Convenience Store Decisions articles from April 2004

Convenience Store Decisions archives from April 2004

Will you change your spots?(Editor's Memo)(Southwest Georgia Oil )
April 1, 2004... Not long ago I was cutting through the office parking lot when a silver Lamborghini Murcielago rumbled past, its flanks streaked with black tribal flames. It looked like something out of the testosterone-fueled street-racing flick The Fast and...

Here comes the Sun: Southwest Georgia Oil's new concept store--the Sun Valley Market--redefines the term "channel blurring.".(Front End)(Southwest Georgia Oil Co.)
April 1, 2004... Southwest Georgia Oil Co. has planted a seed that should help it become less dependent on fuel margins. The 29-store chain's new oversized concept store, which specializes in non convenience items, has taken root not far from the company's...

Busted! An employee retention program called Churn Busters helped WESCO seize its turnover problems by the throat.(Front End)
April 1, 2004... At the end of 2001, the leadership for WESCO Convenience Stores (Muskegon, MI) looked at their chain's company-wide turnover rate, which hovered around 85%, and decided that enough was enough. One of the executives most frustrated by the...

The wild, wild west: new regulations designed to make New Mexico convenience stores a safer place to work could cost operators dearly.(Front End)
April 1, 2004... To make employees safer at convenience stores throughout New Mexico, the state's Environmental Improvement Board voted unanimously on March 2 to enact regulations that require store operators to do the following: * install inside and...

VERC turns on a dime.(Front End)(VERC Enterprises)
April 1, 2004... The pink New England Patriots' gear lining VERC Enterprises shelves speak volumes about the 20-store retailer. With locations throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, VERC Enterprises (Duxbury, MA) celebrated the team's rise to the Super...

Will 'malternative' growth return?(Front End)
April 1, 2004... Flavored malt beverages--those so-called "malternatives'--were responsible for much of the recent growth in the alcoholic beverages category. While the segment has by no means disappeared, growth has slowed considerably. Malternatives...

Quick Check Food Stores.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Quick Check Food Stores (Whitehouse Station, NJ) continues to reshape its executive team and field staff. The company has promoted John Schaninger, who began working with Quick Chek in 1978 as an assistant store manager, from vice president of...

Southwest Georgia Oil Co.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
April 1, 2004... Southwest Georgia Oil Co. (Bainbridge, GA) has promoted Aaron Goodman from vice president of retail operations to vice president and chief operating officer. In other company news, James "Jimmy" W. Harrell, founder of Southwest Georgia Oil, has...

Lorillard Tobacco Co.(Decision Makers)(Company)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Lorillard Tobacco Co. has promoted Leonard H. Jones to director of brand marketing. Jones joined Lorillard in 1997 as a brand manager and became senior brand manager in 1998.

CSD Feedback.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... I opened my copy of the February issue of CSD on Ash Wednesday. I want to thank CSD for running the article on JetFood Stores and thank Jay Gordon personally for his editorial. As a Christian who has spent over 20 years working for a large...

Auto focus: car-care services like windshield repair and detailing have put Toot'n Totum in the driver's seat.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... Give Toot'n Totum credit for being a quick study. The chain bought its way into the car wash business in 1995, when it acquired some Diamond Shamrock stores in its hometown of Amarillo, TX. Since the chain didn't have any car wash experience,...

Care for the car and the driver.(Autoindulgence)
April 1, 2004... Billy Hamilton starts every day with a handshake, a pat on the back or a sincere word of thanks. As co-general manager of Autoindulgence (Alpharetta, GA), he has made the practice of "team-building" part of his daily ritual. Without his...

Generation next: younger consumers get excited about new entertainment-based prepaid products and services. But not all items pass muster, even if they sport solid brand recognition.(Prepaid Services)
April 1, 2004... Prepaid has long been viewed as a venue for the "unbanked"--consumers with out bank accounts or credit cards. That's still true, but that unbanked customer now wears a distinctly different face. The customer prepaid providers and retailers now...

Wash around the clock: links with strong retail partners and a facility fit for "The King" reap rewards for this car wash operator.
April 1, 2004... Call him crazy, but Shell Spivey just loves Wal-Mart. In fact, he'll take almost any chance he gets to "cozy up" to the world's largest retailer. Spivey, CEO of Doo Wop LLC, opened his fifth 1950s-themed Happy Bays car wash in December 2002...

Brown Bear emerges from 'hibernation'.
April 1, 2004... As you might guess by its company name, Seattle-based convenience retailer Car Wash Enterprises (CWE) cut its teeth in the car wash business. The company slimmed down in 1995 when it leased its Brown Bear car washes to Tosco, now...

Planning for an upgrade.
April 1, 2004... Most car wash operators in New England slogged through a tough winter. December sales slumped because of unseasonably warm and wet weather. January temperatures plummeted to well below freezing for most of the month--not exactly conducive to...

The freshmen: Family Express and Favorite Markets dreamed up new fresh-food ideas that are anything but sophomoric. One chain immersed itself in the Hispanic culture; the other invested in delivery trucks that sound as if they came straight from the farm.
April 1, 2004... When Indiana residents ear towns like Valparaiso or Merrillville hear an amplified "moo" coming down the street, they don't have to worry about a stampede. It's just the audio "calling card" of a Family Express delivery truck. Like many...

Let's be blunt.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Altadis U.S.A. presents America's No. 1 flavored Blunts and Cigarillos--Phillies--now available in 10 great flavors: Original, Strawberry, Chocolate, Cognac, Creme de Menthe, Sweet Vanilla, Berry, Honey, Sour Apple and new Cinnamon. Retailers...

