Insight reveal ‘Smartest Store in the World’ competition for 2026 to drive retail innovation

Global Convenience | 1 Aug 2025

Insight Research announce a new competition for 2026 – “the Smartest Store in the World”, a new global initiative designed to identify and celebrate leading-edge technology innovation in the fuels and convenience retail sector.

Accenture will serve as the official knowledge partner for the program, bringing strategic insight and industry expertise to help guide its development and execution.

This marks the third instalment in a series of global competitions hosted by Insight Research, adding to the successful “Best EV Hub” and “Best Foodvenience” competitions.

Moving the needle: a vision for progress

Dan Munford, CEO of Insight Research, emphasized the competition’s role in advancing the industry. “By searching for and then showcasing the ‘best of the best’ we feel that we are helping move the needle on industry development and drive progress,” said Dan.

He highlighted that while previous competitions supported the e-mobility transition and the foodservice revolution, “the final competition piece is the decisive adoption of new technologies“.

Accenture joins as the official ‘Knowledge Partner’ for this new endeavour. Dan explained the significance of this partnership:

“The key advantage to having Accenture as a knowledge partner in this new competition is the heavyweight subject matter understanding they bring. Accenture Managing Director Brian Gray is very highly regarded in the global fuels retail convenience sector for his unique ability to communicate and explain the coming AI revolution.

This topic is different in nature to our other competitions. It’s not just about what’s happening inside the four walls of the store; it’s about how retailers are using data and digital capabilities to drive smarter decisions, streamline processes, and create meaningful impact across the whole value chain”. He added that Accenture will be instrumental in “shaping the program’s overall direction, framework and entry criteria and also in supporting promotional efforts”.

Responding to Evolving Consumer Demands

Brian D. Gray, Managing Director at Accenture, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration and the initiative’s value:

“In a world where consumers are demanding more – more convenience, more personalization, more seamless experiences – retailers are under mounting pressure to evolve,” Brian stated.

He continued, “Driving labor efficiency, unlocking incremental margin, and delivering measurable value have become critical to staying competitive. The ‘Smartest Store in the World’ competition is a global celebration of retailers who are not just keeping pace with these demands but leading the charge through bold innovation and intelligent transformation”.

Brian further elaborated on what the competition seeks to recognize: “This competition recognizes those who are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies to reimagine the retail experience—from in-store operations to supply chain orchestration and partner collaboration.

And, as Dan said, this is not just about what’s happening inside the four walls of the store; it’s about using data to drive smart decisions, streamline processes, and create meaningful impact. Whether through predictive inventory, autonomous checkout, or AI-powered workforce planning, this is where the future of retail takes center stage”.

Competition Scope and Criteria

The “Smartest Store in the World” competition primarily targets small-format retailers – Fuels and Convenience Retailers, Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Pharmacies, Dollar or Discount Retailers, through to “Third Place” Retailers such as Coffee Retailers.

Submissions will require a written entry, supporting images and documentation, a high-level overview of the value, and a short video showcasing the store and its innovations.

Program Timeline and Mechanics

The inaugural “Smartest Store in the World” competition is scheduled for 2026, running from January through March. Preparatory activities, including the key outreach phase to retailers for entries, will primarily occur during Q3 and Q4 of 2025.

The competition will operate entirely online with no entry fees or travel requirements. Retailers worldwide are invited to enter by submitting a written entry, supporting images, and an optional (but recommended) video.

All entries will be displayed online on the Global Convenience Store Focus (GCSF) website. A global judging panel will review submissions and select a shortlist, after which the industry will be invited to vote online for their top three. The winner, along with second and third place, will be determined by aggregated scores from these online votes combined with the judges’ evaluations. The results will be announced online via video on LinkedIn and the GCSF website.

This initiative underscores a commitment to fostering innovation and intelligent transformation within the retail sector, ultimately contributing to a more efficient, customer-centric, and impactful industry.

Learn more and support the 2026 competition series

Our competition series is unparalleled in its ability to connect with and engage the convenience and mobility retail industry worldwide.

Our ‘Best EV Hub’ and ‘Best Foodvenience’ competitions are supported by: Vontier, Invenco by GVR, Visa, The Moseley Group, Liquid Barcodes.