Convenience Store Decisions articles from April 2006

Convenience Store Decisions archives from April 2006

A sign from above: it takes more than great food to stand out from the competition.(Back Room)
April 1, 2006... Your customers can go a million places to eat. It may be difficult to stand out from the competition, but it's certainly not impossible. While in St. Paul, Minn., recently, I saw a couple of signs that helped set two foodservice companies...

A game of chicken: RCC Holdings is tapping into Chester's potential in the Southwest.(Brand Power: Chester's)
April 1, 2006... Mark Rose is particular when it comes to choosing his foodservice partners. So when he saw a steady stream of customers at a Chester's counter operated by one of his competitors, he realized he had just found his new fast-food brand. Rose,...

Targeting teens: a study by the NACS/Coca-Cola Leadership Council urges marketers to understand the range of categories purchased by the 14- to 20-year-old demographic.
April 1, 2006... One of the most compelling things about teen shopping at convenience stores is that teens have spending power. In fact, some teen shoppers have very high customer value. Not only do they spend generously, they also come often. As might be...

Handee Marts, Inc. dba 7-Eleven.(Decision Makers)
April 1, 2006... Handee Marts, Inc. dba 7-Eleven has promoted Bruce Earhart to vice president of marketing. Earhart has served Handee Marts' team for 26 years in many capacities including district manager, foodservice manager, marketing manager of core...

GPM Investments, LLC.(promotes of Russ Quick to vice president of sales and marketing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GPM Investments, LLC announced the promotion of Russ Quick to vice president of sales & marketing, after Brad Chivington, the former head of the department, left the company to pursue other professional opportunities. Quick has been with GPM...

VERC Enterprises.(promoted Kieran O'Donovan to store operations director)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VERC Enterprises has promoted Kieran O'Donovan to store operations director. O'Donovan joined VERC Enterprises in 1997, as the manager of the Danvers VERC location and he worked most recently as a district manager for the company. In this new...

The Pantry Inc.(Decision Makers)
April 1, 2006... The Pantry Inc. announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Sodini was elected chairman. Sodini has held his position since 1996, and been a director since 1995. Previously, he was chief executive officer and a director of Purity...

Holiday Stationstores.(Lynn Anderson promoted to executive vice president)(David Hoeschen head of real estate)(Edward Hoffman promoted to vice president of petroleum marketing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Holiday Stationstores announced the promotion of three executives: Lynn Anderson has been promoted to executive vice president and general counsel. Anderson has been a member of the company's executive group for the past 17 years, leading all...

Lorillard Tobacco Co.(Decision Makers)
April 1, 2006... Lorillard Tobacco Co. has announced the promotion of Kathleen A. Sparrow to senior vice president, sales. Sparrow joined Lorillard's Field Sales Division as a sales representative in Chicago in January 1980. She held various positions in field...

Ruiz Foods.(Decision Makers)
April 1, 2006... F. Bryce Ruiz has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Ruiz Foods, the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer in the U.S. As an employee of the family-owned business beginning at age 7, Bryce Ruiz has held positions in a...

Bunzl Distribution, Inc.(J.T. Bailey joined as vice president)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Bunzl Distribution, Inc., a leading supplier of disposable paper and plastic packaging supplies, announced that J.T. Bailey has joined the company as vice president, redistribution business. As a redistribution specialist, Bailey most recently...

Enodis PLC.(Robert Nerbonne as group president of the Americas)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Enodis PLC named Robert Nerbonne to the position of group president of the Americas. In this newly created role, Nerbonne will report directly to Dave McCulloch, CEO of Enodis. The position will include responsibility for all foodservice...

Pay By Touch.(Gary Bender vice president of biometrics)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Pay By Touch, a provider of biometric authentication, personalized marketing and payment solutions, has named Gary Bender vice president of biometrics. Bender brings more than 35 years of experience in technical and biometric management. A...

Food for thought.(Editor's Memo)
April 1, 2006... Growing up in New York City few things are as natural to me as eating out. Even now with my second child on the way, a minimum of two meals a day are eaten at a restaurant or convenience store near wherever the day's business takes me. The...

New tools of the foodservice trade: foodservice equipment--which once put the industry at a disadvantage when it came to speed and labor--now makes it possible for retailers to expand menus, reduce costs and increase food sales.
April 1, 2006... Charlie Roesch remembers his childhood in the 1950s--the town of Buffalo, N.Y., dotted with slaughterhouses, the boxes of ham waiting outside, still warm from the smokehouse. They'd sit there, among the elements, for what seemed like an...

Face-off: foodservice: branded vs. unbranded.(Front End)
April 1, 2006... Branded Kent Cummings, President, Cummings Oil Co. After looking at several foodservice options and trying our own proprietary concepts, we decided to partner with Hot Stuff Foods. We chose a national brand for a number of reasons,...

