Convenience Store Decisions articles from June 2006

Convenience Store Decisions archives from June 2006

Brewing a beer strategy: Anheuser-Busch's "Here's to Beer" promotion toasts beer's popularity.(Category Update: Beer)
June 1, 2006... Benjamin Franklin once quipped, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Here's to beer! Despite its growing line of beer and malt beverages, Anheuser-Bush is concerned about the growing popularity of wine and liquor. To stem...

Pitching in: retailers, suppliers and distributors by the dozens stepped up to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Nearly 10 months later, many continue to help.(BackRoom: "Stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
June 1, 2006... Hurricane Katrina may have struck New Orleans and the nearby Gulf Coast region, but there's no doubt that the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history rippled through the entire country (see "Shelter From the Storm," p. 24). To that...

"Treats" of the Trade: when retailers keep a watchful eye on products and utilize their vendor relationships, candy can produce some dandy results.
June 1, 2006... An entire country may separate Kentucky-based Red Hed Oil Co. and Washington-based Emanuel Oil Inc., but they both know one thing is true: candy is a home run. Retailers agree that candy is fun to sell. It's an impulsive category of which...

ConocoPhillips.(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... Jim W. Nokes, executive vice president of refining, marketing, supply and transportation at ConocoPhillips, will retire after 36 years of service. James L. Gallogly, currently president and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC, will assume...

Stripes Holdings LLC.(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... Stripes Holdings LLC, the largest independent convenience store operator and the largest non-refining motor fuel distributor in Texas through its subsidiaries SSP Partners and Susser Petroleum Co., announced that its elected Jerry E. Thompson...

Mark VII Equipment Inc.(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... Mark VII Equipment Inc. announced that Bill Mills has joined the company as southeast regional manager. Mills will be responsible for managing Mark VII's distribution channel in the Southeastern U.S. He has 33 years of sales and marketing...

Tyson Foods.(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... Tyson Foods, Inc. announced that Sylvia A. Wulf has been appointed vice president of marketing for the Foodservice Group. Wulf has joined Tyson from Bakery Chef, a frozen foods manufacturer, where she was the vice president of sales and...

Thw Wm Wrigley Jr. Co.(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. announced that Martin Schlatter has been named vice president and chief marketing officer, reporting to Bill Wrigley, Jr., chairman, president and CEO. He will be accountable for Wrigley's global marketing function,...

Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM).(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM), a new business process that streamlines the sales and marketing supply chain, has appointed Kevin Osborn to Vice President of Sales for Grocery. Osborn joins the ECRM team from 7-Eleven, the...

The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA).(Decision Makers)
June 1, 2006... The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA) named five directors at its 107th Annual Meeting. Re-elected to three-year terms are Eric Ostrow, Ce De Candy, Inc.; Douglas Taylor, Sr., D.T. & Associates, Ltd.; Michael Gilmore, Ferrero USA...

The New YOrk Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS).(Retailer Spotlight)
June 1, 2006... The New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) has elected Dick Verona and LaFayette D. Jones III to the New York Convenience Store Hall of Fame. Verona, president of Verona Oil Co., which was founded in 1946 by his father, Fred, and...

The cleanup continues.(Editor's Memo)
June 1, 2006... When the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) released its State of the Industry report in April, we learned the state of the industry is good. Sales are up, profits are up and operating costs are down. But this hardly tells the...

Shelter form the storm: the convenience store industry was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, and many retailers are still recovering from the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.(Cover story)
June 1, 2006... A mid the churches and crawfish markets of downtown Slidell, La., where a once-burgeoning commercial landscape continues to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, is a lasting reminder of the Aug. 29, 2005, storm that splintered this town of 26,000....

Help wanted.(Danny and Clyde's Food Store Inc. )
June 1, 2006... After spending an afternoon shift last month, flipping, slicing and grilling behind the deli counter at a Danny & Clyde's store in Metairie, La., one thing became clearer than plastic wrap--employers in the New Orleans are in desperate need of...

A gift for all seasons: convenience retailers are building incremental sales with "gift card mall" selections from a host of local and national retail chains.
June 1, 2006... Convenience and grocery executives are desperately looking for new growth drivers. And with intense pressure from competitive channels that has flattened margins, fresh revenue streams are hard to come by. But, after observing the continued...

