Convenience Store Decisions articles from August 2006

Convenience Store Decisions archives from August 2006

Cigar sales smoking: retailers report strong sales and profits in OTP boosted by cigars.(Category Update: Cigars)
August 1, 2006... According to the National Association of Convenience Stores' 2006 State of the Industry (SOI) report, retailers can expect the other tobacco (OTP) category to keep on growing with flavored cigars driving that growth. Cigar sales last year...

Welcome to the neighborhood: Nice N Easy's latest ground-up hits the ground running.(BackRoom: "Stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
August 1, 2006... Canastota, N.Y.-based Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes knows how to make an entrance. Just before it opened its Taft Road location--the 85th store in the chain and the fifth ground-up location with the new store design introduced more than a year...

Lighting your way to profitablilty: marketers tend to give a lot of counter space to novelty lighters, but BIC warns that long-term profitability comes from repeat sales of traditional products.(Category Update: Lighters)
August 1, 2006... That novelty lighter that emits a powerful flame might make for an interesting conversation starter, but it's not the best way to grow long-term profitability in the lighter category, warns Sheila Fox, the lighter marketing brand manager...

Maximizing margins: carwash dollars compensate for shrinking gas profits.
August 1, 2006... Remember when convenience stores and gas stations used to give a free carwash with the purchase of a full tank of gas? Now, shrinking fuel margins are causing an increasing number of store operators to look to carwash sales to boost the bottom...

Dirty dog money: maintenance, marketing determine petwash success.(Self-serve petwashes)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Self-serve petwashes offer dog owners a wallet- and user-friendly alternative to the mess of bathing Fido at home or paying a professional groomer $50+. They also offer c-store owners an opportunity to bank more of the $14 billion a year that...

BP America, Inc.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... Robert A. Malone has been promoted to chairman and president of BP America, Inc. Previously, Malone served as chief executive for BP Shipping Limited. In his new position, Malone will work in Houston leading 7,000 employees.

Casey's General Stores Inc.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... Casey's General Stores Inc. named Robert J. Myers its new CEO, replacing Ronald Lamb, who will remain chairman of the board and on the company's executive committee. Terry Handley was elected chief operating officer to replace Myers. Bill...

NOCO Energy Corp.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... NOCO Energy Corp. announced the hire of Scott Ernst as director of fuel operations. Ernst will be responsible for the oversight of NOCO's bulk plants, terminal operations and fleet fueling operations.

Marathon Oil Co.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... Marathon Oil Co. announced that Robert E. Estill has been appointed vice president, strategic planning & portfolio management. Estill will be responsible for managing all aspects of Marathon's corporate strategic planning activities, including...

ExxonMobil Corp.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... Stuart R. McGill, senior vice president of ExxonMobil Corp., was elected vice chairman of the United States Council for International Business, based in New York City. McGill has held many notable senior executive positions within ExxonMobil's...

The Veeder-Root Co.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... The Veeder-Root Co., a leading global supplier of automatic tank gauging and fuel management systems, announced the appointment of Scott W. Wine as president. Wine will have global responsibility for developing and leading the strategy and...

FACTOR, a division of W.R. Hess Co., announces several personnel additions.(appointments)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... FACTOR, a division of W.R. Hess Co., announces several personnel additions. The company has hired Frank Gertson as director of customer accounts and chief pilot for W.R. Hess Co. As director of customer accounts, he brings extensive sales...

Follett Corp.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... Follett Corp. announces the appointment of Dave Tumbusch as vice president of operations. In this role, Tumbusch will be responsible for manufacturing, materials and industrial/manufacturing engineering departments. Previously, Tumbusch worked...

PDQ Manufacturing Inc.(appointments)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Robert Bacon has been named PDQ Manufacturing Inc.'s business development manager for the Southeastern United States, while Rob Patterson has been named business development manager for the Southwest. Based in Atlanta, Bacon is responsible for...

