2025 Category Managers of the Year

CSP recognized more Category Manager of the Year (CMOY) award winners this year than ever before, with 14 winners over seven categories. The 2025 CMOY awards recognized convenience-store category managers who are at the top of their game. Winners from both small and large chains were selected for each category: behind the counter, center store, dispensed beverages, foodservice, loyalty + tech, nonalcohol beverages and alcohol. 

The winners collected their awards in February during the Convenience Retailing University conference’s Country Bash in Nashville, which was followed by anafter party at JBJ’s Nashville. 

Retailer, supplier and wholesaler partners could submit their nominations for the industry’s best category managers through Dec. 13. Separate nominations were made for a category manager from a chain with 99 or fewer stores and a chain with 100 or more stores. After nominations closed, the six finalists in each category with the most votes, three finalists for smaller chains and three finalists for larger chains, moved on to the final round of voting. Only suppliers could vote for the winners.