CSP
CSP is a B2B trade media brand and Informa Connect division serving the U.S. convenience store and petroleum retailing industry via news, magazines, podcasts, premium subscriptions, proprietary research, and a portfolio of annual industry forums and awards.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CSP does
CSP (Convenience Store News & Petroleum) is a B2B trade media brand and division of Informa Connect (part of London-listed Informa PLC, ticker INF), serving the U.S. convenience store and petroleum retailing industry. Founded in February 2013, CSP operates a multi-platform content portfolio comprising CSP Daily News (cspdailynews.com), CSP Magazine, the At Your Convenience and Retail Daily podcasts, and the C-Store TEC Talks video series. Its core technology is a digital-first publishing platform delivering news, analysis, special reports, podcasts, webinars, and proprietary industry research to convenience channel decision-makers.
The company's product portfolio spans editorial content, premium membership (CSP+ at $19.99/month or $199/year), enterprise subscriptions, special reports including the annual Top 202 Convenience Stores ranking and the award-winning Category Management Handbook, and a sizable events business including the Center Store Forum, Foodservice Forum, Retail Media Network Forum, Dispensed Beverages Forum, Outlook Leadership Conference, and Convenience Retailing University. CSP also runs industry award programs including the Bevvy Awards (in partnership with Supermarket News and Technomic) and the Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest. The company employs 101–250 people, is headquartered in Chicago, and serves as the de facto information infrastructure for the U.S. c-store and fuel retailing sector.
CSP's revenue model is hybrid: recurring subscription revenue from CSP+ individual and enterprise tiers, advertising sold against a specialized c-store audience (sold via advertise.cspdailynews.com), event sponsorship and registration fees from its forum portfolio, and content licensing for proprietary research and rankings. Customer segments include c-store operators and retailers (primary), CPG companies and suppliers (primary), and distributors/wholesalers such as McLane, Core-Mark, and Sysco. Distribution is direct via digital channels (website, email, podcasts, social), with in-person events concentrated in major U.S. cities. Strategic partnerships with Informa Connect, Technomic, NexChapter, Supermarket News, and the Specialty Coffee Association extend CSP's content, research, and event capabilities across the c-store value chain.
CSP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CSP
- Legal name
- CSP Daily News
- Website
- https://cspdailynews.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CSP is a B2B trade media brand and Informa Connect division serving the U.S. convenience store and petroleum retailing industry via news, magazines, podcasts, premium subscriptions, proprietary research, and a portfolio of annual industry forums and awards.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CSP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CSP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CSP+ Subscriptions: CSP+ subscription model providing unlimited access to premium content including award-winning editorial analysis, exclusive interviews with industry stakeholders, in-depth industry examinations, and the members-only newsletter. Monthly subscription at $19.99 or annual at $199 (save 20%).
- Enterprise Subscriptions: Enterprise plans for organizations requiring multiple licenses for leadership teams, providing personalized news and content tailored to company needs.
- Advertising: CSP monetizes its digital properties and audience through advertising opportunities for CPG brands, technology providers, and industry suppliers targeting convenience store retailers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | CSP+ Monthly - Individual subscription with full premium access |
| Subscription | Annual | CSP+ Annual - Individual subscription with full premium access at discounted rate |
| Subscription | Annual | CSP+ Enterprise - Multiple licenses for leadership teams |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
CSP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CSP is a B2B trade media brand that publishes daily industry news, a print magazine, podcasts, video, and exclusive research reports covering the convenience store and petroleum retailing industry. The company operates the CSP+ paid subscription membership and produces high-profile industry events and award programs that convene retailers, suppliers, CPG companies, and technology providers. Revenue is generated through subscriptions, advertising, and event participation.
Product overview
CSP (Convenience Store News & Petroleum) is a media and publishing company serving the convenience store and petroleum retailing industry. The company operates a multi-platform content portfolio consisting of CSP Daily News (digital news website), CSP Magazine (print publication), podcasts including 'At Your Convenience' and 'Retail Daily', and C-Store TEC Talks video series. CSP+ premium membership provides unlimited access to premium content and exclusive reports including the bi-annual State of the Convenience Industry report from Technomic. The company produces industry research including the annual Top 202 Convenience Stores ranking and Category Management Handbook. CSP also organizes major industry events including the Center Store Forum, Foodservice Forum, Retail Media Network Forum, Dispensed Beverages Forum, and Outlook Leadership Conference. The company hosts award programs including the Bevvy Awards (in partnership with Supermarket News and Technomic) and the Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CSP+: Premium subscription membership offering unlimited access to premium content and members-only newsletter
- At Your Convenience
- Retail Daily
- C-Store TEC Talks
Products and services
- CSP Daily News Primary digital news platform providing daily coverage of convenience store and petroleum retailing industry news, including company news, category news, special reports, podcasts, and webinars. Targeted at c-store operators, suppliers, and CPG companies.
- CSP Magazine
Quantifiable outcome
- CSP won 2 National Azbee Awards for editorial excellence in business media
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CSP
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CSP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CSP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Supermarket NewscoreCSP partnered with Supermarket News and Technomic to announce the 2026 Bevvy Awards, an industry award program recognizing excellence among convenience retailers and fuel marketers in five beverage retail categories.
- TechnomiccoreCSP partners with Technomic (a Winsight Company and sister firm) on industry research and reports including the bi-annual State of the Convenience Industry report, the 2026 Bevvy Awards program, and various foodservice and beverage trend analyses.