Hispanic expansion.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... J&J Snack Foods' Tio Pepe's brand is the leading brand of churros, a doughnut-like Mexican pastry. Now, J&J Snack Foods is proud to introduce its first Hispanic targeted frozen novelty, Tio Pepe's Hochata Congelada, based on an old-world rice,...

Morning menu.(New Stuff!)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Brakebush combines delicious chicken with popular breakfast tastes--like sausage, bacon and potato--to give breakfast menus more "get up and go. Brakebush's Morning Menu line includes five distinctive round-shaped patties and five hoagie-shaped...

High-volume brewing.(New Stuff!)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Curtis RU Series Urns feature simple operation and a hot-water jacket design so coffee is gently heated to ensure the final brewed product is superior in temperature, quality and taste. Manufactured to the highest quality standards, the Curtis...

All-in-one wash.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Ryko introduces the all-new Signature Series, engineered to fulfill all the demands of car wash operators and their customers. It incorporates pumps, electronics, chemicals and reverse osmosis water purification production on one ruggedly...

Savor the flavor.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Hatco Corp. offers the Flav-R-Savor Low Profile Holding Cabinet, built only 31-7/8" high to specifically fit beneath work counters. This easy-to-maneuver cabinet is versatile, accommodating up to six full size sheet pans on 3" centers, 11...

Delicious desserts.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... New from Sara Lee Foodservice, Bistro Bars are an indulgent, easy-to-use line of desserts. Please patrons all day with 14 sumptuous varieties, each with its own uniquely rich and satisfying profile. Bistro Bars are part of the Bistro...

Display appeal.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Federal Industries presents the new Counter Top Self-Serve Hot Display Case. Designed with impulse sales in mind, this specialty merchandiser features modern styling with easy access to a wide variety of products. The Counter Top Self-Serve Hot...

Unleash the stallion.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Inject the excitement and profitability of energy drinks into the fountain area with Wild Stallion, the first fountain-based energy drink. Wild Stallion energy drink in the Original Orange/Mango flavor made with a blend of taurine, guarana and...

Get smokin'.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... The Alto-Shaam Combitherm has further developed combination oven/steamer technology to provide complete smoking ability. Available in three electric boiler-free models, this patented technology gives operators the unique ability to smoke any...

Single and available.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Oregon Chai introduces the newest members of its growing family of products: ready-to-drink (RTD) chai tea lattes. These single serve glass bottles offer a creamy blend of tea, honey, vanilla and spices. Oregon Chai's new RTD chai tea lattes...

Packs a punch.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Miller Brewing Co. is the first to offer American beer drinkers the "Fridge Pack," a popular consumer package in other beverage segments. Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft Fridge Packs will be available by the end of April wherever canned...

Small package, big result.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Taylor Co. introduces the new Model C708 and C709 Crown Series countertop Heat Treatment soft-serve dispensing freezers that will exceed profit expectations with reduced labor costs and increased serving capacity. This technology assures...

Bite-size.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Chipper Beef Jerky announces the availability of the "super-sized" version of its popular beef jerky in a bottle products. Until now Chipper's unique beef jerky products have been available only in 2-oz. sizes. Now retailers can carry popular...

Return of the soda jerk.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... The great taste of Orange Crush and IBC Root Beer comes alive in a new lineup of Soda Shop Slushers frozen beverages, with Crush Frozen Orange Dream and IBC Root Beer Float. Customers of all ages will enjoy the one-of-a-kind flavor of these...

A whole new light.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Amerlux Lighting Solutions unveils a collection of Low Voltage Miniature Track Heads, designed for MR-16 halogen lamps. The fixtures offer a clean, compact look to complement any interior design or accent lighting task. All are designed to...

Built masterfully.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Master-Bilt, a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration systems, introduces an innovative reverse cycle process into its new and existing product lines. Adding a reverse-cycle valve to the condensing unit reverses the direction of refrigerant...

(Bread)stick around.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Piccadilly Circus Pizza introduces its new Double Dippers Breadstick program as part of the new Freezer to Oven foodservice concepts currently being developed to help retailers control labor and grow the bottom line. Double Dippers Breadsticks...

Convenience water.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Building on the trend of increased multi-pack purchases in convenience stores, Nestle Waters introduces the new Spring Pack. The refrigerator-friendly package, which contains 12 12-oz. bottles, has a clearly marked perforated end that makes it...

Carb/no carb.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Follett Corp. introduces Vision ice and beverage dispensers that incorporate new QuickCarb technology. These low-profile, high-capacity ice and beverage dispensers with under-counter ice storage provide a low profile so visibility is not...

Tipping the scales.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... Scripto introduces a line of "Desert Skins" lighters in five assorted rep* designs. Desert Skins Textured Grip Lighters feature a unique feel that resembles the scales of various snakes and lizards. This unique line is offered with a choice of...

Bigger is better.(New Stuff!)
April 1, 2004... The Promotion in Motion Co, Inc, launches its new larger single-serve sizes of its popular Buddy Bears' Gummi Bears, Sour Jacks Sour Candy, Nuclear Sqworms Sour Neon Gummi Worms, Sun Maid Chocolate Covered Raisins and Fisher Chocolate Covered...

Squirrel vs. Pork Chop: Pilot's Truck Driver Challenge lands the chain in the middle of an epic struggle for over-the-road supremacy.(Back room: "stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
April 1, 2004... Guys named "Squirrel," "Rock Bottom," "Pork Chop" and "Snowman" are just some of the truckers competing to win the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge 2004. In mid-March, Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Knoxville, TN) announced the competition, which pits...