Convenience Store Decisions articles from November 2007

Convenience Store Decisions archives from November 2007

Calling all dirty cars: the precise mix of equipment and marketing can quickly make the car wash one of the most valuable profit centers in the store.(Feature: Operations)
November 1, 2007... With high gasoline prices squeezing fuel margins, the addition of a car wash can turn a major profit for operators looking to make up some of the revenue lost at the pumps. It all comes down to determining the right equipment, pricing for the...

Reaching new heights: fresh off the acquisition of Cummings Oil, Andrea Jackson leads Jacksons Food Stores' retail strategy.(Jacksons Food Stores)(Cover story)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keeping a low profile has its advantages, but eventually a chain's success starts to attract the attention, and even the enmity, of the competitors around it. Jacksons Food Stores is one of the convenience store and...

Tesoro Corp.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... Tesoro Corp. said Claude P. Moreau has been named vice president of marketing. The lead marketing position will report to Tesoro's executive vice president and COO, Bill Finnerty. Moreau has in-depth knowledge of marketing coupled with...

Rutter's Farm Stores.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Rutter's Farm Stores announced changes to its senior management staff, including the promotions of two long-time company executives, the return of another and one new addition. Jeffery Leedy has been promoted to the position of senior vice...

Farley's & Sathers Candy Co.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... Mike Sprinkle has accepted a vice president of sales position at Farley's & Sathers Candy Co. Sprinkle is responsible for managing sales across all channels including food, drug, mass, club, vend and bulk sales. He most recently was employed at...

D&S Car Wash Equipment Co.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... D&S Car Wash Equipment Co. has hired Tim Sater as director of marketing & regional sales. In his new position, Sater will oversee marketing, advertising and branding initiatives for D&S line of in-bay automatics, self-service equipment and auto...

Henny Penny Corp.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Henny Penny Corp. has announced the following executive management appointments: owner and president Steve Cobb will assume the duties of the company's chairman and CEO, and vice president of marketing Rob Connelly has been named president....

Executive Leadership Solutions.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... Executive Leadership Solutions said David St. Clair will join the company as senior executive recruiter. St. Clair has been in the c-store industry for more than 30 years, starting with Majik Market then progressing to Island Food Stores, and...

Mark VII Equipment Inc.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Mark VII Equipment Inc. announced that Steve Jeffs has assumed the role of vice president of sales. He takes over from Sandy Bass, who is relocating to Dallas to be general manager of Mark VII's new direct sales and service organization in...

Hunt Brothers Pizza.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... Hunt Brothers Pizza announced that R. Aaron Snodgrass has joined the company as purchasing director. Snodgrass comes to Hunt Brothers from Wayne Farms, where he served as procurement team leader for the last two years. Prior to that, he served...

General Mills.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... General Mills has appointed Tim Fieldhouse to vice president, general manager, convenience channels. In his new role, Fieldhouse is responsible for General Mills' business in key segments including convenience stores, vending and non-food...

Eby-Brown.(FrontEnd: The News: Decision Makers)
November 1, 2007... Eby-Brown has made two new additions to its sales team, Todd Williams in the position of Baltimore sales manager, and Tom Stevens as Ypsilanti, Mich. sales manager. Williams comes to Eby-Brown from Sysco Foods, where he worked for 12 years,...

MSO no more: Shell announced that it is removing the multi-site operation model from the U.S. going forward. What does this mean to the company and Big Oil as a whole?(FrontEnd)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shell Oil Products turned heads last month when the oil giant announced it would be disassembling its multi-site operator (MSO) partnerships across the country to continue its strategy of putting the stake of its...

Worsley prototypes open for business.
November 1, 2007... The Worsley cos. have opened two locations utilizing a new prototype design. These locations opened in Wilmington, N.C., where the chain is based, and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The company operates 142 locations in North and South Carolina under the...

Western Convenience joins E85 momentum.
November 1, 2007... WESTERN CONVENIENCE STORES is teaming up with the Colorado Corn Growers Association (CCGA), the Colorado Governor's Biofuels Coalition, Regional Air Quality Council and General Motors to celebrate the opening of a new E85 pump location in...

Love's adds $6 million in expansions.(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... LOVE'S COUNTRY STORE is introducing its new $6 million expansion to the town of Tumcumcari, N.M. The new expansion doubled the store's diesel lanes to eight and upped the gasoline lanes to six, according to the Quay County Sun. In addition, the...

Circle K's line of proprietary energy drinks.
November 1, 2007... CIRCLE K SOUTHEAST, A DIVISION of Alimentation Couche-Tard, is launching the company's first wholly owned, proprietary energy beverage, GazZu. According to Circle K officials, GazZu was developed to respond to the worldwide energy drink boom...

The pulse of the c-store: front counter space is limited, but with some smart merchandising and eye-catching new products, it can provide high margins for retailers.(FrontEnd)
November 1, 2007... The convenience store front counter provides the perfect canvas to showcase a mix of hot new items and profitable impulse buys that will grab customers' attention. But experts agree that this area is among the most underutilized selling place...

