Yesterday's ACS Summit brought together some of the most influential figures in the convenience channel - not just in the UK, but globally. Tom Gockelen-Kozlowski takes a look at how social media covered the morning session
Chief executive of the ACS, James Lowman kicked the morning off outlining the major challenges facing convenience.
Political challenges for convenience sector: Living Wage,
Product regulation & local decision making #ACSSummit16 pic.twitter.com/8Xjb9PMNj8— Edward Woodall (@woodbines) April 19, 2016
The day's first speaker was Chris Gheysens boss (or self-dubbed 'Lead Goose') of American convenience store chain Wawa explained the unique culture of his business that puts customer service and the welfare of employees at its heart.
We ask ourselves: Are we giving more each and every year to help our associates? @chrisgheysens#ACSSummit16pic.twitter.com/r2eAQwtCJo
— Louise Banham (@LouiseBanhamRE) April 19, 2016
This means employing the right people. Thankfully he clarified what "needing people with goose blood" meant.
The qualities staff members at Wawa need. @chrisgheysens #ACSSummit16 pic.twitter.com/edwOurCtlu
— Louise Banham (@LouiseBanhamRE) April 19, 2016
Mr Gheysen also highlighted his businesses huge success on social media (including over 1.2m Facebook likes). This success has translated into store activity with a number of customers using Wawa stores as Wedding venues.
Who's doing social media well? @Wawa has 1.2m Facebook followers. Boom! #ACSSummit16pic.twitter.com/tPLvoOTltz
— Tom Fender (@Tomhfender) April 19, 2016
The next speaker was Debbie Robinson, managing director of Spar. She began by starkly outlining the effects that the National Living Wage will have on the group.
This is the impact of the national living wage on Spar - Debbie Robinson #ACSSummit16 pic.twitter.com/MbUkuutk6X
— Tom Gk (@tomgk_RN) April 19, 2016
She outlined why, despite this huge pressure, she thinks convenience can grow by even more than currently predicted - if stores embrace future trends.
#ACSSummit16 #Spar store of the future pic.twitter.com/pKvwaZ7QWq
— Steven Denham (@steve_d123) April 19, 2016
This includes the rise of food service...
The franchises and amount of them in Spar stores #ACSSummit16 pic.twitter.com/QE1tfiebZG
— Louise Banham (@LouiseBanhamRE) April 19, 2016
And healthy eating. She revealed that the company had been developing Holland & Barrett concessions in a number of stores. Underlining the opportunity, she said that one of the bestsellers in this new range had been coconut oil priced at a whopping £15.99.
Discreet spar trials with Holland and Barratt w/ spar to tap health and well being trend #ACSSummit16 pic.twitter.com/MZO03ZfKfN
— Tom Gk (@tomgk_RN) April 19, 2016
Meanwhile, the audience voted store standards and fresh provision the two biggest weaknesses in convenience - do you agree?
#ACSSummit16 audience voted fresh and store standards being convenience stores biggest weaknesses pic.twitter.com/8qsaXitJB5
— Richard Tyler (@rich_a_tyler) April 19, 2016