New products and core beverages will always drive cold vault sales. Retailers have to know how to market them effectively to maximize profitability. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Bottled water sales continue to rise steadily, which is good news for overall packaged beverage sales in convenience stores. NACS reported recently that in the wake of [...]
Despite the weak economy, consumers continue to indulge in candy. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. The confectionery retail market has grown across all trade channels, but convenience stores have outpaced the overall retail market. Iconic brands (Hershey, Nestlé, Mars) prowl the chocolate landscape and provide consumers an affordable indulgence in a bitter economy. According to [...]
Convenience stores have evolved from being a destination for cigarettes to a destination for tobacco products as a whole. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. It was inevitable that the conversation on convenience store cigar sales would shift eventually from rapid growth to supplier relations, category management and marketing. As cigarette regulations and prices and taxes [...]
While some c-store operators are gingerly testing the waters of healthy lunch and dinner solutions, others have plunged right in as the tide of consumer demand moves steadily toward fresher fare. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. With the opening of its latest store in Marshfield, Mass., Tedeschi Food Shops launched a new initiative that puts [...]
Given that the morning daypart is such a high-growth segment, it should be no surprise that the industry’s leading retailers are focusing a lot of effort on solidifying their offerings. By John Lofstock, Editor. Americans are more amenable to buying meals at convenience stores, but won’t budge when it comes to quality, price or convenience [...]
While LED lighting has helped many businesses reduce their carbon footprint, each retailer must decide if the endeavor is a worthy long-term investment. By Pat Pape, Contributing Editor. During holiday season 2011, the 74-foot Norway spruce in New York City’s Rockefeller Center was covered in 30,000 multicolored light-emitting diodes (LED). Those glowing decorations were an [...]
Offering quality customer service with bilingual employees and traditional foods can drive retail loyalty among the growing Hispanic population. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Today, Hispanic food is mainstream and attractive to a wide array of demographics seeking spicier flavors, but the secret to keeping your Hispanic customers’ repeat business lies in more than just [...]
At 6,500 square feet, the new Hillsboro location is considered one of the largest c-stores in Jefferson County. Home Service Oil Co., which operates Express Mart convenience stores in and around Jefferson County, Mo., just south of St. Louis, has recently opened two newly-built Express Marts that are enormous in size. Their new Hillsboro location [...]
Shannon Michels receives special honor. Shannon Michels, a Kum & Go associate since 1998, recently received the company’s prestigious “2011 Supervisor of the Year” award. This marks the third straight year the company has recognized the Minot, N.D., native. Michels, who resides in Williston, N.D., earned “2010 National Division Supervisor of the Year” and “2009 [...]
“Convenience, speed and security are the three key elements that make payment systems in taxis, at fuel pumps and other VeriFone-enabled locations ideal venues for expanding access to lottery tickets,” says VeriFone vice chairman. VeriFone Systems Inc. today announced that it plans to deliver lottery sales through card payment acceptance systems in taxis and at [...]
Partnership drives customer engagement at point of decision at MAC’s convenience stores. Deepening its long-term relationship selling the Mac’s Couche-Tard digital network with a combined offering with iSIGN, ADCENTRICITY now provides retailers with the first-ever end-to-end value solution. iSIGN Media Solutions Inc., a provider of interactive mobile advertising solutions that serves advertisers, manufacturers, retailers and [...]
Digital experience traces the origins of customers’ Budweiser. Budweiser has introduced “Track Your Bud,” a digital campaign integrated with packaging that will allow consumers to trace the origins of the beer they hold in their hands to one of Budweiser’s 12 U.S. breweries. By using their Smartphone to scan the QR code on Budweiser packaging, [...]
Ricker’s Rewards card connects to customers’ checking accounts, so they can use the card like a debit card for discounts on in-store and gasoline purchases. Ricker Oil Co. is launching a rewards program this week to drive traffic and help customers battle escalating gas prices, the Indianapolis Star reported. The Ricker’s Rewards loyalty program offers [...]
More than 200 fans showcased talents for a chance to win prizes. Gas station chain Phillips 66 has announced the winners of its Local Legends online video competition—with Chris Dryden from Hannibal, Mo., coming in first place. Bringing customers the best in performance gasoline, Phillips 66 hosted this contest in 2011 to find areas where [...]
Fresh & Easy teams up with Kraft Foods, LPGA legends to give young golfers the experience of a lifetime. Amy Alcott, Nancy Lopez and Kathy Whitworth are set to lead a hall-of-fame field back to Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., for the second annual fresh&easy Charity Pro-Am on March 25, 2012, and [...]