshaping the convenience retail landscape — and how you can adapt to stay ahead.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Where
    Florida Prefunction & Duval Ballroom

  • Where
    Salon A

  • Where
    Salon B

  • Where
    Jacksonville

  • Where
    Pensacola



  • Presented by:
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Choose 1 of 3 options

  • This session discusses practical ways to engage employees, promote from within, and reduce turnover to build stronger, more effective teams. We’ll explore proven strategies for developing leadership talent, creating clear career pathways, and fostering a workplace culture that encourages growth and retention. Learn how top-performing retailers are investing in their people to drive long-term success, improve morale, and ensure operational continuity across every level of the organization.
    Where
    Salon A

  • In a world of instant marketing, where promotions, trends and customer expectations move at lightning speed, effectively marketing your foodservice program requires focus, flexibility and smart spending. This session will explore how to strategically allocate your marketing dollars, choose the right tactics for your brand and audience and measure return on investment. From digital campaigns to in-store promotions, learn how leading retailers are cutting through the noise, driving traffic and turning foodservice into a powerful growth engine.
    Where
    Salon B

  • Private label presents a powerful opportunity for convenience retailers to boost margins, build brand identity, and deepen customer loyalty—but knowing where to start is key. This session will break down the first steps in developing a successful private label program, from identifying the right product categories to establishing quality standards and branding strategies. We’ll also explore how to strike the right balance between expanding private label and maintaining strong vendor relationships, ensuring that your approach supports overall category growth and collaboration.
    Where
    Pensacola

  • Where
    Salon A

  • Where
    Salon B

  • Where
    Jacksonville

  • Where
    Pensacola

  • Where
    Florida Prefunction & Duval Ballroom

  • In this closing session, participants will come together for an open group discussion to reflect on the key insights, experiences and lessons learned throughout the week. This is a chance to share personal takeaways, exchange ideas with peers and identify actionable steps to bring back home. Whether it’s a new strategy, a shift in mindset or a fresh connection, this session will help translate learning into meaningful action. Let’s talk about what’s resonated most — and how you plan to put it into practice.
    Where
    Florida CD

  • Where
    Florida Ballroom Prefunction & Duval Ballroom/Foyer

  • Where
    Tampa (Level 1)

  • Join us for a closing night reception that celebrates the 2025 Class of 40 Under 40 Leaders to Watch in a pinning ceremony, and honors Doug Galli of Crosby's, with the Lifetime Award for Convenience Retailing for his long service to the industry.
    Where
    Florida CD



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Topics
When
Sunday to Wednesday
December 23 to 26, 2022
Where
467 Davidson ave
Los Angeles CA 95716
Get directions