Superior service, loyal employees and an upscale retail offering define the Thorntons brand. [callout title=At a Glance: Thorntons Inc.] Thorntons was founded in 1971 by James Thornton in Louisville, Ky. His son, Matt Thornton, was named president and CEO of the 165-store chain in 2001, while James remains chairman of the family business. Headquarters: Louisville, [...]
The Starbucks Card Mobile App now offers customers with BlackBerry smartphones, iPhone and iPod touch the fastest way to pay at nearly 6,800 U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores. Starbucks has announced the launch of mobile payments in all of its U.S. company-operated stores, allowing customers to pay for in-store purchases with select smartphones. Building on the [...]
Some 55 New York-based c-stores sell “Hugs for Hospice” in December. The convenience store division of the Mirabito Family of Companies, which owns and operates more than 55 Quickway Food Stores, Mirabito and Convenience Express locations throughout central New York, is donating more than $10,000 to local Hospice organizations as a result of its “Hugs [...]
Warehouse Management System (WMS) to streamline c-store replenishment and reduce IT costs. Sheetz has selected the HighJump warehouse management system (WMS) to streamline its supply chain operations that replenishment to retail locations. Sheetz began the search for a new warehouse management system as part of an initiative to lower IT costs and reduce business risk [...]
Seattle-based Starbucks is rolling out a new drink size called Trenta—the chain’s biggest drink size yet, Reuters reported. At 31 ounces, the Trenta is just seven ounces larger than its Venti cups, which currently are the largest size on the Starbucks menu. The Trenta size is debuting in 14 states, including Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Retail gasoline prices continued to move higher through mid January, climbing when values typically flounder near annual lows during a time of year when winter weather usually dampens driving demand. Gasoline demand is nearly 2% higher during the four weeks ending Jan. 7 compared with the [...]
Framingham, Mass.-based Gulf Oil is returning to Nashville, Tenn., for the first time in 25 years, the Nashville Business Journal reported. Gulf Oil has partnered with Nashville-based Tri Star Energy to rebrand 21 area gas stations. The stores are being co-branded, maintaining Tri Star’s Daily’s brand. Eleven sites are already complete. The rebranding is expected [...]
Marfood’s Pemmican Brand Beef Jerky has awarded its first $1,000 Giveaway winner. Elizabeth Pyle of San Antonio, Texas purchased Pemmican Brand Beef Jerky from her local Pilot Travel Center store just before the Holiday Season of 2010 and entered the Pemmican $1,000 Giveaway. To her surprise just before Christmas, she became the first winner of [...]
The total in-stores sales in the U.S. convenience store market are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 4% during 2010-2013, according to RNCOS, which specializes in industry intelligence and creative solutions for contemporary business segments. According RNCOS’ report “U.S. Convenience Stores Market Outlook to 2013”, in-store sales constituted more [...]
Kum & Go has signed a deal to acquire two JC’s Corner Stores in central Iowa by the end of January, the Des Moines Register reported. The West Des Moines-based convenience store chain plans to renovate and rebrand the newly acquired stores—located at the corner of 35th Street and E.P. True Parkway in West Des [...]
Tulsa, Okla.-based convenience store chain QuikTrip is planning to enter South Carolina with a new store at 489 W. Main St., positioning itself for a major entrance into South Carolina, The Spartanburg, S.C. Herald-Journal reported. The 5,000-square-foot Spartanburg store will be one of the first QuikTrips in the state when it opens in late 2011. [...]
Vendgogh LLC, a provider of integrated gas island vending solutions has agreed to integrate its innovative vending solution with VeriFone Systems Inc. point of sale (POS) solutions. Through the integration, convenience store customers to sell cold drinks and gas to customers at the pump with a single swipe of their credit card. This new initiative [...]
SunCoke Energy, a subsidiary of Sunoco Inc. has purchased the Honaker, Va.-based Harold Keene Coal Co. Inc., its affiliated entities and their related assets for approximately $40 million in cash, including working capital. Coal reserve estimates for the assets of the entities being purchased total at least 16 million tons, with final estimates to be [...]
Scott Petroleum has acquired Bostick Brothers, effective on Jan. 1, Stamfordadvocate.com reported. Both are Mississippi companies founded between the 1920’s and 1930’s. “Bostick Brothers was in business for 81 years,” Xan Robertson, grandson of founder Xan Bostick, was quoted as saying. “It was just a good time to sell.” While details of the transaction were not released, the [...]
Tedeschi Food Shops has acquired DSD1, the local start-up commissary that produces the chain’s signature TD’s Deli packaged fresh food line. DSD1 will now be known as “Tedeschi Fresh Foods” and will be a subsidiary of Tedeschi Food Shops. Nearly two years ago, Tedeschi Food Shops engaged DSD1 to develop and distribute a new fresh [...]