Convenience Store Decisions articles from December 2003

Convenience Store Decisions archives from December 2003

Our Christmas present to you.(Editor's Memo)(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... What's on your Christmas list this year? A repeat of 2003's strong gas margins? A new profit center that hits it out of the park? A way to reduce some of the spiraling expense lines that threaten to undermine your profitability even as the...

Cleaning (your own) house: convenience retailers of all sizes are taking maintenance tasks in-house. Why? Lower costs, greater efficiencies and improved response times.(Front End)
December 1, 2003... During the past year, Tom Petersen has been this close to pulling his hair out, frustrated by the effects of power outages on his stores. Petersen, president of Central Ohio Energy (Mansfield, OH), which operates 10 In-N-Out Mart and Easy Trip...

Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc.(executive appointments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Jim Fiene has joined Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc. (Pleasant Prairie, WI) as senior vice president, sales and operations. Fiene comes from Thornton Oil with 18 years of sales and merchandising experience. Open Pantry has promoted...

Casey's General Stores.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * The board of directors for Casey's General Stores (Ankeny, IA) has approved the promotion of two officers: William Walljasper, vice president, finance; and Julie Jackowski, vice president, human resources.

The New York Association of Convenience Stores.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * The New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) has elected Kevin Kenyon and Mike Murray to seats on the NYACS Retail Board of Directors. Kenyon is vice president of Kenyon's Variety (Lockport, NY), a family-owned and operated chain of...

TNT Marketing.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * TNT Marketing (Arlington, TX) has added two employees to its national team of "c-storologists." Jeff Richman was named an account executive and will be responsible for various product lines from HBC manufacturers. Kristie Cross was added to...

Follett Corp.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Follett Corp. has appointed Michael A. Rice new business development manager. He will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities for the ice dispenser manufacturer.

Philip Morris USA.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Philip Morris USA has named Raziur Rahman director of trade relations to manage relationships with trade partners such as the National Association of Convenience Stores.

Bennett Pump Co.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Bennett Pump Co., a subsidiary of Hines Corp., has promoted Gary Hanks to vice president, sales and marketing for retail products. Since joining the company in 1995, Hanks has held various positions with Bennett, most recently as vice...

Stoelting LLC.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Stoelting LLC, a manufacturer of soft serve ice cream and frozen beverage equipment, has appointed J.R. Cooper regional sales manager to handle distribution in the Southeast and on the West Coast.

Cut costs, network and benchmark with NCSAG.(Front End)(National Convenience Store Advisory Group)
December 1, 2003... The National Convenience Store Advisory Group (NCSAG) has forged a new partnership with Concord EFS Inc. (www.concordefs.com) to help decrease payment-processing costs for NCSAG members. Retailers will have access to simplified payment...

What's the big idea?: 50 of the best ideas for making more money in 2004.
December 1, 2003... Hank Armour, president of West Star Corp., just might have said it best at the 2003 NACS Show by paraphrasing Yogi Berra: "if you come to a fork in the road, take it." Convenience retailers facing a fork in the road can choose one of four...

Take a (new) look.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Hershey Foods Corp. introduces a revitalized identity and packaging for one of its most powerful flagship brands: Hershey's Kisses. This new look, available nationwide, delivers a combination of the brand's heritage and vision for the future....

Cash advancement.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... ATM Network is one of America's largest ATM companies, providing merchants with profitable, customized ATM programs. Merchants with one of ATM Network's programs will see an increase in customer spending and satisfaction as well as a reduction...

Dizzy with IZZE.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... IZZE is a new all natural sparkling fruit juice inspired by European sodas. IZZE contains no sugars, caffeine, preservatives or artificial flavors. The brand has launched two new flavors--Sparkling Clementine and Sparkling Blueberry--to...

Wrap it up.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Lettieri's Authentic Foods introduces Wrap Dogs!, a unique grab-and-go product that combines the best microwaveable baked bread from Lettieri's with sausages from Oscar Mayer, the category leader in hot dogs. Wrap Dogs! come in four...

