CSNews’ Technology Leader of the Year Is…

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Convenience Store News named Maria Fidelibus, QuickChek Corp.’s vice president of information technology, as the 2016 Technology Leader of the Year. 

The annual award honors a convenience store retailer executive who demonstrates vision and innovation, and leads the way for his/her company and the industry as a whole to take full advantage of technology solutions. 

Fidelibus joined QuickChek in December 2003 as vice president of information technology. The graduate of DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, previously worked in the IT department for a regional grocery chain in Philadelphia. After Safeway purchased the chain, Fidelibus found herself in the banking industry for more than a year until she got a telephone call from Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based QuickChek.

“I got a call asking if I was looking to get back into retail,” she recalled.

Since Fidelibus made the move to QuickChek, the retailer’s technology has evolved significantly, particularly around the growth of the foodservice category, mobile applications and ordering, and its entry into the fueling side of the business. When she started with the company, there were only three QuickChek fueling sites. Just recently, the chain opened its 57th store with fuel.

“We’ve been focused on all the technology around fuel and supporting our fuel desk and all the processes involved,” Fidelibus told CSNews. “We support pricing, inventory management, bill of lading, the back-office, gallon reports and fuel delivery automation as part of the business.”

QuickChek is also focused on mobile as a priority, having launched a mobile app last year and mobile ordering for its foodservice offering six months ago. Customers can pre-order breakfast sandwiches, custom-made subs and salads through the app and pick up their order at any of the chain’s 142 locations. Users can place an order between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., and select their pickup time.

“Our mobile presence is a huge area of focus for us, with mobile ordering launching in March,” Fidelibus explained. “It’s doing very well, and continues to grow for us.”

The retailer also continues to pioneer self-checkout stations by NCR. Originally, QuickChek offered Fast Lane self-checkout lanes with debit, credit and cash options, but is now offering card-only lanes. The offering has been a win-win for both customers and team members, according to Fidelibus. 

“We continue to look and try to optimize the Fast Lane self-checkout as a large opportunity in our environment, and we continue to refine and try to find the sweet spot to leverage this type of technology in our very high-volume stores where a lot of customers are in and out,” she noted.

During a C-store Technology Leadership Dinner, taking place in Atlanta on Oct. 17, QuickChek's technology chief will be presented with the Technology Leader of the Year award. 

This year, Fidelibus is also being honored as part of CSNews' 2016 Top Women in Convenience awards, in the Senior-Level Leaders category. This award will also be presented next month.

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