Convenience Store Decisions articles from October 2006

Convenience Store Decisions archives from October 2006

Know who's buying tobacco: sales to minors are needlessly costing retailers thousands in fines, and some are facing the loss of their tobacco license.(Back Room: "Stuff you need that we didn't have room for anyplace else")
October 1, 2006... State and local governments, under the guise of public safety, are continuing to pursue "sting" operations to identify irresponsible convenience store clerks that are selling tobacco products to minors. While safety, I'm sure, is part of the...

What's selling: a view from the customers Part II: CSD conducts exit polls and consumer surveys at the point of sale to find out what customers want when it comes to bottled water.
October 1, 2006... Retailers concerned about slow sales growth or stagnant fuel margins can expect a boost from bottled water as analysts and consumers alike expect water sales to continue flowing for at least the next three years. Statistics from Beverage...

Associated grocers gets technical: CipherLab's CPT-8000 Series smoothes retail order entry, inventory management.(Category Update: Technology)
October 1, 2006... They are pocket-sized, yet powerful, adaptable, yet affordable. And CipherLab's CPT-8000 series of portable data terminals with built-in barcode scanners are so versatile that they can be found in successful rollouts ranging from the nation's...

Customer commitment: profits suffer when no one's keeping score on service.
October 1, 2006... The perennial cry from CEOs around the globe is that they are focused on their customers. It is their A-No. 1 mission, the critical job of their company--and everything emanates from understanding what customers need and want and delivering on...

Grab-and-go dollars: from small operators with space and labor limitations to larger chains with food at the forefront, the grab-and-go segment has these retailers turning tasty profits.
October 1, 2006... Food has always been a cornerstone of the overall offering at Casey's General Stores. The made-from-scratch pizza program has become the calling card across its 1,423 stores, which has evolved into a bevy of sandwiches and fresh baked goods....

Chevron gets fresh: new imaging program transforms the forecourt with a colorful array of bright lights and warm, friendly graphics.(Company overview)
October 1, 2006... Amateurs work until they get it right. Professionals work until they can't get it wrong. It's this philosophy that is driving Chevron to display its professional prowess as it prepares for the nationwide rollout of its Image Refresh marketing...

Eunice Buhler, daughter of Open Pantry Food Stores of Wisconsin President Robert Buhler, was recognized by USA Today for numerous accomplishments as she finishes her high school career.(Retailer Spotlight)
October 1, 2006... * Eunice Buhler, daughter of Open Pantry Food Stores of Wisconsin President Robert Buhler, was recognized by USA Today for numerous accomplishments as she finishes her high school career. She founded Cultures for Youth, a non-profit...

Jackson Oil, Idaho's largest independent petroleum distributor, announced Ruben Gonzales joins the company as vice president of sales and marketing.(Decision Makers)
October 1, 2006... * Jackson Oil, Idaho's largest independent petroleum distributor, announced Ruben Gonzales joins the company as vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to working for Jackson Oil, Gonzales was wholesale area manager for Shell Oil, and held...

Bill Anello has joined the Wilson Farms Inc. team as director of perishables and foodservices.(Decision Makers)
October 1, 2006... * Bill Anello has joined the Wilson Farms Inc. team as director of perishables and foodservices. Anello will oversee Wilson Farms' Perishable Field Specialists and assist with the development of new products and procedures. Anello will also...

BP.(Decision Makers)
October 1, 2006... * BP has appointed Michael E. Carr as national franchise manager for recruiting for BP America. Carr will lead BP's recruiting for the company's U.S. franchising operation, which includes BP Connect stores east of the Rockies and ARCO am/pm...

VeraSun Energy Corp.(Decision Makers)
October 1, 2006... * VeraSun Energy Corp., the nation's second-largest ethanol producer, announced the appointment of Paul Kreter to the position of vice president, ethanol sales. In this role, he will be responsible for assisting in the development and execution...

Krause Gentle's Kum & Go.(Decision Makers)
October 1, 2006... Jack Wilkie, a former member of the executive committee of 7-Eleven Inc., has been named senior vice president of Krause Gentle's Kum & Go. As part of the 445-store, 13-state c-store chain, Wilkie plans to build customer count, increase the...

The Pantry Inc.(Decision Makers)
October 1, 2006... * The Pantry Inc. announced that it has named Keith Bell to the newly created position of senior vice president of fuels. In this role, Bell will oversee all of the company's internal gasoline and environmental operations, and will also manage...

