Convenience store operators are rethinking how they present products as their assortments expand and store layouts evolve.
At the 2026 NACS Show, our Kinter team spoke with operators about what they're planning and the display hardware they'll need to make those changes.
Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) generated considerable interest at our booth, along with questions about checkout redesigns and grocery-style merchandising.
Kinter Business Development Executives Jake White and Gary McWhorter came away from those conversations with four takeaways worth sharing.
ESLs were one of the most frequent topics of conversation at Kinter's booth. Attendees wanted to know which ESL brands to consider and how Kinter could help with electronic shelf label holders.
According to Gary McWhorter, the ESL products featured in Kinter's booth prompted many visitors to ask whether the company supplied the electronic labels.
“Attendees always see that we are ESL heavy in our booth, so they always ask who is the best and if we supply them,” says McWhorter. “That question is a great segue for us on what we actually do—we provide the holders, not the ESLs — and how we support the ESL brands.”
The conversations provided an opportunity to explain Kinter's role in supplying compatible ESL mounting hardware.
Mounting requirements can vary depending on a store's existing shelving and display configurations, making hardware selection an important consideration for operators evaluating ESL systems.
The team also fielded questions about supporting installations for chains of different sizes. A retailer updating one location has different fulfillment requirements than a chain coordinating installations across dozens or hundreds of stores.
Kinter helps customers select the appropriate components and determine how best to get them where they're needed.
While ESLs drew considerable attention, checkout merchandising was another area where attendees were exploring changes.
Jake White noticed growing interest in checkout redesigns that make more room for impulse purchases. With a growing interest in marketing toward this type of purchase, Impulse purchase displays were also a top conversation topic.
“We’re seeing an increasing demand in impulse displays,” White said. “Many C-stores are redesigning how customers check out.”
Some convenience store operators are introducing merchandising walkways leading to the register, creating additional space for products customers may pick up before paying.
The new layouts are increasing demand for larger impulse fixtures and the hardware used to outfit them. Kinter helps customers select display hooks and supporting components for these front-end configurations.
A walkway display may call for a different hardware arrangement than a traditional checkout counter, depending on the space available and the products being featured.
The interest in making better use of checkout space also reflects a larger change McWhorter noticed in the types of products convenience stores are carrying.
Convenience stores are adding more products traditionally found in grocery stores, prompting operators to rethink how they use their existing shelf space.
“C-Stores are trying to do whatever they can to better merchandise overall, which includes bringing in more grocery store-like merchandise,” says McWhorter.
Gary also heard from smaller independent operators who want to achieve the type of product presentation they see in larger convenience store chains, with similar convenience store display fixtures.
For retailers working with existing shelving, updated display hooks and labeling solutions can help accommodate a changing product mix while improving the appearance and organization of their shelves.
Depending on the application, operators may be able to make those improvements with new merchandising components rather than replacing the shelving itself.
Making changes in a single store is one thing. Coordinating the same updates across an entire chain brings additional considerations, particularly when it comes to sourcing and delivery.
Several conversations at NACS also discussed the practical challenges of updating multiple locations. For operators working against installation schedules, waiting for display hardware can delay the project. White pointed to Kinter's inventory and distribution capabilities as an important part of how the company supports these customers.
“We overstock products so they're available when customers need them,” said White. “We can ship to a distribution center or directly to individual stores, depending on how the customer wants to handle delivery.”
Customers also benefit from direct-from-manufacturer pricing, with purchasing and delivery arrangements that can accommodate the way their organizations operate.
When a project calls for something beyond Kinter's existing product line, the company's development team can design and produce custom components, drawing on years of retail industry experience.
The ability to respond to an immediate need or work through a more specialized request is central to Kinter's Solved™ philosophy. The team approaches each customer challenge with the same goal: find a workable answer and help the customer move forward.
One of the best parts of attending NACS is hearing directly from the people who use our products and learning what they're trying to accomplish in their stores. Those conversations help our team find better ways to support customers, whether the answer is already on our shelves or requires some engineering work.
Have a display challenge you're trying to solve? Contact the Kinter team and tell us what you need and when you need it.