Good to great: two experienced "foodies" share insights into what retailers need to do to get from here to there in the foodservice business.(Interview)
April 1, 2006... Foodservice can be a significant differentiator for convenience retailers. It can elevate a good c-store offer and make it a great one, even a destination. But what specific strategies and tactics do retailers need to employ to get from Point A...

Are you serving your healthy eaters? Measuring customers' lifestyle attitudes can help you make profitable decisions.
April 1, 2006... The employees of a bank branch office in Austin, Texas only have one choice when they're in a rush for lunchthe convenience store across the street. That's bad news for their health. "I'm pretty much limited to sandwiches and juice, because I'm...

Rhodes 101 is Hot Stuff: the Xpress foodservice program is creating sales opportunities not previously addressed by other food concepts.(Brand Power: Hot Stuff)
April 1, 2006... Faced with mounting competition from fast-food operators, along with razor-thin fuel and tobacco margins, Paul Dirnberger knew the heat was on to develop a foodservice program that met customers' demands for a quality offering that is served...

"Better people bring bigger profits".(employee selection management)
April 1, 2006... When you first think about hiring employees for foodservice, do you assume that applicants with previous experience serving food would be preferable to those who've never made a sandwich? If so, you're looking for the wrong thing, says two...

Couche-Tard acquires 40 Shell units.
April 1, 2006... Canadian convenience store chain Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (Laval, Quebec) continues its expansion in the U.S. with the purchase of 40 convenience stores from Shell Oil Products U.S. The company also is taking over fuel supply contracts of...

The Pantry goes shopping.(Pantry Inc deal to acquire Shop-A-Snak Food Mart Inc)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Pantry Inc. (Sanford, N.C.) continued its aggressive expansion, announcing a deal to acquire Birmingham, Ala.-based Shop-A-Snak Food Mart Inc., which operates 38 c-stores in Alabama. Terms were not disclosed. The acquisition also includes...

Riiser Oil delving into restaurant business.
April 1, 2006... Restaurant franchise Maid-Rite (www.maid-rite.com) and Riiser Oil Co. (Wassau, Wis.) have announced an agreement to open 60 new Maid-Rite restaurants in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. The agreement also brings Maid-Rite Express...

Hot Stuff launches President's Club.(Hot Stuff Foods incentive program)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Hot Stuff Foods (www.hotstufffoods.com) is rewarding loyal operators with a new incentive program in which retailers can increase profitability and reward employees committed to growing foodservice. The incentives are based on performance with...

Alto-Shaam offers foodservice seminars.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Equipment manufacturer Alto-Shaam (www.alto-shaam.com) has launched a newly renovated, state-of-the-art seminar facility at its corporate headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wis.--a facility in which the company's staff chefs offer solutions to...

Deli Express raises money to aid military families.
April 1, 2006... * Deli Express (www.deliexpress.com), a leading manufacturer of hot and cold sandwiches sold in convenience stores, raised $72,776 through its 50th anniversary "Hungry to Help" campaign. The money will be donated to the National Military Family...

Circus act: Kwik Stop's foodservice growth centers on Piccadilly Pizza.(Brand Power: Piccadilly Circus Pizza)
April 1, 2006... It's a circus atmosphere at eight of Kwik Stop's 20 convenience stores and it has nothing to do with juggling clowns, a unicycle or the big top. Instead, what's entertaining Kwik Stop's customers at all three dayparts is Piccadilly Circus...

Authentic taste.
April 1, 2006... The new line of El Monterey Butcher Wrapped Burritos uses quality meats and cheeses, flavorful spices and ingredients all rolled in freshly baked tortillas and hand-wrapped in butcher paper for that authentic, specially made presentation....

Baking bonanza.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... MIWE's efficient shop oven, the Gusto 3.43, is a flexible, baking oven with all the features retailers would expect from MIWE. The 3.43 holds three half sheet size pans and has a reversible fan in the bake chamber to assure an even bake....

Coffee commotion.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... S&D Introduces Royal Dowry Gourmet Chocolates. These chocolates open up a whole new avenue for establishments and allow them to offer hot chocolate throughout the calendar year as well as delicious hot treat for the non-coffee drinking...

More cluck for your buck.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... The Broaster Co.'s Genuine Broaster Chicken program offers a high-profit, branded food concept with no licensing, franchise, or royalty fees. The Broaster pressure frying process, in combination with proprietary marinades and seasonings,...

Sweet treats.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... f'REAL! Foods offers a selection of frozen drink specialties and innovative self-serve blending equipment to deliver premium quality frozen drinks without the operational hassle typically required. The f'REAL! self-serve blender automatically...

Steamed up.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Cleveland Range Inc., an Enodis company, introduces the largest and most flexible range of Convotherm Combi Oven-Steamers, with more than 28 tabletop or floor models to choose from and a host of customizable accessories and options. The...

Expansive coverage.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... The SUBWAY[R] restaurant chain recently opened its 25,000th location worldwide, reaffirming its status as a global leader in the quick-service restaurant industry. The milestone was reached with the opening of 17 new locations across the U.S.,...