Convenience driving natural foods resurgence: cross-channel marketers report strong sales gains in organic, bottled water segments.(Front End)
June 1, 2006... Everything old is new again. Some long-established categories in natural foods are growing at rates usually reserved for products that are just starting to get distribution. Produce does the natural foods industry particularly proud this...

Controlling operations costs: Kwik Trip is maximizing efficiency by combining business intelligence with energy intelligence.
June 1, 2006... Kwik Trip Inc. was chosen "Chain of the Year" in 2004 by Convenience Store Decisions largely because people are the heart of their company, and technology is its lifeblood. This winning combination keeps the LaCrosse, Wis.-based chain efficient...

How to become a local hero: when disaster strikes, every one of us has the opportunity to act heroically.
June 1, 2006... Remember the old comedy/Western "Support Your Local Sheriff?" James Garner starred as Jason McCullough, a guy who runs out of money on his way to Australia and takes a job as a small town sheriff just for the pay. In true Hollywood...

6 Questions to ask yourself before your next hire.
June 1, 2006... Just as you should consistently ask applicants questions that get you all the information need, so should you question yourself every time you consider hiring a new employee. These six questions will help glean valuable company information and...

Chevron invests in biodiesel facility.
June 1, 2006... Chevron Corp., which operates 2,800 convenience stores, has invested through a subsidiary, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), in a Houston-based company that is building one of the first large-scale biodiesel plants in the U.S. The facility...

Delta Petroleum completes merger.
June 1, 2006... Delta Petroleum Corp., a Denver-based independent energy exploration and development company, has completed its acquisition of Castle Energy Corp. (King of Prussia, Pa.), an oil and gas refining and marketing company. Delta has most of its...

Love's teams up with NCR.
June 1, 2006... Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores (Oklahoma City) is rolling out a point-of-sale (POS) solution from NCR Corp. (www.ncr.com) as part of a technology refresh project that includes all of its more than 180 locations across the U.S. The current...

The Pantry's new hiring strategy, acquisition.
June 1, 2006... The Pantry Inc. (Sanford, N.C.), which operates 1,458 convenience stores in 11 states, selected Deploy Solutions (www.deploy.com) to improve workforce quality using its hourly recruiting and talent management solutions. The Pantry selected...

Berry-Hinckley acquires Ariz. chain.(Berry-Hinckley Industries)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Berry-Hinckley Industries (Reno, Nev.) has purchased an 11-location chain of Superpumper c-stores in Scottsdale, Ariz. Paul Morabito, chairman and CEO of Berry-Hinckley, said the company is scouting for more acquisitions and expansion...

Reynolds looks to acquire Conwood.
June 1, 2006... Reynolds American (www.reynoldsamerican.com), which owns R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, announced its proposed $3.5 billion acquisition of the nation's second-largest manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products. Reynolds American plans to purchase...

Lighter than air.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... Bubble Wrap Chocolate is the newest sweet sensation that's fun and leaves consumers feeling like they're lighter than air. An aerated chocolate bar, Bubble Wrap Chocolate Bars are offered in 2.82-oz. servings and in three flavors: Bubbly 60%...

Lollipop-a-licious.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... Spangler Candy Co. offers the small, ball-shaped treats famous for their array of great-tasting flavors, from creme soda to cotton candy and butterscotch, which rotate based on consumer demand. In honor of Spangler Candy's 100th anniversary,...

Burst a bubble.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... The Super Tasting Bubble Gum now has a liquid center. Super Bubble BLAST has the same great taste of the original Super Bubble Gum, but now each piece gives consumers a BLAST of liquid super bubble flavor. The 4.5-oz. peg bag is packed 12 per...

'Creme' of the crop.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... Doublemint fans have a new way to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with new Doublemint Twins mints. Doublemint Twins mints are the first new product introduction from the Doublemint brand in more than 90 years. With their unique blend of two...

Springtime taffy.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... What's not to love about tulips and taffy, especially when they come in a package of Adams & Brooks Fairtime Tulip Taffy. Perfect for spring and summer confectionery sales, Tulip Taffy comes in a clear 12-oz. Laydown bag with multi-colored...

Smooth as silk.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... Super smooth, super luscious, the new flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans have been crafted into five new Smoothie Blend flavors. The collection of all new flavors was inspired b the creative juices of the popular smoothie drink revolution. The...

