Founded in 1961 and present in over 50 countries, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) advocates for employees and owners of convenience stores, as well as bringing attention to the important roles these retailers play in local communities. It also helps owners run their businesses more efficiently by introducing them to new technologies and skill sets, and informs employees so they can serve customers better. NACS sends representatives to advocate for legislation which benefits convenience store owners, their employees, and customers, and meets with the press so news outlets can discuss them more accurately.

NACS’ most well-known event is its NACS Show, a combined conference and product exposition. Taking place in October at a different location each year, the conference is four days long, and the exposition overlaps with its second through fourth days. Members split their time between education sessions on emerging trends in the retail industry, networking periods, and visiting the exhibition hall. The hall contains examples of new food storage solutions, power generation, and other equipment to streamline operations. The NACS staff summarizes the NACs Show’s most standout products and insights via daily articles on the organization’s website.