Rolling along.(New Stuff! )
December 1, 2003... Natural American Spirit is the only brand that features both natural and certified organic tobacco products. Organic tobacco products are available in 40-gram pouches of roll-your-own as well as Regular Filter and Light Filter cigarettes made...

Currant affair.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Higgins and Burke introduces Suva Bay brewed iced tea. Subtly infused with a taste of the tropics, the premium teas are available in Mango, Black Currant and Orange Pekoe. For more information from Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee USA, *...

Drive 'em inside.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... PromoWorks, LLC, a developer and provider of innovative marketing programs, announces the launch of C-StoreWorks, a national convenience store program. C-StoreWorks reaches gas-and-go consumers with an immediate take-one incentive at the pump...

Odor absorber.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Intromark Inc. introduces Smoke-B-Gone, a new non-aerosol neutralizer that helps eliminate unpleasant cigarette and cigar smoke odors, as well as pet and kitchen odors. Environmentally safe, Smoke-B-Gone can be sprayed into the air or onto...

Taste bud tempter.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Piccadilly Circus Pizza introduces a branded food program to capture the busy morning daypart that doesn't require any additional food prep equipment or small wares. Piccadilly's Branded Breakfast Sandwiches use the finest ingredients, are easy...

Premium pack.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... United States Beverage introduces a new trial 16-oz. swingtop four-pack of its Grolsch premium lager. For retailers looking to have a strong display package (measures 6"W x 6"D x 9.375"H) that can drive higher transaction rings (SRP is $7.99),...

Rotisserie draw.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Alto-Shaam introduces an electric rotisserie with a curved glass design to roast and automatically hold hot product. Featuring a combination of convection and ceramic radiant heat, the Alto-Shaam rotisserie provides a choice of one- or...

Hot opportunity.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Give customers the taste of freshly roasted pecans, cinnamon and a rich buttery flavor in the new cappuccino from Sara Lee Coffee & Tea. Following the success of Sara Lee's Cinnamon Roll Cappuccino, Pecan Coffeecake Cappuccino captures an...

Island spice.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Pierre's new Spicy Jerk Chicken Tenders are fully seasoned and cooked, boneless 5.20-oz. chicken smothered in Caribbean Jerk sauce. The tenders are served in an easy-to-use microwaveable tray with colorful packaging. They come 12 to a case and...

Get the skinny.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Nestle Nesquik Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Milk is switching to 2% milk, reducing fat and calorie content. This new reduced-fat milk formula answers consumers' call for healthier beverages. Nesquik RTD Reduced-Fat Milk will be available in January in...

Counter offer.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... Follett's Symphony 25 series countertop ice and water dispensers feature contemporary styling with stainless steel exterior cabinets, rounded front corners and tasteful graphics. The 21" wide footprint requires less space than competitive...

Piercing sales.(New Stuff!)
December 1, 2003... BDI Marketing introduces a new line of Hot Body Jewelry for the convenience store industry. The popularity of body piercing is on the rise in the U.S., and keeps growing. To capitalize on the trend, BDI offers a variety of merchandising...

Jack Link's bulks up Maverik's meat snack sets: "meat snacks provide higher margins than the majority of the products in our stores. We have had great success with King B and Jack Link's; the merging of the two companies has been seamless.".(Products At Work)
December 1, 2003... When Rich McKay heard that Jack Link's Beef Jerky acquired King B, he became concerned about the fate of the most popular jerky items in his stores. "When the big guys buy the little guys, the first thing they typically do is pick through...

New associate manager position gives Sheetz a 'farm system' for store manager prospects.(BackRoom: "stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
December 1, 2003... On October 1, the human resources department at Sheetz, Inc. (Altoona, PA) implemented a new store-level position: associate store manager. The position is not in and of itself a "target job," according to Phil Freeman, vice president of human...