Convenience Store Decisions articles from November 2003

Convenience Store Decisions archives from November 2003

The power of resilience.(Editor's Memo)
November 1, 2003... We have watched ExxonMobil's On the Run concept develop almost from its inception. In fact, in January 1996, our cover story about On the Run asked a provocative question: Are Mobil's days as a g-store over? The implication was that On the Run...

Taking New Orleans on the road: a marketer changes a store's profit picture by giving it a New Orleans theme and creating an in-your-face experience for customers. His next goal: world domination.(FrontEnd)
November 1, 2003... Over the past few months, Lamar Berry has slowly let the street prices at his N'Orleans To Go store in Covington--due north of New Orleans across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway--slip further and further away from the market's price leaders....

Fuel of the future? Vast changes are needed to make hydrogen a legitimate fuel source. Where does that leave today's marketers?(FrontEnd)
November 1, 2003... The U.S. government seems cautiously optimistic about hydrogen becoming the next gasoline. In his State of the Union address last January, President Bush proposed a comparatively paltry $1.2 billion investment for research "so that America can...

Shell shocked? A New England dealer loses a lot of money--but learns a valuable lesson--in a classic case of David versus Goliath.(FrontEnd)
November 1, 2003... Hindsight being 20/20, Antony Borges thinks maybe he should've named his first company something with the potential for better karma. For awhile, he and his business partner in 2 Small Turkeys LLC felt just like waddling butterballs in the...

CSD feedback.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I enjoyed the story in the October issue regarding the Fed's "land grab" relative to urban redevelopment (see Uncle Sam's land grab, p. 12). A recent situation here in nearby Mesa, AZ, had a substantially different outcome and although it will...

Krause Gentle Corp./Kum & Go (West Des Moines, IA) added Brian Cook and Jim Tarpey as category managers.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Krause Gentle Corp./Kum & Go (West Des Moines, IA) added Brian Cook and Jim Tarpey as category managers. Cook will oversee the foodservice category, while Tarpey will manage non-alcoholic packaged beverages, movies and DVDs. Before joining...

Giant Industries Inc.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Giant Industries Inc. (Scottsdale, AZ) has elected Wilkinson to its board of directors. Wilkinson is chairman of Wilkinson O'Grady & Co. Inc., an international asset management firm in New York City. In addition to his board seat, Wilkinson...

In memoriam.(Decision Makers)(Mooney Oil Corp.)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
November 1, 2003... In memoriam: Richard Mooney, founder of Mooney Oil Corp. (Lansing, MI), has died from myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disease. He was 65. Mooney began his oil business career in 1962, starting with one fuel truck end eventually building...

Royal Buying Group Inc.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Royal Buying Group, Inc. has appointed Southland Corp. alum Sharon Porter to head its new field merchandising department. She will oversee the development of the department, as well as coordinate the group's sales and vendor departments.

Hershey Foods Corp.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Hershey Foods Corp. has promoted Andy England to vice president and general manager, snacks. England will lead a team responsible for developing and implementing strategies for entering new snack segmentS. England joined Hershey in 2002 as...

Executive Leadership Solutions.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Executive Leadership Solutions (ELS) has added Catherine Bowron and Roger Ward as account executives to aid the recruitment efforts of convenience retailers. Prior to joining ELS, Ward spent 12 years with Speedway SuperAmerica, while Bowron had...

PerformanceRetail Inc.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... PerformanceRetail Inc. has added Tony Reed, former president and CEO of Powered Inc., and Dave Thompson, co-founder and chief technology officer of BroadCloud Communications Inc., to its executive team. Reed, as executive vice president, will...

Douwe Egberts Coffee Systems.(Decision Makers)(Douwe Egberts Coffee Service Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Douwe Egberts Coffee System,s has promoted Dan Teasdale to central sales division manager, responsible for the entire central sales division serving 16 states and growing the market through partnerships with full-line and specialty...