Lasting impression.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... FireKing Security Group announced availability of a new feature for the company's flagship Image Vault DVR solution: License Plate Recognition. License Plate Recognition, another weapon for the c-store's arsenal in the battle against gas...

Mac's Market from Hot Stuff Foods.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... The Gripper, a hand-held pizza item designed especially for hurried customers, is the hallmark of the new Mac's Market program from Hot Stuff Foods. The Gripper combines the convenience of portability (designed to keep the toppings on the...

Go nuts for doughnuts.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Rich's line of thaw-and-sell doughnut products provide just what retailers need to satisfy convenience-seeking customers and build incremental profits. Rich's thaw-and-sell doughnuts offer the ultimate in operational ease. When thawed, they...

Delicious distribution.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Home Market Foods is a value added, center-of-the-plate, fully cooked meat manufacturer. Core item competencies include meatballs, shaved steak, BBQ, meatloaf, RollerBites[R] (roller grill item) and a variety of other key product offerings. A...

Let's get cookin'.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Alto-Shaam's Platinum Series gas convection oven is now available in a 12-pan capacity. The oven features a unique, transverse-flow burner system to provide even cooking without the need to rotate pans. This system offers a uniform flow of heat...

Poultry position.(NewStuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... New from Pierre, a handmade sandwich that brings true restaurant quality to the packaged food segment. Introducing the Breaded Chicken Breast Fillet with Ranch Sauce Sandwich--the first offering from the Pierre Select handmade sandwich line....

A.M. pizza.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Piccadilly introduces its new Breakfast Pizza. Topped with egg, sausage, bacon and cheddar cheese, the pizza has already made a splash in stores that want to capture a greater share of on-the-go commuter traffic, but can't afford the additional...

Better bread.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Super Bakery has developed a line of Organic Whole Grain Super Sandwich Buns, Super Sub Rolls, Super Tortillas and Super Breads. With the simple change to the company's Organic Whole Grain Super Bread products customers are on their way to a...

Management on the go.(News Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Dataworks specializes in developing a comprehensive array of fully customized printed and software solutions to improve decision-making and increase employee retention, customer satisfaction and revenue. The Manager's Red Book is sophisticated...

Bacon with bite.(News Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Farmland Foods Chipotle Bacon offers chefs and foodservice operators a creative option to expand and enhance the menu. This unique trend-setting bacon is naturally smoked over mesquite wood chips and handrubbed with chipotle seasoning. The...

Chicken champion.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Chester's offers consumers a high-quality chicken product, cooked to perfection, with a unique taste and style. The company's secret is a breading recipe and process that has been successful for more than 40 years. Chester's uses only real...

Foodservice solutions.(New Stuff! Foodservice Show Special)
April 1, 2006... Better Baked Foods manufactures high-quality, frozen breadbased, hand-held pizza and snack foods. Providing custom wrapping and packaging alternatives, Better Baked Foods can offer a wide array of product capabilities and operationally...

Globetrotter.(* Rising Stars)
April 1, 2006... It's as if Joe Lewis was preparing to be a global supply chain manager for a multinational oil company his entire life. Why wouldn't any red-blooded American kid salivate over the idea of working in key markets throughout North America, Asia...

In loves with SUBWAY[R]: the sandwich business is driving foodservice profits at Love's Travel Centers.(Brand Power: SUBWAY)
April 1, 2006... Serving thousands of foodservice customers a day requires more than having the right location. It demands a commitment to service and quality and, most importantly, products customers want. "Foodservice is the biggest component of our business...

The wild ride continues: even at 25,000 stores, SUBWAY[R] co-founder Fred DeLuca says there is plenty of room for the business to grow.(FrontEnd)
April 1, 2006... Fred DeLuca never intended to be a one-store wonder. "From the beginning we had a goal to open 32 stores in 10 years," says DeLuca of the partnership he began with Dr. Peter Buck in 1965 in order to pay his college tuition. That little project...

Your foodservice future.(Taking Stock)
April 1, 2006... I am working at my dining room table one morning in late February when I overhear a remarkable conversation taking place in the kitchen. Our two youngest kids, ages five and eight, are eating breakfast when suddenly the youngest, Jake, pipes...

White Castle's two-pronged attack: hamburger chain gains entry into the c-store industry through co-branded restaurants and frozen foods.(Brand Power: White Castle)
April 1, 2006... White Castle might not be a household name in the convenience store and petroleum industry right now, but give it a few more years and it might become the next brand customers crave. The Columbus, Ohio-based hamburger chain now operates in...

Seeking something new: dozens of retailers made their way to the WPMA trade show in Las Vegas for three days of golf, grub and business.(Front End)
April 1, 2006... Cruising the trade show floor at the Las Vegas Mirage Events Center on a recent February afternoon, Larry Clinkenbeard was on the prowl for a new food product to hawk in his rural Montana convenience store. Joe's Smoke Ring, located just off...