With retailers still unsure of what the future holds for fuels in the U.S., investing in new USTs is a risky proposition. By John Lofstock, Editor. It’s been nearly four years since then-President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act into law, requiring at least 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel be [...]
As convenience store operators vie for foodservice customers, they need to ensure they are conveying a safe, sanitary image throughout the store. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. When David Miller, president of Chandler Oil Chevron, remodeled his 3,000–square-foot convenience store in Chandler, Ariz. last year, he had design team C7 Works give extra attention to [...]
With operating costs soaring in a sluggish economy, convenience store owners have a variety of tax benefits available to them from the IRS. By Mark E. Battersby, Contributing Editor. Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service advised taxpayers to cool their heels and wait until mid- to late-February 2011 before filing their returns to allow [...]
As the deadline for PCI DSS 2.0 compliance approaches, chains should make sure they understand the changes— and triple check that they meet the requirements. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. On Jan. 1, 2012 all convenience store retailers must comply with PCI DSS 2.0 standards. While some chains have been ready for more than a [...]
Hot beverages anchor the industry’s foodservice offering, but the category is also a top in-store destination and among the most profitable. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Numbers don’t lie–and when it comes to consumers and coffee, they show a category poised for even greater growth in the months ahead.Coffee consumption among consumers aged 18-29 [...]
The Managed PCI System (MPS) Redbox is Reliant Security’s flagship security appliance, designed for merchants with multi-site retail environments, and provides broad, integrated and high-performance protection against data security threats, while simplifying and reducing the costs of PCI remediation. The MPS Redbox is an open architecture appliance designed to comprehensively address the PCI technical requirements; [...]
While commissary products are growing in popularity at c-stores, not all retailers are at the same level. Luckily, options abound in ways to integrate commissary products for all quartiles. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor Commissaries and a centralized distribution system are becoming more popular across all foodservice segments in both convenience stores and supermarkets as [...]
While private label products are improving, quality and value remain critical components for all snacking options. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor “Yes, but…” That’s the all-too-common answer to the question of whether or not price promotions can drive snack sales in convenience stores. Yes, in a lousy economy people look for and respond to savings. [...]
While there may have been some concerns about the growth of shots and full-size cans, analysts report the category has never been stronger. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. Brent Howard isn’t just a retailer of energy drinks and shots. He’s a user. Division manager for Sun Pacific Energy in Kennewick, Wash., Howard has seen the [...]
Shock Top Belgian White is now available for the first time in aluminum cans. The bright, eye-catching orange can, with corresponding orange pull tab, is being sold nationwide in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans. Shock Top continues to increase in popularity year after year with a 24% growth in 2010 alone. Shock Top Belgian White is [...]
Pure Brands LLC, a holding company that creates, acquires and markets proprietary consumer products, has launched an energy delivery system called Sheets Energy Strips, which is being marketed as “the new way to do energy.” The co-founders, NBA All-Star LeBron James and marketing experts Warren Struhl, Jesse Itzler and Maverick Carter, are tapping into the [...]
More and more operators are embracing bakery production and merchandising challenges to create fresh-baked opportunities. By Heather Henstock, Contributing Editor. With tobacco sales in decline and gasoline prices volatile, convenience stores are looking to other categories to draw more customers and improve profitability. Foodservice in its varied forms—from simply hot coffee and frozen beverages to [...]
Ice cream consumers now can combine their love for sweet chocolate, peanut butter and savory peanuts with the new DOVEBAR Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream with Milk Chocolate. The fusion of peanut butter with chocolate has long been a favorite, and with new DOVEBAR Peanut Butter Swirl with Milk Chocolate, consumers can “Crack into an [...]
As retail technology evolves, convenience store operators have the tools to turn sales figures into actionable information. By Pat Pape, Contributing Editor. Thanks to advanced technology, retailers can now collect data at the point of sale that tells them what is moving out of their stores, when it sells, who buys it and at what [...]
While managing new products and planograms is vital, retailers will need to keep an eye out for federal tax increases and FDA intervention over the next 12 months. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Smokeless tobacco has outperformed expectations for three straight years—which, while good, leaves many in the industry fearing it’s only a matter of [...]