Retailers and experts to address security and loss prevention at 2026 Convenience U CARWACS Show C-store IQ Conference

The Convenience Store News Canada team is pleased to be curating two mornings of exciting conference content for Canada’s largest and best-attended convenience, gas and car wash event—on March 10-11, 2026.

This two-morning conference is designed to provide valuable content and expert insight to help leaders and operators position their businesses for success. In addition to an exclusive preview of the 2026 C-store IQ National Shopper Study, expect marquee keynotes, as well as engaging expert advice, research and panels covering everything from beverage alcohol to security, the economy and consumer insights.

SESSION DETAILS

Protecting people: Safer stores, stronger businesses

Escalating theft, organized retail crime and growing safety concerns are reshaping the day-to-day reality for convenience store and gas station operators. Front-line staff are facing increasing risks, while retailers are being forced to rethink how they approach security, loss prevention and partnerships with law enforcement.

In this essential session, Jay Meloff, who specializes in helping security and safety leaders do more with less to protect their people, places and assets, will take a big-picture look at the evolving safety and security landscape in convenience retail—what’s changing, why it’s happening and what operators can do about it.

Drawing on Axon’s security expertise and lessons from convenience retailers in Canada and around the globe, this session will explore how leading operators are modernizing their approach to store safety, investing in new technologies, redesigning in-store processes and adopting proactive strategies that protect employees while also deterring theft and reducing losses.

Attendees will learn how retailers are:

·   Using the latest security and surveillance technologies to prevent incidents before they happen

·   Implementing smarter store layouts, protocols and staff training to improve safety

·   Partnering more effectively with police and local authorities

·   Creating safer environments that support staff retention and morale

·   Balancing loss prevention with a positive customer experience

Most importantly, this session will move beyond fear-based narratives to focus on real, tangible solutions—giving operators a clear sense of what works and how they can take action immediately.

After Meloff's presentation, the Security & Loss Prevention Retailer Panel will take to the stage to discuss real challenges and solutions around this key issue. Jeff Brownlee, Vice-President of Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Convenience Industry Council of Canada, will moderate this retailer-driven discussion with David Button, President, North Sun Energy; Michael Carroll, director - corporate retail, McDougall Energy; Amedeo Catenaro, Senior Director of Franchising, Real Estate & Marketing, INS Market; and Jay Meloff, Strategic Enterprise Account Executive, Axon.