Commerce Corner S2|E5: Brian Trout on C-Store M&A, Scaling Strategies, and Technology

In this episode of Commerce Corner, hosts Adit Gupta and Matt Kopyt sit down with Brian Trout, a convenience retail veteran who has scaled Yesway from concept to 150 stores in just three years via strategic acquisitions. Brian has held leadership roles at Amoco Oil, BP, Thorntons, GPM, and the Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association (GHRA).Convenience store operators are facing unprecedented challenges: fuel price volatility, supply chain disruptions, pressure from major chains with advanced digital capabilities, and the need to do more with fewer people. This conversation cuts through the noise on what actually drives c-store profitability and competitive advantage.Whether you're scaling a regional chain, running independent stores, or investing in convenience retail, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, labor efficiency, supply chain resilience, and the competitive advantage of stepping back to focus on strategic operations instead of daily shifts.