CSD‘s 2012 Category Management Outlook offers trends and analysis from more than 25 key in-store categories. By John Lofstock and Erin Rigik. Tough economic times and stiff competition across the supply chain are making it critical for convenience store operators to have a solid understanding of their customers, particularly their high-frequency, high-value shoppers. Armed with [...]
Study identifies five compelling new platforms that can drive convenience retail growth. Convenience retailers seeking a profitable path to the future now have five compelling growth platforms to explore, following recommendations offered in the final section of a new NACS /Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council (NACS / CCRRC) study posted on www.ccrrc.org. “C-Growth: Using Shopper Research [...]
Administration continues to push for graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration appealed the February 29, 2012 decision issued by Federal District Court Judge Richard Leon which held that the FDA’s new graphic images and text warnings for cigarette packaging and cigarette advertisements violate free speech protections under the First [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) U.S. retail regular grade gasoline average has now gained for four consecutive weeks through Jan. 9 to a $3.382 gallon two-month high, climbing 15.3 cents since Dec. 19. Of that total advance, 8.3cts of the gain took place during the week-ended [...]
Chuck Bosselman, chairman of The Bosselman Cos., has passed away. He was 67. Bosselman lost his battle with cancer on Saturday in Grand Island, Nebraska, surrounded by his family. A leader among leaders and visionary of the company, Bosselman was a second-generation business owner. His father, Fred, founded the first Bosselman’s location in 1948. In [...]
The U.S. retail price average for regular grade gasoline reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reached a five-week high at $3.299 gallon in beginning 2012, and is set to notch its third straight weekly increase amid higher wholesale costs. Several factors continue to drive gasoline prices higher despite ongoing weak demand, with preliminary EIA [...]
Although wholesale gasoline costs were mixed during the final week of 2011, retail gasoline prices are poised to move higher in early January, with futures prices spiking to a nearly two-month high during the first trading day of 2012. Reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending or RBOB futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange is [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN On Monday (12/12), the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported the fourth consecutive weekly decline in its regular grade gasoline average, which fell 1.6 cents from the prior week to $3.274 gallon. That’s a nearly 10-month low in the average, although its 10% higher than during the [...]
After tumbling to a nine-month low of $3.368 gallon on Nov. 21, the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) U.S. retail gasoline average is positioned to increase following higher wholesale costs during the final full week of November. Wholesale gasoline costs were under renewed pressure in front of Thanksgiving Day on weak demand and heightened concern over [...]
After popping higher by a little more than a penny during the week-ended Nov. 14, the U.S. average for gasoline sold across the country’s retail outlets should resume its downtrend. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases its weekly gasoline average late afternoon on Mondays, with the average last reported 1.2 cents higher at $3.436 gallon [...]
Total merchandise purchases by truckstops nationwide served by McLane Corp. increased 10% during the 2011 third quarter compared with a year earlier led largely by growth in automotive product and hot dispensed beverage sales, according to the McLane-NATSO Index. The index, designed to illustrate market trends within the truckstop and travel plaza industry by comparing [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) U.S. retail price average for all formulations of regular grade gasoline fell 6 cents as of Sept. 19, and will continue to move lower into October on declining wholesale gasoline costs. Through the week-ended Sept. 26, wholesale gasoline costs moved lower [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Most wholesale gasoline costs countrywide are moving lower as we march toward the end of the third quarter, with the current decline consistent with its historical pattern of falling prices as demand eases from the summer peak and production costs decrease with the transition to winter-grade [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor for Telvent DTN Still feeling the impact from last month’s Hurricane Irene, wholesale gasoline costs in most metropolitan markets across the United States moved higher Labor Day, the celebrated end to the summer driving season. Irene made a rare appearance by a hurricane in the Northeast, impacting the [...]
Beginning now through Sept. 30, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores employees will be putting their hearts into raising funds for 89 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by asking customers to purchase $1, $5 or $20 heart icons. Love’s raises additional funds by holding bake sales, pumping gas for tips, conducting in-store drawings and coordinating other [...]