Triton Systems.(James Phillips promoted to retail manager)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... * ATM Manufacturer Triton Systems announced that James Phillips has been promoted to senior U.S. retail manager. In his new position Phillips will manage the U.S. sales team consisting of account executives and regional sales managers...

Executive Leadership Solutions.(Fred Tardiff appointed as senior executive recruiter)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... * Brian Wright, managing partner of Executive Leadership Solutions, announced that Fred Tardiff has joined the company as a senior executive recruiter. During Fred's career in Big Box, he served as the area recruiting manager and felt this...

Understanding the petroleum market: opportunities exist to capture fuel acquisition cost-savings, but do you know what they are?(PETROLEUM)
October 1, 2006... Downstream fuel buyers face unprecedented challenges in managing high levels of price and supply volatility with their fuel buying decisions. Opportunities to capture fuel acquisition cost-savings and thereby maximize profit can be lost within...

Wawa focused on the future: known for its fresh food and friendly service, the Pennsylvania chain is fast becoming a top fuel marketer in the mid-Atlantic.(Howard Stoeckel)(Interview)
October 1, 2006... Though a regional operator with 556 sites in five mid-Atlantic states, Wawa's reputation as a top operator spreads from coast to coast. The stores are noted for their freshly prepared hoagies, coffee, competitively priced gas offering and...

Looking for love in all the wrong places: the convenience store and petroleum industry has a long way to go before the financial community again trusts it.(FINANCING)
October 1, 2006... To discover new lenders willing to assist the convenience store and petroleum industry with its diverse growth financing needs, we decided to join the Mortgage Bankers Association and attend its annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Coming...

Turning around turnover: hiring the right employees from the get-go.(HUMAN RESOURCES)
October 1, 2006... When turnover is reduced and retention is the norm, retail businesses thrive. If an operator can find a sure-fire way to identify job applicants who are able to do the job and actually be happy on the job, many later attempts at increasing...

Electricity: name your price: as electricity costs jump in a volatile energy market, c-store owners need to switch to a more assertive strategy to lower their costs.(OPERATIONS)
October 1, 2006... Between lighting, refrigeration and heating and air conditioning, retailers use an average of 62 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Coupled with the skyrocketing price of...

Fuel discounts: simply irresistible: loyalty programs are cultivating a new breed of price-conscious consumers.
October 1, 2006... As long as gasoline prices remain high, consumers will be attracted to fuel discounts. That's the common sense that led retailers to create customer loyalty programs in which fuel discounts are the prize, instead of the more customary prizes...

Grassroots marketing for convenience retailers: local marketing programs can boost store traffic without adding any operational costs.(MARKETING)
October 1, 2006... One of the most overlooked promotional opportunities for convenience retailers is a well-planned grassroots marketing program. It's easy to get excited about a new trade area in the early stages of your grand opening, but it's another thing to...

Automated hourly hiring systems: the reticence to harness the power of automation to manage employees is hurting the bottom line.
October 1, 2006... Remember "Blast from the Past," the 1999 film starring Brendan Fraser? After a nuclear war scare in the 1960s, young Brendan lives in the family bomb shelter with his mom and dad for 30 years. When he finally ventures out into Los Angeles for...

Underserved markets present growth opportunities: convenience store operators urged to use alternative data sources to get a better estimate of true market demand.
October 1, 2006... Underserved markets--neighborhoods with high concentrations of ethnic minorities and immigrants--are fast growing and overlooked by major retailers. There are significant profit opportunities in these neighborhoods for savvy convenience store...

Fas Mart acquires sweet oil.(Gmul Energy)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Gmul Energy, the Israeli-based investment firm that operates Mechanicsville, Va.-based Fas Mart, has agreed to buy 74 gas stations and convenience stores along the East Coast from Sweet Oil Co. for $50.8 million. The deal brings its U.S....

Worsley onboard with prepaid.(Worsley Companies Corp. signed an agreement with Airlink Mobile)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Worsley Cos. Inc. (Wilmington, N.C.) has selected Airlink Mobile (www.airlinkmobile.com) as the exclusive prepaid handset provider for its 138 Scotchman and Young's Food Stores brands in the Carolinas. Scotchman's will also market the full...

Sinclair auctioning 13 stores.
October 1, 2006... The Sinclair Oil Corp. is leaving the retail gas business in Montana. The Salt Lake City-based company plans to auction nine gas-station properties in Montana and four in Idaho. In Great Falls, two are closed, two are leased to other businesses...

