Convenience Store Decisions articles from February 2005

Convenience Store Decisions archives from February 2005

The Walgreens factor.(Editor's Memo)
February 1, 2005... You can cross Walgreens off your list of competitors. Based on my experience as a consumer, the monolithic drugstore chain just can't compete with c-stores in terms of what your customer truly craves: speed of service. I visited a...

Numbing the sting: Terrible Herbst's no-nonsense ID policy curtails age-restricted sales to minors and drives the chain toward 100% compliance on sting operations.(FrontEnd)
February 1, 2005... Due to a zero-tolerance policy Terrible Herbst instituted about three years ago, George Philpott has had to witness the termination of an hourly employee that served the company for 18 years, as well as a store manager that worked there for...

Is Krispy Kremed? Key changes in the rungs of Krispy Kreme's corporate ladder raise both optimism and doubt regarding the once-infallible brand's long-term prospects for the c-store channel.(FrontEnd)
February 1, 2005... For one-time Wall Street darling Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., the dough may yet rise again. The board of directors for the North Carolina-based donut maker, which had been making headlines for its sinking stock price and accounting errors...

A holy grail for tobacco? Seeking better ways to manage the cigarette category as a means of securing more gross profit dollars? A "six-step" analysis may help uncover hidden profits.(Front End)
February 1, 2005... Even though the "same firms" database of CStoreXchange (CSX) shows that 2004 cigarette dollar sales may approximate 1% more per store versus 2003, when you factor in tax and price increases the real trend is negative. As a handful of retailers...

New at 7-Eleven: tax refunds and affordable cell phones.
February 1, 2005... H&R Block clients seeking a convenient option to cash refund anticipation loan checks can now go to a local 7-Eleven store equipped with a Vcom financial services kiosk, currently located in more than 1,000 U.S. 7-Eleven stores. 7-Eleven...

Paying by touch at The Pig'.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Piggly Wiggly shoppers in South Carolina and Georgia will soon be able to pay for their groceries with the touch of a finger. After a positive consumer response to the new technology, Piggly wiggly Carolina Co. is launching a new technology...

Staying fresh.(Front End)
February 1, 2005... It wasn't long ago that convenience stores were stuffed with nothing but pre-packaged foods with a long shelf life. But consumers have dictated what matters most--freshness and quality. While all retailers agree on the need to maintain code...

Who's your 800-lb. gorilla?(The National Convenience Store Advisory Group SPRING CONFERENCE)
February 1, 2005... * Whether it's Wal-Mart and Costco selling cheap gas, supermarkets getting into the restaurant business or drug stores selling milk, bread and snacks, Big Box retailers are breathing down your neck. To compete effectively against these...

How to compete & thrive in a Wal-Mart world.(Keynote Presentation)
February 1, 2005... * He predicts that c-store chains requiring gas margins of 12[cents] a gallon will be extinct within five years, and those requiring a dime will be gone in a decade. But Mike Bergdahl says retailers of all sizes can compete and succeed against...

How to develop a big box battle plan.(Special Track Session)
February 1, 2005... * Walk away from the Spring Conference with a Big Box Battle Plan customized for your business. Lamar Berry and Sally Rodman will lead a team from International Marketing Systems that will walk retailers through the steps of creating a guerilla...

Supply chain: your competitive edge? A chain of the year benchmarking case study: Kwik Trip.(Operations Track)
February 1, 2005... * Retailers are discovering one of their most underutiiized assets in the battle against Big Boxes competitors: the c-store supply chain. The ability to buy or produce efficiently, transport, store and deliver products to your own stores can be...

NCSAG Category Management University.(Marketing Track)(The National Convenience Store Advisory Group.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... * CMU gives retailers a blueprint for growing sales and profits in key high-volume categories. The Spring "semester" features a new cigarette inventory management tool (attendees will take home a demo copy!) and a case study featuring Bob...

