By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor for DTN Commonly called a tax on American households, gasoline prices continue to plunge with regular grade having now broken below $2 gallon in numerous metropolitan regions across the U.S., offering a tax break that is certainly welcomed news amid the current bleak economic outlook. The primary reason [...]

7-Eleven Inc. has teamed with department-store retailer J.C. Penney Co. for a creative cross-promotion while also committing to the expansion of its private-label products, the Dallas Morning News reported. 7-Eleven and J.C. Penney Co. are using the cross-promotion as a test in Dallas-area stores this week, as well as stores in Chicago, Los Angeles and [...]

Rutter’s Farm Stores is continuing its year of record expansion with today’s opening of a c-store in Chambersburg, Pa. “We’re thrilled to be opening a new store in Chambersburg,” said Scott Hartman, president and CEO at Rutter’s Farm Stores. “It is a vibrant community that fits our brand and product offering well. We have been [...]

Take it from 7-Eleven: Today’s average gamer is not a teenager – he’s in his early 30s and most likely a male. That’s good news for the Dallas-based retailer, whose customer base skews heavily toward males between the ages of 18 and 34. The c-store chain said it’s taking the plunge into video game sales [...]

Stored value and prepaid card program provider nFinanSe said its Discover Network Reloadable Prepaid Card is now available at all 521 Winn-Dixie grocery stores in the southeast. Consumers can purchase the Reloadable Card for $5.95 and load funds at their discretion. No credit check or bank account is required. Consumers can also use the Discover [...]

By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor for DTN In less than four months, the national average price for diesel fuel sold at retail outlets went from rapidly marching towards $5 per gallon to now falling below $3 per gallon, with the Department of Energy’s statistical arm, the Energy Information Administration (EIA), reporting a nearly [...]

Oklahoma-based convenience store chain QuickTrip is growing its convenience stores’ footprints, though the company is also ending its brief venture into the car wash business, The Wichita Eagle reported. QuickTrip is planning to replace its current 3,600-square-foot store footprint with a store about 1,000 feet larger and bigger parking lots, company spokesman Mike Thornbrugh told [...]

Shell Oil Co. told the state of Washington’s Department of Ecology that it would voluntarily clean up contamination at 83 current and former gas stations in Western Washington, the AP bureau in Seattle reported. It’s the first time an oil company has voluntarily undertaken such a massive cleanup in the state at one time, Ecology [...]

York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores has donated $25,000 to the United Cerebral Palsy of South Central Pennsylvania to help the organization purchase equipment for its children’s center in York. UCP of South Central Pennsylvania serves children and adults with disabilities and special needs in York, Adams, Franklin and Fulton counties. The chapter has offices in [...]

The Kroger Co. opened its biggest "Fresh Fare" store this week, with plans to open more of the stores to serve the eat-at-home and natural foods shoppers, according to the Associated Press. In addition to typical supermarket fare, Kroger’s Fresh Fare store in Kenwood, Ohio, features high-end meats and seafood, gourmet cheeses and natural and [...]

Sheetz convenience stores is giving away free gas for a year to 18 customers starting November 17. Customers can visit any Sheetz location in Ohio and enter to win when they sign up for the "My Sheetz Card” rewards program. Members of the rewards program are automatically entered into the contest. Each week, three Sheetz [...]

Once considered a lower-price, lower-quality substitute for name brands, private-label products are being viewed positively by a majority of U.S. consumers, according to a new survey by The Nielsen Company. About 72% of consumers believe store brands are good alternatives to name brands, while 62% of consumers say they consider store brands to be as [...]

Smoker Friendly International has recognized King Maker Marketing Inc., of Paramus, N.J., as its manufacturer of the year, awarding the company its 2008 Visionary Award at the 12th Annual Smoker Friendly Tobacco Festival and Conference held recently in Boulder, Colo. King Maker manufactures SF Cigarettes and SF Roll Your Own Tobacco. Smoker Friendly operates more [...]

The Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards (PCATS) has appointed Thomas Oare as its new executive director and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2009. Oare replaces the present executive director and CEO, John Hervey, who announced his retirement effective Jan. 31. “We are extremely pleased to have found someone with the background and experience of Tom [...]