Convenience Store Decisions articles from June 2004

Convenience Store Decisions archives from June 2004

Romero's guide to loss prevention.(Editor's Memo)
June 1, 2004... George A. Romero, director of social-satire horror films starting with 1968's Night of the Living Dead, could've been a convenience store loss prevention manager in a past life. It's quite possible, since Romero creates a near-perfect allegory...

Convenience Store Decisions welcomes Michael Weinreich to its sales team in the position of national sales manager.(Editor's Memo)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Convenience Store Decisions welcomes Michael Weinreich to its sales team in the position of national sales manager. Before joining Convenience Store Decisions, Mike worked for Convenience Store News for 10 years, most recently as Northeast...

Meat heads: an upscale deli/meat market helps this c-store owner attract females. His next challenge: bringing back Bubba.(Front End)
June 1, 2004... Randy Warren got a lot of strange looks when he decided to completely renovate one of his four fully paid-off Daybreak Convenience Stores. The store, in downtown Delafield, WI, which is modeled after the colonial Virginia town of Williamsburg,...

Race relations: partnering with one of the NASCAR circuit's best-known tracks helps Fas Mart live up to its name.(Front End)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
June 1, 2004... This summer, hundreds of thousands of race fans at Virginia's Richmond International Raceway will look to the walls of the racetrack and crave a soft drink or a snack. And they'll be able to get it at a Fas Mart convenience store--which is...

A quiet rebound in 2003: the NACS State of the Industry report paints a picture of a rebounding industry. Most retailers remain cautiously optimistic.(Front End)(National Association of Convenience Stores )
June 1, 2004... That sound you hear is the collective sigh of relief from an industry in desperate need of some good news. In 2003, the convenience store industry benefited from a relatively stable motor fuels market and used that stability as a foundation to...

TravelMart takes off: as DFW Airport opens its first in-terminal convenience store, more TravelMarts are making preparations to touch down.(Front End)(Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport)
June 1, 2004... Pat Gleason and most convenience retailers share a common goal: to drive revenue by maximizing selling space. But that's where the similarities end. While most convenience retailers have about 2,000 square feet to play with, Gleason's "sales...

Casey's General Stores.(Decision Makers)(executive promotions)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The board of directors of Casey's General Stores (Ankeny, IA) has approved the following promotions: Robert J. Myers to president and chief operating officer; William J. Walljasper to vice president and chief financial officer, effective August...

Matt Thorton CEO of Thortons Inc. (Louisville, KY), has passed his duties as president and chief operating officer to William "Graham" Baughman.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Matt Thorton CEO of Thortons Inc. (Louisville, KY), has passed his duties as president and chief operating officer to William "Graham" Baughman. Baughman, who joined the company in May 2000, previously served as executive vice president. Since...

7-Eleven Inc.(Decision Makers)(Kevin Gardner appointed as director of marketing communications)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Kevin Gardner has joined 7-Eleven Inc, (Dallas, TX) as director of marketing communications, responsible for product publicity and promotions within the chain. In this position, Gardner will oversee strategic marketing communication planning,...

TNT Marketing.(Decision Makers)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... TNT Marketing has added two members to its sales team. Bob Nelson joins TNT as Southeast regional manager, calling on retailers and wholesalers in parts of Virginia and North Carolina. He has 20 years experience in the CPG industry, working for...

PerformanceRetail.(Decision Makers)(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... PerformanceRetail has added Mike Dreggors as vice president of convenience retail sales. Before joining PerformanceRetail, Dreggors served Pinnacle Corp. as vice president of sales. The company has also named Howard Hyche, formerly professional...

Fresh Brands Inc.(Decision Makers)(appointments, promotions and retirements)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Grocery retailer and fuel marketer Fresh Brands Inc. (Sheboygan, WI) has promoted Louis E. Stinebaugh to president and CEO. He also joins the company's board. The company has also appointed M. Stemlar independent director and announced the...

Star Manufacturing International.(Decision Makers)(Steve Lombardo appointed as director of sales)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Roller grill and restaurant equipment vendor Star Manufacturing International has appointed Steve Lombardo director of sales--North America. Lombardo joined the company in 1994, working as national sales manager since 2000.

Clif Bar Inc.(Decision Makers)(Sheryl O'Loughlin appointed as chief executive officer)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Sheryl O'Loughlin has been named CEO of Clif Bar Inc., the first time the energy and nutrition foods company has had a CEO outside of its original founder, Gary Erickson. O'Loughlin joined Clif Bar in 1998 and most recently served as executive...

