Convenience Store Decisions articles from February 2006

Convenience Store Decisions archives from February 2006

Looking back, looking forward.(Editor's Memo)
February 1, 2006... It hardly seems appropriate for me to write about the joy of producing Convenience Store Decisions' milestone 200th issue, especially since I've been here barely long enough to figure out the voice mail system. But while my contribution to CSD...

Our commitment to you.(Taking Stock)
February 1, 2006... One of the key lessons I learned from one of my mentors in the publishing business is that it's not the job of a trade magazine editor to be smarter than anybody else (you can only imagine what a relief it was to hear that). Instead, our job is...

Griffin brand comes to life: American Auto Wash launches a proprietary fuel offering with plans to introduce it to franchisees in the Mid-Atlantic.(Front End)
February 1, 2006... In Greek mythology the griffin has served many purposes including the guardian of treasures and kings. Kevin Kan hopes his Griffin will represent similar riches. Kan, president and CEO of American Auto Wash Inc., rolled out the Griffin...

High gas prices impacting c-store profitability: with credit card fees eating away at fuel margins, NACS is promoting an alternative.(Front End)
February 1, 2006... While in-store sales are flat, retailers' biggest concern is profit margin erosion triggered by escalating credit- and debit-card processing fees. Beset by record-high gas prices over the past two quarters, convenience store and petroleum...

Correction.(Front End)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2006... McLane Co.'s contact information in CSD's 2006 Buyer's Guide was Incorrect. The correct contact information is: McLane Co. Inc. 4747 McLane Parkway Temple, TX 76503 254-771-7500 www.mclaneco.com CSD regrets the...

Marketers urged to get up to date on OTC pharmaceuticals: ACRC working overtime on legislative agenda, retailer recruitment.(Front End)
February 1, 2006... The federal government is poised to enact legislation substantially affecting over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals. Do you know what they are? If not, the American Council on Regulatory Compliance (ACRC) says your business is at risk of...

McLane: K&G, Brewer Oil re-up.(McLane Company Inc., K & G Stores, extended distribution agreement)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... K & G Stores (Lone Tree, CO) has extended its service agreement with McLane Co. Inc. (www.mclaneco.com). Michael Hayes, K & G vice president of sales and operations, said his company's relationship with McLane has helped grow the business with...

Kwik Trip to build commissary.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Kwik Trip (La Crosse, WI) plans to build a $14 million commissary next to its La Crosse distribution center that will result in about 50 new jobs. The chain hopes to start construction this summer and finish by spring 2007. The commissary is...

Gift cards brighten holiday for Valero.
February 1, 2006... Valero Energy Corp. (San Antonio, TX) has announced that the AmericanExpress Gift Card, offered for six weeks in 635 of the company's Valero and Diamond Shamrock Corner Stores, accounted for about 55% of the stores' total third-party gift...

Carroll acquires BP assets.
February 1, 2006... Carroll Independent Fuel Co. (www.carrollfuel.com) has acquired 70 BP retail and wholesale fuel assets in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region. With the addition of the BP assets, Carroll's sales will exceed 300 million gallons annually of...

Costco test marketing carwashes.
February 1, 2006... Costco (Issaquah, WA) is venturing into the carwash business starting in March or April at one of its Seattle stores. The carwashes, which will cost $7.99, will include a tire shine, undercarriage washing and a full body wash, Costco chief...

NY campus store goes automated.(of All Seasons Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... All Seasons Services Inc. (www.4allseasons.com), a provider of dining, vending and office refreshment services, has unveiled its first Shop24 automated convenience store in the U.S. on the campus of the State University of New York (SUNY) at...

Closing stores for a higher good?
February 1, 2006... A Baltimore city councilwoman is pushing for legislation that would give police the authority to temporarily close businesses--an effort rooted in an attempt to disrupt drug dealing outside of corner convenience stores operating in residential...

Shell inks deal with Johnson Controls.
February 1, 2006... Shell (Houston, TX) has signed a five-year, multi-million dollar contract with Johnson Controls Inc. (www.johnsoncontrols.com) to provide facilities management services at its retail gas stations. The contract--the largest Shell's building...

Circle K finalizes energy-drink schedule.
February 1, 2006... Circle K (Phoenix, AZ) has finalized its distribution schedule to supply Who's Your Daddy's "King of Energy" drink to 281 locations throughout the southeastern United States. Expected to generate revenues in excess of $290,000, the 13,000 cases...

Kum & Go.(promotes Dennis Folden)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Kum & Go has promoted Dennis Folden, who has been with the chain since 1976, to chief operating officer. Folden's previous position was executive vice president. In his 30 years with the company, Folden has held roles as store manager, retail...

Piccadilly Circus Pizza.(promotes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Piccadilly Circus Pizza has promoted Lamont Glendinning and John Morrison to vice presidents of business development, positions in which they'll be responsible for sales and operations of more than 900 Piccadilly locations nationwide....

