Ten years ago this month I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and I brought along a copy of CStore Decisions magazine for some light reading at the summit. My cousin and I made the trip together up Africa’s tallest mountain, one of the Seven Summits (which is comprised of the highest mountain on each continent). We opted…
Assortment Drives Beverage Sales
Now that summer has arrived, consumers are gravitating toward the cold vault at their local c-store, and they’re reaching for the latest trends as they look to experiment with new flavors and varieties. Retailers are responding by increasing their beverage selection. Energy drinks and water are among the segments retailers have seen flying out of…
How to Achieve Consistent Menu Execution
C-stores looking to drive repeat business with their foodservice program should focus on consistent menu execution as their top priority. Consistency outweighs quality when it comes to foodservice. As much as the consumer wants the best quality at the best price, if they can’t get it that way every time, they are more inclined to…
Some 75% of Shoppers Fear Price Hikes Due to Rising Theft
Incidents of retail theft are increasingly making headlines, along with videos of thieves brazenly taking complete shelves of goods. Even more alarming, store associates who have attempted to detain suspected shoplifters have been harmed in the process. Many retailers in large cities have resorted to putting often-pilfered items in plexiglass cases, which creates significant friction…
Advancing Northdale Oil
Family-owned Northdale Oil is currently in acquisition mode, with a goal to acquire 10 more locations by year’s end to expand its current footprint of 25 convenience stores in North Dakota and Minnesota. Having recently acquired eight Brother’s Market stores and two liquor stores, the Grand Forks, N.D. based chain greets each new addition with…
How AI Can Help Build a Profitable C-Store Business
As artificial intelligence (AI) has become available for convenience retailers to implement in their businesses, it allows us to visualize our products as a team of machines, synchronized to drive profits through stores. In today’s market, convenience stores and other retailers are increasingly looking for ways to leverage technology for improved customer experience and cost…
Snacks Continue to Dominate in 2023
Snack sales are on the rise in 2023, and retailers hold a strong outlook for the category going forward as brands introduce continued innovation that keeps customers coming back for more. The salty, sweet and better-for-you snack segments are seeing strong dollar sales growth, partly driven by price increases in the category. For salty snacks,…
Foxtrot CEO Outlines Five-Year Vision
Foxtrot, which operates 29 locations throughout Texas, Illinois, Washington, Maryland and Virginia, is known for merging neighborhood retail and e-commerce technology while giving customers access to a café and convenience store in one location. However, as the new CEO of Foxtrot, Liz Williams plans to introduce the chain to new markets and expand its foodservice…
Five Ways AI is Transforming C-Store Retailing
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the convenience retail industry, providing new opportunities for retailers to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. Here are five key examples of how AI is transforming this sector: Inventory Management: With AI-powered inventory management systems, retailers can accurately track stock levels, predict demand and prevent out-of-stock situations. AI algorithms can…
3 Keys to Growing C-Store Foodservice
As the line between convenience retailers, restaurants and grocery blurs, c-stores have a unique opportunity to meet several demands — food, fuel, home products and even groceries — in one fell swoop. But to compete with quick-service restaurants (QSRs) on the food front, convenience stores will need to continue to strategically invest in and expand…