By DAVID BERTOLA
dbertola@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1621

NOCO Express has earned an industry award for using consumer-friendly technologies at its 32 service stations and convenience stores in Western New York.

The Customer Experience Award was given to NOCO at CSP Information Group's recent Convenience Retailing University conference in Arizona. CSP Information Group publishes Convenience Store Petroleum, an industry publication.

Henry Bays, general manager, accepted the award on behalf of NOCO, which won for using various technologies from the gas pump to in-store and consumers' homes to interact. By linking a customer's debit card with NOCO's EZ-Pay Friends and Family loyalty card, customers receive 10 cents off a gallon of gas and collect additional points to earn free gas.

Inside the store, TV and video screens called The NOCO Network feature daily specials and information about reward opportunities. The recently launched NOCO app can be used to look up gas prices and store specials from smartphones. Each NOCO Express store also has its own website, featuring the location's specials and gas prices.