The 2025 NACS Show takes place through Friday at McCormick Place in Chicago. There is more than 430,000 square feet of expo space.
Here are some trends CSP editors saw on the show floor.
Retail media takes center stage at NACS Show
Retail media is a strategic priority at this year’s NACS Show. Technology providers are looking beyond traditional screens and tapping into functional touchpoints like self-checkout stations, food-ordering kiosks, ATMs and order status displays. The idea: monetize every inch of the store.
Richmond, Virginia-based Brinks, for example, showcased ATMs equipped with programmable digital displays for targeted advertising. London-based Altaine is bundling retail media into its foodservice software, offering self-ordering and customer-facing progress screens as new ad real estate. And Detroit-based GSTV is evolving its model, partnering with chains like Casey’s to move beyond standard video ads and into full-fledged retail media networks.
—Rachel Gignac
Profusion of pouches
While smoking rates are at historic lows, non-combustible product alternatives are on the rise, including nicotine pouches, which were widely on display at the trade floor at the NACS Show. OTP sales averaged $19,663 per store, per month in 2024, up 7% from 2023, according to NACS State of the Industry data for 2024.
“The profitability gap between cigarettes and other tobacco products (OTP) is closing,” said Emma Tainter, NACS research manager, analytics and programs, at Tuesday’s education session, The Evolving Tobacco and Vape Landscape.
Tobacco companies aren’t the only ones adapting to attract today’s nicotine shopper.
Jessica Starnes, CLMP, director of loyalty and tobacco category manager at Weigels Inc., said during an education session Tuesday that the Powell, Tennessee-based retailer has “rightsized the backbar to position ourselves to become the nicotine pouch destination.”
—Diane Adam
Bakery to go
Small, portable portions of bakery items were in big supply on the floor at the NACS Show. Coming in an array of sizes, flavors and offerings, these products are available in clamshell containers and single-serve packaging Rich Products, Buffalo, New York, has its new fully finished Microbite Donuts, with flavors including berry and chocolate. They also have cinnamon rolls. The Killer Brownie line at Irresistible Food Groups, Torrance, California, includes brownies and “brownie plus cookie” items. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Ditsch sells pretzel bites, which have a patented design process to keep the authentic flavor and texture of a Bavarian soft pretzel. Summit, Illinois-based Talerico Bakery sells a grab-and-go cup of various doughnut holes, which include blueberry, chocolate and cherry glazed old-fashioneds—as well as powdered. Finally, Bon Appetit, Vernon, California, has a line of gourmet doughnuts, six to a package. Strawberry cheesecake is one of the flavors.
—Chuck Ulie
Powerful protein
Protein came in many forms on the NACS Show floor—from bars to waters to cookies and more. Kind Protein Max is launching a new flavor, Raspberry Cocoa Crisp. It has 20 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar per serving. Bucked Up lightly carbonated protein drinks have 25 grams of protein per 16-ounce can and come in flavors like Banana Pineapple, Peach Mango and Rainbow Candy. Andersen’s Crazy Candy has launched a Crazy Protein cookie with 20 grams of protein. And Glanbia introduced Isopure—a new protein water with 15 grams of protein per 20-ounce bottle. The list goes on. The use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs has helped spur this trend, Circana has said.
—Hannah Hammond
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