InZone Brands, distributed in 87% of all national chain c-stores, makes 100% all-natural juice drinks for kids, offering three juice brands for three age groups: toddlers, preschoolers and gradeschoolers. TummyTicklerTots pre-diluted apple juice for toddlers comes in a four-ounce bottle, offers 40% less sugar than regular apple juice and is pre-mixed with purified water and [...]
While cigar sales do not approach those of cigarettes, they offer convenience stores better margins. Plus, new flavors and competitive pricing are keeping customers interested in the category. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. Other tobacco products (OTP) in general and cigars in particular continue to earn more shelf space in convenience stores, and the higher [...]
By John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. One often-overlooked strategy to generate ancillary foodservice revenues is developing a program to tap group sales. Generating revenue through large group order sales is an excellent way to exponentially grow your business. The sale from the initial large group order is the first source [...]
Jeff Weghorst, director of merchandising at dunnhumbyUSA. One of the primary drivers behind a customer’s willingness to transact with a retailer is product selection. If a customer does not encounter an appealing assortment of products in-store, they are highly unlikely to engage even once with the retailer, and much less likely to become a loyal [...]
As Marathon Petroleum cuts costs, fuel prices continue to climb, resulting in high Q3 profits. Marathon Petroleum Corp., which split from Marathon Oil Corp. earlier this year, reported soaring third quarter profits this week, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Earnings totaled $1.13 billion, or $3.16 per share, for the three months ended Sept. 30, more than [...]
After its competitors dropped their planned fees, and faced with public backlash, BOA cuts plans for a new debit fee. Bank of America Corp. (BOA), which announced plans for a $5 monthly debit card fee in late September, has abandoned the idea following nationwide backlash from consumers and lawmakers, Bloomberg reported. The bank fee would [...]
Starbucks vies for a larger share of the more than $3 billion dollar single-cup coffee category. Starbucks coffee K-Cup Portion Packs for the Keurig Single-Cup Brewing system hit store shelves this week at major food, drug, mass, club, specialty, and department store retailers throughout the U.S. Starbucks Corp. is the exclusive licensed super-premium coffee brand [...]
New biscuits, battered sweet corn bites and cheeseburger bites greet hungry customers. Rutter’s has heightened its commitment to providing the widest selection of fast food in central Pennsylvania by adding three new menu choices, including biscuits. The biscuits to the menu, not only enhance Rutter’s breakfast selection by giving customers another choice for their breakfast [...]
Kretek International Inc. offers a new line of CIG2O e-cigarette products. The CIG2O rechargeable water vapor cigarette was developed in the U.S. for Kretek by Spark Industries. CIG2O e-cigarettes were successfully launched in smoke shops early in 2010. The strength of adult consumer response led to the current nationwide roll out. The initial product line [...]
Beer sales are hot right now and driving the push are specialty brews and imports. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Consumer interest in more flavorful food and beverages has led, among other things, to the rise of craft beers. Retailers: Start your engines. Craft beers offer more challenging tastes, authenticity and often even a quirkiness [...]
After a grand opening celebration last week, the new location is now open around the clock. Maverik Convenience Stores, with 220 locations in seven Western states, debuted its newest location on Thursday, Oct. 27 in Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz., marking its third location in the greater Eastern Arizona area, White Mountain Independent Online reported. The new store [...]
PayNearMe allows customers to book bus trips online or with cash, a change that is especially advantageous to the un-banked and underbanked. 7-Eleven Inc. and Greyhound, the largest North American provider of intercity bus transportation, have partnered to allow customers nationwide to purchase bus tickets online or over the phone with cash, giving them access [...]
Using store specific characteristics and actual/planned volume, retailers can produce budgets, forecasts etc., that are not impacted by inflation trends or legacy metrics. Three grocery retailers have recently selected Logile’s enterprise labor planning and execution management solutions. Two are utilizing Logile’s SaaS cloud hosting platform. The new Logile customers include two regional supermarket chains with [...]
Visit the FedEx Facebook page today to get your free gift card. Starting Nov. 1, FedEx plans to distribute $1 million in gift cards to be used at small businesses on Small Business Saturday. The free gift cards – each worth $25 – will be distributed through www.facebook.com/FedEx starting at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, [...]
By John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. With any size retailer, getting customer trial at your store is the easy part. If the store owner throws out a compelling offer – perhaps a free deal – customers will come to your store to “check you out.” This is fairly straight forward, [...]