In honor of the 50th anniversary of Convenience Store News, we spotlight the 50 most influential people in convenience store history
Perhaps more than any other CPG retail channel, the convenience store industry has undergone massive transformation over the past 50 years. Once the land of tiny corner stores selling “cokes and smokes,” today’s convenience stores are sophisticated operations with large, sleek store designs, made-to-order fresh food and beverages, the newest technology, and much more.
It’s taken a lot of people to get the industry to where it is today. Which is why we, at Convenience Store News, thought it was only fitting to celebrate our 50th anniversary and this special commemorative issue by selecting and spotlighting the 50 most influential people in convenience store history.
To come up with our list, we put out a call to the industry and you responded with scores of worthy nominations. Then began the really hard work of winnowing it down to the 50 who have had the greatest influence on the development, growth and history of this industry.
These 50 individuals include retailers (entrepreneurs, founders, pioneers, innovators, etc.), suppliers and distributors (new product developers, technology innovators, partnership advocates, etc.) who have made significant contributions to convenience retailing.
