TravelCenters of America (TA) announced that it has signed a franchise agreement to bring another travel center to Texas. A new TA Express will be built in Pleasanton, Texas, on I-37 between San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Planned amenities include: Gasoline with 20 fueling positions Truck diesel with seven fueling positions Approximately 100 truck parking…
NAG Spring Leadership Series Brings Insights for Today’s Evolving Landscape
The National Advisory Group (NAG) Spring Leadership Series concluded its five-week run on June 16, after informative virtual sessions that discussed topics ranging from consumer trends to technology to fuel disruption. Moderated by NAG Executive Director and CStore Decisions Editor-in-Chief John Lofstock, the series dissected some of the most pressing issues facing convenience store retailers…
New Study Explores Post-pandemic Food Lifestyle Choices
New consumer research by Culinary Visions, a food-focused insights and trends forecasting practice that studies a wide range of culinary topics important to consumers and food industry professionals, points to the importance of sharing food experiences with friends and family as a new normal emerges for U.S. consumers. The surge in demand for food experiences…
Wawa Honors Philly’s The Veterans Group With Hero Award
After receiving nearly 14,000 votes, convenience store Wawa and the Wawa Foundation presented its 2021 Hero Award to the The Veterans Group during July Fourth festivities in Philadelphia. The Veterans Group also receives a $50,000 grant to continue its important programming to Pennsylvania veterans. The awards ceremony took place during the annual Independence Day Wawa…
Sweet, Salty or Healthy: The Snack Aisle Is Busy
Snack sales are soaring once again. Salty snack dollar sales for the past year grew 7.2%, according to Nielsen data for the 52 weeks ending May 29, 2021, and sweet snacks dollar sales saw a 4.8% bump for the same period. Those bigger numbers may balloon even more, judging from what retailers are seeing. “For…
Buc-ee’s Moving into Mississippi
Buc-ee’s continues to expand into new states with plans to invest $50 million into its first-ever Mississippi store. The 80,000 square foot business will be part of the development of 185-acres of undeveloped land in Harris County, according to WLOX News in Biloxi, Miss. The outpost continues Buc-ee’s multi-state expansion across the South, joining two…
GPM Refreshing Fountain Offering in 260 Stores
Multi-state convenience store chain GPM Investments is refreshing its fountain assortment in 260 stores across its more than 3,000 locations. As part of the initiative, GPM will also update all decals across fountain valves and run diagnostics on existing fountain systems. Using the latest IRI data, GPM will implement three new regional planograms, each reflecting…
Summer Flavors Heat Up Cold Vault Sales
Summer has arrived, and with it fruity and tropical beverage flavors to help customers celebrate the return to life as usual after a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. De Lone Wilson, president of Cubby’s convenience stores with 37 locations in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota, knows what varieties of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages his customers are…
Study: Pandemic Has More Coffee Brewing
The pandemic has driven more home brewing and coffee consumption, as well as greater regard for coffee quality in taste and freshness, according to a study by Hamburg, Germany-based coffeehouse operator and retailer Tchibo. The “Coffee Consumption Survey” examined consumers’ habits, the impacts of COVID-19 and preferences related to coffee consumption. Tchibo’s survey was conducted…
New Merch Joins White Castle 100th Birthday Celebration
In honor of its 100th birthday this year, White Castle is ramping up its brand visibility with fun new merchandise made in partnership with other well-known and popular brands. It’s White Castle’s boldest step yet into co-branded activations that really dive into its history and culture. White Castle, a fast-food and retail pioneer, has long…