Gasoline prices continue to plunge with regular grade having now broken below $2 per gallon in numerous metropolitan regions across the U.S., offering a tax break that is certainly welcome news amid the current bleak economic outlook. The primary reason for the freefall from all-time record highs set during the summer is tumbling crude oil…
Store Brands Bring Big Bucks
Looking for ways to boost your grocery sales? Sales figures show that in today’s scary economy, shoppers are pinching pennies wherever they can—and one way that’s becoming increasingly popular is buying generic or so-called "house" brands. Gone are the days when generic brands looked, well, generic. Today’s generic brands are more attractively packaged, and the…
Grocery Aisles Growing Sales
According to Nielsen’s Gas Monitor Report, when gas prices rose, consumers reacted by limiting the amount of fuel they bought during each visit to the pump. But this trend encouraged more trips to the fuel island. Additionally, higher fuel prices encouraged consumers to shop more at c-stores rather than travel to additional destinations. The economy…
Partnering for Perfection
Choosing a branded pizza partner means balancing a complex equation that weighs such factors as product quality, financial and logistical considerations, marketing programs, employee training, ongoing support, brand equity and local competition. Suddenly, a cheese pizza isn’t so simple any more. It’s a complex decision that must be made carefully, said Dan Rotherham, director of…
By the Numbers
» 5 Anniversary years the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards (PCATS) is celebrating next month at the annual conference in Orlando. » 17 Sites Smoker Friendly has added to its retail network, including 16 Discount Tobacco Outlets in Alabama and Wallace Oil’s Quickees in La Junta, Colo. » 18 Ohio customers who will win…
Foodservice Flexibility
New items that c-stores carry personify the industry’s mission more fully than sandwiches and wraps: convenient, colorful, fast, tasty, inexpensive and full of impulse-sale potential. But the fact that consumers can also find them everywhere—from Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble to Starbucks and every local grocery and convenience store in between—means operators have to get…
7-Eleven Leaps into Gaming
Take it from 7-Eleven: Today’s average gamer is not a teenage—he’s in his early 30s and most likely a male. That’s good news for the Dallas-based retailer, whose customer base skews heavily toward males between the ages of 18 and 34. The c-store chain said it’s taking the plunge into video game sales after dabbling…
Super-Convenience, Kentucky-Style
While Wal-Mart and Tesco are embroiled in a battle royale over the super-convenience concept on the West Coast, Kentucky-based Houchens Industries has quietly been having its druthers in the college town of Bowling Green, Ky. "This was part of senior management at Houchens coming up with the next generation of grocery-and-convenience store of the future,"…
Operations Wake-Up Call
Tougher economic times are pushing convenience retailers to look at how they can improve operations. While cutting costs may be one common theme, savvy retailers are also looking at other avenues to help them stand out among the competition. "The economy changed and that changes how people are buying," said Brooks Blair, owner of Bells…
Feel the Power
Convenience Store Decisions is proud this month to present our Power 25 issue. The Power 25 recognizes industry pioneers, association executives and manufacturers that shape the way the convenience store industry operates. These prominent leaders were selected for the lasting contributions they have made to the convenience channel and the impact their influence has on…