Cenex gets in style: Generation Image Renewal program calls for the renovation of the chain's 1,600 convenience stores and the addition of 550 more.(CSD ON LOCATION: Destination: Cenex: Inner Grove Heights, Minn.)
November 1, 2007... Cenex, the convenience-retailing brand of CHS Inc., is launching a multimillion-dollar rebranding and expansion effort that will elevate the chain's visibility in small and major markets and enhance its overall competitive viability. As...

Handy holder.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... BarProducts.com, makers of the Lighter Leash, one of the hottest-selling tobacco accessories to hit the c-store market, is set to introduce the Premium Lighter Leash and the Zip Stick. With a two- to three-week turnover on the convenient 30-ct....

Aromatic OTP.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Rosetta Premium Hookah Tobacco is the latest OTP entry from Kretek International. Rosetta, named for the Egyptian Rosetta Stone, was introduced in 2007 with 12 flavors and more on the way. Rosetta uses aged Spanish and Turkish tobaccos,...

Keepin' it together.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... The Simpli-Flex 2100 Molded Cabinet cup dispenser from Modular Dispensing Systems allows operators to stack several dispensers on top of each other to accommodate a variety of cup sizes in a minimum amount of space. Each cabinet includes a...

Option-heavy.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Solo offers Showcase Signature Beverages with Solo Ultra Clear cups made with PET for premium clarity and strength. Solo Trophy thin-walled foam offers excellent insulation and a rolled rim design for a tight lid fit. Achieve an upscale look...

ATM time.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Triton's RL2000 is an affordable, feature-rich, standalone ATM with more functionality and standard features than any comparably priced ATM in the market. The RL2000's innovative design is based on Microsoft's...

Make a fortune.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... TNT Marketing has been selected by New License LLC to market its Fortune Lighter to c-stores nationally. The Fortune Lighter gives customers the opportunity to participate in an exciting sweepstakes, the grand prize of which is $100,000. A...

Display done right.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new cigarette pack shelf display unit, designed by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co., is versatile, simple to use and can fit into most retail situations. The unit is offered free to retailers and distributors and...

Safe bet.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Tidel Engineering released the Sentinel Tube Vend, the smallest, most compact Sentinel Cash Controller design. The model provides all the features of Tidel's other Cash Controllers but in a 21-in. width configuration with a single-note...

Options for all.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Following the introduction earlier this year of Camel No. 9, the Camel brand is now making No. 9 100s styles available. Developed in response to female adult smokers, who asked for a product that better reflects their taste preferences and...

Cool coffee.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Coca-Cola North America and Caribou Coffee announced a national launch of a new line of premium ready-to-drink iced coffees beginning in Midwest and Southeast cities. The partnership with Coca-Cola will extend the great premium coffee taste...

Sweet set-up.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Living Essentials announces two new merchandisers for its popular 5-Hour Energy drink. The new two-tier wire rack holds two 12-packs--one each of berry and lemon-lime flavors--and takes only 42-sq. in. of counter space. The new dump bin display...

New treats.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... The Hershey Co. introduces two new brand extensions--Reese's Whipps and Ice Breakers Pacs. Reese's Whipps are fluffy peanut butter nougat candy bars covered with 40% less fat than the leading chocolate candy. With Ice Breakers Pacs, Hershey's...

Shocking innovation.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shock Coffee has partnered with GoodWest Industries, the innovators and leaders in "Bagina-Box" shelf-stable foodservice dispensing solutions. Never before available in iced-coffee form, consumers can now purchase...

Virtual site-saver.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Virtual Attendant enables Washworld's High Velocity wash to maneuver around obstacles such as wide mirrors, rear mounted bike racks and extended trailer hitches, which often render other washers inoperable. Virtual Attendant automatically...

Snack packs with a twist.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Welch's Fruit 'n Yogurt Snacks, a new healthy and convenient snack, are loaded with real fruit, vitamin enriched and covered in creamy yogurt. They contain live and active cultures just like fresh yogurt and come in 90-calorie portioned...

Cool customer.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Hoshizaki America announces the new Serenity Series Cuber Ice Machine, KMS-1230MLH. The KMS-1230MLH Crescent Cube Ice Machine is 75% quieter than traditional remote units. Serenity's space-saving design makes for an ideal installation on top of...

Comin' at you.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Calico Brands introduces its newest 3D lighter design. The new Bowling series features three attractive designs for avid and amateur bowlers alike. The new Bowling 3D lighters will strike extra sales and increased profits. This striking line is...

Short and sweet.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... Customers demand more flavor during their smoke and Swisher is answering their call. Introducing Swisher Sweets Mini Cigarillos in three ripe, delicious flavors: Grape, Strawberry and Peach. They offer customers just what they want--full flavor...

Broaster's big moves.(NEW STUFF: Creations & Innovations to Convenience Products & Services)
November 1, 2007... The Broaster Co. announced three additional new frozen product selections: Deluxe Breakfast Burritos, Breaded Jalapeno Peppers with Cream Cheese and Battered Natural Cheddar Nuggets. The new Deluxe Breakfast Burritos are made from a delicious...

