7-Eleven was named number three on Forbes magazine’s list of the “Top 20 Franchises to Start.” Forbes took many variables into account when deciding on the 20 companies, including the initial franchise fee; total locations (they wanted at least 50, but more was better); survival rates (they looked at the percentage of closings [...]
Inc. magazine has ranked Atlas Oil Company number 4,424 on its third annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. When the list is sorted by revenue, Atlas Oil Company is one of only two Michigan-based companies to make the Top 20, coming in at number 20. The list [...]
Alimentation Couche-Tard, based in Laval, Quebec, reported Tuesday that its profits more than doubled to $91.1 million USD during the first quarter, despite a 15% drop in sales, mainly caused by lower fuel prices, The Canadian Press reported. The company, which operates stores under the Couche-Tard, Mac’s, Circle K and On The Run [...]
Wawa, which operates more than 560 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, soon will be adding New York to its list of locations. The convenience store chain is entering the Syracuse and central New York region in just one week, WSYR-TV Syracuse reported. Following the closing of an area [...]
NACS is looking for c-store retailers to complete an eight-question survey that would help give Congress more data about the impact debit and credit card usage has on retail operations. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, was signed into law this May, and contains measures that would strengthen [...]
C-store chain QuikTrip has begun construction on its first location in the Tucson, Ariz. market, The Arizona Star reported. The site is located at 2345 E. Irvington Road, and QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh said he expected the 5,000-square-foot store with 16 gas pumps to be open by mid-January. This site will mark [...]
Can a tax on junk food cure obesity? Some politicians think it can work, just like cigarette taxes have been shown to help reduced smoking, The Chicago Tribune reported. Public health experts are pushing for extra taxes on foods and drinks that contain a high amount of calories but no nutritional value, [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Wholesale gasoline costs moved higher for the week-ended Aug. 24, underpinned by a surge in crude oil prices on renewed enthusiasm for an economic recovery and a weakening U.S. dollar. The higher wholesale costs will be passed through to the retail market, lifting prices [...]
Wawa Inc. has introduced a new advertising campaign called Prices You Can Trust, which began Aug. 17 in the Greater Philadelphia area, in an effort to educate customers about fees that an increasing number of retailers charge when customers purchase fuel with credit cards. Wawa noted that while some retailers post fuel prices [...]
Three years underway, Ohio’s smoking ban still is meeting with strong criticism and is now being re-challenged in the courts, with opponents claiming the ban is costing small businesses money and jobs. The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) said it stands behind those trying to appeal a lawsuit against the [...]
Crescent Point Energy Corp. has agreed to acquire privately held Wave Energy Ltd., which will improve its position in Saskatchewan’s Lower Shaunavon medium-oil resource arena, the Wall Street Journal reported. Crescent Point, which recently converted from an income-trust structure, is a conventional oil and gas producer with assets focused in Western Canada. [...]
Kum & Go L.C., headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, opened a new convenience store in Neosho, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 21. The 3,400-square-foot store took only 84 days to construct and is located at Highway 60 & Kodiak Road in Neosho. “Kum & Go is please to open our second store [...]
Wisconsin’s controversial minimum markup law for gas is still alive, at least for now, the Associated Press reported. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is allowing a business group to appeal the February ruling that ruled against the law, which requires gas stations to add on 6% more than what they paid [...]
Starbucks Corp. is adjusting its pricing in several cities nationwide over the next few months, lowering the cost of smaller, more basic beverage choices and charging up to 25 cents extra for more complex options, the Wall Street Journal reported. In some markets, customers will pay 5 cents more for a venti [...]
As college students begin returning for school, the Fairfax County Police, Premium Distributors of Virginia, Heineken USA and state delegates are teaming up to offer Fairfax County retailers another tool in the fight against underage access to alcohol. The community partnership provides licensed retailers with a “Responsibility Toolkit” including a small device to [...]