U.S. Cooler.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... Bob Nugent was named regional sales manager for U.S. Cooler's northern territory. Nugent is now the regional sales manager for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and the western upper peninsula of Michigan. Nugent comes to U.S. Cooler with...

D&S Car Wash Equipment Co.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2006... D&S Car Wash Equipment Co.'s new finance division will be headed up by David Marsh. Designed to help car wash operators obtain financing for equipment upgrades and construction needs, the new division also provides assistance to investors...

Xtra Mart Convenience Stores.(Retailer Spotlight)
August 1, 2006... Gary Mikutel, regional manager for Xtra Mart Convenience Stores, has been elected 2006-07 Chairman of the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS). From a regional office in Castleton NY, Mikutel oversees the operation of 70 Xtra Mart...

Family affair.(Convenience Store Decisions introduced Supplier Advisory Board)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... Just two months after Convenience Store Decisions was first to announce details of Tesco's foray into the U.S. market, we were able to get an exclusive tour of FamilyMart's operations in Southern California with Shiro (Sho) Inoue, president and...

Fuel hedging: aggressive or moderate?(Face-off)(retailers management)
August 1, 2006... Aggressive: Philip J. Baratz, C.T.A. President, Angus Energy Inc. Hedge Your Risk As someone who has managed well over a billion gallons of hedging for retailers, gasoline jobbers and natural gas marketers, I figured that it would...

All in the family: Japan's FamilyMart, whose Famima convenience store brand is attracting an upscale clientele in Southern California, readies expansion to several new markets and New York City may be on the agenda.(Chains to Watch)
August 1, 2006... With the experience of operating 12,452 convenience stores worldwide, Tokyo-based FamilyMart Co. felt the time was right to take on the complex U.S. market. So while much of the attention over the past six months was being paid to Tesco's...

Valero finds cool comfort in Follett: Valero found a solution for its stores ice situations while uncovering an invaluable tool for relieving hurricane stricken refineries.(Products AT WORK)
August 1, 2006... It would have been hard to predict how fortuitous the meeting of Valero Energy Corp. and Follett Inc. would be after the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) conference in New Orleans a few years ago. The...

The time is right for self-service kiosks: advances in technology enable efficiency while providing an attractive return on investment.
August 1, 2006... Self-service ordering kiosks have been in use for more than four years. The reasons for their staying power are many, but the bottom-line is that kiosks please both c-stores and their customers. Can you imagine being able to take multiple...

Is hedging right for you? Minimizing risk is key to maximizing fuel profitability.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... The post-Hurricane Katrina era is presenting a flood of challenges for uneasy marketers at the most inopportune time. Competition from multiple retail channels has never been greater, credit card fees are eating away store profits and fuel...

Self-serve kiosks poised for explosive growth in retail: by 2007, sales could reach nearly $1.3 trillion in kiosk transactions.
August 1, 2006... Self-service kiosks are a growing trend in retailing that is expected to accelerate five-fold in sales during the next two years. By 2007, sales could reach nearly $1.3 trillion in kiosk transactions, something savvy convenience store, truck...

From Bubba to Betty: for a channel centered around serving blue-collar, 18- to 35-year-old men, how can it evolve to attract the finer sex while not alienating its existing customers?
August 1, 2006... It's no secret that women are a mystery. Ask any man who has ever tried to figure out how to attract a woman or make her happy. Many thought the Mel Gibson movie "What Women Want" might hold some answers, but it just had movie patrons wishing...

Worsley named SCACS Retailer of the Year: award honors convenience store retailers for their commitment to the industry.
August 1, 2006... Worsley Companies Inc., owner and operator of 139 convenience stores in the Carolinas, has been named the South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores (SCACS) 2006 Retailer of the Year Award. The award, presented at the annual SCACS...

Pester acquires 17 Farm Crest Dairy Stores.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Pester Marketing Co., a privately held Denver-based marketer, has acquired 17 Farm Crest Dairy Stores from Royal Crest Dairy in Colorado. Terms of the deal, which increases the company's store count to 41, were not disclosed. The 17 stores...