Susser Holdings L.L.C.(appoints)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Susser Holdings L.L.C.'s board of directors has announced that Mary E. Sullivan has been named executive vice president, treasurer and CFO after serving as vice president of finance for the past six years. Prior to joining Susser, Sullivan...

International Paper.(Decision Makers)
February 1, 2006... International Paper's chairman and CEO John Faraci announced the retirement of president Robert M. Amen, who has worked for the company for 26 years. In addition, Faraci announced that Paul Herbert has been named senior vice president for...

ERI (Energy Recruiters Inc.).(appoints)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... ERI (Energy Recruiters Inc.), a search firm, has announced the additions of Dave Moreno and Mason Carpenter to its executive recruiting team. Moreno will serve ERI's clients in the energy, retail and consumer products goods industries. Prior to...

The Pinnacle Corporation.(appoints Joe Fulton)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Pinnacle Corporation has hired Joe Fulton as manager of its business development organization. Fulton last worked as sales and marketing manager for Express Personnel Services after gaining his technology experience from the Corel...

FKI Logistex.(Decision Makers)
February 1, 2006... FKI Logistex has promoted 10-year veteran Bob Duplain to president of its warehouse and distribution division. He succeeds John Westendorf, now president of sister division FKI Hardware Group. Duplain had been warehouse and distribution...

Rutter's Holdings Inc.(honored with "Business of the Year")(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... * Rutter's Holdings Inc. (York, PA), parent company of Rutter's Farm Stores and Rutter's Dairy, was named 2005 "Business of the Year" by the Central Penn Business Journal. The award honors Rutter's contribution to the central Pennsylvania...

Tech-friendly.(increase in petroleum retail market with the use of technology)
February 1, 2006... Greg Hendricks thought it was just a regular day when the vice president of Taylor Petroleum breezed into the Radio Shack where he was working in 1983. He asked Hendricks if he liked working with computers, which he did, and brought him on...

Risk vs. reward in the lighter category.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Category Update)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2006... Convenience Stores sell a number of tobacco accessories, but none are more popular than butane pocket lighters. With 2005 annual retail sales estimated at over $600 million, disposable and semi-disposable lighters continue to be a profitable...

Back to the future: CSD examines the financial hurdles the industry faced over the past 10 years, and how retailers will compete in the future.
February 1, 2006... Since the first 7-Eleven opened its doors more than 75 years ago, the industry has served as a home for entrepreneurs and family-run businesses focused on meeting the everyday needs of busy consumers. Through the years the industry has lost...

NACS peers into the crystal ball: CSD asked the NACS think tank, led by new President Hank Armour, to weigh in with its vision for the industry's future.(Interview)
February 1, 2006... Name three items c-stores are not selling today that you expect them to sell in 10 years. Hank Armour: Everything to do with MP3/cell phone entertainment. Hydrogen and electric recharging for vehicle fueling. Organics, from biofuel to...

The quest for excellence: CSD's Chain of the Year Award may have seemed like a "contrarian" strategy in 1990. Now in its 17th year, the award program plays an increasingly vital industry role.
February 1, 2006... The convenience store industry in 1990, to use a boxing analogy favored by us Philadelphians, looked a little like Rocky Balboa answering the bell for the final round of his title bout against Apollo Creed. Cuts above both black eyes,...

Committed to convenience stores: a look at the Fina brand 16 years (200 CSD Issues) later.
February 1, 2006... After reviewing the article about Fina Mart stores in the inaugural issue of Convenience Stores Decisions, I was struck by the old adage that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." I enjoyed the discussion on the monthly...

Suppliers reflect on industry evolution: CSD survey finds marketing, communications and wireless technology are keys to unlocking future growth.(Convenience Store Decisions)
February 1, 2006... By most accounts, 10 years really isn't all that significant a span of time. But to suppliers of convenience stores, a decade-particularly this past decade--has been monumental in the ongoing evolution of the c-store industry and the customers...

Championing technology: Jenny Bullard pinpoints trends that have shaped the industry and identifies new developments leading it into the future.
February 1, 2006... Jenny Bullard is a portrait of the consumate professional company's needs to grow business, and the industry as whole is benefiting. As a foremost authority on developing c-store technology solutions, Bullard has been actively involved in many...

Designing a retail strategy: keeping a close eye on competitors, and an even closer eye on the changing needs of customers, is the key to becoming a destination.(Gordy J William Fuel Co)
February 1, 2006... The late '90s brought a lot of changes to Bill Gordy's Delmar, DE-based convenience store business. As he witnessed the beverage category explode with the introduction of new SKUs, he saw major chains like Wawa and Sheetz eyeing his territory....

CSD brings retailers, suppliers together at ECRM Convenience Conference: nearly 300 attendees from 135 companies met in Los Angeles for one-on-one strategic planning sessions.(Company Profile)
February 1, 2006... Ed Roitz said he came to the Convenience Store Decisions/ECRM Convenience/Front End/Checkstand Conference with an open mind. By the end of the first day, he had an open wallet. That's because Roitz, president and CEO of Fleming Petroleum...

