With the development of a new convenience store format to be unveiled in California early next year, UK retailers and analysts say marketers should prepare for Wal-Mart, Part II. By Andrew Don Not since The Beatles has a British invasion been so eagerly anticipated. But UK market observers warn that Tesco’s reputation as a bigger, [...]
The roller grill has spun itself into the spotlight at Fas Mart and Pump N Pantry, delivering nice returns to the bottom line. By Kate Quackenbush, Managing Editor Pump N Pantry hasn’t been afraid to try new items to spice up the roller grill. Not all of them have turned a profit. Take, for instance, [...]
Data mining and basket analysis is giving retailers an edge when going to market, while strategic partnerships keep costs down. By Kate Quackenbush, Managing Editor They have a saying at Mirabito Fuel Group: “When you attract customers with cheap gas prices, you only buy their loyalty until the next gas fill-up.” That’s the kind of [...]
Road Ranger, a chain of 50 c-stores and travel plazas, expects to nearly double in size by year’s end. By Ross Markman, Retail Relations Editor This promises to be a busy year for Road Ranger. Following an expansion two years ago from about 30 convenience stores and travel centers to 50, the Rockford, Ill.-based chain [...]
By Ross Markman Retail Relations Editor Highlighted by a theme dinner that mimicked the Food Network’s popular Iron Chef television program, the National Convenience Store Advisory Group (NCSAG) foodservice conference was a success, particularly for the more than 300 retailers and suppliers in attendance. The three-day event, held in Atlanta, was the first NCSAG show [...]
Higher fuel prices, strong in-store sales spur record growth. By John Lofstock, Editor Convenience store sales climbed 20.2% to reach a record $474.3 billion in 2005, the third straight year of revenue growth of at least 16%, according to National Association of Convenience Stores’ State of the Industry (SOI) report. The results were announced last [...]
Thousands of carwash operators, equipment manufacturers and vendors filled the cavernous Las Vegas Convention Center to “clean up.” By Ross Markman, Retail Relations Editor Cruising the show floor at the annual Car Care Expo in Las Vegas, dozens of current and would-be carwash operators perused new products that caught their eye, considered the future of [...]
Grappling with consumers’ growing interest in wine and spirits, major beer manufacturers are turning to new tastes and flavorsand, in some places, it’s working. By Ross Markman Retail Relations Editor Forget for a moment about the rising tide of wine and spirit sales and that traditional beer companies in recent years have introduced everything from [...]
Operators have lost a major profit center now that the governor has banned the popular TouchPlay machines. By Ross Markman, Retail Relations Editor Eight miles from the tiny town of Larchwood, Iowa (pop. 788), Fran Zuraff faces a major competitor for customer dollarsSouth Dakota. Competition wasn’t quite as stiff until recent months, when Zuraff and [...]
Circle K and Worsley roll out innovative programs to streamline costs and boost profitability. By John Lofstock, Editor With fuel prices soaring to record highs, marketers are desperately looking for software solutions that can help them manage the business more effectively. On the fuel supply side, tighter control of distribution could enhance margins and increase [...]
RetailerSpotlightAndrea Jackson, president and COO of Jacksons Food Stores, was chosen by Idaho Business Review as one of Idaho's "Women of the Year." She was honored because of her professional accomplishments, willingness to serve in volunteer organizations and to mentor other women. Jackson has risen from clerk to president and COO of Jacksons Food Stores, [...]
Armor Safe is urging retailers to utilize their financial resources on cash management systems that help reduce internal theft and maximize employees’ time. A CSD Staff Report Missing deposits, shortages, security concerns and the time spent handling cash are constant problems for busy convenience store managers. Armor Safe understands the growing demands of today’s store [...]
For all the talk about gasoline volatility and dwindling fuel margins, there's no shortage of mega-retailers looking to fillup on fuel profits. Alongside traditional hypermarketers like Wal-Mart, Costco and BJ's, is a new breed of operators hoping to cash in on America's growing fuel demand. This includes the nation's largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot, [...]
The concept of tomorrow is being offered today. A CSD Staff Report For convenience store retailers, cashiers embody both the assets and the liabilities of running a cash-intensive business. Cashiers provide the face and the feel for store operations, but also the risk from cash and cash handling in the form of both internal and [...]