- NexChaptermajorCSP partners with NexChapter for the Retail Media Network Forum, bringing together retailers from convenience, dollar, drug, and specialty channels with CPG companies and technology providers. NexChapter provides consulting expertise in retail media network strategies.
- Cogknition AnalyticsminorCogknition Analytics CEO Arjun Chakravarti presents at CSP's Center Store Forum, providing research on consumer spending patterns and economic outlook for the convenience industry.
- Informa ConnectcoreCSP and Informa Connect, both part of London-based Informa PLC, co-host multiple industry events including Center Store Forum, Retail Media Network Forum, and other conferences for the convenience store industry. Informa Connect provides the platform and operational infrastructure for CSP's event portfolio.
- CircanaminorCircana senior vice president David Portalatin presents at CSP's Foodservice Forum, sharing research on c-store targeting higher-income consumers and competitive dynamics with QSRs.
- TechnomicminorTechnomic researcher Julie Heseman presents competitive research at CSP's Foodservice Forum, highlighting that 57% of c-store operators identify QSRs as primary competitors.
- Specialty Coffee AssociationmajorCSP partnered with the Specialty Coffee Association for its Dispensed Beverages Forum, featuring SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos discussing specialty coffee trends and their importance in driving customer loyalty for convenience stores.
- GooglemajorGoogle is a featured speaker at CSP's Retail Media Network Forum, presenting on AI, data and measurement advancements relevant to retail media networks in the convenience channel.
- IABmajorIAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) participates in CSP's Retail Media Network Forum to present on industry measurement standards and frameworks for retail media.
- Love's Travel StopsmajorLove's Travel Stops is featured as an operator presenter at CSP's Retail Media Network Forum, sharing insights on building retail media networks in the convenience channel.
- Dollar GeneralmajorDollar General participates as an operator presenter at CSP's Retail Media Network Forum representing small-format retail perspectives on retail media strategies.
- Circle KmajorCircle K is featured as an operator presenter at CSP's Retail Media Network Forum, sharing expertise on retail media network development in convenience retail.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CSP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Restaurant Business: Restaurant Business is a Winsight brand and one of the leading B2B trade publications for the US restaurant industry, with magazines, events, and research products. It is directly comparable to CSP in business model, target audience (operators plus suppliers), and monetization mix.
- Winsight: Winsight is a sister company within Informa Connect that operates B2B media brands (Restaurant Business, Winsight Grocery Business, CSP) covering retail and foodservice. It is the most structurally comparable peer given shared parent, shared B2B trade media model, and overlapping event and data products.
- NACS Magazine: NACS Magazine is the flagship publication of the National Association of Convenience Store Owners, the dominant c-store industry trade association. It is a direct peer because it serves the same operator audience with similar content, research, and event-driven engagement.
- Convenience Store News: Convenience Store News is the longest-running competing trade publication dedicated to the US convenience store industry, with overlapping editorial coverage, awards programs, and event activity. It competes head-to-head with CSP for c-store operator and CPG reader attention and advertising dollars.
- Supermarket News: Supermarket News is a sister Informa Connect brand providing B2B trade media for the grocery channel, and co-produces the Retail Daily podcast and Bevvy Awards with CSP. It is directly comparable as an adjacent-vertical trade publication with identical business model and parent.
- Foodservice Director: Foodservice Director is a B2B trade publication serving non-commercial foodservice operators, with content and events covering menu innovation and operator trends. It is comparable to CSP's Foodservice Forum in audience and content focus, and shares the B2B trade media business model.
Emerging players
- Retail TouchPoints: Retail TouchPoints is a digital-first B2B media brand covering retail innovation, technology, and customer experience across multiple retail formats. It is comparable to CSP as a B2B retail media property, though with a broader, less c-store-specific focus and a primarily digital, lighter-events model.
- Industry Dive: Industry Dive is a B2B digital media company operating vertical-specific publications across multiple industries including retail and foodservice. It is comparable to CSP as a B2B trade media model with a more digital-native, lighter-events approach and broader industry coverage.
Broad incumbents
- Insider Intelligence (eMarketer): Insider Intelligence, formed from the merger of eMarketer and Business Insider Intelligence, is a leading subscription-based B2B research and media business covering digital marketing, advertising, and commerce. It is comparable to CSP+ as a paid B2B intelligence subscription, though covering a far broader market.
- Adweek: Adweek is a major B2B trade media brand covering advertising, marketing, and media across industries. It is comparable to CSP as a B2B publishing model but is much larger, broader in scope, and focused on the agency/marketer side rather than a specific retail vertical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CSP social profiles
Digital presenceCSP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CSP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CSP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CSP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CSP
What does CSP do?
CSP is a B2B trade media brand that publishes daily industry news, a print magazine, podcasts, video, and exclusive research reports covering the convenience store and petroleum retailing industry. The company operates the CSP+ paid subscription membership and produces high-profile industry events and award programs that convene retailers, suppliers, CPG companies, and technology providers. Revenue is generated through subscriptions, advertising, and event participation.
Is CSP a public or private company?
CSP is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CSP founded?
CSP was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CSP based?
CSP is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does CSP make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CSP+ Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are enterprise Subscriptions and advertising.
Who are CSP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Restaurant Business, Winsight, NACS Magazine, Convenience Store News, Supermarket News and Foodservice Director. Emerging players are Retail TouchPoints and Industry Dive. Broad incumbents are Insider Intelligence (eMarketer) and Adweek.
Does CSP have an API?
No public API is recorded for CSP.