Sheetz Inc., the Altoona, Pa.-based operator of 344 stores in six states, has partnered with ViryaNet Ltd.’s Service Hub for Retail to automate its field service operations, including the activities associated with workforce management, facilities maintenance and store equipment repair. Sheetz prides itself on the adoption of the most current technology and continually is seeking [...]
Nestlé Foodservices North America is now the newly-created Nestlé Professional. More than just a change in name, the foodservice-dedicated organization has been restructured to allow for a closer partnership with its customers in delivering creative profitable solutions. As a globally-managed business in the Nestlé group, Nestlé Professional will utilize its global reach and depth of [...]
Village Pantry Inc. said it has acquired nine convenience stores in central Ohio from Petro Acquisitions, Inc. The stores, formerly operated by AmeriStop Market, will be rebranded under the Village Pantry banner. Each store averages 2,700 square feet and like most traditional convenience stores offers quick snack items, lottery tickets, money orders, pre-paid cellular and [...]
Two Georgia travel plazas in St. Marys are back open after being fined $500,000 by the Department of Agriculture. Tests by the agency showed gas at the Cisco Plazas in St. Marys and Kingsland was being shorted, some by about a pint per gallon. The pumps were locked for almost two weeks but have been [...]
BP’s U.S. Convenience Retail unit said that 146 retail sites are for sale throughout the Columbus, Ohio, Cleveland and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas. Of the 146 sites, 121 are available for franchise, one as a de-branded gasoline site, 24 as BP dealer sites with fuel agreements, and 12 with multiple offerings including commercial use. As part [...]
Road Ranger Convenience Stores, which made headlines last month for its multimillion dollar lawsuit against CITGO Petroleum, reached a deal to acquire 11 AmeriStop convenience stores in Kentucky and Ohio. Road Ranger, based in Rockford, Ill., now operates 74 stores across the Midwest. Petro Acquisitions Inc., the Cold Spring, Ohio-based parent company of the AmeriStop [...]
Wright Express Corp. has completed its $32-million acquisition of privately held Pacific Pride Services Inc. The deal was financed through the company’s existing credit facility. Pacific Pride’s franchise network encompasses more than 330 independent fuel franchisees who issue their own Pacific Pride commercial fueling cards to fleet customers. These cards provide access to fuel at [...]
With the onset of spring, retailers can count on a segment of their "consumers" filling up and driving off without paying. Increased gas prices haven’t helped the situation, but it is improving. Typically, convenience stores can experience a few gasoline thefts a week. But when prices increase, some stores see several gas thefts a day. [...]
Alternative Fuel Distributors, of Wilmington, Del., said that it plans to construct and operate 1,000 convenience stores on the East Coast that will strictly provide E-85 and other alternative automotive fuels. The company plans to have the stores up and running within the next three years, with the first 100 stores opening by the first [...]
As convenience stores evolved from quick stops to full-blown foodservice centers that compete with the likes of Starbucks and McDonald’s, the need for top-notch employees has become as important as ever. Despite the increased demand required of employees, experts believe leading convenience store operators are in a good position to attract outstanding employees, they just [...]
As the convenience store and petroleum industry changes and evolves, retailers must continually battle blurred channels, changing technologies and decreased differentiation, one thing is constant: the experience you offer your customers can set you apart from your competition and keep your customers coming back. A great customer experience begins with knowing how your customers view [...]
Speed, ease, safety and energy savings—those are the challenges that convenience store operators face each day as they serve fresh foods, both hot and cold, to on-the-go eaters with deadline-driven lives. Fortunately, innovations in foodservice equipment are helping them meet the needs of this demanding customer base and do it better than ever before. Jerry [...]
It’s back to the barricades once again for the convenience store industry, which—as in the past—is being targeted by environmental special interest groups and revenue-hungry legislators. This time they’re focusing on bottled water containers. Bottled water remains a tremendously popular and trendy product category, which is just what attracted the attention of these two groups [...]
Today’s business environment is becoming increasingly complex and competitive due to globalization, new technology, increasing product proliferation, brand erosion, market segmentation, consumer skepticism and time poverty, rendering traditional business plans obsolete. For just about every product or service, there is an overwhelming number of choices to choose from, leaving consumers dazed and confused. So how [...]
Energy drinks and isotonics are following two increasingly divergent paths, just part of the fast-paced beverage category about which convenience store operators are spending more time planning than ever before. The crazy-quilt influx of new brands, products, line extensions, flavors and varieties is jamming cooler doors and sales floors, and calling for some hard choices. [...]