*GHRA recognizes convenience industry suppliers and store operators with inaugural Kudos Awards
HOUSTON, Texas (Oct. 30, 2023) – More than 2,000 independent convenience store owners and operators, suppliers, vendors, and other industry leaders participated in the 2023 GHRA Trade Show hosted by Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc. (GHRA) on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
The 2023 GHRA Trade Show, “Next Gen – Collaborating to Achieve” was held at Houston NRG Center and was the association’s 12th and largest ever annual trade show. GHRA Chief Executive Officer Brian Trout said: “Working together, our members, vendors, suppliers, and staff are defining and delivering the next generation of convenience retail. Their success is important to the many customers, communities, and neighborhoods they serve throughout Greater Houston and southeast Texas.”
More than 191 local, regional, and international exhibitors showcased more than 500 new consumer products and other resources available to convenience retail owners and operators. Trade show activities highlighted innovation, new products, relationship building, celebration of achievements, and commitment to community.
GHRA is a membership organization that provides resources to independently owned and operated convenience retail stores. GHRA’s nearly 1,100 individual members are entrepreneurs who own more than 2,000 convenience retail stores in neighborhoods across 37 counties of southeast Texas. Together, GHRA members represent more than a third of the retail stores in the Houston metropolitan area.
According to GHRA Board of Directors President Imran Ali, who has an ownership position in 25 GHRA member stores, “The event showcased new and upcoming products and technologies and trends on where they are heading. Most importantly, the trade show was an opportunity for GHRA members to meaningfully interact with each other and with vendor partners who are critical to our business success and to delivering products and services that our retail customers need and want.”
A Convenience Store of the Future exhibit highlighted “next generation” business and consumer-experience solutions. The exhibit featured innovative approaches and new technology opportunities including outdoor and indoor digital displays that provide cost effective, efficient, flexible, and engaging options for convenience store operators to communicate and interact with their on-the-go customers.
More than 500 new products and services were featured in the GHRA’s New Items exhibit and throughout the trade show floor by various vendor partners. In addition, GHRA showcased its new food service offer that includes freshly breaded and fried chicken. GHRA’s chicken tender samples were mentioned as a favorite feature by many trade show attendees.
GHRA exhibits also featured:
- Kudos, GHRA’s new convenience store concept, which includes a kitchen with chicken recipes, breakfast and deli sandwiches, biscuits, and fries;
- Big Madre Tacos y Tortas, a restaurant brand now providing food service at 37 convenience store locations in southeast Texas;
- GHRA Fuels, which offers unbranded gas station fuels distribution services for GHRA members;
- and GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Center, a flagship product distribution resource for GHRA members that is conveniently located in Houston.
Premium sponsors of the 2023 GHRA Trade Show represented Pepsi, Monster Energy, Tally Quick, Coca-Cola, MPACT Beverage Company, Frito-Lay, Hershey, Red Bull, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Celsius, Warren Southwest Refrigeration, Speed Petroleum, Motiva Enterprises, and Schwan’s Food Service.
2023 GHRA Kudos Awards for Vendors and Warehouse Customers
GHRA this year held its first-time “Kudos Unite” evening reception of celebration and collaboration on Tuesday, Oct. 24, and presented five convenience retail vendors with Kudos Awards for their achievements in the past year. The Kudos Awards are named after GHRA’s new Kudos convenience retail brand that aims to serve every customer as an everyday hero and recognize achievements of those who serve and help others.
GHRA’s 2023 Kudos Vendor Award recipients include:
- GHRA Kudos Award for Innovation to Monster Energy
- GHRA Kudos Award for Best Customer Service to Cintas
- GHRA Kudos Vendor of the Year (Tobacco) to Altria
- GHRA Kudos Vendor of the Year (Warehouse Distribution) to Hershey
- GHRA Kudos Vendor of the Year (Direct Store Delivery) to Frito-Lay
Also, GHRA recognized five GHRA member convenience store operators with the highest grocery sales from the GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Center.
Kudos Awards for GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Center Customers with Highest Grocery Sales are:
- Time Maxx # 1, 16160 Interstate Highway 10 in Baytown, owned by Lehjatali M. Momin
- Hamlet’s Market Place, 2665 Reed Road in Houston, owned by Riyazali P. Momin
- Easy Lane Food Mart # 12, 987 County Road 3550 in Cleveland, owned by Amirali W. Dhukani
- Big Kountry, 10100 Highway 59 South in Shepherd, owned by Rahim H. Momin
- Swift, 2601 Highway 69 North in Nederland, owned by Shaukatali K. Momin
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About Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc. (GHRA)
Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc. is a membership organization that provides resources to independently owned and operated convenience retail stores in greater Houston and southeast Texas. GHRA’s nearly 1,100 individual members are entrepreneurs who own and operate more than 2,000 convenience retail stores in neighborhoods across 37 counties of Southeast Texas. Together, GHRA members represent more than a third of the retail stores in the region. GHRA’s family of brands include Kudos, Big Madre Tacos y Tortas, and GHRA Fuels. GHRA members also developed the Greater Houston Retailers Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has contributed to several community efforts with a particular focus on an annual golf tournament that raises funds to provide support to families of peace officers and firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. To learn more, visit https://www.ghraonline.com.
Oct. 24, 2023
Shown, from left, are: GHRA Vice President for Retail Jeffrey Reeder, Vice President of GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Anees Burhani, Amirali W. Dhukani, Lehjatali M. Momin, Riyazali P. Momin; GHRA Board of Directors President Imran Ali, and GHRA Chief Executive Officer Brian Trout. Oct. 24, 2023
Photos are provided by Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc. (GHRA).
If you have questions or need additional content or information, please contact:
Margaret Laney, Senior Public Relations Consultant to GHRA
Mobile: (832) 541.3809
Email: margaret@duboislaney.com