While electronic cigarettes are gaining a lot of attention in c-stores, sales of moist smokeless are chugging along. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Convenience stores have a significant opportunity to target consumers in overlapping tobacco segments, such as converting cigarette smokers over to moist snuff or cigars. Experts expect this group to increase moist smokeless…
The Rise of Craft Beer at Retail
Craft beer sales have doubled in the past six years and are set to triple by 2017, according to a Mintel report. By John Lofstock, Editor. While the economic downturn has affected consumer spending across many sectors, craft and craft-style beers are defying recessionary trends with an impressive upward trajectory. Indeed, latest research by Mintel…
Driving Frozen Beverage Sales
Convenience store operators who are cashing in on frozen dispensed sales are combining new and exciting flavors with popular promotions, good equipment maintenance and a strong foodservice offering. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Frozen beverages are widely regarded as a high-growth category, and convenience store operators looking for more of a good thing are complementing…
Chicken Takes Flight at C-Stores
Overall poultry sales continue to experience strong growth as retailers look to boost their menus with healthy items that offer flexibility and value.By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. What’s not to like about chicken? Americans love it for its taste, variety, healthfulness and price, and c-store operators like that it is versatile—think sandwiches, wraps, salads, tenders…
Finding Supply Chain Success
Building a strong relationship with your vendors can ease the negotiation process and take unnecessary costs out of the distribution system. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Cutting costs along the supply chain remains a challenge for convenience stores, but strong negotiation and communication skills can go a long way toward scoring the best possible deal…
Surviving the Next Superstorm
Do you have a contingency plan in place in case disaster strikes one or more of your convenience store locations? By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Being prepared for major storms and disasters is vital to any convenience store, especially those in areas most susceptible to hurricanes, as Superstorm Sandy taught us just last year. The…
Delivering the Goods
There’s no one-solution-fits-all when it comes to distribution. Focus and timing can make all the difference in the world. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. After working with a single distributor for 40 years, York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores last month signed three-year agreements with Core-Mark and US Foods. Robert Perkins, Rutter’s vice president of marketing,…
Maintaining Data Security Standards
While many retailers are breathing a sigh of relief in regard to PCI compliance, Visa and MasterCard are constantly changing the rules, requiring stores to make costly changes and upgrades. By John Lofstock, Editor. When it comes to data security, all retailers need to be prepared for the worst scenario, but that can’t happen if…
Fuel Connections Service
Acumera a provider of trusted connection services for retail organizations has introduced its Fuel Connections Service, a remote connections and monitoring service to improve fuel inventory and compliance management for fuel marketers and wholesale distributors. Acumera’s Fuel Connections Service is now being offered as a freestanding solution for fuel marketers to remotely monitor and receive…
Spreadable Chocolate
The newest addition to Hershey’s best-in-class chocolate portfolio—Hershey’s Spreads. The spreadable chocolate comes in three delicious varieties: chocolate, chocolate with almond and chocolate with hazelnut. Available starting December 2013, these chocolate spreads transform everyday snacks into delicious treats with the smooth and creamy Hershey taste. Hershey’s Spreads can be enjoyed with a variety of foods…