Familial operations: Kurt Straube: Dari Mart Stores.(Rising Stars)(Kate Quackenbush)(Editorial)
November 1, 2007... Unlike many retailers profiled in Rising Stars, Kurt Straube always knew he would have a career in the convenience industry. His grandparents purchased a farm in Junction City, Ore., back in 1940, which grew into Lochmead Dairy, a milk...

NACS Show Expo: two fun things you must do.(BackRoom)(National Association of Convenience Stores)(Calendar)
November 1, 2007... FEATURING THOUSANDS OF PRODUCTS, ideas, technologies and proven strategies designed to support retailers and their businesses, the NACS Show Expo allows retailers to find the most innovative, profit-building products and services available for...

Domestic dominance: beer sales make up a big chunk of c-store sales. To keep it that way, retailers are taking new approaches to fend off the competition.
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BEER CATEGORY HAS earned its spot in convenience store cold vaults. Despite the fact that the limited demographic and space restraints steal some of the product's full margin-growing potential, it's still a...

Smoke screen: with an increase in smoking restrictions and the threat of increased taxes, retailers and analysts express serious concerns for cigarette profitability.
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Convenience stores, back in the good old days before they offered the types foodservice and products that could rival other retail segments, were known mostly for three things: Cokes, smokes and gas. But despite the...

Convenience gets no love ... still.(Editor's Memo)
November 1, 2007... Despite record sales and a growing number of stores that serve as destinations for millions and millions of American consumers everyday, other retail segments continue to take cheap shots at convenience store owners and operators. Need...

Simple approaches to reduce energy use: keeping a cap on consumption can help cut costs and maintain budgets.(Feature: Operations)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Retailers spend nearly $20 billion annually on energy expenses, according to Energy Star, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) organization. And, as costs continue to rise, c-store operators need surefire...

Flavor du jour: retailers willing to get more daring with their menus stand to attract more adventurous palates and turn a tidy profit.(Feature: Foodservice)
November 1, 2007... AN AMERICAN EXPRESS MARKETBRIEF produced by Technomic Inc. entitled "Ethnic Foods are in Fashion," showed that more than half of consumers (51%) reported purchasing prepared, ready-to-eat foods from convenience stores. Convenience stores also...

Is it time to lower the bar? Retailers that are willing to settle for second best, get second best.(Column)
November 1, 2007... I WAS ON THE PHONE recently with the owner of a chain of Midwestern convenience stores who said, "It just doesn't make any sense for us to even think about using pre-employment testing or making our jobs tough to get. We've got to take whatever...

Diversified tobacco offering: specialty and imported tobacco brands offer retailers an opportunity to cultivate a promising profit center.(PRODUCTS AT WORK: TOBACCO)
November 1, 2007... By CSD Staff RETAILERS LOOKING TO DEVELOP an effective strategy for boosting sales would be wise to examine specialty and imported tobacco brands. Specialty tobacco shops have already come to realize that brands like Djarum are attracting...

A small rush: Living Essentials' 5-Hour Energy is helping retailers capitalize on consumers' needs for a timely energy boost.(PRODUCTS AT WORK: HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After surveying the flood of energy drinks introduced over the past few years, living essentials noticed a weakness in the category. the majority of drinks continued to grow in package size and contained too much...

Effective local store marketing: developing your own coupon book can drive consumer loyalty and cultivate a new customer base.(Column)
November 1, 2007... GROWING UP IN MICHIGAN, I was a part of a very prestigious high school baseball team--the Plymouth Canton Chiefs. Year in and year out, our team was highly ranked and continually vied for the state championship. Playing on this team was a sign...

New solutions for old stores: searching for higher and better uses for units that are terminally ill.(Column)
November 1, 2007... AT THE TIME OF this writing, the long, hot summer of 2007 is finally winding down and the prospect of a cooler football-inspired autumn is rapidly taking shape. During this time, my company has been working on several marketer divestitures that...

Focus on foodservice safety: poor safety methods could sicken customers and bring down an entire organization. Going above and beyond what's required is the key to a healthy program.(Feature: Foodservice)
November 1, 2007... ADDING A FOODSERVICE PROGRAM is an excellent way to increase profitability and develop a more loyal, destination-minded customer base. Committing to foodservice, however, opens the door to new dangers such as foodborne bacteria and viruses that...

Indulging new demographics: research by Mars Snackfood U.S. shows retailers can attract a broader base of consumers with an emphasis on new and premium products.(CATEGORY UPDATE: SNACKS)
November 1, 2007... By CSD Staff The female customer today makes approximately 85% of all consumer purchases, so it's no wonder that convenience store owners are among the many retailers eager to cater to this emerging customer base. Traditionally focused...

A seed of profitability: Zotes is transforming the seed category with innovative marketing and unique packaging.(PRODUCTS AT WORK: SNACKS)(Zotes Sunflower co.)(Maverik Stores)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IT HAS BEEN an unexpected and exciting last two years for Zotes Sunflower co., as the seeds steadily climbed to its current number one spot in the category touting convenient packaging and unique flavors. While...