In love's with FuelQuest.(Love's Travel Shops and Country Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. (Oklahoma City) said it has chosen FuelQuest's (www.fuelquest.com) ZyTax Enterprise Compliance solution to augment its excise tax filing requirements. The chain operates 180 convenience stores and...

More growth for Couche-Tard.
October 1, 2006... Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. signed an agreement to purchase 54 stores in Ohio from Holland Oil Co. The Laval, Quebec-based convenience store operator expected the deal to close by Oct. 1 and add sales of approximately $325 million to its...

Western refining to acquire giant industries.
October 1, 2006... Western Refining Inc. and Giant Industries Inc. have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which Western will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Giant for $83 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at...

Image is everything.(Chevron Corp.'s image refreshing program)(Editorial)
October 1, 2006... There are few things I enjoy more than hitting the road to watch retailers in action. That's why I was particularly pleased by Chevron's invitation to spend a few days at company headquarters in lovely San Ramon, Calif., to learn all about its...

Slow-cooked goodness.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Pioneer TenderStrips are slow-cooked strips of 100% beef steak, expertly seasoned, then smoked over real hickory wood for a zesty outdoor taste. TenderStrips are packaged in reclosable gusseted pouches, creating the ultimate meat snack for both...

Chicken made easy.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... The Broaster Co.'s new VF-2 and VF-3 ventless fryers have small footprints for countertop use, yet cook up to 2- and 3-lbs. of food per load. Additionally, c-stores don't need to add commercial kitchens or install costly hood systems as these...

Down under refreshment.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Take the Australian approach to the winter season this year and watch sales go north for the winter--not south. The winter season is the ideal time for customers to enjoy more social gatherings and intimate holiday occasions with their family...

Fuel pills for your car.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... The Fuel Medz gas pill increases gas mileage and saves money. The pill is a unique, patented technology developed to provide and maintain a catalytically active surface coating in the combustion chambers of engines--this means drivers are...

Light the way.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... D&S Car Wash Equipment Co. introduces a new traffic light for its line of automatic car wash bays. The new Stop-Go & Back-Up Lights feature all-welded stainless steel construction and high-impact lenses for brightness, quality and durability....

Crankin' out the cold!(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... The Serenity Series Cubelet Ice Machine produces up to 1,000 lbs. of ice every 24 hours and is designed to save space. The condenser and compressor are stationed outside the kitchen and away from customers therefore producing less heat and...

Hot topic.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Dixie Foodservice announces the all new Dixie Java Hot Cup. With the ultimate blend of flash and function, any retail coffee operation will benefit from the latest in eye-pleasing style and packaging technology. The Dixie Java Hot Cup has the...

Pure pleasure.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Made with pure water and real mint, Metromint relieves thirst, relaxes the mind, freshens breath and revives the soul. No sweeteners. No preservatives. No calories. Just mintwater, pure and simple. One of the fastest growing brands in the...

Decadent bars.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... The Hershey Co. introduces Cacao Reserve by Hershey's, a new, premium line of all-natural chocolates and drinking cocoa. The Cacao Reserve line will offer a variety of superior flavors, pleasing textures and exotic aromas unlike any other...

Sound structure.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Merchandise on the move. The new Benchmaster 4' x 4' Tiered Cart is the perfect display for indoor merchandising. Multiple selling levels make for an attractive look with loads of space. Use for merchandising fluids, beverages, bagged...

Seasonal containers.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Just in time for the upcoming winter and holidays, QwikStock.com introduces "Enchanted Snowman" a whimsical line of foam and clear plastic cups, and paper coffee insulating sleeves. These limited edition items will be only be available as long...

Terminal solution.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... CipherLab's CPT-8000/8001 portable data capture terminals are ideal for order entry, retail and field service deployments. The units are available as laser or linear scanners and have a rugged design that meets industry drop standards, a...

Fashion scents.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Merit Industries introduces fragrant 5" x 7" sachet packets filled with all-natural potpourri and fragrance, which are ideal for impulse sales for women. Just place in car, in a drawer, on a counter or in a suitcase to make any place smell...

Keepin' it cool.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Federal Industries, a world leader in specialty display cases, announced the release of its new "Grab-and-Go" display case: the Refrigerated, Self-Serve, Low-Profile, Specialty Merchandiser. The case, with two tiers of metal shelves and a...

Jam-packed with energy.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Leading Brands Inc. announces the launch of TREK Natural Sports Drinks and NITRO Energy Drinks in both the United States and Canada. TREK is an all-natural sports drink that is sweetened with pure cane sugar and not high fructose corn syrup (as...

