Tracking the Trends in  Convenience Retailing

Tracking the Trends in Convenience Retailing

Despite the global recession, convenience stores have thrived thanks to their ability to provide fast service, quality products and great value in strategic locations. As service and location remain the industry’s primary competitive advantage over supermarkets, drug stores and mass merchandisers, many of whom are moving into the fuel and fresh food business, convenience stores [...]

Thorntons Celebrates National Donut Day

Thorntons Celebrates National Donut Day

Stores to offer free doughnut with beverage purchase on June 3. Thorntons is participating with “National Donut Day” by offering a free doughnut with any coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, fountain or fresh brewed tea purchase. The promotion is taking place today, Friday, June 3, at all 42 Louisville and southern Indiana store locations until 6 [...]

Gilligan Oil Pushes a Multi Brand Foodservice Strategy

Gilligan Oil Pushes a Multi Brand Foodservice Strategy

Newest location features Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway in an effort to target customers throughout the day. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Gilligan Oil Co. is aggressively embarking on a new foodservice model that aims to combine its c-stores and two QSR franchise partners under one roof to better pull a variety of customers into the [...]

New Petro Stopping Center Opens in Texas

New Petro Stopping Center Opens in Texas

“We feel confident that the service and amenities being offered here, which are part of Petro’s strong ‘Voted Best’ legacy, will make drivers and motorists happy and keep them coming back,” says CEO. TravelCenters of America LLC (TA), owner of Petro Stopping Centers, has announced the opening of the newest Petro full-service travel center at [...]

McDonald’s Coffee Customers Most Loyal

McDonald’s Coffee Customers Most Loyal

In a study comparing McDonald’s, Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts customers, McDonald’s coffee customers are the least likely to stray. McDonald’s coffee customers are the most loyal compared to those who frequent Starbucks Corp. and Dunkin’ Donuts, a study by market research firm CustomersDNA LLC found. The currently unpublished study involved 15,000 fast-food customers who answered [...]

Gilligan Oil Adds Six Dunkin’ Donuts Restaurants

Gilligan Oil Adds Six Dunkin’ Donuts Restaurants

Dunkin’ Donuts is seeking new and existing franchisees to develop restaurants throughout Cincinnati and the surrounding areas of Dayton and Toledo. Gilligan Oil Co. LLC has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with Dunkin’ Donuts for six new restaurants in Cincinnati. Currently, Gilligan Oil owns and operates three Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the Cincinnati market [...]

Only 27% of 18 to 24 year olds drink coffee on a regular basis.

Coffee Sales Hotter Than Ever

Hot dispensed beverages, most notably coffee, remain a lynchpin of the convenience store foodservice business and a key to its continued growth. Growing sales will be a crucial task in the months and years ahead. Chicago-based research firm Mintel International reported that c-stores and other retail coffee marketers must begin to actively recruit younger drinkers [...]

Dunkin’ Donuts Looks to Grow In San Antonio

Dunkin’ Donuts Looks to Grow In San Antonio

Franchise development seminar aims to draw candidates with foodservice experience. Dunkin’ Donuts, seeking to expand its presence into San Antonio, is planning a seminar in the city on Feb. 23 to discuss franchise opportunities brewing in the market. Dunkin’ Donuts’ development throughout San Antonio is part of a steady and strategic growth strategy, which includes [...]

Dunkin’ Donuts Seeks Franchisees

Dunkin’ Donuts Seeks Franchisees

“(We’re) looking for qualified candidates with foodservice, operations and real estate experience to join our team,” says Dunkin’ Donuts spokesperson. Dunkin’ Donuts aims to increase its franchise locations in the U.S., and this week announced it is looking for franchisees in Green Bay, Wis., and the surrounding areas of La Crosse and Eau Claire. Dunkin’ [...]

Dunkin’ Donuts Seeks Franchisees in Chicago

Dunkin’ Donuts Seeks Franchisees in Chicago

Dunkin’ Donuts expands, offering single and multi-unit opportunities with no minimum unit requirements. Dunkin’ Donuts is expanding in Chicago and seeking new franchise agreements in the city. Most recently, Dunkin’ Donuts signed a multi-unit store development agreement with Sam Patel for two restaurants in Chicago.  The first restaurant opened in December 2010 at the University [...]

More and more convenience store operators are following Starbucks’ lead and embracing special brews, such as Rainforest Alliance certified beans and unique country blends.

Defend Your Hot Beverage Business

Tips for protecting sales and profits in today’s climate. Intensifying competition for the morning daypart and escalating commodity costs for coffee drinks have forced convenience retailers to make trade-offs between pricing and profits. This is no small issue as hot dispensed beverages are strategically vital to a retailer’s morning business segment and fresh foods program. [...]

VERC Enterprises  Aims and Delivers

VERC Enterprises Aims and Delivers

VERC ENTERPRISES AT A GLANCE   VERC Enterprises was launched 35 years ago by Paul Vercollone and his father Eugene in 1975 with a single gas station/car wash in Marshfield, Mass. Leo Vercollone, the company’s current president and CEO, joined the team after he graduated from Boston College in 1977. Paul continues to oversee the [...]

Sweet  Success

Sweet Success

There’s little doubt that bakeries are big. Bakeries, pastry shops and bagel sellers are growing at a rate of 5%, according to AnythingResearch.com. When launching a bakery program, convenience store retailers are urged to start with an in-depth market study that profiles the target customer base, current sales in the market area for the product [...]

Dunkin’ Donuts Celebrates 60

Dunkin’ Donuts Celebrates 60

Dunkin’ Donuts’ is celebrating its 60th  ”BirthDDay,” by launching the Dunkin’ Donuts Birthday Perk, where all members of the Dunkin’ Perks program will receive a coupon in the mail during their birthday month, good for a free medium beverage of their choice. The beverage includes any iced or hot coffee, tea, latte, hot chocolate or Coolatta [...]

Breakfast Battle Brewing

Breakfast Battle Brewing

Bundling with Bakery Rick Lawlor, vice president of retail sales and marketing for Hess Corp., said his company began growing breakfast sales when it added an old favorite for customers who want a sweet with their coffee: doughnuts. “There are a number of ways we’ve been growing our breakfast business, the most significant being our [...]