2023 Star Women in Convenience winner: Patricia Petretic

Category manager, centre of store
Parkland Corporation

How did you get into this business?

I started my career in C&G nine years ago with a contract position to coordinate a large-scale merchandising project. It was exactly what I was looking for. Since then, I’ve held various roles in supporting convenience stores from store layouts to working with wholesale distributors to working on the carwash portfolio to working on various major categories across the c-store. 

What do you like most about your job?

I love how cross functional this job is. Being in category management, you get to be involved with so many things from running the business to initiatives that drive value and move the industry forward. Most importantly, you are working with amazing people along the way, both internally and externally.

What's the best advice you ever received? 

Invest in relationships and cultivate confidence.

What's your career highlight/biggest achievement?

I believe it was a series of achievements. I was lucky enough to have a variety of different roles over the years, each of which were complementary to one another and built upon the skills and knowledge I had. My experience and all the accumulated achievements, whether big or small, helped me become a very well-rounded member of this industry and allowed me to truly understand how this industry operates and what our customers value the most.

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

The channel is redefining itself through home delivery, digital engagement, EV charging, and sustainability just to name a few. This represents new opportunities and tremendous growth potential of the evolving c store channel.