Coffee served right.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Beautifully styled, digitally advanced and financially rewarding, the Wilbur Curtis G3 Concept Series Primo Cappuccino (PCGT) Machine is available in 3-, 4- and 5-head models. With innovative G3 Technology, the Primo Cappuccino allows retailers...

Ice from a distance.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Follett Corp. introduces a new line of Horizon Satellite-fill icemakers designed specifically for bin applications where ceiling height constraints exist. With Follett's exclusive Satellite-fill technology, the icemaker can be located up to 20...

Sandwich from the sea.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... MarketFare Foods helps retailers meet consumers' fish cravings with popular AllStars brand and gourmet Bistro-To-Go brand Fish & Cheese sandwiches. The AllStar Fish & Cheese is a 5-oz. sandwich featuring a golden, breaded pattie of mild white...

Coffee with crunch.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... Brown & Haley puts peanuts and its premium confection ROCA buttercrunch toffee together to create new Honey Roasted Peanut ROCA buttercrunch toffee. By marrying the highest quality dry and honey roasted peanuts with its legendary buttercrunch...

Clean machine.(New Stuff!)
October 1, 2006... PDQ Manufacturing Inc., is offering customers a great opportunity to buy the industry's best vehicle wash systems at significant savings through Oct. 31. The new promotion offers discounts on all of PDQ's major equipment, from the popular new...

CSDs still selling: non-carbs gaining ground.
October 1, 2006... Although a major shift is clearly underway in packaged beverage sales, Mark Twain's famous quote, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated" could easily describe the current carbonated soft drink (CSD) market. "The highest volume we...

One bill at a time: technological advances in retail cash safes can protect profits in more ways than one.(Category Update: Cash Management)
October 1, 2006... Money handling can prove to be one of the most difficult aspects of running a successful convenience store. However, thanks to the advent of retail cash safes, those difficulties are starting to slowly dissipate for retailers--increasing their...

Prepaids push profits: card revenues soar.
October 1, 2006... Looking for a way to drive fuel sales and up your overall profits? Recent research reveals that making transactions more convenient by offering and accepting a variety of prepaid cards is the way to go. Prepaid cards, also known as stored-value...

Publix Sabor: in-stores uncover broad audience: Publix Super Markets' new store format is targeted to Hispanics, but its bakeries' top quality products and extensive selection bring fans from beyond their niche.(COMPETITIVE WATCH)
October 1, 2006... By narrowing its focus, Publix Super Markets (Lakeland, Fla.) found its demand actually grew. Its new Hispanic format, Publix Sabor, demonstrates that consumer preference for fresh, quality foods, particularly in a bakery, can target all...

Pluged in.(retailwire)(poll on tobacco and coffee consumption)
October 1, 2006... Each business morning on RetailWire.com, retail industry execs get "plugged in" to the latest trends and issues, with key insights from a BrainTrust of retailing experts. Here are a few excerpts from the unique RetailWire online Discussions,...

Playmaker.(Rising Stars)
October 1, 2006... Mark Redding may have had to say goodbye to his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, but he's been a playmaker in the convenience channel for years now. He got his first taste of the industry when he accepted a position as a...

Minimizing workplace injuries: working with insurance companies, many convenience store chains are reducing accidents and other losses, while reaping savings on insurance costs.
October 1, 2006... On days when rain or snow is forecast for the Texas panhandle region, the managers of all 66 Toot 'n Totum convenience stores receive early-morning e-mails reminding them to put out "wet floor" signs, mop up any water and do whatever else might...

Retailers embrace Florida's generator law.
October 1, 2006... After a hurricane sweeps across Florida, the state wants to keep gas pumps as busy as a department store on Black Friday. Keeping nozzles in gas tanks, however, requires electricity, which often times is unavailable for days or weeks during a...

Have a question.(ASK THE EXPERTS)(convenience stores marketing)(Brief article)(Column)
October 1, 2006... We are getting more and more requests from customers for third and fourth tier brand cigarettes because they are cheap. Am I wise to start giving more room on the shelf for these brands? "Each store needs its own tobacco category strategy...

Triton ATMs driving traffic at Double Quick: Mississippi retailer trusts distributor's advice and finds an ATM solution to fit its needs.(Products AT WORK)
October 1, 2006... Triton Systems of Delaware Inc. is part of the reason there is an ATM industry. The company, started in 1979, created the first instructional automated teller machine (ATM) to teach customers how to use the burgeoning technology. In the early...