Swedish Match North America.(Decision Makers)(Dan Carr appointed as senior vice president of sales and marketing)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Swedish Match North America has promoted Dan Can" to senior vice president of sales and marketing. Carr previously served the company as vice president of sales. Carr joined the company in 1996 after working in sales, marketing and channel...

Daydots.(Decision Makers)(Rob Heidemann appointed as vice president of sales)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Food safety products and services provider Daydots has added Rob Heidemann as vice president of sales and business development. He joins Daydots from Ecolab where he most recently served as assistant vice president of sales.

Skyline Products.(Decision Makers)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Skyline Products, a developer, manufacturer and provider of electronic gas price displays for the petroleum marketing industry, has appointed Vance Brown vice president of business development. In this role, Brown will have worldwide...

Filterfresh Coffee Service Inc.(Decision Makers)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Filterfresh Coffee Service Inc., a subsidiary of Van Houtte Inc., has promoted Walter Prokopchuk to vice president of U.S. operations; and Mark Heuer and Rodney Turner to regional directors of operations, heading the central region and the...

NEXT Proteins.(Decision Makers)(Edward Hughes appointed as chief operating officer )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... NEXT Proteins, manufacturer of Designer Whey protein powder and nutritional products, has appointed Edward Hughes its chief operating officer and general manager. Hughes will handle operations responsibilities for the company, including...

I pledge allegiance ... Having trouble getting buy-in from employees? Here's how to get commitment of the deepest kind.(The Labor Pool)
June 1, 2004... In this day of the mercenary resume builder, tumultuous employee turnover, corporate upheaval and the epidemic "free agent mentality" among employees, how would you go about getting your front line to buy in to your company's mission and...

NCSAG fall conference & new profit center showcase.(Navigating with Confidence)
June 1, 2004... Keynote Presentations The View from the Brand-Stand: How Consumers View Us ADRIENNE WEISS, President, Adrienne Weiss Corporation * Branding is story-telling--an expression of your business. So how can convenience store retailers...

Pilot's work in process: Joe Cate's new job at Pilot Travel Centers: streamline a $6.5 billion, 320-store company.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... Joe Cate refers to himself as a "converted bean counter." A former supervisor of corporate accounting, Cate has been tapped to fill a brand new position at Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Knoxville, TN): manager of new process development. The...

Dropping the drops: getting up to the NAXML standard was Favorite Markets' first step to controlling cash losses.
June 1, 2004... If there's one thing Calfee Co. of Dalton Inc. dba Favorite Markets could do without, it's envelope drops. The company is finding a way to overhaul the antiquated, time-consuming process of accounting for cash settlements-and relieving cashiers...

Brand promoter: this two-store retailer hiked up his branded fast food sales--as well as total in-store sales--using a little ingenuity and a lot of free stuff.
June 1, 2004... Joel Kurtenbach has become one of the most popular restaurateurs in the small blue-collar town of Gillette, WY (pop. 20,000), which residents consider the unofficial "energy capital of the nation" because of the abundance of coal mines, oil...

Making friends: for Jet Food Stores, profitable cooler doors stem from strong relationships with key warehouse and DSD vendors.(Category manager's notebook: beverages/beer)
June 1, 2004... Clint Hancock approaches business the same way he approaches life: Positive relationships are the key to happiness. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the cold beverage doors, which Hancock oversees as vice president-marketing of Jet Food...

Hot (sandwich) opportunity.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Sara Lee introduces a powerful new sandwich warmer that helps operators sell hot sandwiches around the clock with a variety of hearty products from Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm and State Fair. Featuring clear-view, easy-access doors, the warmer...

Water that works.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Speedo has teamed with FUZE Beverage to introduce Speedo Sportswater. More than just a bottled water. Speedo Sportswater is low-carb, low-calorie and enhanced with folic acid and electrolytes. Speedo Sportswater comes in four delicious...

That's the spot.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... PaySpot now delivers airtime and handsets for "Tier 2 Wireless Carriers," companies that manufacture inexpensive handsets and purchase bulk airtime from the major carriers, then resell the airtime in proprietary consumer offerings. PaySpot's...

Liquid refreshment.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... For consumers with a need for speed, here comes Ice Breakers Liquid Ice. Built on the "capsule" technology developed for Ice Breakers gum, these small mints dissolve instantly, releasing their intense liquid centers. Retailing for $1.49 to...

Indispensible.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Bunn's newest addition to its liquid coffee dispenser offerings, the Liquid Coffee Refrigerated (LCR) Dispenser, has a refrigerated cabinet to enhance product lifetime and operators' liquid concentrate investment. The refrigerated cabinet keeps...

