Jeff Lenard

June 1 is a big date in the transportation energy industry. It marks the completion of the spring transition to summer blend fuels because it is the date at which retailers in non-attainment zones must fully switch to selling summer grade gas. This year, June 1 could be important for another reason: It could be when the fueling market is significantly different than it was in late April.

There is no question that the theme of the 2025 NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit was uncertainty. Last year’s event took place as the stock market was roiled by President Trump’s announcements—and subsequent modifications—of tariffs. Now, a year later, there is even more uncertainty caused by more global events—but uncertainty was not a central theme of this year’s SOI Summit. The question is, was that because everyone’s now accustomed to uncertainty or are they better able to manage it?

Nearly 75% of all restaurant orders aren’t eaten at restaurants—meaning about three out of four orders are consumed in a car, at home, at work or somewhere else, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report. The findings highlight how off-premises dining has grown, “with the convenience and availability of takeout, delivery and drive-thru now deeply embedded in everyday life,” noted the report.