Deemed essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, c-stores are working to ensure they have the best team to take on this crisis while keeping employees and customers safe. Some are hiring new personnel, others are adding paid sick leave, and others still have increased hourly wages for employees, to name a few. After an initial…
Safe and Sanitary: Is Trust on Your Menu?
Over the course of the continuing new coronavirus crisis, foodservice business analyst Datassential has been steadily studying and surveying changing consumer attitudes toward food prepared outside of the home. Below is a summary of the company’s fourth installment – “COVID-19 Report 4: Hands Off” – along with a link to the full report online along…
Friendly Express Debuts Loyalty and Debit Program
Georgia-based Friendly Express partnered with ZipLine to develop Express Rewards, a new loyalty program integrated with private label debit. Customers of the 34-store chain will receive incentives such as fuel discounts, ‘surprise & delight’ offers and clubs through Express Rewards and Express Debit. Friendly Express is also partnering with ZipLine’s Consumer Engagement team for brand strategy…
Kum & Go Looks to its Values During COVID-19
One byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic is the opportunity for companies and their leadership to demonstrate their values in a time of crisis. Among the c-stores that have stepped up is Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go, which operates 400 stores in 11 states. Last week, Kum & Go Chairman and CEO Kyle Krause outlined measures…
Chocolate Innovation Continues
Chocolate dollar sales totaled $2.93 billion, up 1.2% for the 52 weeks ending Dec. 29, 2019, according to U.S. convenience store all scan data from IRI, a Chicago-based research firm. Unit sales totaled 1.7 billion, down 3.1%. Novelty chocolate candy saw a 3.9% boost in dollar sales and a 15.6% climb in unit sales for…
Fresh Del Monte Produce Assures Total Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Amid COVID-19
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. announced that it will continue to deliver an uninterrupted supply of fresh fruits and vegetables — safe, ready and available from farms to stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are proud of the role we are playing to keep the world fed, and the 43,000 members of the global Fresh…
New Taste Experiences Attract Roller Grill Customers
2019 sales data collected by information and data firm Nielsen showed 871.8 million pounds of hot dogs were sold at U.S. retail stores, representing over $2.3 billion in sales. Nearly 1.1 billion pounds of dinner sausages accounted for sales exceeding $3.9 billion, and breakfast sausages, more than 316.7 million pounds with sales of $1.21 billion.…
Pilot Company Thanks Employees for Their Dedication During COVID-19
Pilot Company has issued a ‘thank you’ letter to its employees, outlining new benefits during COVID-19. “Our more than 28,000 team members are doing everything possible to keep drivers safe and healthy, while also ensuring they have access to the fuel, food and services they need to keep going through this difficult COVID-19 situation,” the…
Crisis Dining Data Could Favor C-Stores
As the COVID-19 health emergency has Americans sheltering at home, going out to shop for essentials like groceries and household staples, c-stores may be in a better position to weather the coronavirus storm. Amid all the chaos, restaurants are getting creative and finding new ways to keep their businesses afloat. With food front and center…
Rutter’s Launches New Rewards App
York, Pa.-based Rutter’s launched a brand-new custom mobile app, in partnership with Paytronix, designed to give customers more personalization, such as connecting to their Facebook profile picture, unique VIP offers and the ability to go completely card-less. Over 10 years ago, Rutter’s was the first convenience store chain to launch a mobile app when they…