Every year, the tobacco category gets hit with some kind of twist that convenience store owners and operators must accommodate. Five years ago, it was the deeming rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that lumped electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and other tobacco products (OTPs) in with cigarettes. At the end of 2019,…
Understanding the Leadership Path
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership and good business decisions are necessary for success. The pandemic did many things to retail, the least of which was to require people in positions of power to make business-altering decisions that will have a long-term impact on the future of their companies. It’s times like these…
Get Prepared for the Possibility of Selling Cannabis
The eventual possibility of selling cannabis is highly appealing to many convenience store retailers. With typical declines in tobacco sales, more fuel-efficient and electric cars impacting fuel volume, and the pandemic impacting foot traffic, this opportunity cannot come fast enough. Currently, the sale of cannabis is fully legal in 17 states and Washington, D.C., and…
Sheetz Meeting the Charge for Talent Acquisition
Sheetz Inc. is a dynamic and growing family-owned and -operated restaurant and convenience chain. The Altoona, Pa.-based company operates 621 stores Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina and has more than 20,000 employees. The company is focused on continuing to deliver on its mission to provide total customer focus across all the…
Focus on Foodservice Reaps Big Rewards
Tried-and-true c-store foodservice staples like roller grill hot dogs, pizza slices and chicken tenders are an ideal base on which to build an extensive high-quality food offering. Clark’s Pump-N-Shop, which has 68 locations in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Florida, has long been a foodservice destination with its successful chicken and roller grill programs. As…
Contactless Payment Comes to the Forefront
The pandemic brought major changes to c-store retailers, especially when it came to the checkout experience. “The most notable payment change resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been a much more rapid deployment of contactless payments than was expect- ed prior to the pandemic,” said Perry Kramer, managing partner, Retail Consulting Partners. “Contactless payments include…
Vape Sees Gains Despite Restrictions
While no industry or category has been spared the effects of the pandemic, the tobacco category has faced a special set of challenges. For one, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA). “The PMTA process has complicated the vapor world to another level beyond COVID that cigarettes didn’t see, smokeless didn’t see,…
Sweet Returns
After a year of pandemic caution, customers are looking toward summer and taking steps to resume normal life as more shoppers receive the COVID-19 vaccine and venture out, offering new opportunities for the candy category to help sweeten post-pandemic life. The candy category’s gum and mint segment faced a challenging 2020 as customers wore masks…
NAG Leadership Series: Strong Post-Pandemic Delivery Trend Still Evolving
The National Advisory Group (NAG) and Young Executives Organization (YEO) Spring Leadership Series continued with its second virtual session on May 26, welcoming three guests who discussed the growing importance of food delivery, addressing the day’s topic: “The Impact of Delivery and Online Sales: How do we reach new food customers?” Moderator Frank Beard, CStore…
Eagle Stop’s Siron Talks Foodservice Strategy
Springfield, Mo.-based Gier Oil Co.’s Eagle Stop takes foodservice seriously, and its extensive menu is evidence of that. Depending on the size of the location, its 50-plus c-stores’ menus may feature breaded-chicken sandwiches, roller-grill sausages, freshly made sushi, teriyaki chicken and fried rice, freshly baked biscuits for biscuits and gravy, and quarter-pound 100% all angus-beef…