Browse SG’s Complete Article Library
M&A Case Study: Matrix Advises Downs Energy on its Sale to Pilot Company
Downs Energy is a leading petroleum marketer that operates six high-performing cardlocks with a large fleet card customer base and a delivered fuels and lubricants distribution segment servicing commercial and municipal customers throughout Southern California....
Unleaded Fees: Stripping Away the “Premium” Cost of Online Payments
For two decades, the petroleum industry has operated on a simple “handshake” at the pump. The customer swipes their card, the machine verifies the chip, and the transaction is complete. This is Card Present (CP)...
6 Retention Strategies That Actually Work in 2026
You’re trying everything. Higher starting wages. Sign-on bonuses. Employee appreciation days. You’ve added PTO, improved benefits, and invested in better training programs. And yet, you’re still watching good people walk out the door before they...
Your Superpower Isn’t Scale, It’s Knowledge: Building Food Brands Customers Actually Want
By Davis McCauley, Lead Brand Designer For decades, foodservice in convenience stores and travel centers was viewed as an amenity, a secondary consideration behind fuel price, location, and speed. That hierarchy has fundamentally changed. Prepared...
The Economy in 2026
By Dr. David Nelson As we wrap up another year, our thoughts turn to the year ahead and what’s in store for the U.S. Economy. Will we see a continuation of economic growth? Will the...
Gratitude: A Path to True Joy
By Jed Brewer, CEO of Study Groups “It’s not joy that makes us grateful; it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.” My friend shared those words one night in a small group we were part of....
C-Store Manager Leadership: Building Great Teams That Drive Success
Strong convenience store performance begins with effective leadership. The best managers aren’t stopping at schedules and cigarette counts. They’re developing people and driving culture to build resilient, profitable stores. This article explores strategies from industry...
Frontline Engagement Benchmarks: How Top Companies Are Investing in 2026
As 2025 winds down, many companies are asking the same question: what will it take to keep great people in 2026? Across industries, one pattern keeps surfacing in the data: organizations with the longest frontline...
From Chaos to Competitive Edge: The Case for a Data Orchestration Platform
In the fast-paced world of convenience retail, success is measured in moments: a quick fuel-up, a morning coffee run, an evening snack purchase. Each of these moments generates a critical piece of data. But for...
M&A Case Study: Matrix Advises Redwood Oil Company, Inc. on its Sale to Jacksons Food Stores, Inc.
Redwood Oil Company, Inc. is a leading convenience retailer that operates 24 high-performing convenience stores throughout Northern California. The Company was founded in 1972 when Peter Van Alyea opened the first Redwood Market in Marin...
Effective KPI Strategies
Running a petroleum company is a complex business, especially with myriad moving parts impacted by real-time events. Having pre-set, critical financial data points available for review, tracking and benchmarking should be part of the management...
Limescale and Biofouling: the Silent Menaces Wreaking Havoc on Your C-store and Car Wash
Water is the lifeblood of your convenience store and car wash operations—but not all water is created equal. Hidden inside your pipes, machines, and spray nozzles are two culprits of bad water quality: limescale and...