Candy concoction.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... Cadbury Adams USA LLC, the maker of Sour Patch Soft and Chewy Candy, will be entering the cotton candy category through a license agreement with Taste of Nature, Inc. Each colorful pack of Sour Patch Cotton Candy includes up to four sour then...

Mix it up.(New Stuff! Special)
June 1, 2006... Beer Nuts Brand Snacks introduces two new product, Spicy and Hot Peanuts, and Bar Mix. The Bar Mix is a party mix of ingredients that is a natural with the company's Beer Nut name. The Spicy and Hot Peanut is considered "peanut with an...

Blak attack. (New Stuff!
June 1, 2006... Coca-Cola Blak is Coca-Cola North America's innovative carbonated fusion beverage. Coca-Cola Blak is a sophisticated, premium blend of Coca-Cola, natural flavors and coffee essence. The effervescence and rich flavor of Coca-Cola Blak provides a...

Keep it clean.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2006... Clean equipment assures the quality and consistent taste of coffee, so CDCC Products introduces its Filter Pouch Cleaning System. No lugging or scrubbing coffee equipment in back rooms--the system cleans and rinses all stains and baked-on...

Xtreme capsulation.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2006... Peptime Xtreme T is the first energy drink formula in a capsule. Retailers can cash in on the combination of caffeine and taurine. It's the formula that created the energy drink buzz and phenomenal sales growth. And Peptime Xtreme T packs even...

Token gesture.(New Stuff!)
June 1, 2006... TokensDirect announces its new "Indy Car" token designs just in time for Spring racing season. Race-oriented promotions allow retailers to capitalize on the popularity of Indy racing with campaigns that are inexpensive, fast, easy to administer...

Light up their lives.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... DjEEP gets into tattoo art with two new design series featuring unique artwork on DjEEP and DjEEP Jr. lighters. Full-size DjEEP lighters will feature five different black tattoo designs, backed by swirling combinations. DjEEP is also...

Safety first.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... C & K Products Division of Tomlinson Industries offers two NEW C-Kure Economy Grade anti-fatigue mats. These are first quality mats with a slightly thinner profile, making them lighter weight and easier to handle. Both are black General Purpose...

Tasty nutrition.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Pure Protein Peanut Marshmallow Eclipse bar has the great taste that reminds consumers why Pure Protein is the No. 1 protein bar brand in America. The flavor combination of rich peanut butter and chewy marshmallow is so delicious, and the bars...

Popping good times.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... C-Store operators nationwide now have a great new way to purchase their popcorn packaging. QwikStock.com has just added the Popcorn 2000 line of buckets and bags from International Paper to its product assortment. Perfect for theatres, sports...

Bar none.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Solo GI Nutrition Inc. has improved its popular SoLo GI energy bar in vibrant new packaging, with a delicious new flavor and reformulated ingredients. The new packaging features an eye-catching yet soothing lavender background, with imagery...

Simple sides.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Smooth and spicy, prepare for a fiesta of flavor in every bite with new Lamb's Supreme Jalapeno Cheddar Redskin Mashed Potatoes. With a creamy, cheesy taste and zesty hint of jalapeno, they are the perfect addition to the family of "bold"...

Room to spare.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Hoshizaki's large ice storage bins, the B-1150SS (1300/1500/1650), have a storage capacity from 1,150-lbs. to 1.605lbs. The large Ice Storage Bins have a seamless polyethylene bin liner and foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation in all of the...

Instrumental Control.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... E Instruments offers the newest Mini Gas Sniffer, a rugged, compact, ergonomic and highly sensitive Natural Gas Detector, which is widely used throughout the HVAC industry. The Mini Gas Sniffer is designed for simplicity and one-hand operation....

One-Stop Shopping.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Introducing the new Calico Brands Inc., a family of recognizable lighter brand names, Calico, Scripto and Cricket. Calico Brands provides a one-stop shop for all brand name and private label utility and pocket disposable lighter needs. Calico...

Breakfast with bite.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Hot Stuff Foods has literally rolled out a mini-version of the popular Mexican chimichanga called Hot Stuff Chimiz. Each Chimiz is hand-rolled and made with only choice lean cuts of beef and pork, with just the right amount of spices and...

Better Business Tool.(NewStuff!)
June 1, 2006... Symbol Technologies Inc. introduces a new high-value laser bar code scanner targeted at small businesses. Designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use, the new cost-effective LS1203 bar code scanner provides a sleek, lightweight form factor...