Shell extends card fee reductions.
August 1, 2006... Shell Oil Products recognizes that the rising cost of gasoline is crushing fuel margins and it's offering its branded marketers a break. The Houston-based refiner-marketer has extended the temporary reduction of credit card fees for Visa,...

Shell sells Cincinnati assets.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... Shell Oil Products U.S. (Houston) continued selling off its Ohio assets after reaching a deal with Gilligan Oil Co. Under the terms of the deal, Gilligan Oil, a Cincinnati-based jobber, will acquire 31 convenience stores and gasoline stations...

Kwik Trip pushes foodservice safety.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... Kwik Trip Stores Inc. (La Crosse, Wis.) not only owns and operates 330 convenience stores under the Kwik Trip and Kwik Star banners in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin employing over 7,000 people, but produces many of the private label products...

CITGO realigning retail operations.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... CITGO Petroleum Corp.'s board of directors will realign the company's national retail gasoline network footprint. This action will result in a stronger company presence in the East and Gulf Coast regions, and a transitioning from parts of the...

Chevron's exclusive rights to Texaco brand.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... Chevron Corp. (San Ramon, Calif.) has gained exclusive rights to the Texaco brand for retail locations in the U.S. Following the company's 2001 merger with Texaco, Chevron was required to license the Texaco retail brand to Shell in the U.S. for...

Sheetz first Pa. chain to offer E85.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... Sheetz Inc. (Altoona, Pa.) will become the first chain retailer in Pennsylvania to carry environmentally-friendly E85, a clean-burning fuel blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The corn-based, renewable fuel will soon be available at select...

Sunoco selects Gilbarco Veeder-Root.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... Sunoco (Philadelphia, Pa.) has awarded Gilbarco Veeder-Root (www.gilbarco.com) its 2006 supply contract to provide retail fuel dispensers for the next year, continuing the agreement awarded in 2005. Sunoco selected the Gilbarco Encore 500-S...

Purchases for The Pantry Inc.(Front End)
August 1, 2006... The Pantry, Inc. (Sanford, NC) agreed to acquire six convenience stores in North Carolina from Fuel Mate LLC (Southern Pines, NC). The Pantry also purchased one c-store in Gadsden, Ala. and will convert it to the Kangaroo Express banner, and...

Mark VII announces carwash promotion.(Front End)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Mark VII Equipment Inc. (www.markvii.net), the US subsidiary of WashTec AG of Germany, announced a trade-in promotion on both its friction and touch-free rollover systems. For orders shipped between July 1 and October 31, 2006, customers that...

Jaded in New Jersey: as New Jersey faces its fourth excise tax increase in four years, retailers are watching their dwindling tobacco sales head across state lines.
August 1, 2006... Every state has its own issues to deal with, but it seems that New Jersey has been dealt a particularly difficult hand. "New Jersey is a difficult state for convenience stores to do business in," said Dean Durling, president and CEO of...

Voice for the 'little guy'.
August 1, 2006... One of the groups that actively participated in the debate over raising New Jersey's excise tax was the Asian-American Retail Association, a non-profit organization formed nine months ago to give independent retailers a resource for new...

Fiesta accessory.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... Start a new tradition and celebrate Fiestas Patrias (the celebration of the homeland) with the great-taste of Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft. During September and October, specialty dishes from home are one of the things Mexicans and...

RTD introductions.(Nestea)(ready-to-drink)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Nestea has completed a makeover of its ready-to-drink (RTD) iced tea product line with four new products, including improved flavors, the introduction of green teas and the return of the classic Nestea brand. Nestea has introduced new lemon and...

Cocktail cans.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... United Brands Co. introduces the new look for 3SUM, its exciting ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage. Out goes the silver and in comes the black. The sexy-sleek design is a perfect match for 3SUM. The drink infuses six percent premium,...

