Adande MD, Karl Hodgson: Pennsylvania, Las Vegas- US foodservice excellence

The future of convenience retail is evolving, and this week, we gathered together to discuss these innovations on a on The Future of Convenience episode, “U.S. Convenience = Food, Food, Food!” Hosts Carolyn Schnare and Nick Scherzer, along with guest Karl Hodgson, Managing Director of Adande Refrigeration, rehashed their recent retail tours in the U.S. and the 2024 NACS Show in Las Vegas.

The discussion kicked off with reflections on the recent Insight Market Focus USA Pennsylvania tour, where they visited leading convenience retailers like Rutter’s, Wawa, Sheetz, and 7-Eleven. The tour took place 1-3 October and included retail site visits and networking events.

Scherzer highlighted the standout nature of these retailers: “The quality and breadth of foodservice operations, particularly in the made-to-order space, is really impressive.” Hodgson agreed, adding, “It blows me away how vast the food offering is… they do it so fast and so convenient.”

The conversation then shifted to the technology and operations behind these successes. “What really stood out was the workflow,” said Hodgson, noting that efficiency in the kitchen is driven by technology. “They use equipment like speed ovens and electric fryers, which make their operations run smoothly and quickly.”

At the NACS Show in Las Vegas, the spotlight was on cutting-edge technology and foodservice trends. Scherzer noted the magnitude of the annual event, which drew around 26,000 attendees: “It’s a wonderful coming together of the industry, where vendors showcase innovative solutions for convenience retailers.” Hodgson emphasized the growing importance of foodservice in the convenience sector: “More retailers are realizing they need to step up their game… they’re asking the right questions now and bringing in expertise to deliver quality food offerings.”

With convenience stores becoming more sophisticated and community-focused, it’s clear that the future of the industry lies in innovation, technology, and a strong commitment to customer experience.

The Future of Convenience is a bi-weekly podcast focusing on the future of global convenience, fuels and mobility retail. New episodes air every other Friday and are available on your favorite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Be sure to subscribe to be the first to hear every new episode!