Retail reimagined: the power players shaping global convenience in 2024–25
From Dublin to Dubai, Boston to Bergen, the convenience retail sector is undergoing a seismic transformation. Over the past year, we have sat down with the visionaries driving this change; leaders who are not just responding to consumer shifts but actively shaping the future of roadside retail, foodvenience, and EV mobility.
Leadership with vision
Joe Barrett, CEO of Applegreen, kicked off the year with a masterclass in strategic evolution. Celebrating 30 years in business, Applegreen’s Rathcoole site was crowned ‘Best Foodvenience Store in the World‘, a testament to its fusion of hospitality and foodservice. With billion-euro investments across Ireland, the UK, and the US, Barrett’s message was clear: “We’re not just building stores – we’re building destinations.”
In the US, Darren Rebelez, CEO of Casey’s, joined us on the Future of Convenience podcast to share his perspective on leadership, foodservice innovation, and building deeper community connections. Rebelez highlights Casey’s focus on foodservice as a key differentiator, the company makes its own Pizza dough fresh in every store every day and uses high quality ingredients like 100% wholemilk Mozzarella cheese. The result – Casey’s (a convenience store chain) is now the fifth largest pizza chain in the US and employs 46,000 people. And of course, it sells all the other stuff too!
Mariette Kristenson of Reitan Convenience echoed that sentiment from the Nordics, unveiling formats like PBX and INNOM that blend sustainability, unmanned retail, and hyper-local relevance. Her focus on healthy products, mobile payments, and EV charging reflects a broader Scandinavian ethos: convenience with conscience.
Meanwhile, David Bunch, EVP of Shell Mobility, laid out a global roadmap for energy transition. With operations in 80 markets and a laser focus on seven priority regions, Shell is betting big on EV charging, loyalty ecosystems, and empowering local teams to deliver “convenience with purpose.”
Foodvenience: the new frontier
The term foodvenience, coined to describe the convergence of foodservice and convenience, has become the industry’s north star. From Circle K’s AI powered recruitment and gamified training to Valora’s Swiss foodvenience precision and Q8 Denmark’s innovation with Noahs, the message is clear: food is the new fuel.
Harry Milloff, CEO of The Moseley Group, partnered with Insight Research to launch a special ‘Future of Foodvenience’ podcast series, spotlighting global trends in equipment, menu design, and customer experience. His mantra? “If you’re not thinking like a restaurateur, you’re already behind.”
EV mobility: charging ahead
EV hubs are no longer just about kilowatts—they’re about community, comfort, and commerce. Germany’s Seed & Greet and Shell Recharge are redefining what it means to stop, shop, and charge. The ‘Best EV Hub in the World’ competition showcased sites that blend infrastructure with inspiration, proving that the forecourt of the future is already here.
John Diviney of Welcome Break and Tony El-Nemr of Nouria Energy are in the front tier of retailers leading the charge in the UK and US respectively. Diviney’s brand new to market motorway formats and EV-ready service areas are setting new standards, while Nouria’s acquisition of Enmarket signals a bold East Coast expansion rooted in fresh food, tech innovation, and employee empowerment.
What’s next?
As we look ahead, one thing is certain: the convenience sector is no longer just about speed—it’s about strategy. Whether it’s electrification, experiential retail, or the rise of unmanned formats, the leaders featured on GlobalConvenience.com are proving that agility, authenticity, and ambition are the new currency of success.
So buckle up. The journey is just beginning.