Display diversity.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... Clip Strip Corp., a leading supplier to the POP and Display industries, introduces the Clever Clip Style Merchandising Strip--perfect for selling a broad range of bulky and difficult to display items. Display plush toys, snack bags, sponges,...

Simplified operations.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... DTN has launched a new release of DTN Guardian3 (DTN G3) terminal automation system. DTN G3 now offers better handling and processing of bills of lading (BOLs), management of product allocation and reporting of book inventory in real-time....

Guilt-free indulgence.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... J&J Snack Foods presents Luigi's Real Italian Ice, now with no sugar added and sweetened with Splenda. Now, the great taste of Luigi's can be enjoyed with no sugar added in popular lemon and cherry flavors, sweetened with the delicious taste of...

Alon's Jeff Morris provides industry insight.(Publisher's Q&A)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Fresh off its acquisition of Good Time Stores in El Paso, Texas, Alon USA's President and Chief Executive Jeff Morris sat down with Convenience Store Decisions to get his take on the changing face of the convenience industry and to share his...

Consumers aren't drinking like they used to ... carbonated beverages, that is.(Plugged In.)
August 1, 2006... According to recent Morgan Stanley research, soda volume is expected to decline 1.5% annually for the foreseeable future. And speculation is that noncarbonated beverage sales (bottled water, sports drinks, energy drinks, tea) could surpass...

How Hispanics learn unhealthy eating in the U.S.(Plugged In.)
August 1, 2006... According to Terry Soto, author of "Marketing to Hispanics," Hispanics arrive in the U.S. with an inherent orientation towards healthy foods and that exposure to packaged and fast foods lead their choices to deteriorate. And the effects are...

Big boxes hope to clean up in carwash biz.(Plugged In.)
August 1, 2006... Wal-Mart, Costco and Home Depot are among the retail powerhouses looking at the potential of automated carwashes to bring in consumers and grow their already impressive top and bottom line performance. The big box operators are expected to...

Destiny finds a way.(Rising Stars)
August 1, 2006... Wayne Moser studied electrical technology with the hopes of gaining employment in the oil fields in Western North Dakota or Eastern Montana, where he had always dreamed of moving. Unfortunately, the oil boom era was slowing down just after his...

Cooking at the speed of light: a new breed of "supercookers" promise to cook food faster than you ever imagined. Here's what you need to know to buy a unit.(THE 2006 FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT REPORT)
August 1, 2006... When you hear the term "fast food," most don't think of fresh, elaborate food that's prepared quickly. But that's changing. Manufacturers have recently developed and continue to refine equipment for high-speed cooking. Induction Cookers...

Display cases run hot & cold: a great display of food will stop customers in their tracks. Here's what you need to know to buy merchandising equipment that will make your food look irresistible.(THE 2006 FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT REPORT)
August 1, 2006... Not too long ago, food-merchandising equipment was limited to a few grocery store-type cases from only a few manufacturers. Today, there is a wide range of quality manufacturers producing well-designed, attractive equipment for holding or...

Wawa turns to Merrychef: with its focus on meeting the demand for quick, quality foodservice solutions, the Pennsylvania retailer enlisted the help of Merrychef's accelerated cooking ovens.(Category Update: Accelerated Cooking Ovens)
August 1, 2006... Being one of the top foodservice providers in the convenience store industry requires more than a commitment from foodservice managers and store personnel. It demands vision, innovation and, perhaps most importantly, the right foodservice...

Ice cold profits: finding the right ice machine can turn the dispensed beverage business into one red-hot category.(Category Update: Ice Machines)
August 1, 2006... Ice and ice delivery is a vital part of a convenience and/or gas store's inventory. Whether it's used to complement self-serve beverage systems, for sale as bagged ice or within the store for icing down beverages and food displays, ice is more...

Count on Curtis: Wilbur Curtis blends technology with simplicity in its G3 Concept Series Primo Cappuccino machine.(Category Update: Specialty Drink Dispensers)
August 1, 2006... With fuel prices soaring and in-store margins shrinking, hot beverages have emerged as one of the most profitable sections in the convenience store. With a price point usually not much more than a regular cup of coffee, cappuccino sales are...

