NACS, which represents 154,000-plus convenience stores, announced a new commitment with the Partnership for a Healthier America. Through the commitments, NACS will rely on PHA's resources and expertise to help c-stores provide more visibility to healthier choices inside stores.

Over the next three years, NACS will make available key resources to its members to help determine how they can carry additional healthier choices, as well as provide promotional materials related to Drink Up, PHA’s marketing campaign to encourage water consumption. NACS also will provide healthier catering options at its events, including the NACS Show, one of the 40 largest trade shows in the United States. Specifically, NACS will:

  • Continue to encourage appropriate NACS members to engage with PHA.
  • Disseminate a web-based nutrition resource that could help convenience stores identify products as being healthier options and assist them in defining their better-for-you sets.
  • Continue to engage small-format stores, specifically corner stores, that are often the only food source for residents in highly rural or urban settings.
  • Develop and disseminate Drink Up marketing materials that encourage convenience store customers to stay hydrated
  • Emphasize wellness at the NACS office and at its industry-specific events.

"The commitment furthers the goals of NACS and our members to make a positive impact in the communities we serve, whether through charitable giving programs or helping to equip our members to truly make the healthy choice the convenient choice," said NACS President & CEO Henry Armour.

At the PHA Summit in Washington, DC, NACS was joined by Northeast convenience store chain Cumberland Farms (Westborough, MA) in announcing commitments at the annual event, joining eight other NACS retail member companies that are already committed to expanding healthier options in their stores.

"Convenience stores serve millions of Americans every day. As NACS and its members know, most of those purchasing decisions are made in seconds," said Larry Soler, President and CEO of the Partnership for a Healthier America. "Our innovative partnership with NACS is key to ensuring that convenience store customers can be met in the store with healthier options."