“If menthol cigarettes have the same health effects as non‐menthol cigarettes, how can the federal government justify a ban of menthol cigarettes?” questions AWMA CEO. AWMA President and CEO Scott Ramminger testified before the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) on March 17, as the Committee decides whether or not to recommend a ban on [...]
“This year, we more than tripled the money raised over last year’s holiday drive,” says director of retail operations. It may be nearly spring, but L.E. Belcher stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts are still basking in a well-deserved holiday glow. Over the course of five weeks in November and December, L.E. Belcher store locations decked [...]
Pop Rocks consumers have been busy voting for their top pop songs as well as the greatest hits of the 70´s. The new “U-ROCK” sweepstakes is available on the Pop Rocks Web site, offering consumers the chance to win $100 iTunes gift certificates. This is the first activity of the Pop Rocks’ new marketing plan [...]
We all know that customer service, bright lights and a clean store drive business, yet many stores are not getting the message. By Jim Callahan. Last month I took a close look at making the outside appearance of our convenience stores attractive enough to entice consumers to want to enter our stores and spend more [...]
Menuing extra thin crust pizza offers extra large opportunity for any operation. Sales growth of extra thin crust has outpaced all other pizza crust types over the past five years, according to The NPD Group/CREST for the 12 months ended March 2010, and 25% of consumers surveyed said they prefer thin crust pizza, according to [...]
By John Lofstock and Erin Rigik. The Durbin amendment to the Dodd-Frank Consumer Financial Protection Act, which would give the convenience store industry much-needed relief on debit card transactions, could be delayed as a result of a new bill introduced March 15 by Senator John Tester (D-MT). Any such delay would be “a slap in [...]
The second annual “Fight Hunger. Give Hope” campaign invites customers to buy paper hearts to support local food banks. Thirty PS Food Mart stores across Michigan and Ohio are joining together to launch the second annual “Fight Hunger. Give Hope” campaign to raise money for local food banks. Between March 18 and April 3, customers [...]
New 24-hour location is set to offer an expanded deli and fresh baked goods section. Maverik Inc is planning to build a new 4,500 square foot c-store this spring in Monticello, Utah. Construction should be completed in late summer or early fall, the San Juan Record reported. The new 24 hour store is planned for [...]
“We’re doing what we can to help the Red Cross reach those who need it most,” says Walgreens spokesperson. Walgreens is donating $150,000 to the American Red Cross in response to the devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan last week. The company also plans to match employee donations up to $100,000. “Our employees have [...]
On Tuesday, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced a bill in an effort to delay implementation of the Durbin amendment. The legislation, S. 575, introduced on March 15, seeks to delay — for two years — critical reforms aimed at providing relief to America’s small-business owners. The reforms, scheduled to take effect this summer, would limit [...]
BIC is launching two new special edition series of lighter designs in January 2011. The two series, Animal and Pop Culture join the already extensive line of market-leading special edition series offered by BIC. The Animal Series collection appeals to male and female consumers who enjoy animals and wildlife and includes eight different designs, featuring [...]
Riding the wave of energy bar excitement created by the award-winning Wheaties FUEL Energy Bars, the brand-new Wheaties FUEL Energy Bites give consumers a portable way to energize throughout the day. Available in chocolate peanut butter and double chocolate, each 2.19-ounce package packs 15 grams of protein and 100% of the daily value of five [...]
Retailers are using smart safes and strict corporate policies to protect store employees against robbery attempts. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. While theft attempts are inevitable for convenience stores, especially those operating 24 hours, losing hard-earned cash shouldn’t have to be. Since retail safes were introduced and combined with smarter money-handling practices, store owners have [...]
Van Holten’s has introduced its new No. 6 Jumbo Chipotle pickle-in-a-pouch to wholesalers and retailers nationwide. Like all of Van Holten’s pickles the chipotle flavor is packaged individually in a stand up pouch and has a two-year shelf life, with no refrigeration required. The new flavor combines the bold spice and smokiness of chipotle peppers [...]
Retailers can now find Spanish-language tools and tips on complying with FDA rules. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has released a new Spanish-language Web site (fda.gov/tabaco) to connect Spanish-speaking retailers and consumers to credible, science-based information and resources. The FDA noted that minority communities have the highest prevalence of [...]