Food Service

04-14-2026 by Mindy Long How to Innovate in Food Service: Lessons from Travel Centers

Innovation in food service isn’t just about trendy new menu items. For truck stop and travel center operators, food service innovation can help draw in customers, reduce friction and improve margins while also ensuring locations deliver food that people actually crave.

During the NATSO Connect Food Focus Forum at NATSO Connect 2026, three industry leaders shared practical ways to think about and execute innovation.

Food & Tobacco

04-14-2026

07-16-2024 by Mindy Long Thriving Franchises Create Travel Center Opportunities

Franchised businesses have demonstrated resilience and franchise growth is expected to continue outpacing the growth of the broader economy. That growth presents opportunities for truck stop and travel center operators.

07-16-2024

05-09-2024 by Amy Toner Two Ideas to Make it Easy for Professional Drivers to Park and Get Food at Your Travel Center

Article created for the digital issue of the NATSO Foundation’s magazine Adding convenience for drivers can help boost sales and grow wallet share, and two NATSO members shared simple yet effective strategies […]

Truckstop Business

05-09-2024

04-23-2024 by Amy Toner Naf Naf Grill and Love’s: Why this Partnership is a Recipe for Success

Naf Naf Grill is a fast-casual Middle Eastern concept that’s on a mission to bring the best flavors of the Middle East to the masses in a simple, affordable, fast-casual […]

Food & Tobacco

04-23-2024

01-18-2024 by Mindy Long Keep Food Offerings Interesting at Your Travel Center with an Innovation Calendar

Article created for the January digital issue of Innovation plays an important role in driving sales of retailers’ core offerings, and keeping food offerings fresh and exciting can help make a […]

Uncategorized

01-18-2024

12-12-2023 by Amy Toner Sprint Mart’s Newest Location Creates a Welcoming Destination for Drivers

Article created for the December digital issue of Sprint Mart has opened a new, state-of-the-art location in Vance, Alabama—about 15 miles east of Tuscaloosa—creating a destination for professional drivers and locals […]

Food & Tobacco

12-12-2023

10-28-2022 by Mindy Long 10 Creative Solutions Travel Centers are Using to Overcome Inventory Challenges

Supply chain issues and labor challenges continue, making it harder for truckstop and travel plaza operators to ensure they have the right products in the right place at the right […]

10-28-2022

04-30-2021 by Mindy Long 7 Ways Truckstops and Travel Plazas Get Creative to Capture Grab-and-Go and Self-Serve Food Sales

COVID-19 has changed restaurant and food sales, and companies had to quickly adjust. Those offering self-serve food options have had to pivot in many areas of the country depending on […]

04-30-2021

04-30-2021 by Mindy Long Increase Customer Frequency, Drive Transactions and Boost Loyalty with Mobile App- and Web-Based Ordering

When Northland Properties, which operates Denny’s restaurants in Canada, launched its web ordering platform with Smooth Commerce, it saw a significant growth in revenue within 30 days.
“We were very pleased with the amount of lift we saw during such a short time,” said Manoj Jasra, chief digital officer and chief marketing officer for the company.

04-30-2021

01-29-2021 by Amy Toner Convenience Retailing During the Pandemic with the Hosts of the In-Convenience Podcast

The hosts of the In-Convenience Podcast joined NATSO’s podcast to talk about what they think is working and not working for c-stores, retailers and truckstops during the pandemic.

01-29-2021

07-12-2020 by Amy Toner NATSO Offering Mobile App and Web Ordering Webinar

Join Smooth Commerce, a leading branded mobile app and web ordering provider, for a webinar on Thursday, July 16 at 1 p.m eastern to learn about this critical business offering.

07-12-2020