Sam’s Mart Corporation of Charlotte, N.C., is installing Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Passport point of sale (POS) system at an additional 80 corporate and dealer locations in the Charlotte and Atlanta areas this year. This program builds on the base of stores that already have Passport to make it the standard POS across the chain. …
7-Eleven “Dating” Game Awards Free Coffee
7-Eleven is putting a new spin on “convenient pick-up” with its new virtual dating game offered online at www.the711club.com. Challengers find themselves at Rio Janiero’s exotic 711 Club, where they select a hot “date” from a group of sexy women and men. Game play involves navigating various nightclub scenarios by selecting the correct humorous…
QuikTrip Plans for the Future
Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip, already spanning nine markets with 500 locations, has its eye on expansion and is planning to test a larger c-store design, the Tulsa World reported. “We want to be the best at everything we do. Otherwise, we don’t want to play,” QuikTrip CEO Chet Cadieux said in a recent speech…
C-store Owners Expand Services
In a tough economy, c-store operators are adding more services to entice customers to their stores. Alice Williams, owner of Alice’s 66 Gas N Snacks 2 Go, recently added U-Haul truck and trailer rentals to her convenience store and full-service gas station. The new service will appeal to families needing moving services.…
Hess Makes Check-out Speedier
Independent gasoline-convenience store retailer Hess will now accept MasterCard PayPass at more than 870 company-operated Hess and Hess Express locations along the eastern U.S. In addition to traditional magnetic-stripe payment cards, Hess will accept MasterCard PayPass at check-out counters at these locations by early 2010 to provide customers with quicker transactions and greater…
Kum & Go Opens New Store in Mead, Colo.
Kum & Go L.C. has opened a new store in Mead, Colo. The 3,400-square-foot store took only 95 days to construct and is located at Interstate 25 and Highway 66 in Mead. “We’re excited to offer a brand new store to the residents of Mead,” said Kyle Krause, president and CEO of…
Suncor Energy Doubles Ethanol Production Capacity
Suncor Energy is resuming the expansion of its St. Clair Ethanol Plant near Sarnia, Ontario. The $120 million construction project, expected to be completed in late 2010 or early 2011, will double the plant’s current ethanol production capacity from 200 to 400 million litres per year. “This is great news for Suncor, for Southern Ontario…
Hess Presents Charity Checks
Hess Corporation donated $100,00 to two charities this weekend as part of its Home Run Campaign, which kicked off on Boston Red Sox’ home opening day. On Sunday, Oct. 4, Aric Morrison, a Hess Retail regional director, presented the two $50,000 checks before the game-one to the Jimmy Fund through the Red Sox…
Domo Dominates 7-11 This Fall
Domo, the fuzzy brown creature from Japan with a trademark enigmatic open-mouth expression, is taking 7-Eleven stores by storm this fall. From collectible Slurpee cups filled with Fuji Frost by Fanta, and flocked Slurpee character straws to Big Bite hot dog containers, coffee cups and even an exclusive Domo Attack! Energy drink, Domo…
Retail Gasoline Price Downturn Stalled by Supply Surprise
Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Wholesale gasoline costs in most major metropolitan markets across the U.S. stalled an extended seasonal price decline in early October following an unexpected drawdown in the nation’s inventory of gasoline, catching the market flatfooted, and driving a better than 6 percent increase in market pricing. …