Heineken USA.(Decision Makers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Heineken USA has appointed Andrew Glaser marketing director for its lead brand, Heineken, Glaser comes to Heineken from AOL Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting, where he served as vice president of entertainment marketing. Prior to that, he worked...

DollarDays International.(Decision Makers)(Roger Voeller promoted)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Internet-based wholesaler DollarDays International (dollardays.com) has promoted Roger Voeller from procurement manager to senior director of merchandising. He is responsible for the company's catalog of more than 25,000 products ranging from...

Disconnected: Alon USA shelves an "out there" technology that enabled customers to pay for stuff using their cell phones. The retailer may reintroduce the system after a POS upgrade.(FrontEnd)
November 1, 2003... In its December '02 issue, CSD wrote of a futuristic new technology that enabled customers to make fuel and in-store purchases using their wireless phones (see Dial 'L' for Loyalty, Dec. '02, p. 30). The technology also fed promotional messages...

On the Run is the one! ExxonMobil's commitment to the back court makes On the Run our 2003 Chain of the Year.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Webster defines "resilient" like this: "bouncing or springing back into shape or position after being stretched, bent or compressed; recovering strength quickly: buoyant." It's a word that most retailers readily identify with, having been...

Celebrating On the Run: retailers and suppliers gathered in Chicago last month to honor ExxonMobil as CSD's 2003 Chain of the Year.(On the Run is the One!)(ExxonMobil Global Convenience)
November 1, 2003... Joined on stage by virtually the entire On the Run executive team as well as ExxonMobil distributors and other business unit managers from around the world, ExxonMobil Global Convenience Retailing Manager Rob Kelly said it was an honor to...

Raising the coffee bar: 7-Eleven has always been known for the Slurpee, but now the chain is making 1,300 names for itself with its hot beverage offer.
November 1, 2003... Forty years ago, 7-Eleven Inc. was the first convenience retailer to sell hot to-go coffee, setting the bar for every retailer. Now the Dallas-based chain has pitched new stakes in the hot beverage category, making every retailer in the game...

It's time to shake those winter performance blues: don't let the "slow season" drag you down without a fight. Taking charge of the bottom line now is critical for success.(Food for Thought)
November 1, 2003... Good operators know that quality is never an accident. It's the result of high intention, sincere effort and skillful execution. Nowhere is this more evident than in foodservice. Retailers need to take advantage of every opportunity to get...

7-Eleven makes a connection: tests of wireless monitoring and RFID yield positive results for 7-Eleven stores and distribution centers.
November 1, 2003... Out on the West Coast, 7-Eleven Inc. has introduced a new method for ensuring its fresh food items remain fresh. Driving this initiative is not a new food handling procedure or some new type of foodstuff with a longer shelf life, but a wireless...

Follett keeps Rainy Lake on ice: "the Follett Ice Pro has fit the bill for my business. The biggest benefit is not having to fight with anyone to go back and fill ice bags. Now it gets done with no hassle.".(Products At Work)
November 1, 2003... One might think the last thing an operator in northern Minnesota would worry about is not having enough ice, but it's a big concern for Steve Lindberg, co-owner of Rainy Lake One Stop (international Falls, MN). Seven years ago, he and his wife...

Boosting drink sales.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Campbell Soup Co, introduces Invigor8, its newest addition to the V8 beverage franchise. Available in two varieties--Energy Boost and Nutrition Boost--each will feature the brand's unique blend of 100% juice and essential vitamins and minerals....

Spicing up menus.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Blimpie Subs & Salads' most recent menu innovation is a Blackened Chicken Creole sub offered in participating locations during the fourth quarter of 2003. The new Blackened Chicken sub features a special spicy recipe of chicken tenders on...

Light 'em up.(News Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Rainbow Dell Ray, a leading distributor of novelty and sundry items, introduces the Black and Gold Electronic Lighter. Easy-to-use electronic click switch (no wheel), black matte finish and refillable. Each 50-ct. pack makes an impactful...

Currant events.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Higgins and Burke, a gourmet division of Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee USA, introduces Suva Bay fresh brewed iced tea. Subtly infused with a taste of the tropics, the premium teas are available in three flavors--Mango, Black Currant and Orange...

