The 7-Eleven store on the corner may not be a mammoth mass merchandise retailer, but it offers a surprising number of time- and cost-saving gift ideas that can help calm holiday anxiety brought on by a lack of time and money. “You may not be able to do all of your holiday shopping at a…
Mac’s C-stores Launch DVD Rental Kiosks
Mac’s Convenience Stores, Ontario’s largest convenience store operator, has partnered with a digital self-serve innovator to introduce DVD rental kiosks at select Mac’s stores in Canada. Signifi Solutions Inc. is a digital self-service company that offers digital entertainment solutions through cutting-edge technology. It manages a DVD placement initiative called Movie Spot DVD, which is a…
Greening Up The Holidays
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has launched its second annual holiday card recycling program as a way to encourage customers to use Fresh & Easy stores as a place to recycle used greeting cards. Proceeds from the sale of the recycled cards will go to American Forests, a nonprofit organization that helps plant trees in…
Going Once, Twice …
Exxon Mobil Corp. said this week that it’s starting the bidding process to sell the majority of its remaining company-owned gas stations on the East Cost, Dow Jones newswire reported. “Consistent with our 2008 June announcement, we began our initial bid process for the sale of the majority of our company-operated and dealer sites from…
Tobacco’s Trials and Tribulations
It’s been a busy week for tobacco on the East Coast, with major developments on tobacco regulations, rulings and ruminations in the states of Maine, New York and Massachusetts. Here’s the skinny in those states: Maine The U.S. Supreme Court his week decided 5-4 to let Maine’s “light cigarette” smokers sue tobacco companies for fraudulent…
Functional Frenzy?
International management consulting firm Scientia is predicting rapid growth for medicinal foods and nutraceuticals worldwide in the next few years. In a report available for free at Scientia’s Web site (www.scientiaadv.com), researchers estimate that the global functional foods category will hit $195 billion by 2012, a sizable increase from 2006 sales of $128 billion. Key…
Arizona Teacher Wins $1M In Mars Contest
Phoenix resident and teacher Michelle Willis was the grand-prize winner of Mars Snackfood’s Halloween Million Contest, the company said this week. M&M’S characters visited Willis and her family at home this week to deliver an oversized check for the $1 million winnings from the online contest. Belle, the family’s Chihuahua mix, also benefited from the…
MetroSplash Expands Board
Fuel-based loyalty solutions provider MetroSplash Systems Group Inc. has appointed Patrick Cummiskey to its board of directors. “We are extremely pleased to have Patrick join our board of directors,” said Steve Babick, president and CEO of MetroSplash. “His rich industry expertise in transaction processing and petroleum segments will provide invaluable guidance and direction in assisting…
Redbox Heads To 7-Eleven
Redbox is spreading into 7-Eleven stores nationwide as it continues its focus on the c-store market, according to online video industry publication VideoBusiness.com. Starting this month and continuing through next year, Redbox will be installing its DVD rental machines into 2,600 7-Eleven locations nationwide, boosting its presence beyond the regional c-store giants like Maverik, Thorntons…
Rutter’s Giving At Nearly $1.9M
Charitable donations by Rutter’s Farm Stores over the past six years has amounted to $1.875 million, including $475,000 in 2008, the company announced at an annual holiday banquet. While the banquet was held in honor of Rutter’s employees, the employees actually brought more than 250 toys to the event and donated them to two local…