Daybreak Portumna has won the coveted NACS European Convenience Retailer of the Year Award. The award was sponsored by Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS).

“DFS is proud to sponsor and present Daybreak Portumna with the NACS European Convenience Retailer of the Year Award,” said Manwinder Toor, senior director, global key accounts at DFS. “How Daybreak delivers fresh, gourmet foodservice and infuses technology to improve business operations and customer and employee experience make it a world-class convenience retail destination deserving of the distinction.”

Located on the main Loughrea Road into Portumna, a rural town in Co. Galway with a population of 1,500, Daybreak Portumna is operated by Mark and Anne Finn. The store was rebuilt in 2019 and reopened in September 2022 to expand its extensive foodservice offer and seating area.

Launched in 2006, Daybreak stores are independently owned by local retailers who understand and respond to the needs of their communities. Daybreak is operated by Musgrave Wholesale Partners and currently has more than 300 locations in Ireland. Daybreak Portumna was named Best Food To Go/Deli at the 2022/23 Daybreak Store of the Year Awards.

Judges agreed that Daybreak Portumna is a world-class example of a convenience retail destination that emphasizes the importance of creating a fresh and gourmet foodservice and shopping experience.

Circle K Norway has won the NACS European Convenience Retail Technology Award. The award was sponsored by Gilbarco Veeder-Root.

“We are proud to be the sponsor of the NACS European Convenience Retail Technology Award and it is exciting to see the award go to Circle K Norway, who has been an industry leader in driving the retail forecourt of the future, leveraging technology, and building partnerships to enhance the experience for its customers,” said Trevor Sinkinson, managing director at Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Europe.

Norway is the leading country when it comes to electric vehicles as a percentage of the fleet, and Circle K has become one of the country’s most aggressive developers of fast-charging EV networks. The company has so far prioritized building its own chargers at Circle K stations in cities and along Norwegian roads, with more than 100 stations with chargers and approximately 800 chargers at its own stations.

Through the Circle K Charge app, drivers access an overview of Circle K’s charging stations and available chargers. Customers can also follow the charging process and see a full overview of charging time, price and battery status. Circle K’s charging offer is not limited to its service stations and convenience stores—customers can charge at home, too. Circle K sells one of Norway’s popular at-home chargers, manufactured by Easee.

Not only is Circle K recharging its customers’ vehicles, it is also keeping their cars clean. In Norway, Circle K launched a car wash subscription program accessible through the retailer’s mobile app. Customers can locate the nearest station that offers the car wash subscription, which allows for a maximum of eight washes every 30 days and two washes per day.

In 2021, Circle K Europe won the NACS European Convenience Retail Technology Award for its Pay by Plate payment technology used for fuel purchases. Circle K was the first fuel retailer to introduce Pay by Plate across Europe at scale, allowing customers to pay for fuel using their number (license) plate for a frictionless customer experience.

eFuels Forum & eFuel GmbH, based in Hoya, Germany, has won the NACS European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award. The award was sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company.

“We congratulate eFuels Forum & eFuel GmbH on winning the NACS European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award,” said Kevin LeMoyne, head of convenience retail division, North American operating unit, The Coca-Cola Company. “Combatting climate change is a global effort, requiring action from communities all around the world. As proud sponsors of this award, we applaud eFuel’s dedication to reducing CO2 emissions and driving sustainability forward, a commitment we share as we work toward taking well-informed, decisive action to meet the challenges of climate change head on.”

As a joint venture of 30 medium-sized German petrol station operators and energy traders, eFuels Forum & eFuel GmbH aims to make a decisive contribution to the future-oriented and climate-neutral realignment of business models. It focuses on the production of e-fuels, electricity-based synthetic fuels that are produced from renewable energies such as solar power, wind power or hydropower. Because the burning of e-fuels releases just as much CO2 as was extracted from the air during production, these synthetic fuels are CO2-neutral if the electricity is produced from renewable energies.

E-fuels are increasingly seen as a global alternative to electric vehicles, which until now have been the only option for achieving the decarbonization objectives set by countries throughout Europe.

In May, NACS announced that José Barreiro, executive director of Mobility Iberia, Repsol, is this year’s recipient of the NACS European Convenience Industry Leader of the Year Award.

“I’m honored and grateful to receive an award that, rather than a source of satisfaction, is a motivator to continue pushing forward with what we all do best: serving our customers,” said Barreiro.

Over the past few years, Barreiro has led the transformation of service stations in the Repsol group, including the launch and consolidation of the Waylet loyalty and payment application, which allows more than six million users to easily refuel and recharge at Repsol’s network of service stations and electric recharging points in Spain.

The NACS summit included presentations from thought leaders delivered in an immersive learning environment with plenty of opportunities to network and share experiences. Add a complete package of expert-led store tours to see exceptional convenience retailing and you have the 2023 NACS Convenience Summit Europe, which will take place 30 May to 1 June at the Intercontinental Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.

The programme explored the market trends spurring growth in the region and around the globe. More than 130 senior leaders from top retailers and manufacturing companies from 20-plus countries heard how the retail shopping experience is evolving to meet new consumer demand for omnichannel experiences, hard discounts, food-to-go and food-for-later meal options.

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The major event for the convenience sector will include presentations from thought leaders delivered in an immersive learning environment with plenty of opportunities to network and share experiences.

A complete package of expert-led store tours showing exceptional convenience retailing will be highlights of the 2023 NACS Convenience Summit Europe, from Tuesday 30 May to Thursday 1 June at the Intercontinental Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.

