Convenience Store Decisions articles from February 2007

Convenience Store Decisions archives from February 2007

The evolution of the "intellectually challenged".(BackRoom)(stupid robbers )
February 1, 2007... While the Noble Committee recognizes the genius of scientists and diplomats, the Internet-based Darwin Awards "honors" people who help out the human species in a different way--by eliminating themselves (or coming close) from society through...

Houston rallies against c-store crimes: Mayor appoints new task force to protect stores and owners.(BackRoom)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Houston officials are uniting to combat crimes against convenience stores. City Mayor Bill White has put together a task force dedicated to reducing these crimes and making stores safer for both employee and customers. "We're going to be...

Sweet profits: even as other retail channels move into the candy business, category sales in convenience stores remain strong.
February 1, 2007... There's good news and bad news for convenience store marketers concerned that other retail channels are cannibalizing their candy sales. A Dechert-Hampe & Co. report on candy found that confectionery sales at nontraditional outlets are on the...

Bringing down the coffee house: with national chains permeating the retail landscape, convenience stores are brewing up new ways to secure sales of one of their biggest profit earners.(Financial report)
February 1, 2007... The National Coffee Association (NCA) reports that coffee and gourmet coffee beverages are enjoyed by adults of all demographics. Recent studies have shown that less than one-third of those coffee drinkers purchase their java from fast food...

Wholesale change: retailer-distributor relationships have evolved to meet today's customers' needs, but there is still work that needs to be done on the DSD side, marketers said.(Cover story)
February 1, 2007... With all of the competition convenience store retailers are facing these days, they can take some comfort that they are not going at it alone. Wholesalers and suppliers have a vested interest in their success. Quite simply, when retailers...

Teamwork extends beyond the store.(Editor's Memo)
February 1, 2007... The concept of teamwork is frequently mentioned when discussing the interaction of employees at the store level. But in this month's cover story, we explore the close relationship shared by convenience store operators and their wholesaler...

A family company: E-Z Mart has reinvented itself with a new design, strong in-store programs and a growing fuel business.(FrontEnd)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... CSD: When your father, a prominent industry figure, died so suddenly, the industry was experiencing a lot of mergers and acquisitions. Was there any talk about selling the business and going in a different direction? Hubbard: We had...

Publisher's Q&A.(FrontEnd)
February 1, 2007... E-Z Mart Inc. has a long history of being an innovator in convenience retailing. When convenience stores in the early 1970s only stayed open until 6 p.m., founder Jim Yates kept his doors open until 11 p.m. That kind of forward thinking helped...

Win-win: loyalty propositions while some experts say a rewards program that also reduces credit card fees is too good to be true, Wawa and Wesco beg to differ.
February 1, 2007... Creating a loyal customer base has always been a concern for retailers. But more recently, high interchange rates on Visa and MasterCard purchases have been at the forefront of retailers' minds. While they want to increase business, costly...

The most important buying decision you'll ever make: when it comes to making hiring decisions, trust your instincts in the interview process.
February 1, 2007... What is the most important buying decision you'll ever make? When you choose a new site? Buying category management software? Adding a carwash? Does something else come to mind? Well, no matter what it is for you, there is a well-defined,...

Buyer's gear up for McLane Trade Show.
February 1, 2007... McLane Co. Inc.'s upcoming National Trade Show, taking place in Las Vegas from March 14-16, is expected to provide a unique opportunity for retailers to learn and purchase a variety of in-store items with significant savings. The show will...

NATO Tobacco Plus Expo hits Vegas.
February 1, 2007... The largest gathering of tobacco suppliers in the country heads to Las Vegas this spring. The National Association of Tobacco Outlets' (NATO) Tobacco Plus Expo, formerly named the NATO Expo, will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center...

The petroleum industry mourns a friend.
February 1, 2007... Mike Sroda, 67, peacefully passed away with his family by his side after a long battle with cancer. Sroda was well known and respected in the petroleum industry, making many friends though the 40 years he served as a vice president for a...

Success runs in the family: Piedmont petroleum and its Corner Mart stores keep customers loyal by keeping things simple.
February 1, 2007... Different companies have different ideas of what it means to be at their best. To some, it means being the biggest in the market. To others, it could mean having the highest sales. However, to Kenneth Cosgrove and his family, owners of the...

Baby Back chips.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Herr's introduces Baby Back Ribs Kettle Cooked Potato Chips with the taste of baby back ribs by the bagful. For all those who wait patiently to appreciate the perfect, smoky, full-bodied flavor of choice baby back ribs, these chips will leave...

Re-markably colorful.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... BIC is launching its first retractable permanent marker. The BIC Mark-it Retractable marker comes in blue, black, red and green ink, and features a convenient, pen-style size, clickable cap and molded grip zone. Seal Guard defends against dry...

