My preteen daughter is a little obsessed with Halloween. It’s not the ghost and goblin fare that’s the main attraction, rather it’s the chance to don a costume and head out with her besties to score far more candy in one night than our household consumes in a year. Never mind the fact that the only chocolate bar she likes is Almond Joy … the thrill of the hunt tinged with the prospect of a potentially spooky encounter make October 31 one of her most favorite days of the year.

Here at NACS, we trust you are experiencing a similar electric anticipation as you enter the NACS Show. If you’re reading this at the Georgia World Congress Center, welcome to Atlanta!

Go on, explore the 420,000 square feet of exhibits from more than 1,200 exhibiting companies, including more than 200 that are first-time exhibitors. The Expo showcases thousands of the latest products and services to help boost your store traffic and sales—and the all-new CBD Pavilion will give you a better idea of the products already on the market and ones on the way.

If you’re reading this at the Georgia World Congress Center, welcome to Atlanta!

Immerse yourself in more than 50 education sessions, including new CBD sessions, plus four General Sessions and two new Super Sessions. Hunt for must-have items in the Cool New Products Preview Room, and take every advantage to network with the more than 23,000 industry stakeholders from around the world. The NACS Show is the convenience and fuel retailing industry’s premier event, and we’re thrilled that you’re here!

This month’s magazine is jam-packed with features that touch on the challenges, opportunities and trends in our industry—both in North America and abroad. Our cover story tackles the rise of dollar stores and what convenience retailers can do to protect their turf and grow market share. In “Delivering Value,” we explore how c-store wholesalers deliver more than just the goods—but also key insights on category management, best practices, new product launches and more. Hiring the right team is a persistent pain point, so look to “A Winning Team” for advice on bringing both HR and Operations to the table to ease the process. We also offer a look at what’s on the horizon when it comes to biofuels and hydrogen, delve into trendy plant-based meat and explain how your store can make it into the Guinness World Records. Plus, we tour some innovative c-stores in Australia.

Much like the NACS Show—and trick or treating—there’s a lot of ground to cover. So, go. Explore. Learn. Connect. And when you’re on the plane, train or hovercraft heading home, pull out this magazine like a happy kid digs through a full sack of treats to find the good stuff.