Spice Up Sandwiches to Spike Sales

Spice Up Sandwiches to Spike Sales

Technomic’s 2012 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report found that more than half (55%) of Americans are now purchasing grab-and-go sandwiches. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Just two years ago, the top-selling sandwiches at Famima convenience stores were tuna salad, turkey and cheese and egg salad, all on white bread. Today, the same proteins lead the pack, [...]

BeerTAB Study Shows Trends, Consumer Preferences

BeerTAB Study Shows Trends, Consumer Preferences

Taste preferences are evolving, especially among younger consumers, as beer drinkers seek different beer styles and more complex or varied flavor profiles. Beer remained the largest segment of the U.S. adult beverage industry, accounting for more than four-fifths of total alcohol volume, but was challenged by both economic and consumer trends that resulted in a [...]

Swipe Reform Saving Up to $18 Million A Day

Swipe Reform Saving Up to $18 Million A Day

“Retailers know that if they don’t pass along the savings the store across the street will,” says NRF president. With the first anniversary of debit card swipe fee reform approaching next week, U.S. retailers and their customers are benefiting from savings of up to $18 million a day that previously went to card companies and [...]

Susser Petroleum Completes IPO

Susser Petroleum Completes IPO

Net proceeds total $209.8 million before expenses. Susser Petroleum Partners LP has completed its initial public offering of 10,925,000 common units representing limited partner interests in Susser Petroleum Partners at $20.50 per common unit. The number of units issued at closing included 1,425,000 common units issued pursuant to full exercise of the underwriters’ option to [...]

OCSA Appeals Bag Ban

OCSA Appeals Bag Ban

“Some people feel it is a good environmental initiative, but we do have a bag manufacturer in the city that makes plastic bags that will be impacted,” says one council member. The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) is appealing to the city council to overturn a plastic bag ban—set to go into effect on Jan [...]

Freezing Out the Competition

Freezing Out the Competition

Establishing an effective frozen beverage offering helps drive customers across all demographics. Megan Wilkinson, Assistant Editor. Frozen beverages have been helping convenience store operators create stronger relationships with younger consumers, but there is an opportunity in this category with all age groups. According to Mintel’s 2012 Convenience Store Foodservice report, frozen beverages ranked as the [...]

Local Store Marketing: Customer Appreciation Days

Local Store Marketing: Customer Appreciation Days

By John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. Customer Appreciation Days are excellent ways to attract consumers that have similar backgrounds or interests. Honoring your best customers with a distinctive recognition day is a terrific way to create a “call-to-action” for specific selected groups.  Whether it is for school personnel or administrative [...]

Wholesale Gasoline Costs Mixed in Late September

Wholesale Gasoline Costs Mixed in Late September

Wholesale gasoline costs moved mixed in very choppy trading during the third week of September, with the benchmark futures contract slumping to a six-week low at one point before rebounding on renewed optimism for the global economy amid central bank stimulus measures. A huge build in crude stocks reported by the Energy Information Administration for [...]

7 Layer Dip In A Bite Sized Snack

7 Layer Dip In A Bite Sized Snack

New COMBOS Baked Snacks 7 Layer Dip Tortilla combines real cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado, tomato, refried beans, onion and spicy jalapeño peppers. Seven-layer dip has been a long-time party food favorite, and COMBOS Brand brings this unique flavor combination to a convenient snack. COMBOS Brand has a significant national media spend in 2013 to [...]

Avocado Pulp Pack

Avocado Pulp Pack

Del Monte is now offering 100% Fresh Hass Avocado Pulp in a convenient four pack of two-ounce cups. The new value-added Hass avocado product is available for national distribution. As fresh avocado consumption continues to increase and as more consumers become familiar with its great taste and nutritional benefits, they are beginning to demand the [...]

Kansas Jury: Hot Fuel Not Deceptive

Kansas Jury: Hot Fuel Not Deceptive

Numerous class-action lawsuits have been filed across the U.S. in 26 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, alleging oil companies and fuel retailers improperly profited from the sale of hot fuel. In a victory for QuikTrip, 7-Eleven and Kum & Go—three c-store retailers in a “hot fuel” lawsuit—a federal jury in Kansas City, Kan. [...]

Mansfield Oil Honored As Business Technology Innovator

Mansfield Oil Honored As Business Technology Innovator

Mansfield’s Entinuum project works to alleviate transactional complexities in the downstream energy sector.             For the third consecutive year, Mansfield Oil Co. has been named to the 2012 InformationWeek 500, a list comprised of the most innovative users of business technology in the U.S. The annual list was revealed at a gala awards ceremony during [...]

Kroger Commits $3 Million for Breast Cancer Awareness

Kroger Commits $3 Million for Breast Cancer Awareness

Award-winning cause marketing campaign features Kroger associates who are breast cancer survivors. For the sixth consecutive year, The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, in partnership with key suppliers, has committed $3 million in donations for local breast cancer initiatives across the country to support National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. At the end of [...]

Learning from Wyndham’s Data Breach

Learning from Wyndham’s Data Breach

How you respond before, during and after your credit card data has been compromised will have a major impact on your chain’s ability to survive a security fiasco. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. In today’s high tech world, no one is immune to a breach. This June, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued hotel dynasty [...]

Peter Ghiloni

Swisher International Names New President

Industry Veteran Ghiloni to be promoted, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Swisher International Inc. has announced the scheduled retirement of Tom Ryan, the company’s president and CEO, a position he has held since 2004. Chairman of the Swisher International board of directors, William Ziegler, announced that upon Ryan’s retirement on Dec. 31, 2012, he will be [...]