Convenience Store Decisions articles from August 2007

Convenience Store Decisions archives from August 2007

Optimizing new potential.(Decision Makers)
August 1, 2007... DAN PORTER, HAVING STEPPED into the position of senior vice president, supply and optimization for San Antonio-based Tesoro Corp., will focus on resourcing crude oil and other raw materials for the company's refineries to reach its economic...

Rutter's Farm Stores.(Front End: The News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Rutter's Farm Stores have experienced some recent changes in personnel, altering the chain's financial and operational staff. The new changes include the transfer of Patty Chatterdon from Rutter's Farm Stores' training supervisor to Rutter's...

Executive Leadership Solutions.(Front End: The News)
August 1, 2007... Executive Leadership Solutions announced that Robert A. Iezzi has joined the company as a senior executive recruiter. Iezzi has spent most of his adult life in the convenience store industry, and joined Thornton Oil Corporation shortly after...

Chester's International has announced the addition of Manager of Franchise Business Consultants, Ben Lucky.(Front End: The News)
August 1, 2007... Chester's International has announced the addition of Manager of Franchise Business Consultants, Ben Lucky. Lucky will lead an effort to increase sales at all of Chester's franchise locations throughout the country. In this role, Lucky will be...

Growing through innovation: Richard Oneslager's perspective of the convenience industry has benefited Balmar Petroleum, as he capitalizes on real estate and foodservice to differentiate his offering.(Front End: Publishers Q&A)(Interview)
August 1, 2007... RICHARD ONESLAGER, CEO OF Denver-based Balmar Petroleum, became a wholesale distributor for Conoco and began to develop convenience stores in the front range of Colorado. Balmar, through its retail company First Hand Management, currently...

Moving parts: car care accessories are building incremental sales with the help of private labels and impulse purchases.(Front End)
August 1, 2007... CUSTOMERS HAVE LONG VENTURED into local convenience stores to grab a bottle of windshield washer fluid or oil for their cars. Years ago, a small display would hold a few bottles of automotive fluids in case of an emergency. Today's suppliers...

By the numbers.(Front End: The News)
August 1, 2007... 32,711: The number of stores 7-Eleven operates--either directly or through franchisees--in 15 countries. The Dallas-based chain, which just celebrated its 80th birthday, has surpassed QSR giant McDonald's as being the most recognizable chain in...

Delek to acquire interest in Lion Oil: purchase of equity may lead to minimum ownership in the private company.
August 1, 2007... DELEK US HOLDINGS INC. has entered into agreements with several shareholders of Lion Oil Co. to acquire a minority equity interest of 28.3% in Lion Oil. Total cash consideration paid to the selling shareholders will equal approximately $65.4...

Rutter's presents customer with free gas for three years: Pennsylvania resident wins contest prize valued at over $6,750.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... RUTTER'S FARM STORES PRESENTED the first grand prize in its summer gas giveaway--free gas for three years--to Wrightsville, Pa. resident Mary Wherley. Rutter's officials presented the award, valued at $6,750.74, at Wherley's family-owned...

Driving in-store sales with fuel: facing increased competition, Fabulous Freddy's is investing in gas pumps with interactive merchandising displays.(CSD ON LOCATION: Destination: Fabulous Freddy's, Las Vegas)
August 1, 2007... Fabulous Freddy's is looking to cultivate a new base of loyal in-store customers, and it isn't going very far to find them. The Las Vegas-based chain is investing in next-generation interactive fuel pumps that communicate store specials and...

EZ as pie.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... The new EZ-Fit Lid Dispenser from San Jamar is the simple, affordable way to protect beverage lids and keep counters clean and organized. The EZ-Fit Lid Dispenser dramatically improves the organization of self-serve beverage counters by...

Blast off with freshness.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... Cadbury Adams USA LLC, makers of Dentyne, is launching its newest innovation in enhanced breath freshening--Dentyne Blast. Dentyne Blast is the first liquid center chewing gum in the U.S. made with erythritol, an ingredient that delivers a...

Impactful concoctions.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... Impact Confections announces the launch of Mike and Ike Spray and Hot Tamales Spray through a licensing agreement with Just Born, and with Mike and Ike's sweet and Hot Tamales' spicy flavors, they are expected to boost the growing spray...

One good product.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... The newest "must have" in any purse or beach bag is the new Kodak HQ Maximum Versatility Single Use Camera. With a smaller, simple, modern design and silver-colored body, the new HQ camera gives consumers a stylish way to get a photo when an...

Tornado of flavor.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... El Monterey Tornados continue to be the consumer's choice for foods that are convenient, flavorful and hot-to-go. Ruiz Foods introduces the new 3-oz. El Monterey Tornado flavor--Firecracker Chicken--a hot wing style medley of tender chicken and...

Conceptual design.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... For merchants who need two merchandisers to accommodate refrigerated and non-refrigerated foods, but only have space for one, Structural Concepts' innovative HOU model combination cases were the first in the industry to answer the call. The...

Topps treats.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... When seasonal holidays come around, Topps Confections has low-calorie, fat-free interactive candies that are a treat for kids, tweens and teens. Give little ghouls and goblins the Halloween treat that leaves a lasting impression: Halloween Baby...

Full-flavor enhancement.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... General Tobacco (GT) announced the launch of the new Vaquero Little Cigars 100's box. The line extension is the latest addition to the GT catalog and will feature a variety of flavors to choose from including: Natural, Light, Vanilla, Menthol,...

Earthy Jerky.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... Jack Link's Beef Jerky is giving health-conscious consumers more of a good thing by introducing a new organic line of beef jerky products. Jack Link's new Organic Beef Jerky offers consumers a flavorful and satisfying taste experience, while...

