Wholesale gasoline prices surged following Presidents’ Day, as violence in Libya escalated, with street prices marching higher on the tsunami wave of climbing oil costs across the globe. Worse, the full pass through costs from wholesale to retail have not worked their way through the supply chain, meaning retail prices will continue to climb in [...]
Collecting customer data, using anonymous surveys and flawless execution can all be effective in attracting repeat customers. By John Lofstock, Editor. Downward slanting sales, a depleted customer base, constant stress, worry and handwringing…if these symptoms are all too familiar, then it’s likely your store is suffering from “recessionitis,” a disease plaguing many good-intentioned retailers. Fortunately, [...]
Balvor survey highlights the foodservice concerns, focus and sentiments held by convenience store operators heading into 2011. By David Bishop, Contributing Editor. Cautious because a number of external factors, ranging from continued high unemployment, constrained consumer spending, and weak construction and housing markets are creating especially stiff headwinds for their core shopper base. Optimistic as [...]
New gas station is Aloha’s first in Kahului, Maui. Honolulu-based Aloha Petroleum is building a new gas station and 2,000-square-foot c-store in Kahului, Maui—its first on the island—at a time when other local stations are struggling amid high gas prices, the Maui News reported. “I don’t think any service station on Maui is growing,” Terry [...]
Ninth new store opens in Southern California, as Fresh & Easy plans for Northern California store openings this week. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has opened its eighth and ninth stores of 2011 in the Southern California communities of San Dimas and Camarillo last week, and is scheduled to open its first stores in Northern [...]
Kyle and Sharon Krause are named Iowa Star Award recipients for philanthropic work. Kum & Go President and CEO Kyle Krause, along with his wife, Sharon, recently were honored with The Des Moines Register’s “2010 Iowa Star Award.” This prestigious award recognizes central Iowans who have given back to the community and made an extraordinary [...]
Quality, price point and flexibility continue to drive customer interest in pizza. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Americans are into upscale, premium and gourmet everything these days. So why would anyone expect pizza to be any different? The question is, “Can your pizza program measure up?” From exotic toppings to a variety of doughs, c-store [...]
“We are taking this action reluctantly after the FDA failed to constitute the committee in accordance with the law and failed to properly address legitimate concerns regarding fairness and impartiality,” says Lorillard’s senior vice president. Lorillard Inc. today filed suit to stop Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from receiving or relying on recommendations from its [...]
The stagnant economy and hefty cigarette taxes have more c-store chains adding extra roller grill items to provide a greater array of hot food options at a value price. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Yes, the number of food items that can be prepared on roller grills—hot dogs, corn dogs, taquitos, stuffed breadsticks, kielbasa, grilled [...]
7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto is scheduled to present a $40,000 donation to the Big Brothers Big Sisters charity in celebration of the chain’s achievement. From its humble beginnings in 1927 selling milk and bread from an ice dock in Oak Cliff, Texas, 7-Eleven Inc. has grown into an international powerhouse with more retail outlets than [...]
“Our partnership with Speedway provides customers with 87 convenient locations in which to save at the pump,” says Remke bigg’s president. Remke bigg’s, a grocer with 14 stores throughout Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, and Speedway are partnering to help customers save on fuel with Pump Perks fuel rewards program. The Pump Perks program, along with [...]
As the popularity of relaxation beverages soars, grocery stores like ShopRite, increasingly are adding them to store shelves. ShopRite, which operates 190 grocery stores in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware, has added RelaxZen DAY and RelaxZen NIGHT products from RelaxZen Inc. to its product line. RelaxZen’s 2.5-ounce tapered bottles being added to [...]
Organic grocer to celebrate Salt Lake City grand opening with giveaways, food and festivities. Sunflower Farmers Market, a full-service natural and organic grocer, is only one month away from the grand opening of its latest Salt Lake City store, which debuts March 16, bringing more “serious food at silly prices” to the area. The new [...]
The tobacco customer is changing, along with consumers’ product options, which is driving optimism for a strong 2011. By Pat Pape, Contributing Editor. Eric Choncko is a 31-year-old locomotive engineer living in North Texas. He also is a regular snuff user and a core convenience store customer. He chose that tobacco product over cigarettes several [...]
New text message program from Thorntons helps customers save on gas. Thorntons Inc. is helping customers get a ‘jump on the pump’ before fuel prices change and giving them the opportunity to save hundreds of dollars a year on fuel costs, with the launch of a new text messaging program, Thorntons Gas Price Alerts. The [...]