Adds money transfer and bill payment services. Circle K, the nation’s second-largest convenience store chain has renewed its exclusive relationship with MoneyGram, a global money transfer company. Circle K has also expanded its product offerings to include money transfer and bill payment services in addition to the money order service MoneyGram previously provided to [...]
Brian L. Milne, Energy Editor, Schneider Electric For six straight weeks, the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) retail gasoline price average has declined, down 17.6 cents or 4.7% from Feb. 25 when it reached $3.784 gallon, which is currently the high for 2013. Considering sharp selling activity during the second week of April, the February high [...]
Mac Baren Tobacco Co. to acquire Pipe Tobacco Division of Altadis USA. Mac Baren Tobacco Co., a 125-year-old pipe tobacco company based in Denmark, has reached an agreement with Altadis USA to purchase the company’s pipe tobacco division located in Richmond, Va. The acquired pipe business will operate under its original name, Sutliff [...]
Gamification is one way to increase employee productivity and morale, noted Linda McKenna-Welch during a breakout session at the NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit. Linda McKenna-Welch, principal of Employee Performance Strategies Inc., spoke with retailers on how to revolutionize employee performance through gamification during a breakout session on human capital and operations at [...]
A strong 2012 brought $700.3 billion in sales, but opportunities exist to grow foodservice, and drive customer spending on trips in 2013. The NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit took place in Chicago on April 10-11, giving retailers an overview of the economy, industry statistics, and the challenges that are just ahead. Glenn Plumby, [...]
R.J. Reynolds launches TransformTobacco.com to help retailers get more active in tobacco legislation. Convenience store retailers and tobacco wholesalers have long known about the impact of higher cigarette excise taxes. But as the industry changes, so do the risks of individual rights. In addition to fighting higher cigarette taxes, retailers and wholesalers have a litany [...]
Peter Tedeshi points out that while retailers can’t control all challenges facing the industry in 2013, there are many they can begin to influence. Peter Tedeschi, president and CEO, Tedeschi Food Shops Inc., CSD’s Convenience Store Chain of the Year, closed out the NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit on Thursday, April 11, with [...]
During a session at the NACS SOI Summit, experts advised retailers to have a road map leading to the technology of tomorrow, instead of just planning for today’s rewards program. At the NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit on Thursday, April 11, John Keenan, principal, Anthem Marketing Solutions and Patrick Raycroft, managing partner, W. [...]
Campaign to focus on original research, digital content—video, social media, customized Website. The National Retail Federation (NRF) has announced a new initiative to broaden and enhance perceptions of the industry beyond providing consumers with great products. NRF’s This is Retail: Careers, Community, Innovation campaign, will highlight the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen [...]
Customers at NOCO Express buy paper shamrocks to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. NOCO Express Stores, its customers and employees recently made March a very lucky month for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) by donating a record $20,265 in the annual “Share the Shamrock Spirit” in-store campaign. From Feb. 17 to March 17, customers could [...]
Tobacco group says largest federal cigarette and tobacco tax increase in history “will impact retailers, jobs and low-income Americans.” President Obama’s proposal to impose the largest increase in the federal cigarette tax in the history of the country to fund preschool programs is unfair and ironic, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) said in [...]
The convenience store industry had record sales of $700.3 billion in 2012, with in-store sales increasing 2.2% to reach a record $199.3 billion and motor fuels sales increasing 2.9% to a record $501.0 billion, according to figures released yesterday by NACS. The industry’s 2012 numbers were announced at the NACS State of the Industry Summit, [...]
In this period of economic and demographic fluctuation, U.S. retailers are simultaneously stretching and shrinking their stores to promote convenience for shoppers and compete with online options, according to What’s in Store, the annual trends publication from International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association. Grocery shoppers continue to weather the Great Recession and convenient shopping for the most vital [...]
At the groundbreaking of the Des Moines Social Club’s new home at a former firehouse in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday, Kyle J. and Sharon Krause presented the organization with a $350,000 gift on behalf of Kum & Go. Announced in December 2012, the gift will help to preserve and renovate the space, which is [...]
LOGIC Technology CEO Eli Alelov discuss the possible impact of government regulations on electronic cigarettes on Fox News. By John Lofstock, Editor Hailed by many as an emerging threat to the tobacco cigarette industry, electronic cigarettes have provided smokers with an alternative to traditional tobacco-based smoking. These battery-operated devices simulate the experience of traditional cigarette [...]