JT International U.S.A. (JTI) has introduced its newest brand: WINGS. The product will be available to distributors June 21. A high-quality, American blend cigarette with a smooth flavor, WINGS is designed for today’s value-seeking adult smokers with its bold, premium packaging and attractive price. WINGS will be available in six top-selling box styles, including Red,…
Vitapak Hits C-stores
Convenience Valet has partnered with General Nutrition Corporation (GNC) to be the exclusive distributor of GNC Mega Vitapak Program in a convenient daily pack. Consumers are in search of nutritional and health products they know and trust, and this is what the GNC program delivers. With 94% brand awareness GNC’s mainstay has been their vitamin…
Squeezup Sorbet
Made with real fruit to retain all of the fiber and nutrients nature intended, Jolly Llama Real Whole Fruit Sorbet Squeezups are a convenient, great tasting frozen treat. The family-friendly Sorbet Squeezups are all-natural, gluten-free, dairy-free and fat-free, and are sweetened with natural pure cane sugar and fortified with vitamins A and C, as well…
Recycling Program Breeds Customer Loyalty
While stopping for gas one day, two waste management interns working for the city of Lexington, Ky., pondered how much garbage could be recycled from cars if locations, such as gas stations, made it more convenient to recycle. The interns, Elizabeth Rebmann and Natalie Cooke, pitched their idea for such a recycling program to Bruce…
PCI Compliance Requires a Full-Time Focus
The 12 Standards of PCI SSC Build and Maintain a Secure Network 1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect data. 2. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters. Protect Cardholder Data 3. Protect stored cardholder data. 4. Encrypt transmissions of cardholder data and sensitive information across open public…
Getting Back to Beer Basics
Beer continues to be an essential category for convenience stores and one that requires more than the usual amount of observation, knowledge, planning, execution and overall savvy. According to The Nielsen Co.:• Nearly 787 million cases of beer were sold in the c-store channel during 52-weeks ending March 6, 2010; down 1.5% from 799 million…
Finding Profits with Tobacco Accessories
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates, scheduled to go into effect on June 22, prohibit retailers from selling cigarettes and smokeless products in self-service displays except in age-restricted stores that ban customers younger than 18 years of age. While retailers in some states, such as New York and Idaho, have already had to comply with…
Maximizing Candy and Gum Sales
What’s Coming? Thinking about a planogram refresh in candy? The National Confectioners Association (NCA) in Washington, D.C. advised that the category is taking a turn toward the upscale. “There is a big gourmet boom. I think we’re also going to have a ‘chocolate-covered’ category made up of things you don’t normally see covered in chocolate,…
Raising the Bar on Snack Sales
Energy bars are most often associated with top athletes and endurance sports. But as consumers have found themselves pressed for time—and energy—the category has morphed into an array of tasty, low-cost products that provide a quick meal solution across multiple dayparts. More importantly, the category has evolved to include a multitude of variations from healthy…
Finding Financing in a Tight Market
Money is tight, but some convenience store operators are finding the means to finance remodels or even acquisitions. Generally speaking, the availability of money depends on the size of the operator, according to Mark Radosevich, president of PetroProperties & Finance LLC in Miami. “The guys who are moderate size to large generally have relationships with…