With all of the competitionconvenience store retailers arefacing these days, they can take some comfort that they are not going atit alone. Wholesalers and suppliershave a vested interest in their success.Quite simply, when retailers succeed,the folks that produce and supply theirproducts also succeed. Of the three primary modes of storedistribution—wholesalers, direct storedelivery (DSD) and self-distribution—convenience [...]
Ad valorem state taxation maintains a growing and competitive marketplace for moist smokeless tobacco. by Joseph R. Augustus, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Swisher International Inc. Tobacco Taxation Counterpoint — This is the second of a two-part series on smokeless tobacco taxation.Part one ran in the Dec. 2006 issue of Convenience Store Decisions. [...]
Company NameMcLane Company Inc.States of OperationAll states, every zipcode# of C-stores Distributed To30,000+Top C-Store Accounts7-Eleven, Chevron, The Pantry, Hess, Holiday Companys, Exxon Mobil, BP, Sunoco, Mapco, Murphy USAEst. 2006 Sales$21 billion2005 Sales$19.5 billionWeb Sitewww.mclaneco.comContact personSteve Brady, Director of Business Development, 800-299-1401 x 7064, sbrady@mclaneco.com Company NameCore-MarkStates of Operation46 states plus 5 Canadian providences # of [...]
The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement continues toimpact tobacco sales. Since the agreement went intoeffect almost a decade ago, tobacco retailers continue to be shackled by heavy regulations and constantly increasingtaxes. While taxation is hurting convenience store retailers andtobacco manufacturers by making products more expensive topurchase, regulation is the force that is really bringingheadaches to an [...]
There’s good news and bad news for conveniencestore marketers concerned that other retail channels arecannibalizing their candy sales. A Dechert-Hampe &Co. report on candy found that confectionery sales atnontraditional outlets are on the rise, but, unlike some recentreports, these sales are not coming at the expense of convenience stores sales. Ray Jones, managing director of [...]
Piedmont Petroleum and its Corner Mart stores keep customers loyal by keeping things simple. Different companies havedifferent ideas of what itmeans to be at their best. Tosome, it means being the biggest in the market. To others, itcould mean having the highest sales.However, to Kenneth Cosgrove andhis family, owners of the PiedmontPetroleum Corp. and Corner [...]
Weight-Based Taxes Level the Playing Field and Preserve Retailer Profits By Robert L. Shepherd with Shepherd, Williams & Associates LLC Without question, moist smokeless tobaccois a profitable, growing and dynamic category.However, category and retail profits are at risk due to customer down-trading from premium to price-value products.Opponents of weight-based taxes have done much to muddy [...]
When it comes to making hiring decisions, trust your instincts in the interview process. What is the most important buying decision you’llever make? When youchoose a new site? Buying category management software?Adding a carwash? Does somethingelse come to mind? Well, no matter what it is for you, there is a well-defined, proven systemthat ensures you [...]
Mayor appoints new task force to protect stores and owners. Houston officials are uniting to combat crimes against convenience stores. City Mayor Bill White has put together a task forcededicated to reducing these crimes and making stores safer forboth employee and customers. “We’re going to be looking into various crime prevention plansto help c-store owners,” [...]
E-Z Mart Inc. has a long historyof being an innovator in convenienceretailing. When conveniencestores in the early 1970s onlystayed open until 6 p.m., founder JimYates kept his doors open until 11p.m. That kind of forward thinkinghelped the Texarkana, Texas-basedoperator grow operations to morethan 500 stores in the late 1990s.But the company suffered heartbreakingadversity in 1998 [...]
While the Noble Committee recognizes the genius of scientists and diplomats, the Internet-based Darwin Awards "honors" peoplewho help out the human species in a different way-—by eliminating themselves (or coming close) from society through naturalselection (i.e., their own stupidity). The tongue-in-cheek award has gained momentum and popularity in recent years, spawning a variety of e-mails [...]
It's a true testimony to a company that prides itself on being"family run and family friendly" when two of its top earning category managers continually sing its praises after more than a decade working together. Jennifer Vespole, senior category manager for foodservice, andBill Tencza, senior category manager for packaged goods, haveworked side by side for [...]
The National Coffee Association (NCA) reportsthat coffee and gourmet coffee beverages are enjoyedby adults of all demographics. Recent studies haveshown that less than one-third of those coffee drinkerspurchase their java from fast food restaurants and doughnut/bagel shops. In fact, in 2005, 73% of coffee drinkers purchased their coffee from other sources such as c-stores—a13% increase [...]
A comprehensive new study by Meyers Research Center (MRC) finds that convenience store shoppers are seeking cold beverages, friendly employees and know what they want before they get through the door. The findings are part of Meyers’ Convenience Store Close-Up Wave Six, which takes a look at behavior, attitudes and decision-making patterns of c-store shoppers [...]
Conference showcases new products, promotional activities and highlights the collaborative buying process. “Retailers and suppliers enjoy a symbiotic relationship that grows as both sides succeed and meet their expectations. If one side isn’t communicating their message effectively, both will suffer.” That was the message delivered by David Bishop, a partner for Willard Bishop LLC at [...]