Convenience Store Decisions articles from April 2005

Convenience Store Decisions archives from April 2005

A test of your company's will?(Editor's Memo)(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... I'm borrowing this joke from Scott W. Klein, president and CEO of Information Resources Inc., who told a slightly different version of it during his remarks at last month's excellent Reinventing CPG & Retail Summit in Miami Beach. Karen...

Keep on truckin': carrying on a local college tradition has given New York retailer Albert Smith new menu items--and a new generation of grateful customers.(FrontEnd)
April 1, 2005... In the 28 years Albert Smith has operated the Shortstop Deli (Ithaca, NY), he has never gotten a hug from a customer. Sure, his patrons appreciate that the coffee is fresh, that the store bakes its own bread and that its deli is open 24 hours,...

First-class foodie: trend-setting fuel marketer Bill Knight serves up "chef-crafted meals to go" at his amazing NexStore MarketPlace in one of South Florida's most affluent locales.(FrontEnd)(NexStore MarketPlace)
April 1, 2005... The birds living in the lush foliage adorning the NexStore MarketPlace in South Florida's affluent Boca Raton community couldn't have it much better. Thrushes and mockingbirds look happy and well fed, just like the human patrons that frequently...

7-Eleven chefs debunk the 'c-store food' myth.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... 7-Eleven Inc. (Dallas, TX) is pushing hard to associate itself with fresh food. The industry's largest retailer is giving its corporate chef--actually, a team of chefs--greater emphasis, to communicate to customers the quality, flavor and value...

'If we can win the morning, we can win the day'.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Exxon Mobil Corp. (Fairfax, VA) is betting on new brews of coffee to keep customers coming back to its stores. ExxonMobil's recent investment in its trademark Bengal Traders coffee brand marks the oil industry's latest salvo in a ferocious...

Touch-and-go tech for NOCO, Kum & Go stores.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... NOCO Energy (Tonawanda, NY), which operates 40 stores in Western New York, is roiling out self-serve automated touchscreen kiosks from Info Touch Technologies (www.infotouch.net) to 25 NOCO Express convenience stores in Buffalo, NY. Initially,...

Book smarts.(FrontEnd)
April 1, 2005... What's on your summer reading list? There's nothing wrong with Grisham, King or Benchley, but with vacations and traveling to industry conferences on tap this summer, why not take the time to read something that will actually make your life a...

In memoriam.(DecisionMakers)(Obituary)
April 1, 2005... In memoriam: Wallace "Wally" Pettit, founder of Polka Dot Dairy and the Minneapolis-based chain of Tom Thumb convenience stores, has died at the age of 74. In 1957, Pettit and two partners began Polka Dot Dairy, distributing for the Hastings...

Ricker Oil Co.(DecisionMakers)(Ricker Oil Co. (Anderson, IN) has hired Dean Butgereit as its foodservice manager)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Convenience retailer/baker Ricker Oil Co. (Anderson, IN) has hired Dean Butgereit as its foodservice manager.

TNT Marketing.(DecisionMakers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... National convenience store broker TNT Marketing has made several changes to its team of "c-storeologists." Tim Asbury, now senior regional manager serving territories in the Northeast, previously served TNT as regional manager. He joined TNT in...

Executive Leadership Solutions.(DecisionMakers)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Kevin Fox has joined executive search firm Executive Leadership Solutions as an account executive for states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Fox's career in the petroleum industry began with New York oil distributor WW Griffith Oil Co. as...

Mark VII Equipment LLC.(DecisionMakers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Mark VII Equipment LLC has promoted Craig Campbell to vice president of sales & marketing, and Sandy Bass to general manager of the Rocky Mountain region. Campbell has more than 10 years experience in the car wash industry, and Bass has more...

PDQ Manufacturing.(DecisionMakers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... PDQ Manufacturing has promoted Mark Tentis to vice president, corporate accounts. In his new role, Tentis will be responsible for developing and maintaining corporate relations, creating tactical and strategic business plans with PDQ's...

Heineken USA.(DecisionMakers)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Heineken USA has added Don J. Blaustein as vice president of sales. Before joining Heineken USA, Blaustein served Molson Inc. as vice president, global sales. He replaces Peter Dadzis, who resigned from Heineken in January. At Molson, Blaustein...

FKI Security Group.(DecisionMakers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... FKI Security Group Vice President of Business Development Scott Meeker has been named general manager of the EXL Safe brand. Prior to joining FKI Security Group in 2001, Meeker was president of EXL Safe from 1999 through 2001. John G....

Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes.(Retailer Spotlight)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes (Canastota, NY) has added Jared Sturtevant to its executive management team as a buyer. Prior to being named buyer, Sturtevant served Nice N Easy in a number of capacities since joining the company in 1996. In that...

Shrinking the 800-lb. gorilla: it's hard to make that gorilla go away, but retailers can make him seem a little less menacing. That was the goal of last month's National Convenience Store Advisory Group Spring Conference in Dallas.(FrontEnd)
April 1, 2005... How can you beat Wal-Mart at its own game? How did one large chain make $2,200 in profit by selling a handful of big-ticket items? How can convenience retailers improve customer loyalty and give back to the community without spending a dime?...

In control: Valero and Wesco are among the "do-it-yourselfers" finding efficiency and sales opportunities by handling their own distribution.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... Earlier this month, Valero Energy Corp. changed the way it conducted business at 650 of its Texas-based Diamond Shamrock Corner Stores. The chain leased a 130,000 sq. ft. warehouse in the San Antonio area and spent $7 million to convert it to a...