Clutch Player.(Mike Leake)
June 1, 2006... Mike Leake may have had eight years of experience servicing convenience stores while working for Frito Lay and then McLane Grocery Distribution as a DSD sales representative, but it wasn't until DesMoines, Wash.-based Emanuel Inc. recruited him...

Technically speaking: Scott Hartman, president of Rutter's Farm Stores, said the relationship between retailers and suppliers is integral to the implementation of new technologies.(Front End)(Interview)
June 1, 2006... Nearly 40 years after York, Pa.-based Rutter's Farm Stores opened its first unit, the chain's current president plays as big a role as anyone in the convenience industry, particularly when it comes to technology. Chairman of the board of...

Paradise found: how FireKing Security's image vault DVR helped Minit stop stores alleviate the weight of internal shrink and fines from underage sales stings.
June 1, 2006... For retailers facing sub-zero winters and summers that aren't much warmer, it's hard to sympathize with the plight of a Hawaii-based chain that wakes up every day to gorgeous weather and fantastic surroundings. But even in the middle of a...

A new profit center that fits to a "tea": while coffee dominates the hot dispensed beverage category, Tetley is generating some excitement in real-brewed teas.(Category Update: Hot Dispensed Beverage)
June 1, 2006... As energy costs and credit card processing fees continue to soar and tobacco sales remain volatile, it's no secret that convenience store operators are desperately searching alternative revenue streams. In-store sales growth is being driven...

Coming out on top: APW Wyott's new refrigerated countertop system provides foodservice operators with a dependable, sanitary solution for displaying perishable foods and condiments.(Category Update: Foodservice Equipment)
June 15, 2006... A CSD Staff Report When it comes to promoting a foodservice program, retailers have to be sure they are taking every step possible to make the offering clean, sanitary and visually appealing to consumers. Yet, many operators are still...

Import(ant) innovations: traditional beer is wrestling with a growing interest in wine and spirits.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: BEER & WINE)
June 15, 2006... While the latest State of the Industry report issued by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) indicates that money spent in convenience stores climbed 20.2% to reach a record $474.3 billion in sales in 2005, the sale of one very...

Going with the flow: a healthy alternative to CSDs, bottled water continues to evolve as manufacturers introduce new, often fruity, flavors to the segment.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: BOTTLED WATER)
June 15, 2006... The bottled water category continues to swell, as convenience store sales approached $1.7 billion in the 52 weeks that ended April 30, 2006, according to reports by Information Resources Inc. (IRI)--a 13.9% bump over the previous year. ...

Friendly foodies: some retailers are creating their own brands, while others rely on the know-how of national programs. Breakfast offers opportunity.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: BRANDED FAST FOOD)
June 15, 2006... Branded proprietary foodservice is now the choice of 48% of c-store retailers with foodservice--the only segment to increase over five years. With gross margins averaging close to 50% for foodservice (compared with 26% for merchandise), the...

Chewy sensations: gum continues to show strong growth in the convenience channel. tastes are swinging toward richer, more indulgent chocolates.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: CANDY, GUM & MINTS)
June 15, 2006... According to the National Confectioners Association's (NCA) "U.S.A. Confectionery Industry Review," the convenience channel showed 8.8% sales growth, surpassing the still positive growth of Wal-Mart (3.8%), warehouse clubs (3.6%), drug stores...

Deep-fried delight: Rotisserie creates a "theater" experience, but most consumers--whether they want to admit it--are looking for fried.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: CHICKEN)
June 15, 2006... Boston Market gets credit for the revival of rotisserie chicken, according to the National Chicken Council (NCC), but the supermarket industry keeps the popularity going. Rotisserie is "theater"--spinning and sizzling, and it gives operators...

Still smoking: buoyed by sales of premium brands, the cigarette category remains strong.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: CIGARETTES)
June 15, 2006... Though there have been calls by industry experts for convenience store companies to reduce their dependency on cigarettes, the industry overall remains reliant on tobacco sales. The National Association of Convenience Stores' 2006 State of the...

Targeting coffee: while the breakfast daypart is driving the convenience industry's coffee business, national chains are delivering a jolt to sales.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: COFFEE)
June 15, 2006... The market for coffee is strong and it's only going to get stronger, says the National Coffee Association of (NCA). About 53% of adults reported drinking coffee daily, up from 49% in 2004, the first increase in five years. Overall, more than...

