Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from an information technology (IT) tool to a company-wide business strategy, transforming how restaurant and convenience-store operators approach everything from product design to daily operations.

This insight comes from industry executives speaking at Informa Connect’s Outlook Leadership event Aug. 5 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

“I think the competition that’s going to disrupt our industries moving forward, whether it be the restaurant industry or the c-store industry, will probably come from native companies that were started with code, rather than a typical business house,” said panel moderator Kyle Drennon, co-CEO of Supper Co., Springfield, Missouri.

Tsang said his company is building custom code, applications and automations across the entire company, converting traditional computer and software functions into AI-powered tools.

Practical applications

Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria Energy Corp., Worcester, Massachusetts, and CSP’s 2026 Retail Leader of the Year, shared how AI helped design a holiday cup for the retailer.

Hamza said he and his team went through several iterations, and AI helped refine the final product. 

“The lesson here is that AI is as good as the context as the information you feed it,” he said.

• Nouria Energy Corp. is No. 29 on CSP’s 2026 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
  
  

Operations for all operators

Leon Davoyan, chief technology officer at Dave’s Hot Chicken based in Pasadena, California, said proprietary code isn’t necessary for every operator.

He said Dave’s Hot Chicken uses AI, but through a vendor.

“You don’t have to build you own infrastructure,” he said. 

The panel emphasized that AI implementation varies by company size and resources, but the technology is becoming essential for retailers across all segments.