New and improved: branded fast food and a retooled "people process" inspire New West Petroleum to new-found profitability in the Golden State.
April 1, 2005... California's New West Petroleum often interviews 40 candidates to fill one store manager's job or 20 candidates for one sales associate's job. But the pools of talent in the two major markets in which the company operates-Sacramento and San...

A gift horse: Petro Stopping Centers' new prepaid card programs diversify the chain's product mix. They also boost sales in the store, at the pump and in the dining room.(Category Manager's Notebook: Prepaid Services)
April 1, 2005... The rapid transformation of the telecommunications superhighway hasn't come without its share of potholes, detours and a few roadkill carcasses. Just five years ago, after all, long-distance cards dominated sales of prepaid items in the...

Twist and shout.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... American Licorice Co. reintroduces its popular Sour Punch Twists laydown bags with updated graphics. Each bag totes bright and bold graphics that pop off the shelf, complete with a window to showcase the product inside. Sour Punch Twists are...

Digital monitoring.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... GTI Safe Home Products Group introduces a full digital video surveillance system with an entry-level price point of just $399. The system includes a digital video recorder capable of recording up to six months of continuous video without...

Collaborative coffee.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Juan Valdez cafeREALE is the world's only shelf-stable liquid extract that does not require refrigeration or the use of preservatives and chemical additives. The product, manufactured exclusively in Colombia, is packaged in aseptic 2-liter...

Full-flavored rolling.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... HBI Tobacco introduces the addition of two new flavors to the Juicy Jay's family. The No. 1 selling flavored rolling paper brand just got better with the introduction of Mello Mango and Tequila. These two new flavors, like all Juicy Jay's...

Cinn-sational.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Satisfy the sizable consumer segment seeking gourmet cinnamon rolls with Rich's new Cinn-Sational cinnamon rolls. Developed and tested for the right balance of cinnamon and sweetness, Cinn-Sational cinnamon rolls incorporate imported cinnamon...

New icemaker on the block.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... The first of Follett's new Horizon icemakers--the 975 series--produces 790 lbs. of ice at 90[degrees]F air and 70[degrees]F water temperature. The unit is available in self-contained air and water-cooled models as well as remote condensing unit...

A better berry.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Leading Brands Inc. introduces TrueBlue Blueberry Juice Cocktail in response to the recent flood of publicity over the antioxidant properties of blueberries. Unlike many other healthful fruits, such as cranberries, blueberries are naturally...

Hot case taste.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... ConAgra Foods Culinary Products introduces several programs customized to the needs of the convenience trade. The programs harness a few of ConAgra Foods' top brands--including Hunt's, Angela Mia and Armour--for maximum customer appeal. Hunt's...

Cheers to summer.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Summertime sales start with Foster's. Summer is one of the biggest import beer consumption seasons, and Foster's new promotion "Cheers Mate--it's Summer!" is an exciting way to remind customers that this crisp brew from Down Under is an...

Going bananas.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Phillies, America's No. 1 flavored blunt, officially calls its new Banana-flavored Mini-Blunt a hit. With its smaller size and exotic banana flavor, the new Mini-Blunt has become a hot seller and consumer favorite. Introduced in September,...

Add some flavor.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... The new Hellman's Dipping Sauces were developed specifically for dipping and can add excitement to appetizer offerings. There are eight distinctive and delicious sauces--zesty Ancho Chipotle, Roasted Garlic, Creamy Blue Cheese, Honey Mustard...

Merchandising options.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Federal Industries introduces its new Hybrid Merchandiser line that features a self-service refrigerated bottom case with a choice of five different top display case styles. The versatile designs can be used to stand alone or for continuous...

Champion sales.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Impact Confections Inc. introduces Champion Chew, a NASCAR licensed product. This NASCAR wheel replica holds 10 pieces of flavorful, tire-shaped, dextrose candies embedded with gum pieces. The black wheel with silver stamping can be used after...

Attention grabber.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... An unfortunate casualty of pay-at-the-pump systems is the decrease of traffic into other profit centers. Structural Plastics' pyramid island displays help by bringing impulse items to customers. By offering automotive fluids at the pump,...

Refreshing fruit fun.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Pepsi-Cola North America announces a new addition to its portfolio of Dole 100% Juices--Ruby Red Grapefruit--as well as a new line of 50% juice beverages called Dole Lights. Newly reformulated Dole Ruby Red Grapefruit joins orange, apple and...

Portal to success.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Unitec Electronics, a manufacturer of carwash entry systems, has released the most advanced carwash entry system available today--the Portal TI. With its sophisticated design, versatile marketing opportunities, expanded reporting and the most...

Crystal clear choice.(NewStuff!)
April 1, 2005... Hoshizaki's KMD Modular Series ice makers fit on beverage dispensers producing crystal-clear, individual cubes on its patented stainless steel double-sided ice making surface, which will never chip, flake or peel, yielding more ice than...

Fine dining at the Circle K: a critic's mock cooking competition paints convenience stores in a slightly more refined light. (Note the use of the word slightly.).(BackRoom)
April 1, 2005... Are the words "convenience store" and "gourmet foods" mutually exclusive? With a little help, according to one non-scientific "study," virtually any convenience store can supply the goods for a delightful night of fine dining. Shreveport...