7-Eleven has opened another Evolution Store — Based in Prosper, Texas — featuring tacos on handmade tortillas, frozen margaritas on tap, a stocked Wine Cellar and Beer Cooler, fresh-baked croissants and cookies, customized espresso drinks, artisan craft sodas, premium cigars in a cedar-lined humidor and more. 7-Eleven and Laredo Taco Co., the convenience retailer’s taqueria,…
Cash Management Remains Key
Around-the-clock business like the convenience store and petroleum industry drives many conversations about site security, but such efforts today go far beyond locking things down and being preventative. The reality remains that there’s a crucial need for loss prevention activities and systems. According to the 32nd Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes…
Pandemic Boosts Beer & Wine Sales
Beer and wine sales climbed at convenience stores during the pandemic, as customers turned to their local retailers for purchases as lockdowns and social distancing drew customers away from bars and restaurants. In 2021, that sales momentum is expected to continue. “We haven’t had a flat year to date and don’t expect to start in…
ACE Opens Registration for 34th Annual Conference
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has opened registration for its 34th annual conference taking place from Aug.18-20 at the Renaissance Depot Hotel in Minneapolis. This year’s “Accelerate” conference theme and programming focus on the latest growth strategies and market opportunities shaping the future of the ethanol industry. “With high hopes of gathering safely, in person,…
How HJB Convenience’s Russell’s C-Stores Stayed Open With Sales Down 80%
HJB Convenience Corp. President Raymond Huff, in partnership with StrasGlobal’s new resource for independent convenience store operators, Resources for Retailers, shared an independent retailer’s story of persistence and the course of action he took to stay in business with the Payroll Protection Programs (PPP1, PPP2) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funding. Colorado-based HJB Convenience Corp.,…
Meaty Sales Expected for Roller Grill
In the midst of the pandemic, some retailers paused roller grill sales, while others brought the segment behind the counter to meet COVID-19 safety requirements, while continuing to serve guests. Roller grill remains an integral and consistent part of the expansive foodservice segment at Rutter’s convenience stores, which has 78 locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and…
GPM Adds Fried Chicken Sandwich to Value Menu
GPM Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of ARKO Corp., is adding a fried chicken filet sandwich to its existing value menu at 150 stores. The value menu initially launched last summer to offer customers convenient, affordable and quality foods during difficult economic times. It began with just one menu item — two for $1 hot…
POS & Back Office Evolve
When it comes to point-of-sale (POS) and back-office technology, a number of emerging trends are expected to pick up steam in 2021. Hybrid POS systems and hardware-agnostic POS software are two areas for convenience stores to watch in the year ahead, noted Patrick Raycroft, the Convenience and Energy vertical lead at W. Capra Consulting Group.…
Meeting Customer — and Societal — Demand for Cleaner Fuels
One of the trends in the convenience store industry for 2021 is giving customers options for alternative fuels, as CStore Decisions recently reported. A major reason for this is the fast-growing sustainability movement. The general public, businesses, elected officials — all are pushing for action that helps the environment. C-stores can both meet that customer…
Buc-ee’s Enters Kentucky Market
Texas-based Buc-ee’s will break ground on its new travel center in Richmond, Ky., on April 13. Located at the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and Duncannon Lane, Buc-ee’s Richmond marks the first Buc-ee’s travel center in Kentucky. The outpost continues Buc-ee’s multi-state expansion across the South, joining two recently opened locations in Florida, as well…