Michele Sponagle
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
- 7/6/2026
Think pink with rosé
Rosé is the ultimate convenience store wine—light, refreshing, and the perfect grab-and-go choice. Follow these expert tips to maximize your summer sales. - 7/2/2026
SPECIAL REPORT: Sip into summer with these ready-to-drink beverage alcohol tips and trends
Innovation, higher-ABV offerings and bold new flavours are fuelling explosive growth, as consumers thirst for RTD. - 6/4/2026
Category Check: Worth their salt
From potato chips to popcorn, savoury snacks have long been a c-store sales juggernaut. With a new wave of innovation, the category is well poised to keep its superstar status. - 5/26/2026
The results are in! What Canada’s 23% drop in beverage calories means for the convenience channel
The Canadian Beverage Association's Balance Calories Initiative exceeded its target two years early. In this Q&A with CBA's Erich Schmidt, he talks about how c-stores can capitalize on soaring demand for low-calorie and ready-to-drink options. - 5/10/2026
CSNC EXCLUSIVE: Coca-Cola Canada Bottling kicks off FIFA World Cup activations
A Q&A with CCO Soula Kioussis, who talks about the company’s winning partnership with FIFA World Cup - 5/4/2026
Category Check: Where’s the meat?
Protein-hungry Canadian consumers, looking for functional foods to support health goals like weight loss, drive higher sales and innovation for meat snacks. - 4/15/2026
CSNC Exclusive: Tea-riffic! Keurig Dr. Pepper Canada talks about the Snapple Spiked launch
Senior brand manager Erika Maddox on hard tea's unstoppable momentum. - 4/6/2026
Category Check: Gummy candy trends in convenience
Innovation and insatiable consumer demand for better-for-you options, bold flavours and blasts from the past are turning gummy candy into a grown-up, deliciously lucrative category. - 1/12/2026
Hydration nation: Sports drinks
With a focus on advanced hydration and functional ingredients that appeal to a wide audience beyond just athletes, sports drinks are booming, making convenience stores essential partners for continued growth. - 1/1/2026
Accessible retail spaces drive traffic, loyalty and sales
Why convenience stores and and gas stations must look beyond compliance and remove barriers at every stage of the shopper journey to tap into the spending power of Canadians living with disabilities.
