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 [...]
With an aggressive expansion and remodeling plan underway, Casey’s General Stores is in firm control of its future and sits atop the list of Chains to Watch in 2013. By: Erin Rigik, associate editor. Casey’s General Stores has come a long way in two years. The convenience store chain is branching into new territory, pushing [...]
Being a family-owned company makes it easier to act in an environmentally responsible manner, says manager of sustainability for Kum & Go. Kum & Go LLC was recently recognized by Metro Waste Authority as the large business winner of its annual Environmental Impact Awards, Business Record Online reported. The c-store chain is among an increasing [...]
I.C. Pit Stop, a c-store in eastern Iowa, makes profits buying gold from local consumers. The I.C. Pit Stop has bought gold for just over a year now, and so far, the business has been a success. Mark Paterno, owner of the c-store, said he gets a customer willing to sell gold products almost every [...]
Love’s to open a “state-of-the-art” travel stop in Davenport, making it the third Love’s store in Iowa, says Greg Love. Loves is building a new convenience store and fast food restaurant in the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center in northwest Davenport. Love’s Travel Stops will build the new facility in the industrial park on Northwest Boulevard, [...]
Construction is set to start on first Tennessee store in Dyersburg this June. Casey’s General Stores Inc. has completed its final due diligence and will break ground on its first site in Tennessee in June. This store will be located in Dyersburg, Tenn. and will mark the 13th state in Casey’s area of operations. “We [...]
New products and core beverages will always drive cold vault sales. So when is the right time—and how often does that right time come—for category managers to reset them? “We do cold vault resets twice a year, which means we’re making fairly minor adjustments all the time,” said Richard Ginther, category manager for Kum & [...]
Amid fears of increased crime and drunkenness, city officials look to convince QuikTrip to withdraw its request to sell hard alcohol. City leaders in Des Moines, Iowa are scheduled to meet with QuikTrip Wednesday to request that the c-store chain refrains from selling hard alcohol at its Ingersoll Avenue store, for which QuikTrip has submitted [...]
Franchise opportunities with Dunkin’ Donuts are still available in Ottumwa, Iowa. Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee, Savoureux Corp., for 12 new restaurants in North Omaha, Neb. and Sioux City, Iowa, with the first restaurant planned to open in 2013. Savoureux Corp. is led by NFL greats and former [...]
Several c-stores planned for the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Midwest convenience store chain Kum & Go, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, is moving ahead with plans to enter the Pikes Peak region, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported. On Tuesday, Dec. 27, Kum & Go purchased two sites from Nor’wood Development Group for a [...]
Sioux Center, Iowa team to be led by renewables pioneer, Bernie Punt. Mansfield Renewable Energy has opened a new renewable energy operations office in Sioux Center, Iowa. Sioux Center native and distillers grains pioneer Bernie Punt has been tapped to lead the Sioux Center team as Field Services Manager. This renewable energy location places Mansfield [...]
QC Mart comes under fire after the chain’s owner launched a contest asking employees to guess which employee would be fired next. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. In October, the Iowa Des Moines Register reported on the curious plight of William Ernst, the owner of QC Mart in Bettendorf, Iowa. Faced with employees who were [...]
Joe Ivy appointed vice president of manufacturing and operations. Ryko Solutions Inc., North America’s largest manufacturer of car wash equipment and a major provider of service support and chemicals to the industry, has added Joe Ivy as vice president of manufacturing and operations at the company’s 250,000 square foot facility located in Grimes, Iowa. Ivy [...]
New Kum & Go stores are set to feature a more fresh food choices and a green design. Kum & Go is planning 8-10 new convenience stores in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion, Iowa, over the next several years, KCRG TV reported. All locations are scheduled to feature environmentally-friendly designs. Construction is underway on the [...]
Kum & Go announced the grand opening of two stores this weekend, one in Mt. Vernon, Mo., and one in Sioux City, Iowa. The new Vernon, Mo., Kum & Go is located at 8900 E Mt. Vernon Blvd, and the Sioux City, Iowa location opened at 1373 Pierce St. Both stores kicked off their grand [...]