Clean and cool.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Hoshizaki America Inc. introduces the KM-650MH Modular Crescent Cube Ice Machine, producing up to 680-pounds of ice per 24 hours. The slim-line modular design is available in air-cooled, remote and water-cooled models. KM-650 unit is protected...

Mixing it up.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... The Farley's & Sather's brand Kiddie Mix is now available in a 5.75-oz. peg bag in the familiar Kiddie Mix packaging. Kiddie Mix contains an assortment of consumer favorites such as Super Bubble Bubble Gum, Now and Later and SweeTarts. It's a...

Energy done bigger.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... XL Energy Drink Corp. introduces two international beverages, XL Regular and Sugar-free energy drinks, in the U.S. XL Energy Drinks have a lightly carbonated flavor and are carefully formulated for times when extended energy is needed for the...

Little cigar, big flavor.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Swisher International has added Peach, Mild and Mild Menthol packs to the Santa Fe Little Cigar line. The three new flavors, which join Santa Fe Original and Santa Fe Menthol, offer customers one of the widest selections of high-quality little...

Taste goes toxic.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Candy Dynamics has launched an exciting new product, Toxic Waste Nuclear Sludge Chew Bars, set to join its range of children's confectionery. The new chew bar is available in an ultra sour apple flavor, guaranteed to please children of all...

All-in-one oven.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... MTI introduces the Mutli-Chef, a high-speed, all-in-one cooking system that will cut cooking time by up to 75%. The Multi-Chef can toast, bake, broil, steam or fry without oil in just minutes. For more information from MTI [??]...

Powerful snacking.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... PowerBar has expanded its women's nutrition product line with PowerBar Pria Grain Essentials. Made with 70% organic ingredients, a half-daily serving of whole grains per bar and specific nutrition for women, the Pria Grain Essentials bars offer...

Quick comfort foods.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Licensing the Betty Crocker Name from General Mills, Great American Appetizers created the Betty Crocker Mashed Homestyle and Gourmet Twice Baked Potatoes from all natural ingredients and 100% Idaho potatoes. Both lines are fire-roasted, which...

Fruity, smokeless flavor.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (USST) launches a new citrus blend product in its Skoal line of premium moist smokeless tobacco. New Skoal Citrus Blend, available at retail in both Long Cut and Pouches starting March 12, 2007, will be made with...

Holdin' steady.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... RTC introduces the new BevTrac Shelf Management System for cold vaults and coolers that will always front-face the beverage category. This innovative slide-glide system will help reduce labor costs associated with keeping the beverage section...

Verification is a touch away.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Pay By Touch is offering its Paycheck Secure, a biometric check-cashing service. Paycheck Secure service lets people cash checks using a simple finger scan to authenticate their identity. Already used by more than three million consumers in...

Delectable Deli.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... Hot Stuff Foods unveils a new format, name, look and incentive for its Smash Hits Deli program. Formerly known as Smash Hit Subs, the new Smash Hits Deli has an expanded menu including sub sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, fresh baked cookies...

Enter the hot zone.(New Stuff!)
February 1, 2007... In 2007, Mountain View Marketing (MVM) will retire the "Novelty Outfitters" name, and begin marketing all its novelty and promotional products under the "Hot Zone" brand identity. The change will be phased into product packaging and display...

Plugged in.(retailwire)
February 1, 2007... CUSTOMERS RELOAD AND STARBUCKS TAKES OFF Almost 100 million Starbucks prepaid cards have been activated since first being rolled out by the chain in Nov. 2001. Many of those have been given as gift cards. Since first being introduced,...

Dynamic duo.(Rising Stars)(Jennifer Vespole and Bill Tencza of Quick Chek Food Stores Inc.)
February 1, 2007... It's a true testimony to a company that prides itself on being "family run and family friendly" when two of its top earning category managers continually sing its praises after more than a decade working together. Jennifer Vespole, senior...

Moist smokeless taxation: myth vs. reality: ad valorem state taxation maintains a growing and competitive marketplace for moist smokeless tobacco.(Category Update: Tobacco Taxation)
February 1, 2007... Much has been written recently about the moist smokeless tobacco marketplace. With new companies, such as Phillip Morris and R.J. Reynolds entering the category, and new products entering the marketplace, it is an exciting segment of tobacco...

Moist smokeless taxation: weight-based taxes level the playing field and preserve retailer profits.(Category Update: Smokeless Tobacco)
February 1, 2007... Without question, moist smokeless tobacco is a profitable, growing and dynamic category. However, category and retail profits are at risk due to customer down-trading from premium to price-value products. Opponents of weight-based taxes have...

Protecting tobacco: with regulations and taxation taking a toll on sales, leading experts discussed the category's future as part of ongoing Executive Roundtable Webcast series.(FrontEnd)(Discussion)
February 1, 2007... The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement continues to impact tobacco sales. Since the agreement went into effect almost a decade ago, tobacco retailers continue to be shackled by heavy regulations and constantly increasing taxes. While...