Of the 152,255 convenience stores currently serving customers in the United States, 60% of those sites are operated by a single-store owner. 

Despite their collective power, though, single-store owners and small chains often struggle to get equal attention from the industry’s suppliers and distributors, and they must work harder than large operators to shield themselves from the impact of national economic issues, increasing operational costs, and difficulties around labor hiring and retention. 

To help the industry's single-store owners and small operators elevate their business, Convenience Store News introduces the Outstanding Independents Summit. All convenience store retailers operating one to 20 stores in the U.S. are eligible to attend this free virtual event on Friday, April 25. 

The agenda will tackle today's biggest pain points for small operators, and provide valuable insights, expert advice and actionable knowledge that retailers can immediately implement to upgrade their operations.

The Summit will culminate in the presentation of the first-ever Outstanding Independents Awards, created to recognize single-store owners and small operators across the U.S. that are standing out and serving their communities well.