For the first time in three years, Break Time store managers convened at Chateau on the Lake resort in Branson, Mo., for their annual meeting on October 18 and 19. The gathering was a new experience for many of the managers, with more than half of the attendees being hired since 2019.
The theme of the meeting was Set up for Success, and presentations were geared toward taking a holistic approach to professional success that includes mental, physical and financial well-being.
Jennifer Bach, senior director of Break Time operations, welcomed attendees and set the stage for the next day-and-a-half’s worth of activities before introducing Curtis Chaney, senior vice president of retail. Chaney said he was proud of the managers’ ability to keep their stores open despite lockdowns, health concerns, staffing shortages, and other hurdles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was great to see all of our managers together for the first time in three years,” Chaney said. “They have done a tremendous job servicing our customers but have missed out on the relationship building that can only be accomplished by having time spent together.”
Chaney recapped Break Time’s many accomplishments over the past three years such as opening new stores in Columbia, Mo., Ashland, Mo., and Bolivar, Mo., the introduction of mobile checkout technology, the reimaging campaign to refresh logos and branding at existing stores, and upgrades to credit card readers and printers.
On the food service side, Chaney discussed rebranding Dashboard Diner to AnyTime Eats; the additions of Ice Cream Factory ice cream and Krispy Krunchy Grab N’ Go chicken tenders; the rollout of bean-to-cup coffee equipment; and the installation of new and improved food warmers.
Looking to the future, Chaney outlined current and upcoming projects including a new store in Springfield, Mo. (scheduled to open in December), rebuilding a store in Lexington, Mo. (reopening in December), additional upgrades to food service equipment, the completion of the reimaging project at all stores, upgrading security camera systems, replacing credit card pin pads, and leveling up the point-of-sale computer system. Break Time plans to evaluate self-checkout technology at three stores in Columbia in 2023.
“While we can’t predict the future, one of our main goals is to try to anticipate where the industry will head,” Chaney said. “Consumer preference shows we must move toward multiple options for payment. We must also be prepared for shifts in alternative fuel demand, opportunities to modify our food offerings, and ways we can replace margins from declining cigarette sales. Basically, we need to be flexible and nimble to remain relevant.”
Break Time hosted a trade show featuring 37 vendor booths for managers to sample various products and speak with vendors. In the evening, a social hour and awards banquet were held to honor top-performing managers.
Top Managers by Category
Net Income Improvement—William Krueger, 3132 Fulton
MyTime Rewards Penetration—Melissa Rath, 3089 Sweet Springs
Hot/Cold Dispensed Sales—October Koonce, 3125 Poplar Bluff
Safety Audit Score—Sarah Arnold & Kati Copeland, 3002 Carrollton & 3127 Silva
Foodservice Sales—Michael Conroy, 3167 Sedalia
Store Sales Increase—Valerie Miller, 3168 Columbia
Average Transaction—Michelle Shores, 3004 Lake Ozark
Gallons Increase—Valerie Miller, 3168 Columbia
Lowest Turnover—Spencer Kimball, 3008 California
Total Gallons—Andrea Ball, 3163 Moberly
Customer Count—October Koonce, 3125 Poplar Bluff
Store Sales—Michael Conroy, 3167 Sedalia
The following managers were recognized for exemplifying the company’s core values:
Put Customers First—Valerie Miller, 3168 Columbia
Lead by Example—Betty Leivan, 3111 Maryville
Be Tenacious—Wanda Jasper, 3061 Marshall
Be Tenacious—Raiven Murrell, 3150 Lebanon
Following the awards, comedian and magician Tim Gabrielson provided the evening’s entertainment.
The meeting’s second day featured team-building activities, a trip to Andy B’s Bowl Social for a bowling tournament, and a pizza party luncheon.