Frozen fanatics: the next decade likely will bring major growth in dispensed frozen sales, although the category overall is on the decline.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: DISPENSED BEVERAGES)
June 15, 2006... The volume of carbonated soft drinks sold last year fell by 0.2%, the first decline since 1985 in overall fountain, retail and vending distribution, reports Beverage Digest. Some industry forecasters predict sales will continue to fall due to...

New competition hype: Tesco and Home Depot are among the mammoth chains launching fuel operations.(COMPETITION)
June 15, 2006... For all the talk about fuel volatility in the U.S. market, there is no shortage of big-box retailers expanding to sell gasoline. Over the past 12 months, big names such as Home Depot, the UK's Tesco and Japan's Family Mart all made significant...

Customer focus: while the average visit frequency is declining, the industry may have found salvation in the growing Hispanic segment.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: THE CUSTOMERS)
June 15, 2006... When it comes to resilience and changing to meet the demands of its consumers, few retail segments have shown the fortitude of the c-store and petroleum industry. And with the ever-growing competition from hypermarts, the industry's stamina is...

Contradictory behavior? Sales of low-fat milk fall again, although convenience store consumers say they want healthier food.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: DAIRY, ICE CREAM, FROZEN)
June 15, 2006... Customers can fool you. Talk to them and they'll say they want healthier foods such as low fat dairy products. Watch them shop, and you'll see they're buying more ice cream, and judging from last year's figures, consumers heeding the 2005...

Variety and portioning: the right investment can enhance both bakeries and delis. Smaller portions promote convenience and increased sales.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: BAKERY & DELI)
June 15, 2006... Convenience is being redefined by prepared foods. A full 80% of c-stores now offer prepared foods on-site, making it one of the fastest-growing segments in the foodservice industry, according to the National Restaurant Association (NRA)....

Preparing for tomorrow.(Editor's Memo)
June 15, 2006... I spoke with a number of attendees at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago last month that indicated they had a pretty good feel for what customers want today. Understanding what they will want tomorrow is an entirely different...

Pain at the pump: fuel demand is jumping, but so is Visa and MasterCard's share of petroleum profits.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: MOTOR FUELS)
June 15, 2006... Convenience stores sell the majority of the gasoline purchased in the U.S., and despite canopies that promote a specific brand of gasoline, very few of these stores--less than 3%--are owned and operated by one of the major oil companies. The...

Movies fuel novelty: branded goods spell high profits, especially when they appear in the right places.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: GENERAL MERCHANDISE)
June 15, 2006... Greeting cards, gifts, toys and novelties were the big winners in the 2005 general merchandise sweepstakes, moving from 15.67% to 28.68% of general merchandise sales--and promotional dollars spent by two major movie companies did a lot to help...

Pet products promising: packaged deli, ready-to-eat cereal sales reflect consumers growing interest in healthful eating.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: GROCERY)
June 15, 2006... At a rapidly growing number of convenience stores nationwide, pet owners grabbing a quick latte-to-go for themselves can pick up a gourmet treat for their four-legged friends as well. Chomp Inc.'s pet "candies," including Yip Yap bone shaped,...

Weight control weighs in: sales of weight control items were up in 2005, but operators saw little change overall in the category.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: HEALTH & BEAUTY)
June 15, 2006... Convenience store sales of weight control tablets grew by a surprising 66.3% in 2005 and antacid sales by 2.7%. Sales of cough and sore throat drops, however, dropped by more than 4%. In part, this may be due to the new government regulation...

Hunting for a pizza program: with 5,700 units in 26 states, Hunt Brothers is making its mark in the foodservice business.(Category Update: Pizza)
June 15, 2006... A CSD Staff Report Pizza is booming all over country. It is the hottest fast food item and one of the most profitable, and few concepts are growing as quickly as Hunt Brothers Pizza. The foodservice brand now operates at 5,700 units in...

Energized: as category leaders Gatorade and Red Bull just keep going and going and ... new brands are pursuing their share of the market.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: ISOTONICS & ENERGY DRINKS)
June 15, 2006... Contrary to what the frontrunners' sales figures indicate, the nationwide craze over sports and energy drinks is about much more than Gatorade and Red Bull. It's lesser-known carb-infused cocktails, such as Cytomax, Crunk and NOS, that are...

