Speaker Spotlight

MAY 8-9 | EMBASSY SUITES DOWNTOWN DENVER CONVENTION CENTER

Confirmed Speakers

Beth Brickel
EnsembleIQ Research Solutions
Vice President, Research
Shaping the Future of C-store Foodserivce: Insights from convenience shoppers and retail operators

Beth has over 20 years of market and consumer research experience and holds a Master of Marketing Research (MMR) degree from Southern Illinois University. Her industry experience encompasses CPG, retail, restaurant, healthcare, media and nonprofits/foundations. In addition to her survey experience, she is also a RIVA-trained moderator and has conducted interviews, focus groups, online discussion groups, ethnographies, and shop-alongs with hundreds of individuals across B2B and B2C studies.

Bob Derian
Business Accelerator Team
Partner
Practical Strategies to Optimize Your Foodservice Growth

Bob was born and raised in the Boston suburb of Watertown, MA and graduated from Johnson & Wales College in 1979 with a degree in Culinary Arts and then from Bunker Hill College in 1982 with a degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management.

He has over 48 years of experience in the food industry with over 20 years in hotels, clubs, cruise ships and restaurants and over 20 years spent in Corporate R&D in foodservice, retail and manufacturing and the last seven years as a Chef/Owner of a multiple award winning food truck and restaurant concept in Colorado Springs. From 2009 through 2016 he worked in various capacities managing the foodservice division, initiating, developing and implementing a strategic plan and developing new and successful products, concepts and platforms for RaceTrac Petroleum, a privately held, $9+ billion, 400+ unit C-Store chain. The last 3 concepts he developed more than doubled the overall annual margin for foodservice.

He has a life-long passion for food and his career has been all about developing the very best products or menu items from a craveable/flavor but, yet customer/guest relevance perspective. He has extensive experience in the product development process from ideation through testing to rollout. He has successfully developed retail and food service products and processes throughout his career and many of his products are still on grocery store shelves or on menus throughout the US, today. Bob have successfully led the menu development for multiple concepts simultaneously while managing teams for each and has extensive experience working successfully with cross-functional teams from Marketing, Training, Operations, Finance, Procurement and others. He is an inclusive leader and an excellent coach who is results oriented and self-motivated. Bob has also visited over 40 countries and gained valuable knowledge of cuisines and cultures to help him understand what makes food taste great.

Steven Johnson
Foodservice Solutions®
Grocerant Guru® and President of Foodservice Solutions®
Garnering New Customers Through Menu Innovation

Steven Johnson is the President of Foodservice Solutions®, based in Tacoma, Washington, and globally recognized as the Grocerant Guru®. Johnson is at the forefront of the Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat meal industry, working seamlessly across consumer preferences, technology, packaging, brand marketing, sales, and business development.

With a unique ability to identify, quantify, and qualify niche opportunities in the global foodservice sector, Johnson excels in vertical brand and product placement, positioning, and marketing strategy. His expertise lies in placing both existing and new products in non-traditional retail channels of food distribution.

Johnson is known for developing and implementing the FIVE Ps of Food Marketing (Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability, and Price) for retail foodservice companies, including chain drug stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores.

He holds a Master of Science in Food Marketing degree with distinction from Saint Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Francisco. He is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business School Honor Society.

Steven Johnson has received numerous awards, including three EMMEYs from 3M for "Outside the Box" thinking and team leadership, the Food Marketing Award from Saint Joseph’s University, and an Outstanding Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Since 1991, Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA, has led the global market in the Grocerant niche.

Selia Kleine
Kwik Trip Inc.
Director of Food Service
Opening Keynote: Kwik Trip's Holistic Approach to Culture

Selia Kleine is currently serving as a Director of Food Service for Kwik Trip Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin. Selia has been with Kwik Trip for 22 years. Starting her journey with Kwik Trip as a part-time coworker in 2003, working her way up promotional advancements, newly taking on the Director of Food Service role. Selia has been in a multi-unit leadership role for the past 10 years, helping oversee leaders throughout the states Kwik Trip Inc. operates in. Selia resides in Burlington, Wisconsin with her husband of 16 years, Adam and her two children, Gwendolynn, and Brayden. Selia enjoys traveling with her family, being out on the lake, and watching her kids play sports.

Tim Powell
Foodservice IP
Principal
Competitive Differentiation in 2025 and Beyond

Tim Powell has spearheaded research and consulting engagements for global and national companies in the food and beverage industries for almost 20 years. At Foodservice IP, he delivers strategic research and consulting, guiding clients in defining and achieving sustainable market positions. His expertise spans market intelligence, thought leadership, keynote speaking, brand positioning, and leadership, driving measurable success across diverse organizations.

Paul Servais
Kwik Trip, Inc.
Vice President of Food Service
Opening Keynote: Kwik Trip's Holistic Approach to Culture

Paul Servais is the Vice President of Food Service for Kwik Trip, Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin. Paul has been with Kwik Trip for 26 years. He started as a Store Leader in 1999 and worked his way up to District Leader and then to Vice President. Paul has been in his current role for 17 years and leads the 35-member food service team that oversees food service operations in all 900+ company-owned Kwik Trip/Kwik Star Stores. Paul resides in Arcadia, Wisconsin with his wife Arlene (34 years) and youngest of 3 children, Molly. Paul enjoys hunting, working outside, family, reading, eating, and the Green Bay Packers!

Ben Wilson
Kwik Trip, Inc.
Director of Food Service
Opening Keynote: Kwik Trip's Holistic Approach to Culture

Ben Wilson is a Director of Food Service for Kwik Trip, Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin. Ben has been with Kwik Trip for over 25 years. He started as a Retail Coworker in 1999 and worked up through the Store Leader, Food Service District Leader, and District Leader positions before becoming a Director of Food Service. Ben spent over 13 years as a District Leader before taking the Director role that he moved into this year. As a Director of Food Service, he works with the VP of Food Service in helping to lead the team that oversees the food service operations in 900+ Kwik Trip/Kwik Star Stores. Ben resides in West Salem, Wisconsin with his wife Kristine (21 years) and 6 of his 7 children. Ben enjoys spending time following his children’s activities as well as being involved in his church and an organization in Uganda.

...and more!

Convenience Store News  is now accepting proposals from retailers, research and consulting firms who are interested in speaking at the 2024 Convenience Foodservice Exchange.

If you believe you can educate and inspire c-store retailers to become leaders in providing their customers with a complete fresh food and dispensed beverage experience at their stores, we invite you to submit your proposed topic right away.

The Theme of This Year is...

From beverage strategies and cutting-edge technology to proprietary food offerings and creating an exceptional service culture, the best convenience stores are differentiating themselves to win market share today and into the future.

 

The 2024 Convenience Foodservice Exchange, hosted by Convenience Store News, will bring leading convenience foodservice executives together with innovative supplier partners to maximize opportunities, solve problems and grow their foodservice sales.

 

Key topics to be covered include:

  • Successful Winning Formulas for Prepared Foods, Beverages & Fresh Bakery
  • Profitability in the Face of Changing Market Dynamics
  • EVs Impact on Foodservice
  • Evolution and Future of C-store Foodservice
  • Instituting a New Foodservice Strategy from the Ground Up
  • How to Win with Dispensed Beverages
  • Building Loyalty Through Guest Engagement - Augmenting Your Digital Strategy with Physical Programs

and much more.