I was having drinks with some friends recently at the NACS Leadership Conference when the topic of exceeding the customers’ expectations came up. I was asked by a member of the group what I thought was the true cost of not doing something right the first time. The consensus was that when it came to [...]
Nearly 100 convenience store chains representing more than 12,000 stores offered insights on employee salaries, hiring trends and labor costs. By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics. In order to support convenience store operators as they plan and forecast their human resources investments over the next 12 months, Convenience Store Decisions and Humetrics have collaborated on our [...]
BP Driver Rewards offers cents-per-gallon fuel savings. BP Products North America Inc. has announced the launch of BP Driver Rewards, a fuel loyalty program that offers consumers a smarter way to save money on quality gasoline. Now available at participating BP stations, the program features a free loyalty card that rewards customers with savings on [...]
The Bloomingdale, Ga. site marks Parker’s 31st location. Parker’s officially broke ground this week on its latest state-of-the-art store in Bloomingdale, Ga., in response to customer demand. The Bloomingdale store, located at Hwy. 80 and Zeigler Road, will offer discounted gasoline as well as nearly 4,000 square feet of retail space. The company’s 31st location [...]
Since the program’s launch in 2012 customers have saved more than $68 million. Shell knows that paying less for fuel continues to be top of mind and consumers are hungry for a loyalty rewards program that will help them drop their price at the pump. The Fuel Rewards Network (FRN) program, the first-of-its-kind national program, [...]
This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Sunday, and Dos Equis recognizes that particular day of the week doesn’t bode well for a celebration of this magnitude. Dos Equis is kicking things off on May 2, or what the Most Interesting Man in the World has dubbed “Dos de Mayo,” giving fans everywhere an [...]
Strong internal candidates are being considered for the position. The Manitowoc Co. Inc. has announced that Michael Kachmer has resigned as president of the company’s foodservice segment and as senior vice president of the company to pursue a CEO role. Chairman and CEO Glen Tellock will lead the foodservice segment on an interim basis while [...]
With three simple steps, retailers can learn how to grow their businesses. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. The NACS/Coca Cola Retailing Research Council (NACS/CCRC) has introduced a powerful new tool for c-store retailers: “Playbook for Success: A Three-Step Guide to Growing the C-Store Business.” “Operators of any size will find this guide to be an [...]
Consumers spent six times as much time in retailer apps in December compared to a year earlier, showing that shopping and commerce is finally beginning to take off on mobile platforms. By Barbara Brynko, Contributing Editor. The numbers don’t lie. The U.S. officially crossed the threshold into the Brave New Digital World as the market [...]
The newest safes and interactive security systems, including those that tie neatly into a point-of-sale (POS) system, can help operators track cash and monitor employees on a shift-by-shift basis. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Follow the money is good advice when it comes to unraveling conspiracies, but it is even more important when it comes [...]
Surging demand and the ongoing assault on cigarettes have MST positioned for a profitable 2013. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. The smokeless tobacco category showed strong growth in 2012, with help from promotions and a growing customer interest in alternative tobacco products to supplement their smoking habits. Manufacturers are capitalizing on the strong sales demand [...]
Cold and frozen dispensed beverages are undergoing some major changes these days that continue to make the category one of the hottest in the convenience store industry. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Spring has sprung and with it comes a renewed focus on cold, frosty and refreshing beverages. For Pat Kelly, purchasing director for Hanover, [...]
Partnering with an established brand can help your chain leap into the foodservice business with a widely-recognized and trusted menu offering. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Foodservice demand is on the rise and competition is fierce for share of stomach sales not only from QSRs, but from grocery stores, other c-stores and even Walgreens. As [...]
Consumers are looking for fast service, fresh ingredients and value pricing when choosing a foodservice solution and convenience stores are answering the call with innovative programs that meet the latest food trends. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. The number of consumers purchasing grab-and-go sandwiches and other foods is continuing to rise. Retailers have to be [...]
Emphasizing quality and a dynamic product assortment has had positive effects on food sales at the roller grill. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Rollers grills can do a lot, but they do not sell for themselves. Managing roller grill food sales is no different from other foodservice categories in that convenience store operators need to [...]