Site name: Convenience Store Decisions URL: www.csdecisions.com Background information: Convenience Store Decisions is the online and in-print “Idea Factory” for the convenience store industry. Written for and read by the industry’s decision makers, the monthly magazine has a qualified circulation of more than 40,000 subscribers and offers award-winning, compelling editorials and consistent coverage of current issues of real concern to convenience store operators.

Site name: The National Association of Convenience Stores URL: www.nacsonline.com Background information: The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is an international trade association representing more than 2,200 retail and 1,800 supplier company members. NACS member companies do business in nearly 50 countries around the world.

Site name: Convenience Store News—Food Service Section URL: www.csnews.com/csn/foodservice/index.jsp Background information: Convenience Store News’ mission is to deliver the insight, analysis, market research, and business intelligence that helps C-store retailers stay ahead of what’s next. The e-publication provides critical information to grow sales and profits.

Exercises:

a. Review the above Web sites to determine the food service products and services provided by convenience stores. What type of food service products are typically sold in convenience stores? What are the emerging products that convenience stores are migrating toward in the future?

b. Who is the target market for convenience store food services?

c. Which restaurant sectors do the convenience stores compete against, and what strategies should that restaurant sector utilize to maintain their customer base?

d. What potential job opportunities might be available for hospitality management students in the convenience store industry?