Saving the flavor.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Hatco Corp. introduces its new Flav-R-Savor Tall, Humidified Holding Cabinet, designed to increase holding capacity and offer the flexibility to prepare larger quantities. The 17-tray capacity on 3" centers with universal slides accommodates...

Software solution.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Reflect Systems Inc. introduces ReflectView 1.5, which allows retailers to distribute, track and manage their in-store and point-of-purchase multimedia content. ReflectView enables retailers to convert existing media content from DVDs, tapes,...

'Bing' in the new year.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Coca-Cola North America introduces two new flavors: Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke, while putting Vanilla Coke and Diet Vanilla Coke--big sellers for the company--on hiatus. Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke will...

Extra flavor.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Hoshizaki America Inc. introduces the Opti-Serve Cubelet Ice and Water Dispenser Series hands-free operational units, the largest of which can produce up to 803 lbs. of ice within 24 hours. The Opti-Serve Dispenser produces chewable, dry...

Cold cup convenience.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Berry Plastics Corp. introduces four new sizes to their Pivot disposable drink cup line. The new cups target cold beverage needs from 12-oz. to 52-oz., and are tough, leak-proof and nearly indestructible--they literally can be turned inside out...

Freshness first.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Presto Products Co. introduces Press n Hold plastic sealable wrap--the first sealable plastic wrap for private label sales. Press n Hold complements the company's two current plastic wrap products to further enhance merchandise mix while...

Coffee control.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Bunn is expanding its BrewWISE system for gourmet coffee brewing with the addition of the Multi-Hopper Grinder (MHG) and a storage system for its removable coffee bean hoppers. The BrewWISE system offers simple control over the brewing process,...

Energizing with attitude.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Kronik Energy drink expands its product line with the introduction of Kronik Grind--a blend of top-tier ingredients that have the tag line: "Mom Ain't Gonna Like This." Kronik Grind is specifically designed to capture the 14- to 25-year-old...

Symphony of sense.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Advance introduces its new LISOD ignitor shut-off device for magnetic HID ballasts, ideal for roadway lighting, street lighting, factory/warehouse settings and a range of other high-pressure sodium and metal halide lamp applications that use an...

Good-for-you cookies.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Bake'n Joy Foods Inc. is expanding its All Natural Whole Grains line of FreshBakes Predeposited items with the addition of All Natural 100% Whole Wheat 1.5-oz. Preportioned Cookies. Now, retailers can take the convenience of...

Big time buzz.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Phusion Projects Inc. introduces Four, a caffeinated malt beverage infused with wormwood, and including such ingredients as taurine, caffeine and guarana. Wormwood, known for its buzz effects, is an ancient ingredient best recognized for its...

BBQ bonanza.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Pierre Foods Inc. introduces the Rowdie Rib Boneless Pork Rib Sandwich sauced with nationally renowned Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce. This new twist on the barbecue pork sandwich features a fully-cooked boneless rib pork patty sauced with...

Cabinet cuts clutter.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Tomlinson industries introduces its award-winning SimpliFlex 2100 molded cabinet, which can be stacked to accommodate a variety of cup sizes in a small amount of space, and each unit includes a cup dispenser with three self-adjusting gaskets...

Hot and cold.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Solo Cup Co. introduces its Trophy cup and new food container line that expands hot and cold service beyond beverages to include any item on the menu. Solo Trophy thin-wall foam is a strong, durable material that has the insulating power to...

Taste the revolution.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Miller Brewing Co. is offering a fun and interactive promotion to grab the attention of customers. Promotion specialists will hold "taste rallies," challenging customers to join the "Taste Revolution" movement by choosing Miller Lite. From...

Quick grillin'.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... Taylor Co. introduces two-sided cooking grills, which allow customers to produce a fresh, cooked product in half the time of a standard grill by simultaneously cooking the top and bottom. The modular design is available in 12" and 24" width to...

Sports snack action.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... XGRINDZ is teaming up with the action sports industry, its athletes and sponsor companies for a line of Xtreme Snacks aimed at the action sports lifestyle. The new line of snacks and chips will include a Surf Bag, FMX Bag, Skate Bag, BMX Bag...

Freshness first.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2006... DayMark Safety Systems introduces new Timestrip freshness indicators, which automatically track the freshness of perishable and prepared foods by changing color when food is about to expire. Timestrips take the guesswork out of food rotation,...

Boosting impulse sales at the checkout counter: higher operating costs and lower margins are forcing marketers to boost profitability in other areas of the store.(BackRoom: "Stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
February 1, 2006... The convenience industry is under constant pressure from an ever-changing retail environment. This requires the constant need for marketers to refine store practices for driving new business, and to expand the consumer purchase of products...