Donna Sitka knows her way around convenience store foodservice. She is the foodservice manager for the 13 Tiger Tote Food Stores that have foodservice. Until recently that foodservice consisted of a successful fried chicken operation branded Mama’s Kitchen Fried Chicken and a failed Mexican food venture. The Gonzales, Texas chain of 23 stores, operated by…
Versatility Drives Pizza’s Popularity
Pizza Trends There are approximately 62,000 pizzerias in the U.S. according to research firm Packaged Facts, with thousands of additional convenience stores and restaurants serving up fresh pizzas every day. And with good reason. Approximately 94% of the U.S. population eats pizza. More than three billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year,…
Shell Leaps into Loyalty
At a Glance: Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program In an effort to bring value to its fuel customers and branded marketers, Shell Oil Products U.S., in July, launched its Grocery Rewards program with several of the nation’s largest supermarket brands in markets across the country. Customers earn one fuel point for every dollar spent at…
Cutting Down on Cooler Costs
Energy reduction remains an ongoing quest for convenience store operators as they look for ways to cut costs in an effort to improve their bottom lines. Building stores to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and seeking LEED certification is something more chains are pursuing, including Kum & Go, Kwik Trip and Quick…
Rebuilding the BP Brand
With the Gulf Oil spill behind it, a new CEO at the helm and the clean up effort underway, BP now must turn its attention to making good on its recovery promises and helping BP branded stations win back customers who may not quickly forget the devastation in the Gulf. Since the spill began, and…
Superior Surveillance Helps Bolster the Bottom Line
In today’s difficult economy, most convenience store owners are turning their focus to profit driving initiatives to give business a boost. When dollars are tight, allotting extra funds to upgrade security equipment might seem a lower priority or even a frivolous expense, but experts note investing in security and surveillance measures can be a retailer’s…
Working Americans Report Economic Perceptions
Working Americans report having mixed feelings when it comes to job security, the economy and worker happiness. Short-term job security is improving, but at the same time, more workers fear losing their job some day in the future. More Americans think the economy is on the upswing. But this is still a minority opinion contrasted…
White Castle
White Castle has had the same packaging design for nearly 10 years. “We are trying to align ourselves closer to our restaurants and we’re promoting our association with our restaurants on the back of our new packages”, said Kelly Collins, Marketing Supervisor for White Castle Food Products. The new design includes a picture of a…
Hands free water and ice dispenser
Hoshizaki America Inc. offers the new hands-free water and ice dispenser, models DT-400-AR and DT-400BAH-OS. The former features a drop-in replacement refrigeration circuit, ease of serviceability for maintaining ice making/dispensing operation and simple disconnects for removal and installation. DT-400BAH-OS features a self-contained space saving design (21w x 22.5d x72.5h with 6-inch legs) and front in…
Dealing with Adversity
BP’s Gulf of Mexico response has included more than $4 billion spent to date, including more than 153,650 payments totaling $395 million (as of presstime) in claims to Gulf residents and businesses affected by the oil spill. Other payments included: • $20 billion claims escrow fund • $100 million unemployed rig workers’ fund • $500…