The programme will explore the market trends spurring growth in the region and around the globe. More than 130 senior leaders from top retailers and manufacturing companies from 20-plus countries will learn how the retail shopping experience is evolving to meet new consumer demand for omnichannel experiences, hard discounts, food-to-go and food-for-later meal options.

The organisers have said that Dublin is the site of the 2023 Convenience Summit Europe because it provides the most unique examples of exceptional convenience foodservice retailing, perhaps in the entire world. “You will have a chance to visit 16 stores that showcase world-class retailing and hear from the visionaries who built these brands.”

The programme begins on the morning of 30 May with expert-led bus and walking tours at sites from global brands like Circle K, Spar and Texaco, local giants like Maxol, Centra and Avoca, as well as drawing inspiration from local single-store heroes.

Participants will learn how to leverage the latest foodservice strategies to sell fresh, immediate consumption using high-quality ingredients in a competitive market. The store tours will end with a welcome reception, where delegates can continue networking and sharing ideas and discussing trends with other forward-thinking executives and industry leaders.

The Convenience Summit Europe programme is designed to experience exceptional retailing onthe first day before exploring ideas that will define the future of convenience. The topics to be covered on 31 May and 1 June are those top of mind with businesses worldwide and will be led by experts in the field. They include:

• Global Strategic Industry Issues: Impact on Ireland
• Inflation – Strategies & Tactics
• The Future of Labour
• EV – How to Play the Game
• Threats and Opportunities from AI in Retail
• The Future of Payments
• Learning from Around the World
• Consumer Values Redefined
• The Future of Nicotine
• A panel discussion with top operators of next generation bathrooms
• Case studies from three renowned European retail leaders

The Convenience Summit Europe concludes on the evening of 1 June with the NACS Convenience Retail Awards – Europe Reception and Gala, an exciting evening celebrating top leaders, technology innovation, and advances in sustainability in the convenience industry.

Delegates can register for the NACS Convenience Summit Europe online. Full registration includes:

• Participation to all store tours, receptions, lunches, and the Awards Gala dinner
• Access to all presentations
• Dynamic conversations and renewed strategic connections with industry leaders
• Access to best-in-class strategies that are all focused on unlocking growth
• A first look at innovations in store design and robust technology solutions

To learn more about the event or to register, go to NACS Convenience Summit Europe. For general event inquiries, please contact NACS Meetings & Events Manager Suzanne George at sgeorge@convenience.org; +1 703-518-4259.

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The award was presented to Maxol Ballycoolin, Dublin  during the 2022 NACS Convenience Summit Europe in Berlin with the judges agreeing that the service station is an excellent representation of how Maxol is future-proofing its business by focusing on customer needs and delivering a food-focused experience.

The NACS European Convenience Retail Awards recognise and promote convenience and forecourt retailing excellence in Europe and provide retailers with the opportunity to showcase their innovation and creativity to the global retailing community.

Maxol is no stranger to NACS awards and last year, won the 2021 NACS European Convenience Retailer Best of the Best Store Award for the redevelopment of its service station in Newbridge, Kildare.

Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group said; “Being recognised on the European stage as a leader in convenience retailing is hugely rewarding and I’m thrilled for all of the team that have worked so hard on achieving this award for Maxol Ballycoolin.

“This award recognises how Maxol is transforming from being a traditional forecourt retailer to becoming a leader in innovation and creating the service station of the future.   Our partner Aramark and their dedicated team at Maxol Ballycoolin are incredible ambassadors for the Maxol brand both in Ireland and now, across Europe.”

Aramark, the global specialist in food and facilities management services, operates the Ballycoolin service station on behalf of Maxol.

Mark Cribbin, Account Director at Aramark Ireland said: “This award is proof of the success of the Maxol – Aramark partnership, which continues to go from strength to strength.

“We are so proud of our people in Ballycoolin who bring the best of service to both the local community and the significant passing trade in the area. Ballycoolin is a very busy service station and consistently delivers the highest of standards and I know there will be some well-deserved celebrations to mark the win over the coming days.”

Maxol Ballycoolin opened in 2017 and has undergone two transformations in just five years.

In 2021, following a €1.25 million investment programme, Maxol Ballycoolin was upgraded with the addition of a first floor seating area, bringing total seating capacity to 100 where customers can enjoy the store’s extensive fresh food offering and freshly brewed ROSA coffee, meet with friends or colleagues or make use of quiet spaces to work.

As part of the investment programme, Maxol has redefined the food offering at Ballycoolin moving from rotational offerings to permanent foodservice concepts including barista coffee offering from Insomnia, a Burger King with a drive-thru and a new and larger Maxol Deli.

Outside, new car parking spaces have been added and Maxol Ballycoolin can now accommodate 53 vehicles.  There’s a great outdoor seating area, which has been enhanced with additional benches, screens, lighting and umbrellas and the space benefits from a rebranded car wash facility with multiple payment options.

On the forecourt, two additional premium fuel pumps now offer Maxol Premium Fuel and infrastructure has been installed for a new EV Charging hub to facilitate 3 x 150kW chargers serving 6 EV charging parking spaces.

Staff at Maxol Ballycoolin have been trained in the GUEST Customer Service model from Maxol’s award winning Customer Service Training Programme, ensuring customers get the Maxol Guest treatment every time they are in store.

Pictured L-R: Henry O. Armour NACS President & CEO, Ciaran McNally Chief Retail Officer for Maxol, Brad Schumacher VP Global Key Accounts & Marketing Dover Fueling Solutions, Siobhan Grimes Head of Retail for Maxol, Mark Wohltmann Director, NACS Global, Thomas McMullan Director and with the award, Brian Donaldson, CEO, The Maxol Group

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