The 2024 NACS Show Smashes Attendance Records

The 2024 NACS Show, which took place October 7-10 in Las Vegas, had a record attendance of 26,124 visitors, 8.5% higher than last year and 3.8% higher than the previous record attendance in 2018.

The National Association of Convenience Stores Show is a global event with attendees from 68 countries. There were 8,811 attendees classified as buyers, a substantial increase of 1,447 from last year.

Expo Delivers New Products, Category Excitement

The 437,500-net-square-foot Expo, organized around five broad categories—in-store merchandise, technology, facility operations, fuel equipment and services, and food service—featured 1,190 exhibitors.

This included 157 exhibitors in the New Exhibitor Area, which provided retailers with a unique look at products and services that are relatively new to the convenience channel.

The Cool New Products Preview Room made the NACS Show more convenient. Attendees could scan QR codes through the NACS Show mobile app for any of the 300 products on display.

There were 12,315 product scans, an 11% increase from last year.

Also, the NACS Future of Convenience pavilion showcased industry-specific, digital-first solutions developed for retailers to engage customers, protect their business, and boost revenue.

Education Sessions Focus on Hot Topics

The NACS Show’s 52 Education Sessions, designed by retailers for retailers, had strong attendance counts, averaging more than 230 attendees per session.

Three Education Sessions topped 400 attendees:

  • “Digital and Physical Marketing Strategies for Smaller Retailers” (516).
  • “Crafting Irresistible Promotions for Maximum Impact” (444).
  • “Global Retail Innovations from Around the World” (414).

A co-located event was also held prior to the opening of the NACS Show. The third annual NACS Food Safety Forum drew more than 70 industry leaders to address food safety, food service, quality assurance, and risk management at the only industry-specific event of its kind for the global convenience retail community.

General Sessions Highlight Inspiration

For four days, attendees filled Westgate’s 3,600-seat Paradise Ballroom for NACS Show General Sessions focusing on customer experience.

Juan Bendaña, a renowned confidence coach, kicked off the NACS Show by talking about how to lead with confidence.

The next three days of General Sessions descended further into themes related to customer experience. Doug Lipp, former head of training at Disney University, shared how attendees can strengthen their corporate culture, boost performance, amplify employee morale, and—unapologetically—have fun while doing so.

Then, focusing on the future and how AI and technology will revolutionize retail, Victor Paterno, president and CEO of Philippine Seven Corp. and 2023-24 NACS Chairman, and Brian Gray, global mobility retail lead at Accenture, discussed their vision of the future in presentations and in a panel moderated by NACS President & CEO Henry Armour.

Related Article: 7-Eleven to Close Nearly 450 Stores Across the U.S.

The General Sessions culminated with celebrity chefs David Chang and Andrew Zimmern, who shared their love for convenience stores in a panel discussion moderated by Casey’s Corporate Chef Andrew Kintigh. This was followed by a cooking demonstration using food items available in most convenience stores.

Chang created Potato Chip Gnocchi with Instant Ramen and Grated Jerky, while Zimmern prepared a Deep-Fried “Accordion Dog” with a Potato Chip and cheese Bun Blanket. The chefs visited the Expo the day before to shop for ingredients and enjoy a considerable sampling of food service items. Later on social media, Chang said the Expo was “a place that made him intensely happy,” and Zimmern and Chang together added, “Best convention in Vegas…ever.”

The 2024 NACS Ideas 2 Go program debuted during the October 8 General Session. It featured seven retailers who showcased exceptional retailing.

Other Business at the NACS Show

The NACS Show is also a business meeting, with various boards and committees convening to advance the industry. Brian Hannasch, special advisor to Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., was named 2024-25 NACS Chairman, and Vito Maurici, senior vice president of sales at McLane Co. Inc., was named the 2024-25 chairman of the NACS Supplier Board.

Group Forte and YPF were the 2024 winners of the Convenience Retailer of the Year Award in Latin America.

Executives from both companies were recognized among their convenience retail peers during the Global Colleagues Reception on October 8. The award recognizes overall excellence displayed at a specific store within the company’s portfolio.

Meanwhile, Yesway and Weigel’s were honored with the Fuels Innovator of the Year Awards, presented by Fuels Market News Magazine.

In addition, more than 250 retailers used the NACS Grassroots link to write to their elected representatives urging passage of the Credit Card Competition Act.

After the NACS Show, exhibitors donated thousands of pounds of food to Three Square, a Las Vegas-based food bank.

The 2025 NACS Show will take place October 14-17 in Chicago.