Chains Worth Watching

Chains Worth Watching

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 [...]

Survey Shows Men Are Biggest Mobile Shoppers

Survey Shows Men Are Biggest Mobile Shoppers

Men most frequently shop on mobile while at the office, while 12% of women use mobile to shop while in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. In the mobile and digital age, men have surpassed women shoppers with 45% of men having made a mobile purchase vs. 34% of women, according to a new [...]

Bursting With Energy

Bursting With Energy

The energy shots and drinks market has been on an upward growth trajectory since 2010 and with the improvement in the economy is expected to continue on this growth. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor Americans need all the energy they can get their hands on, which goes a long way to explaining the enduring success [...]

Retail Study Finds Store Brands Thrive In U.S. Market

Retail Study Finds Store Brands Thrive In U.S. Market

Store-brands still prove to be highly popular with U.S. consumers when compared with brand-name products. A study released by Accenture finds that two-thirds of U.S. shoppers surveyed admitted that their grocery carts were half full of store-brand products. Some admitted to Accenture that they even increased their purchase of store-brand products in recent years as [...]

Seattle Bans Plastic Bags

Seattle Bans Plastic Bags

More U.S. cities go green and ban the use of plastic bags in retail outlets. The ban on plastic bags continues as Seattle bans single-use plastic shopping bags at all businesses in the city, according to an Examiner report. The ban went into effect on Sunday, as was approved by the Seattle City Council in December. [...]

Study Shows Traditional Grocery Changing

Study Shows Traditional Grocery Changing

A Jefferies-AlixPartners study shows food-at-home spending to jump by $50 billion a year for Millennials  and decrease by up to $15 billion annually for Baby Boomers by 2020. Jefferies, a global investment bank, and AlixPartners, a global business advisory firm, have announced the findings of their new joint study, Trouble in Aisle 5, which finds [...]

Lou Maiellano Joins CSD’s Tobacco Webcast

Lou Maiellano Joins CSD’s Tobacco Webcast

Management Science Associates (MSA) and Paradigm Sample, in partnership with Convenience Store Decisions, are teaming up to offer a free Webcast tomorrow that will examine the purchasing habits of adult tobacco consumers at U.S. convenience stores. The tobacco industry continues to face challenges on multiple fronts, namely ongoing legislative initiatives and the ever-present high rate [...]

Understanding Today’s Tobacco Customers

Understanding Today’s Tobacco Customers

MSA and Paradigm Sample, in partnership with Convenience Store Decisions, examine the purchasing habits of adult tobacco consumers at U.S. convenience stores. By Trish Temmerman, Management Science Associates, and John Lofstock, Editor. The tobacco industry continues to face challenges on multiple fronts, namely ongoing legislative initiatives and the ever-present high rate of taxation. These persistent [...]

LA Bans Plastic Bags In Retail Outlets

LA Bans Plastic Bags In Retail Outlets

Los Angeles plans to get rid of all plastic bags in the city to promote sustainability in its grocery, convenience and retail stores. The Los Angeles City Council approved a sweeping ban on the distribution of single-use, plastic shopping bags at grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies within the city. This decision came from a [...]

Campbell Releases CSR Report

Campbell Releases CSR Report

“As we work to build a more innovative, balanced and responsive Campbell, I believe we also have the opportunity to become one of the most socially responsible consumer goods companies in the world,” says Campbell’s CEO. Campbell Soup Co. has released its 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, Nourishing, emphasizing the company’s integrated CSR approach [...]

RaceTrac Kicks Off SodaPalooza

RaceTrac Kicks Off SodaPalooza

Social media promotion gives customers a chance to win free fountain drinks for a year. RaceTrac is kicking off SodaPalooza 365, which gives social media savvy customers a chance to win free fountain drinks for a year at RaceTrac. The promotion runs May 21-Aug 31, and the contest will see two weekly winners. Customers have [...]

Online and Mobile Buying Trend Upward

Online and Mobile Buying Trend Upward

Sales from mobile devices reached 13.3% in Q1 2012, up from the 7% in Q1 2011. The U.S. retail industry saw continued growth in online and mobile buying trends in the first-quarter, driven by today’s rising digital consumer marketplace. According to the IBM retail online economic indicator, a cloud-based analytics report that examines the state [...]

Hispanics, Singles, Matures and Millennials Reshape Retail Market

Hispanics, Singles, Matures and Millennials Reshape Retail Market

International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association report shows demographics are changing, impacting the way retailers market. A new cultural mix is shaping the retail food market, according to the “What’s In Store 2012” report from the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA). The burgeoning U.S. Hispanic population, in addition to single-person households, are steadfast forces in the grocery aisle. Active [...]

C-Store Industry To Reach $856.5 Billion By 2014

C-Store Industry To Reach $856.5 Billion By 2014

New report shows c-stores have greatly benefited from the growth of the overall retail industry. Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “US Convenience Stores Forecast to 2014″ report to its offering. The U.S. convenience stores industry, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing sectors, presents lucrative investment opportunities for new players. [...]

Pizza Occasions Grow With Key Sales Drivers

Pizza Occasions Grow With Key Sales Drivers

Innovation, convenience and versatility can boost your pizza sales in 2012. A new report by Technomic shows pizza consumption continues to rise. More than four in 10 (41%) consumers polled say they’re now eating pizza once a week, compared to 26% just two years ago. Pizza consumption has increased over the past two years as [...]