100 years of Canada Dry.(New Stuff!)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Canada Dry celebrates 100 years of distinction as America's No. 1 ginger ale. Canada Dry is once again reinventing itself by reminding consumers of its unique taste experience with the new tagline, "Just North of the Everyday." The campaign is...

Take the cake.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Pound Cake and French Vanilla are the newest delicious flavors added to Bake'n Joy's line of FreshBakes predeposited 18-oz. loaf cake batters. The line also includes Blueberry, Banana Nut, Cranberry Orange Nut, Cinnamon Chip and Triple Berry...

Umami, Mommy!
June 1, 2004... Jack Llnk's introduces Kikkoman flavored Kippered Beef Steak Nuggets, the perfect bite-size snack loaded with "umami"--a savory flavor sensation found in many Asian foods. Made from tender slices of 100% whole beef, Jack Link's Kippered Beef...

Form and function.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Alto-Shaam offers the maximum in hot food product safety in a new, self-service hot food case. Available in countertop or floor-standing models, the case includes sliding glass doors at the back for loading convenience. Each base-heated shelf...

Breading done right.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Henny Penny offers a healthier version of customers' favorite--fried chicken--with its new low-carb breadings and seasonings line called SmartCarbs. The breading formulation carries 40% less carbohydrates than ordinary breadings and batters....

Dip-n-go.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Sargento Foods introduces Cheese Dips!, a line of portable, single serve snacks for on-the-go consumers. Each 3 to 3.75-oz. package contains a hearty portion of delicious cheese dip made with real cheddar cheese, plus crunchy dippers. Available...

Fruit flavors.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Dole Foodservice introduces nutritious Dole Fruit Bowls in 3.1-oz. serving sizes. Each single-serve fruit cup requires no refrigeration and contains 100% all-natural fruit that is easy to store, handle and display. Additionally, each container...

Let's twist again.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Chubby Checker, King of the Twist, is the creator of Chubby's Checkerbar, Chubby Checker Brand Beef Jerky, Outside the Bun Hot Dogs, New York Twist Steaks, Golden Hits Gourmet Popcorn and Girl of the World Bottled Water. CorBranz Marketing...

Totally tubular.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... ICEE is now available as a juice-based frozen novelty treat. ICEE Squeeze Tubes are dairy-free, fat-free and a tasty alternative to ice cream and other more indulgent snacks. The ICEE Squeeze Tubes have been reformulated to include both juice...

Meaty goodness.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Old Wisconsin's Twisted Link Snack Sticks bring back the old fashioned, handcrafted sausages consumers have enjoyed for generations. Available in a 24-ct. bulk bag, Old Wisconsin Twisted Links can be sold in bulk or dispensed individually...

Give 'em their lix.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Last Lix announces its first line of Head Bopper Major League Baseball licensed candy. Last Lix Head Boppers are unique candy dispensers shaped in the form of baseball players that dispense sour candy baseballs when the head is pushed down. The...

Cracker commotion.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Kellogg is talking Keebler sandwich crackers to new heights with new packaging and popular flavor introductions this summer. Keebler introduces two new flavors--Toast & PB 'n J and Cheese & Cheddar--in 8-ct. snack packs that are prepacked in...

Anytime delight.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Lancaster's Barbecue Inc. presents the newest addition to its family of eastern North Carolina-style pure pork barbecue. Barbecue lovers will savor every bite of this jumbo 6-oz. sandwich comprised of 3.5 oz. of chopped pork barbecue. Along...

Prepaid path.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Ambess POSA is a complete prepaid turnkey solution. Software in Ambess's easy to use state-of-the-art terminals integrates the four main market long distance prepaid calling cards, and all 10 of the major prepaid wireless recharges, including...

(Bread)stick around.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2004... Piccadilly Circus Pizza introduces its new Double Dippers Breadstick program as part of the new Freezer to Oven foodservice concepts currently being developed to help retailers control labor and grow the bottom line. Double Dippers Breadsticks...

Pilot gets into a fix: adding truck maintenance and repair service centers helps Pilot reinforce its reputation as a national one-stop shop.(Back room: "stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
June 1, 2004... Bill Mulligan probably still has some grease under his fingernails. Over the past year he has spent lots of time at truck stops, donning the coveralls and getting his hands dirty to see what it's like to work at a truck stop that offers...

Jet Food Stores gives take-home a home.(Back room: "stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Jet Food Stores Vice President-Marketing Clint Hancock says multi-packs are one of the keys to attracting more women to convenience stores (see Making friends, p. 40). "Multi-packs are an incremental purchase, period," he says. "It's...