Nouria has hired Joy Almekies as director of fresh food and culinary. | Nouria
Nouria has hired Joy Almekies as director of fresh food and culinary, the Worcester, Massachusetts-based convenience-store chain announced Friday.
The hire reinforces “the company’s commitment to making fresh food a defining part of its guest experience and future growth,” Nouria said.
Almekies brings more than 25 years of foodservice experience spanning convenience retail, menu development and operations, Nouria said. She most recently served as senior director of food services at Newton, Massachusetts-based Global Partners, where her responsibilities included foodservice strategy, profitability, food safety, training and acquisition integration. She worked at Global Partners for more than 11 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In her new role, Almekies will lead Nouria’s fresh food and culinary initiatives, focusing on menu innovation, product quality and consistent execution, the company said. She will work closely with the fresh food and operations teams to strengthen training and help stores deliver food that meets guest expectations for taste, freshness and value.
“Fresh food is central to Nouria’s future,” said Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria and CSP’s2026 Retail Leader of the Year. “We want guests to think of us as a destination for a great meal. Joy brings the experience to develop compelling food programs and the leadership to help our teams deliver them consistently. That combination is essential to our mission of delivering the ultimate guest experience and creating delight with every visit.”
Almekies has held foodservice roles with J. Polep Distribution Services and New England Pantry/White Hen Pantry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Johnson & Wales University and has completed leadership development programs at Wharton and MIT Sloan, the company said.
“What attracted me to Nouria was its commitment to people and its thoughtful approach to building a lasting food program,” Almekies said. “Great food starts with a great team, supported by strong training and consistent execution. I look forward to working alongside the Nouria team to develop food our guests love and give them more reasons to return.”
Nouria is a family-owned convenience, food, and fuel retail company. Founded in 1989 by Tony El-Nemr, the company operates more than 300 convenience store locations, 93 car washes and multiple travel centers across New England and the Southeast. Nouria also supplies fuel to independent retail sites under brands including Shell, Irving, Gulf, Sunoco and Citgo.
Global Partners owns, leases or supplies gas stations and convenience stores under multiple brands, including Alltown Fresh, Honey Farms, Jiffy Mart and XtraMart. Other brands include Convenience Plus, Fast Freddie’s, Mr. Mike’s, T-Bird and P&H Truck Stop.
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Dining and Cooking