Schedule at-a-glance.(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... Friday, March 18 8:00 am-12:30 pm Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament 12:00 pm-1:30 pm Lunch 3:00 pm-4:30 pm Nestle Waters Store Tour 5:30 pm-8:30 pm Reception/Tabletop Show 8:30 pm-12:00 am THE EAGLE'S NEST Open ...

Listen to what attendees says!(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... "The content of NCSAG's Category Management University was superior to any other industry seminar I have attended. I appreciated the excellent content and the preparation of the presenters. The category overview was excellent and the...

Bright lights. All-night casinos.(REAL DEAL EXPO)
February 1, 2005... Shows. Fine dining. And more candy, snack, cigarette and novelty items than you can fit in a 3.2 million sq. ft. convention center. The American Wholesale Marketers Association's (www.awmanet.org) Real Deal Expo rolls into Las Vegas this month....

Cigarettes.(REAL DEAL EXPO)
February 1, 2005... Cigarettes remain the lifeblood of the convenience store industry. They account for 34.5% of in-store sales--more than $300,000 per store per year--by far the No. 1 in-store category, according to 2004 NACS State of the Industry survey data. It...

Candy.(REAL DEAL EXPO)
February 1, 2005... February might as well be National Candy Month. Consumers in the United States are expected to spend $13.2 billion on Valentine's Day, and nearly half of the nation (49.4%) will celebrate by buying candy, according to a survey from the National...

Snacks.(REAL DEAL EXPO)
February 1, 2005... Americans eat an average of 4.6 times a day, according to research farm Mintel, and adults ages 18 to 34 are significantly more likely than any other age group to snack three or more times per day in addition to their regular meals. Due to...

Other tobacco products.(REAL DEAL EXPO)
February 1, 2005... Tobacco category managers have come to realize one thing as it relates to the non-cigarette tobacco category: It's all about the flavor. New flavors in cigars and moist smokeless tobacco--ranging from coconut to banana to tequila to mango--are...

HBC/GM.(REAL DEAL EXPO)
February 1, 2005... The sales counter remains some of the most valuable space in any convenience store. Tobacco has largely been removed from the counter and placed on back bars or overheads, creating a valuable opportunity for candy, novelties and blister packs...

Nice N Easy's new face: a bold new store helps Nice N Easy in its quest to become the 'Wegmans of convenience retailing.'.
February 1, 2005... Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes has no fear of going out on a limb. In the face of dwindling cigarette sales--the chain has seen its carton sales cut in half over the past five years due to intense competition and painfully high excise taxes--the...

Loss leaders: new technology convinces Town & Country and WESCO Inc. that slashing losses can be just as profitable as growing sales.
February 1, 2005... About three years ago, WESCO Inc. (Muskegon, MI) implemented its "Churn Busters" program as a means of slashing turnover. The savings gained from the program--the company reduced its turnover by 50% in just one year--convinced the chain it...

Upgrading the Bean: c-store retailers expect enhancements to the coffee bar--new blends, cups and design--to foster dramatic growth.
February 1, 2005... Less than six months ago, the coffee presentation at Heritage's Dairy Stores looked pretty basic. It took up 8 ft. to 10 ft. of space, featuring just a few brewers selling dark roast, decaf and a proprietary blend. Today, however, the...

Bars of gold: for these two retailers, chocolate bars had an exceptional year in 2004. Based on early results, they expect the segment's performance to only sweeten in 2005.(Candy/Snacks)
February 1, 2005... When the convenience store industry tries to breathe new life into a sluggish category, one of the first suggestions often made is to reduce price. But when it came to the chocolate candy category in 2004, retailers and suppliers did the...

Sweet relief.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... The Blue Bunny Carb Freedom line of yogurts, frozen dairy desserts and novelties were created especially for low-carb lifestyles that previously made sweet treats off-limits. New flavors of Carb Freedom Yogurt include Strawberry Banana and...

