A note from our president, Rick Sales:

I always look forward to the NACS Show, even with all the preparation and travel it takes to get there. Events like this create a real sense of belonging — a place where you can explore new industry trends, validate your own strategies, and feel inspired by the collective innovation happening all around you. It’s truly an event not to be missed.

So, what am I most excited about at NACS this year? First and foremost, reconnecting with our customers and partners. These conversations are the highlight of the show for me — learning about what’s happening in their businesses and lives, and discovering new ways we can help them succeed. That’s at the heart of Abierto’s brand: enabling our clients’ success.

I’m also eager to dive deeper into the evolution of retail media and how brands are adapting their strategies around this fast-growing opportunity. Over the past year, I’ve noticed a shift in how retailers view and approach retail media, and I expect that momentum to accelerate as they refine the right value propositions for their businesses. At Abierto, we’re committed to supporting this growth with a retail media network–agnostic platform, giving clients the control, flexibility, and data they need to make confident decisions.

Another area of focus is forecourt communication — an increasingly important driver of traffic for convenience stores. Retailer interest continues to grow here, and I’m looking forward to exploring this space further as we expand our OPEN.LED technology lineup with new solutions designed to meet evolving customer needs.

Finally, I’m thrilled to celebrate our client Rutter’s and their CEO Scott Hartman, who are being recognized for their outstanding leadership. In my view, the Retail Leader of the Year is someone who pushes boundaries, drives meaningful innovation, and uplifts the entire industry. True leaders understand that “impossible” is only temporary — that the dream of yesterday becomes the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.

See you in Chicago next week!