Poppin' fresh.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Offer your customers fresh popped popcorn 24/7 with Get Me Foods' Popcorn Stop. Customers will enjoy the aroma and taste of plain popcorn, or adding one of seven Get Me Ravors to satisfy their cravings--Butter, Cheddar Cheese, Kettle Corn,...

Rolling along.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Natural American Spirit is the only brand that features both natural and certified organic tobacco products. Organic tobacco products are available in 40-gram pouches of roll-your-own as well as Regular Filter and Light Filter cigarettes made...

Bacon, bacon ...(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Kunzler & Co., Inc., a manufacturer of Natural Wood Smoked Bacon, introduces Kunzler's pre-cooked bacon, available in both 300-ct. slices and 180-ct. rounds. Kunzler's pre-cooked bacon is ideal for convenience store and foodservice operators...

Clear choice.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... The CUNO Model DP-3C is a water filtration system designed to provide high flow rates and capacities for multiple equipment applications. The graded density filter media protects downstream equipment and reduces sediment particles that can...

Lighting up smiles.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Malibu Toys illuminates the candy world with Flashin' Lix, an innovative and interactive jelly lollipop that uses cutting-edge technology to magically light up the lollipop from within. Mouth-watering flavors include strawberry, green apple,...

Fire and ice.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Cadbury Adams USA LLC announces the launch of www.dentynefireandice.com, the website showcasing new Dentyne Fire and Dentyne Ice for an interactive experience. The site provides online access to information on the latest brand promotions, and...

Virtual acceptance.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... PDQ Manufacturing's Virtual Treadle features a driver-friendly open wash bay without guide rails or a drive-on floor treadle. It safely accepts vehicles with any wheel configurations and eliminates the need for floor steel--reducing...

Up in smoke.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Farmer's Tobacco Co., maker of Kentucky's Best cigarettes, is a family-owned and operated company producing high-quality, great-tasting American cigarettes. Owned by fourth-and fifth-generation tobacco growers, Kentucky's Best cigarettes are...

Smoke shopping.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... The Royston Modular Tobacco Merchandising System can creatively display cigarette cartons, cigarette packs and other tobacco products in a variety of configurations to draw attention and increase sales. Featuring a durable metal construction,...

Ent-Ice-ing.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Veryfine's [Fruit.sub.2]O and HP Hood introduce a revolutionary new dessert item, [Fruit.sub.2]O ice. Incredibly smooth, [Fruit.sub.2]O Ice combines [Fruit.sub.2]O's unique health benefits with delicious flavor and creamy texture to launch an...

One hot tamale.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Jim's Famous Hot Tamales from DiCapo Foods offer margin and sales potential comparable to leading roller grill programs, only without the labor and the cleaning Lime. The product comes frozen; store associates need only to stock a steamer...

Tall, cool one.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Scripto introduces a line of "Cool Drinks" lighter wraps featuring light beer, dark beer, ale and cola. Cool Drinks Textured Grip Lighters have a unique feel that resembles the texture of condensation and foam running down the side of an ice...

Double your pleasure.(New Stuff!)
November 1, 2003... Pierre Foods unleashes Big Az Bubba Twins, a line of sandwich 2-packs in 4 exciting varieties: Beef Charbroil with Cheese, Country Fried Pork, Breaded Chicken Subs, and Sausage Biscuits. All feature Pierre's fresh-baked breads and biscuits and...

Is point-of-purchase an underutilized weapon?(Back Room)(Point-of Purchase Advertising International)
November 1, 2003... The convenience store industry spends more than $17 billion annually on point-of-purchase advertising. That's about 5% of the industry's total sales. Yet there really hasn't been a scientific way to track how much POP advertising affects sales...

The 'tired brand' myth.(Back Room)(winning brands)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... There's no such thing as a tired brand just brand managers, according to a new study from Bain & Co. The study shows that innovative and heavily advertised, brands can grow, on average, three times faster:than their competitors. "Winning...