While pandemic-mired treat lovers bought big and confectioners thought big, self-reward and innovation are keeping chocolate top of mind as treat lovers search for the old normal moving into 2021. Overall, chocolate candy held firm during pandemic-plagued 2020 with relatively flat growth of 1.6%, per IRI. While snack-size and novelty chocolate saw large dollar sales…
MAPCO Moves Into Birmingham
MAPCO, with nearly 340 stores throughout the Southeastern region of the U.S., has opened its first store in the growing Birmingham, Ala., market. The c-store chain, which just last month announced it would provide paid time off for its team members to get COVID-19 vaccines, is adding 14 full-time employees to operate the site. According…
Sheetz Hiring Spree Continues
Altoona-based Sheetz Inc., which operates 620 stores throughout the mid-Atlantic, announced plans to hire up to 2,800 employees companywide as part of its March 31 hiring day event. This announcement comes on the heels of last month’s initiative to invest $28.5 million in employee wage increases, for the majority of its nearly 20,000 employees chain-wide.…
High’s Awarded Safe Shop Assured Certification at All Locations
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated many retail trends — including expectations of cleanliness and safety. Not only is it essential for retailers to implement the right policies and procedures, but they must communicate effectively so consumers understand that their concerns are taken seriously. High’s has officially been awarded Safe Shop Assured certification at each of…
VERC Enterprises Sells Off Convenience Store Group
VERC Enterprises, the family-owned Duxbury, Mass.-based convenience store chain, announced the sale of its 32 convenience stores to multiple buyers in the industry. Leo Vercollone, CEO of VERC Enterprises, said that the buyers of the VERC sites include Energy North Group, Global LLP, and one unspecified buyer. Not included in the sale are two Briteway…
Rutter’s Continues Annual ‘Vote With Your Dollars’ Program
Rutter’s Children’s Charities will continue its annual Vote with Your Dollars charitable program in 2021. The voting begins April 1 and runs through Oct. 31. This year, 13 Central Pennsylvania charities will be participating in the competition. A total of $70,000 will be given out this year, with the top two places receiving their requested…
Running Out of Time?
It seems that with every passing year, time management becomes harder and harder to get your arms around. With new ways to communicate seemingly appearing daily, the onslaught of message and calendar management seems daunting. How did it get this way so fast, and will it ever slow down? Nope. So, you better try and…
Soft Drinks See Gains
Comfort and familiarity drove carbonated soft drinks to growth in 2020, but evolution in both options and ingredients could drive sales in 2021. “One positive business impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was the changing of shopper habits that led to customers using us more as a one-stop shop than in the past,” said Jared Scheeler,…
Vape Sales Push Past Obstacles
Despite a challenging 2020, vape sales have persevered. Electronic smoking devices ended the year with dollar sales in convenience stores up by nearly 5%, thanks to a bump of more than 14% in unit sales per IRI data for calendar year ending Dec. 27, 2020. At the start of 2020, convenience stores began realizing the…
Cigarettes Burn Brighter
For most convenience store categories, flat year-over-year sales figures would not be considered good news. For cigarettes, however, it signals a reprieve from several years of declining sales. Although IRI market research suggests the top tobacco segment lost a bit of footing in unit sales for the calendar year ending Dec. 27, 2020 — down…