Fruit to the next level: new agreements with school boards should boost future sales, while manufacturers use juices to sweeten sodas.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: JUICE & JUICE DRINKS)
June 15, 2006... Despite slightly reduced sales in 2005, the future for juices and juice drinks looks bright, in part because of a recent agreement by the country's three soft-drink manufacturers to remove sweetened sodas from school cafeterias and vending...

Flavor rush: with the introduction of three new flavors, Captain Black's Little Cigars are adding some excitement to OTP.(Category Update: Cigars)
June 15, 2006... A CSD Staff Report Cigar sales jumped more than 5.2% last year, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores' 2006 State of the Industry (SOI) report, now accounting for 30.48% of other tobacco products (OTP) sales. As a...

Smokeless energizes: analysts urge emphasizing premium MST products to drive profits.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS)
June 15, 2006... Since the late 90's c-store retailers have experienced the rapid expansion of a deep-discount price segment, or the sub-price value segment, in the moist smokeless tobacco category. While a large component of the category's growth is driven by...

Fresh-faced pies: customers are moved to buy fresh pies with old stand-by toppings, but there are ways to take the labor out of the equation.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: PIZZA)
June 15, 2006... Fresh pizza is driving growth in the whole pizza category, according to the International Dairy*Deli*Bakery Associaion's (IDDBA) What's In Store 2006. It cites a research conducted by Schwan's Food Service Inc. that found purchasers of fresh...

Potential in debit cards: stored value card market continues to spur growth.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: PREPAID)
June 15, 2006... Prepaid card sales at convenience stores jumped 68.5% in 2005, a phenomenal growth spurt by anyone's reckoning--and it looks like the next wave is prepaid debit cards. The entire prepaid market has a defined value of more than $2.5 trillion...

Multi-tasker.(Rising Stars)
June 15, 2006... Sam Anderson is a Pennsylvania boy. He received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from Penn State University, and after serving in several corporate roles, entered the convenience industry with Pittsburgh-based Stop N...

Chipping away: crackers had a healthy year of growth in c-stores, but chips--of the potato, tortilla and corn varieties--continue to dominate the segment.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: SNACKS)
June 15, 2006... If you're salty and you're a snack, it helps to be a chip as well--especially in a convenience store. Of $1.43 billion in salty snack purchases at c-stores during the 52 weeks that ended April 30, 2006, Information Resources Inc. (IRI) found...

Less (sugar) is more: popularity of diet soft drinks continues to grow, as do the number of flavor varieties and innovations introduced by CSD manufacturers.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: SOFT DRINKS)
June 15, 2006... Packaged beverages represent more than 13% of total inside sales at U.S. convenience stores, roughly half of which comes from the carbonated soft drink segment, according to the latest data available. But the real story might be the growth...

CSD would like to thank.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: Information & Data Sources)
June 15, 2006... ACNielsen www.acnielsen.com American Wholesale Marketers Association www.awmanet.org Beverage Digest www.beverage-digest.com Beverage Marketing Corp. www.beveragemarketing.com Beverage Spectrum ...

RTD tea brews sales: pressed for time, more Americans are finding single-serve teas the perfect way to quench thirst.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: TEAS)
June 15, 2006... Though 2005 numbers for RFG teas dropped slightly, canned and bottled teas gained another 9.9%, strengthening the beverage's position in c-store drink sales. According to the Beverage Marketing Institute, not only are consumers buying more RTD...

Tech forward: retailers wield technology to drive sales from the pump into stores, streamline the hiring process and introduce new payment methods.(2006 Sales Trend Handbook: TECHNOLOGY)
June 15, 2006... Where technology was once solely invested in to cut costs and reduce shrink, retailers today are wielding it to drive sales and enhance the customer's experience. Whether it's utilizing touchscreen terminals and kiosks to facilitate ordering or...

A new profit center that fits to a "tea": while coffee dominates the hot dispensed beverage category, Tetley is generating some excitement in real-brewed teas.(Category Update: Hot Dispensed Beverage)
June 15, 2006... A CSD Staff Report As energy costs and credit card processing fees continue to soar and tobacco sales remain volatile, it's no secret that convenience store operators are desperately searching alternative revenue streams. In-store...