CITGO outlines plans to replace supply. HOVENSA has announced the permanent closure of its refinery located in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, a joint venture between Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) and Hess Corp. CITGO has a supply off-take agreement with HOVENSA and has developed plans to replace this supply. These well-defined plans are designed [...]
Bertrand Sciard, president and CEO of Aldata since August 2007, will continue to act as a member of the Board of Directors. Aldata, a global supplier of retail and distribution optimization software, has appointed Roy Simrell as the company’s president and CEO. Simrell has 25 years of broad experience in retail technology, software development and [...]
Thorntons partners with the Red Cross to provide 100 bicycles and 3,500 care packages to soldiers and their families. On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Thorntons Inc. and the American Red Cross joined forces to show their appreciation for the awe-inspiring sacrifice of the soldiers of Fort Knox, Ky. As part of Thorntons Humanitarian Day event, 300 [...]
New marketplace identity positions Alon Brands for the next generation. Alon Brands, the Dallas-based supplier and marketer of fuels and the largest licensee of 7-Eleven in the U.S., is changing the company’s trade name and associated brand mark from FINA to ALON. In a process that will occur during the next 10 months, the company [...]
NACS Chairman Jeff Miller discusses card fees, fuel and the future of convenience stores. By John Lofstock, Editor. Jeff Miller, president of Miller Oil Co. in Virginia, wears many hats. He is an oilman, an industry advocate and a leader. For the past year, he has also been the chairman of NACS, which could [...]
Convenience store owners need to work more closely with suppliers and wholesalers to get better supply contracts and offer consumers more competitive prices. Pat Pape, Contributing Editor. Convenience store owners need to work more closely with suppliers and wholesalers to get better supply contracts and offer consumers more competitive prices. A plaque in Ray Johnson’s [...]
Handee Marts’ 30-year veteran to retire on June 30, 2012. Bruce Earhart, vice president of marketing for Handee Marts Inc. a domestic licensee of 7-Eleven, announced his retirement effective on June 30, 2012 to pursue other interests. At the time of his retirement Earhart will have served Handee Marts for 30 years with increasing levels [...]
The annual Independent C-Store Expo (I-C-Expo), hosted by Royal Buying Group Inc., is coming to Illinois this spring. This year’s expo will feature a trade show floor and meeting space, networking and educational seminars on various topics intended to help all convenience store operators. Speakers will include nationally recognized industry experts, supplier representatives, and a very [...]
C-store operators looking to grow their foodservice programs just may be overlooking, or at least underestimating, one of the best tools at their disposal: the humble roller grill. As in-store menus have expanded to include fresh foods and entrees, the time-honored roller grill has quietly continued to please customers and bolster bottom lines thanks to [...]
Getting products to stores more efficiently is now a major focus for all major retailers and distributors. Better distribution means lower costs and higher margins—both items high on c-store owners’ agendas these days—when customers are clutching their wallets more tightly than they have in years. “There are two ways to make money: increase prices or [...]
As the sales and marketing manager for Jaco Oil Co., which runs 53 Fastrip stores in California and Arizona, Fred Faulkner’s job is a busy one. Faulkner holds the responsibility of buying for all categories, selecting in-store equipment from deli cases to fountain machines, shaping the deals for purchases, creating the point-of-sale for promotions and [...]
TOP PERFORMERS Aquafina (PepsiCo) Dasani (Coca-Cola Co.) Nestle Waters (All Brands) HONORABLE MENTIONS Fiji Evian (GBE) Bottled water continues to grow at an unprecedented pace and the category’s popularity is attracting the attention of more than just retailers. The focus on bottled water by revenue-hungry legislatures and environmental special-interest groups will remain an ongoing story [...]
TOP PERFORMERS Deli Express (E. A. Sween Co.) Landshire Inc. Pierre Foods HONORABLE MENTIONS Jimmy Dean (Sara Lee Foodservice) Lettieri’s (Hot Stuff Foods) Proprietary foodservice programs get a lot of love and admiration for their relentless innovation and ingenuity, and even branded fast-food concepts tend to get their share of attention from convenience operators who [...]
TOP PERFORMERS Lipton (PepsiCo) Tropicana (PepsiCo) Minute Maid (Coca-Cola Co.) HONORABLE MENTIONS AriZona Beverage Co. SoBe (PepsiCo) While innovation is a valued component to every category, the juices and teas segment of packaged beverages seems to be particularly prone to new twists and creative concepts. Largely in response to consumers looking for more functionality and [...]