Aloha Petroleum Ltd., the Hawaii-based gas retailer and convenience store operator, has unveiled the first ‘ground-up’ version of a new prototype design for its convenience store-fuel sites that highlights the chain’s local roots. Designed by CBX, the strategic branding and retail design consultancy, the 3,000-square-foot store and adjoining gas islands with five pumps opened in [...]
Improved high-tech tax stamps with a new design will soon be available and affixed to packs of cigarettes sold in California. The Board of Equalization (BOE) has approved the use of the updated stamp to further reduce the trafficking of counterfeit cigarettes and related excise tax evasion in California. The BOE is responsible for the [...]
A large number of retailers have added Purple Stuff, a relaxation/focus soda into their 2011 store sets. The retailers joining the Purple Stuff family in January 2011 include: Mini-Mart Convenience stores operating 18 convenience store locations around Kerrville, Texas; Signature Austin Stores with 20 locations in and around Austin, Texas; EZ Go Foods out of [...]
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York declared null and void the New York City resolution mandating that retailers who sell cigarettes display signs containing graphic health warnings, according to Philip Morris USA. The court ruled that such requirements were preempted by federal law. “We are pleased that the Court [...]
Sunoco Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to acquire 25 retail locations from Lehigh Gas Corp., a Bethlehem, Penn.-based distributor of petroleum products. While the terms of the purchase were not disclosed, the retail assets are located in the Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and Rochester markets of central and northern New York. “The acquisition of these [...]
TravelCenters of America LLC (TA) is rolling out on-island Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) dispensers. TA expects to install about 50 on-island DEF dispensers at locations across the country in 2011. Installations will utilize new dispenser and point-of-sale (POS) systems that will make purchasing DEF quicker, more efficient and customer friendly. Sites will feature dedicated DEF [...]
A group of grocery and convenience store chains, including Kroger, Walgreens, Safeway and Albertsons have filed a lawsuit claiming many of the nation’s largest egg producers, egg processors and their trade groups have engaged in a decade-long price fixing conspiracy for eggs sold to stores and restaurants nationwide, the Hoosier AG Today reported. The grocery [...]
The Subway restaurant chain is growing at a fast pace. Subway’s franchisees, between Oct. 1 and Dec. 21, opened more than 500 new restaurants around the globe. Milestones for the period include reaching more than 33,700 locations worldwide, of which 9,900 can be found in international markets. The 500 new Subway restaurants accounted for some [...]
Pictured: John Bushaw, general manager of Fairburn Family Travel Center for the past eight years, and Donna Nichols an 18-year veteran Green Oil employee and champion fundraiser. Geo. H. Green Oil Co.’s annual Charity Fund Raising efforts were successful in raising some $24,000 for its three adopted charity partners – Greater Atlanta’s “Empty Stocking Fund,” [...]
The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate approved a bill that will overhaul the nation’s food safety laws for the first time since the Great Depression. President Obama has indicated that he plans to sign the bill into law. Debra Strauss, J.D., associate professor of business law at Fairfield University, explained that the legislation [...]
Swiss Farms, America’s Drive-Thru Grocer, opened its first franchise store on Dec. 17, with veteran Starbucks and Auntie Anne’s franchisee and a 2010 IFA Franchisee of the Year, John Betz. The store, which is located at 6 South White Horse Pike, Somerdale, N.J., is also Swiss Farms’ first expansion into New Jersey. “I am excited [...]
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) and Pennsylvania Convenience Store Council (PCSC) have partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) to create Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidance for wholesale distributors and retail food merchants that can be leveraged during times of emergency. This guidance establishes a foundation upon which Pennsylvania’s food distribution network and PDA, as [...]
The National Coffee Association (NCA) has launched an interactive Web site, www.nationalcoffeebreak.org, kicking off its National Coffee Break campaign. Headlining the campaign will be a National Coffee Break day on Jan. 20, 2011, when industry members are encouraged to host consumer promotions and events that inspire consumers to take a break from their day with [...]
Increased regulation could be ahead for cigars in 2011. In the Dec. 20, 2010 issue of the Federal Register, the Department of Health and Human Services published the agency’s semi-annual “Regulatory Agenda” which provides a forecast of rulemaking actions under development that the agency expects to undertake. The FDA is a part of the Department [...]
On Dec. 20, the FDA filed a petition requesting that the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia schedule a hearing and review the FDA’s appeal of the initial federal district court ruling on its ability to regulate e-cigarettes as a drug or medical device, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) [...]