Convenience stores and gas stations owners at the Nov. 19 seventh annual

Convenience stores and gas stations owners at the Nov. 19 seventh annual convention of the Asian American Convenience Store Association vowed to join hands to enhance their collective bargaining and purchasing powers with large manufacturers and suppliers.

“We feel that all these store owners, mostly independents, are not getting the best price for buying their products from the manufacturers. Unity will enhance their bargaining capacity and purchasing power,” AACSA president Satya Shaw said at the conclusion of the trade body’s annual convention.

The day-long event was kicked off by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the India Culture Center here by Bollywood actress Saumya Tandon.

Headquartered in Tampa, the AASCA was formed seven years ago after the arrest of some 50 Indian American store owners and their employees in Georgia for selling some unallowed products out of ignorance. In the last seven years, AASCA through its awareness campaign and activism has ensured that there is no repeat of such incident, Shaw said.

The AASCA today has a nationwide membership of about 10,000 convenience stores and gas station owners. According to unofficial estimates, of the 146,000 convenience stores and gas stations in the United States, some 50 percent of them are now run by Indian Americans, a majority of whom are from Gujarat.

“This is an effort to bring them under one platform. Uniting of all the independent store owners and with their combined purchasing power would reduce the cost of their products and thus enhance our profits in these tough economic times,” Shaw said.

How to tackle the economic crisis was one of the major topics of deliberations during the education seminar, which was addressed by eminent experts from the field and law enforcement officials.

“This (collective purchasing power) is the only way Indian American convenience store and gas station owners can gain prominence and increase their business,” said Ronald L. McDonald, an international restaurant business leader, author and philanthropist.

In addition to cultural programs by young local Indian Americans, artists from India, Atlanta, New York, and New Jersey also performed for the audience.

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