Road Ranger, a chain of 50 c-stores and travel plazas, expects to nearly double in size by year’s end. By Ross Markman, Retail Relations Editor This promises to be a busy year for Road Ranger. Following an expansion two years ago from about 30 convenience stores and travel centers to 50, the Rockford, Ill.-based chain [...]
RetailerSpotlightAndrea Jackson, president and COO of Jacksons Food Stores, was chosen by Idaho Business Review as one of Idaho's "Women of the Year." She was honored because of her professional accomplishments, willingness to serve in volunteer organizations and to mentor other women. Jackson has risen from clerk to president and COO of Jacksons Food Stores, [...]
Thousands of carwash operators, equipment manufacturers and vendors filled the cavernous Las Vegas Convention Center to “clean up.” By Ross Markman, Retail Relations Editor Cruising the show floor at the annual Car Care Expo in Las Vegas, dozens of current and would-be carwash operators perused new products that caught their eye, considered the future of [...]
Higher fuel prices, strong in-store sales spur record growth. By John Lofstock, Editor Convenience store sales climbed 20.2% to reach a record $474.3 billion in 2005, the third straight year of revenue growth of at least 16%, according to National Association of Convenience Stores’ State of the Industry (SOI) report. The results were announced last [...]
Growing up in New York City few things are as natural to me as eating out. Even now with my second child on the way, a minimum of two meals a day are eaten at a restaurant or convenience store near wherever the day's business takes me. The kitchen table is more of a convenient [...]
Foodservice: Branded vs. Unbranded BrandedKent Cummings, President, Cummings Oil Co. After looking at several foodservice options and trying our own proprietary concepts, we decided to partner with Hot Stuff Foods. We chose a national brand for a number of reasons,including: National brands have proven systems. When we implemented our Hot Stuff program we didn’t have [...]
Dozens of retailers made their way to the WPMA trade show in Las Vegas for three days of golf, grub and business. By Ross Markman, Retail Relations Editor Cruising the trade show floor at the Las Vegas Mirage Events Center on a recent February afternoon, Larry Clinkenbeard was on the prowl for a new food [...]
Decision Makers Kyle Krause, CEO of Kum & Go announces the promotion of Brian Thompson as chief acquisitions officer. Thompson will be responsible for developing the company’s Grow Business department, an area responsible for all convenience store acquisitions and alternative business developments.He has been with Kum & Go since 2003, and was previouslyits chief financial [...]
Sheetz increases efficiency 13% at its Pa. distribution center using stretch wrappers. Sheetz Inc. understands that speed and innovation are differentiators in the convenience industry. The family-owned Altoona, Pa.-based chain proved it by being one of the first retailers to integrate touchscreen ordering into its Made-to-Order (MTO) food offer. It followed that up by creating [...]
A growing profit center for c-stores, Iowa’s TouchPlay machines have triggered a statewide clash that might mean the program’s removal. The controversial TouchPlay machine, which has sparked a lottery vs. casino debate throughout Iowa, is smacking the convenience store owner where it hurts mostthe pocketbook. Consider Larry Bentler, president of Houghton, Iowa-based Jet Gas Corp., [...]
Irving Oil fights backIrving Oil Ltd. (Saint John, New Brunswick) said it "will vigorouslydefend" a class-action lawsuit alleging that the chain overcharged consumerson fuel taxes in 2004. The suit was filed in February by Option Consommateurs,a Canadian nonprofit group. "We have received the legal papers and we are inthe process of reviewing them," Irving Oil [...]
With credit card fees eating away at fuel margins, NACS is promoting an alternative. While in-store sales are flat, retailers’ biggest concern is profit margin erosion triggered by escalating credit-and debit-card processing fees. Beset by record-high gas prices over the past two quarters, convenience store and petroleum marketers are struggling to maintain profitability. In addition [...]
ACRC working overtime on legislative agenda, retailer recruitment. The federal government is poised to enact legislation substantially affecting over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals. Do you know what they are? If not, the American Council on Regulatory Compliance (ACRC) says your business is at risk of losing a potentially high margin, high profit category. ACRC, a Falls Church, [...]
McLane: K&G, Brewer Oil re-up K & G Stores (Lone Tree, CO) has extended its service agreement withMcLane Co. Inc. (www.mclaneco.com).Michael Hayes, K & G vice president of sales and operations, said his company'srelationship with McLane has helped grow the business with good merchandisingand solid overall service. K & G has been a marketing leader [...]
Kum & Go has promoted Dennis Folden, who has been with the chain since1976, to chief operating officer. Folden's previous position was executive vicepresident. In his 30 years with the company, Folden has held roles as storemanager, retail supervisor and vice president of marketing, among others. AsCOO, Folden will manage the day-to-day activities of the [...]