Cracking up.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2005... Kellogg's Food Away From Home made the No. 1 selling snack cracker--Cheez-It--easier than ever to merchandise. Cheez-It crackers 7-oz. bags include a peg hole in the top seals and are conveniently pre-packaged in 6-ct. trays. They can also be...

Soft-serve phenom.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Taylor introduces the new Crown series soft serve equipment. What's new goes beyond the modular design to maximize space; it's found in the equipment's ability to deliver product continuously, even under heavy demand. The high-efficiency...

Pucker up and sing.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2005... Au'some Candies Inc, presents its newest candy license--American Idol. Launching nationwide is the American Idol Pop Mic, a lollipop top with a light, and the bottom is filled with delicious fruit-flavored bubble gum; the American Idol Bubble...

Amped up.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Boyd Coffee Co.'s Coffee House Roasters brand announces the addition of Hi-Rev Mocha Cappuccino, a highly flavorful and caffeine-intense beverage, to its line of Hi-Rev beverages. Hi-Rev Mocha Cappuccino offers nearly four times the caffeine...

Cup-tastic.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Pactive introduces Clear Drink Cups and Lids, the clear choice in beverage containers. Made of shatter- and crack-resistant PET material that adds to overall strength and available in sizes ranging from 10-oz, to 32-oz. capacities, these cups...

Re-freshed.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Aquafina Sparkling, a carbonated version of Aquafina, and FlavorSplash, a flavored line, are set to hit store shelves nationwide. Aquafina Sparkling is a zero-calorie, unsweetened, carbonated water available in unflavored and lightly flavored...

A new twist.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Snyder's of Hanover introduces an innovative line of Pretzel Sandwiches offered in 2 1/8-oz. packages. The new Pretzel Sandwiches come in two flavors--creamy peanut butter and a tangy cheddar cheese--both sandwiched between two Snyder's of...

Display draw.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Drive traffic to profit centers with Benchmaster all-plastic display merchandisers. Quickly becoming the industry standard for storefront merchandising, Benchmaster three-tiered wall displays create a clean, fresh, professional look that will...

Power up.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... The PowerBar Pria Carb Select line of nutrition snack bars for women has expanded to include two new crispy flavors--Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp and Chocolate Mocha Crisp. Offering a decadent taste with two grams of carbs and 130 calories,...

Warmmming up.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Three hot new menu items have retailers "warmmming" up their food sales. Hot Stuff Pizza franchisees piloting the franchise's new bakery/coffee program featuring Warmmm Cinnamon Rolls and Caffe Origins as well as Hot Stuff XXL Stufferz, have...

Wonder water.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Energy Multi-Vitamin Enhanced Water Corp. introduces three new all-natural varieties: Low-carb Lemon-Lime, no-carb Black Tea with Lemon and no-carb Green Tea with Honey and Ginseng. The new varieties bring to 10 the number of natural health...

Symphony of service.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Follett's Symphony Series 12 countertop dispenser is an attractive, space-saving ice and water dispenser that is ideal for smaller applications. It stores 12 lbs. of ice and requires only 16" of valuable counter space. Standard features include...

High-end high-tech.(New Stuffs!)
February 1, 2005... Ultimate Technology Corp. announces the new UltimaTouch 1800 Series Touch Workstation, an all-in-one touch workstation that incorporates a bright 15" touchscreen with the latest state-of-the-art electronics, an Intel processor and a durable...

Cool!(BackRoom)
February 1, 2005... A new digital badge could help increase sales, improve the execution of in-store promotions and raise awareness of your brand. Seems like you just might need some "stinkin' badges" after all. Picture this: It's Super Bowl weekend and an...

Stupid criminal tricks: clueless crooks routinely turn police blotters into the funny pages. Unfortunately, their capers often come at your expence.(BackRoom)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Crimes committed against convenience retailers and their employees are by no means funny. But the means which some creative (or just plain stupid) criminals employ to "make a living" often are. * Too much heavy lifting. In Tampa Bay, FL,...