A Peek at What NACS Show 2017 Has In Store
CHICAGO — Returning to the Windy City this fall, the annual NACS Show will once again connect thousands of professionals in the convenience and fuel retailing industry.
The 44th annual NACS Show, presented by NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing, will take place Oct. 17-20 at McCormick Place. There, more than 23,000 stakeholders in convenience and fuel retail from around the globe are expected to come together.
Over the course of the event’s four days, attendees will have the opportunity to explore all there is to see at the 400,000-square-foot expo. “If you miss the expo this year, you will have to wait 361 days for your next opportunity. Do you want to wait 361 days?” asks NACS.
Five main categories will serve as the focus of the 2017 NACS Show expo:
- Fuel Equipment & Services
- Food Equipment & Foodservice Programs
- Candy/Snacks
- Facility Development & Store Operations
- Merchandise & Technology
Like last year’s NACS Show in Atlanta, more than 1,200 exhibiting companies will be showcasing thousands of products relevant to the industry. Each category offers industry professionals a chance to learn more about the business, network with other professionals, engage in hands-on experiences, and conduct business.
The opportunities to discover new products and insights will be endless at the 2017 NACS Show — from the returning Cool New Products Preview Room and Tech Edge program, to informative education sessions led by knowledgeable speakers.
Among this year’s show highlights are:
Cool New Products Preview Room
Those on the lookout for the latest new products will get the chance to find them — in addition to new innovations, services and other growth opportunities — at the 2017 NACS Show’s Cool New Products Preview Room. Product details, as well as exhibitor contact information, will be available. Additionally, those interested can compile and print a custom “shopping list.” This year, the Cool New Products Preview Room will be segmented into seven areas: Green (eco-friendly), Health & Wellness, New Design, New Flavors, New to the Industry, New Services, and New Technology.
Education Sessions
NACS Show attendees can take part in educational sessions that cover all aspects of the c-store industry, including strategy, market analysis, and targeted information about specialized areas. Among this year’s topics are Small Operator Workshops, Getting People From the Pump Into the Store, Building and Retaining a Winning Team, Protect Yourself From Data Breaches, What Does a Trump Administration Mean to the Industry, and Going Hyperlocal.
Speakers
Dozens of speakers will present at this year’s NACS Show, including a number of highly regarded industry veterans. On the podium will be QuickChek Corp. Vice of Human Resources Bob Graczyk; NACS Director of Government Relations Paige Anderson; Kum & Go General Manager Sean Bremer; Gilbarco Veeder-Root Passport Program Manager Scott Oakes; Sheetz, Inc. Director of Talent Development Emily Sheetz; and Anheuser-Busch Senior Director of National Category Management David Vartanian, among others.
Tech Edge
Technology constantly evolves and reshapes how retailers in the c-store and fuel retail industry do business. The NACS Show’s Tech Edge program is designed to help industry professionals solve for the tech challenges ahead. Tech Edge, now in its fourth year, will partner with Conexxus for a two-and-a-half day program. Conexxus is a nonprofit, member-driven technology organization dedicated to the development and implementation of standards, technologies innovation and advocacy for the convenience store and petroleum market.
This year’s Tech Edge program includes valuable sessions on data security, EMV, customer engagement, and more; group discussions on a variety of technology topics; networking opportunities; and access to new technology products and solutions.
New Exhibitor Area
The New Exhibitor Area, located on the expo floor, features only supplier companies that have never previously exhibited at the NACS Show. It serves as a great way to discover up-and-coming products that have yet to hit shelves.