Alto-Shaam committed to foodservice education: a company-operated culinary center helps the equipment manufacturer offer solutions to industry professionals.(Industry News)
August 1, 2006... In addition to manufacturing equipment for the foodservice industry, Alto-Shaam firmly believes in a commitment to education with a focus on foodservice issues such as enhanced food safety, food quality, labor reduction and an increase in...

McDonald's opens in-store gym for kids.(Industry News)
August 1, 2006... As convenience stores continue to gain a larger share of stomach in the battle for foodservice dollars, traditional quick-service restaurants are on their heals looking for alternative ways to capture new customers. A Whittier, Calif.-based...

Hot stuff aggressively seeking retailers.(Industry News)
August 1, 2006... Hot Stuff Foods is putting its money where its c-store customer's mouth is. The Souix Falls, S.D. foodservice company is funding up to a full 100% of the typical $4,000 start up costs for Hot Stuff's Food On the Go branded concept. The way...

Advanced detection.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... Veeder-Root offers its new Mag Plus Probe for leak detection. The Mag Plus Probe is designed with a small canister for easy installation in a wide variety of risers and offers a wide temperature range of -40[degrees] to +50[degrees] Celsius for...

POS perfection.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... ExaDigm, Inc., innovator of wireless and wired point-of-sale (POS) terminal solutions announced the launch of the XD2000, the next generation of the popular Mate Plus POS terminal. With its unique modular format and interchangeable modems...

Brew right.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... Grindmaster Corp., a global leader in the beverage dispensing equipment industry, introduces the new Models PBIC-430 (twin) and PBIC-330 (single) PrecisionBrew vacuum insulated Shuttle coffee brewers. These brewers offer programmable features...

Sweat-free.(New Stuff!)
August 1, 2006... Master-Bilt, manufacturer of a full line of premier commercial refrigeration systems for over 65 years, introduces its new Anti-Sweat Module (ASM-115). The new ASM-115 alleviates condensation build-up on glass doors and frames, for continuous...

Save the flavor.(optional transport package)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Hatco Corp.'s new FlavR-Savor Tall Humidified Holding Cabinet offers an optional transport package that is perfect for high volume operations. Improve efficiency by having meals close to serving areas, while keeping food hot and safe. The...

Pump it up.(Equipment Special)
August 1, 2006... New Ultra High Capacity (HC) models are now available for Dresser Wayne's popular Select line of fleet fuel dispensers, enabling large commercial vehicles to spend less time at the pump and more time on the road. With a maximum flow rate of 60...

How to buy a reach-in refrigerator.(THE 2006 FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT REPORT)
August 1, 2006... It can easily be argued that refrigerators are the most critical piece of equipment in your kitchen. No matter what type of foodservice operation you run, you need refrigeration. Keeping food at the proper temperature without using too much...

Southwest Georgia Oil targets new markets: new Sun Stop prototype appeals to women, elderly shoppers.(Chains to Watch)
August 1, 2006... Getting more stores and giving better customer service are two tried-and-true ways to boost c-store profits, so when Southwest Georgia Oil Co. (SWGO) decided to grow its business, both tactics made the short list. But a third-and much less...

Ask the experts.(Have a Question?)
August 1, 2006... I own a c-store with a Subway. The c-store does 120,000 gal/month and $85K inside. We are in a rural setting at an Interstate with 40,000 vehicles per day with medium income housing. Will a carwash work here? "At first glance, we'd probably...

Dipping into new profits: premium products driving the moist smokeless tobacco business, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco said.(Category Update: Smokeless Tobacco)
August 1, 2006... An influx of deep-discount products is leading retailers to change the way they merchandise moist smokeless tobacco (MST) products, and experts are concerned that these changes are adversely affecting moist smokeless profitability. As the...