Form and function.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... Organize self-serve areas and eliminate countertop clutter and product waste with quality dispensing equipment for cups, lids, straws, napkins, condiments and ice cream cones from Modular Dispensing Systems. Combination Cabinet Dispensers are...

Supply meets demand.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... Follett Corp.'s newest Horizon icemaker, the Horizon 1400, can produce up to 1,400 pounds of ice per day. With the Ice Manager diverter valve system, one Horizon machine can now automatically fill two dispensers, sensing when ice is needed and...

Yogurt and then some.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... YoCrunch yogurt introduces two new flavors to its core line offering healthy and decadent yogurt experiences. Smooth and creamy low-fat YoCrunch Vanilla yogurt is paired with crunchy Butterfinger and Strawberry-Banana is joined by 100% natural...

Water with punch.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
August 1, 2007... Coca-Cola launches Dasani Plus vitamin-enhanced flavored water beverages. The line, with zero calories per serving, comes in three varieties, Refresh + Revive: Kiwi Strawberry Flavor has 10% of the RDI per serving of vitamins B3, B6 and B12;...

QuickChek expands its empire: with the opening of its first store in New York, the retailer ushers in a new era of convenience retailing.(CHAINS to WATCH)(Cover story)
August 1, 2007... SOME COMPANIES WOULD CELEBRATE their 40th anniversary with balloons and a lot of handshakes. For QuickChek, the milestone was an opportunity to show off its innovation and commitment to growing operations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last...

Belflower finds chemistry at Davis oil.(Davis Oil Co.)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... Mike Belflower Davis Oil Co. WHILE MIKE BELFLOWER didn't begin his college studies with the convenience store industry in mind--graduating with a degree in chemistry in 1993--but subconsciously he's been preparing to be Davis Oil Co.'s...

The Simpsons come to life in 7-Eleven.(Back Room)
August 1, 2007... EVEN THOUGH THE CHARACTERS from The Simpsons remain trapped inside TV screens across the nation, 7-Eleven has brought one element of the show to life in celebration of The Simpsons Movie. Throughout the summer, 12 7-Eleven stores across the...

Nothing novel about it.(Back Room)(Report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Novelty items offer retailers a great way to not only reach out to customers' personal interests and hobbies, but also make a great profit in the process. Novelty items can offer as much as 30-60% margins, allowing storeowners to stock up on a...

The hero behind the counter: Clerk saves young girl's life while on the clock.(Back Room)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOCIATES ARE multi-tasking masters. They're charged with the sometimes difficult tasks of manning a cash register and helping customers, but they are also expected to perform other duties, such as mopping the floor, tidying...

Managing Vendor Relations in the Cold Vault: Having limited beverage cooler space is tough, but with distribution costs headed skyward, operators are struggling to get the best deals from demanding manufacturers.(Category: Managers Notebook)
August 1, 2007... WHILE E-Z MART HAS been wrestling with a wet, mild summer, cooler sales have suffered. Where 100-degree days are usually the norm, temperatures have barely gotten into the 90s, and every weekend has been saturated. Even though it has 309 stores...

Innovators come in all sizes.(Editor's Memo)
August 1, 2007... WITH OUR ANNUAL CHAINS to Watch issue, we set out to profile companies big and small that are doing innovative things, either with technology, operations, design or just good, old-fashioned customer service. This year's Chains to Watch...

C-store financing: know your options: alternative lenders may be offering better deals than traditional banks.(Feature Operations)
August 1, 2007... WAKING UP IN A cold sweat over those burgeoning payments on the adjustable rate bank loan you took out for your c-store? Stop sweating it! With a little preparation--and someone to guide you through the process--you can probably get a much...

Freshness in full bloom: exotic sushi, ready-made salads and fresh-cut fruit are ushering in tasty new eating options while helping customers watch their waistlines.(Feature Foodservice)
August 1, 2007... WHEN IT COMES TO developing an exotic fresh food menu, U.S. retailers are drawing on inspiration from around the world. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Take Torrance, Calif.-based Famima USA, for example. The U.S. subsidiary of Japan's...

Payment alternatives show promise: retailers work around expensive credit card processing fees while integrating rewards for customer loyalty.(Feature Technology)
August 1, 2007... DUE TO THE COMPETITIVE nature of the current convenience store climate, retaining a loyal customer base is more important than ever. But even when a store has a strong customer base, it can still be hurt by the excessive processing costs on...

The new age of convenience: Megan Ramey created a convenience concept for worldly urbanites that is a true departure from the gas stations Bubba is used to.(CHAINS to WATCH)
August 1, 2007... FROM THE STREET, THE MoCo Market in Madison, Wis. looks more like a beauty salon or a furniture store--with its large front windows and minimalist, communal-style bench seating--than a convenience store. Once inside, customers are captivated by...

Bright future for smokeless sales: the growing popularity of OTP--including dissolvable tobacco products--has helped cushion retailers from slumping cigarette consumption.(Category: Managers Notebook)
August 1, 2007... ONCE UPON A TIME, cigarettes were the embodiment of "cool." Then came the health concerns. Then came the government regulations. Cigarette smoking has reached a point where it is so severely sneered upon that many cities have outright banned...

Am XTRA special offering: as it begins rolling out a new store design and branded deli concept, Xtra Mart plans to get aggressive in the marketplace.(CHAINS to WATCH)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... QUIETLY RESTING UPON A busy rural highway in Bowie, Md., one of Xtra Mart's small satellite offices discreetly sits. Though it's petite and unassuming, this office is the base of operations for Xtra Mart's new proprietary food program, Deli...