Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons will partner with the Louisville Urban League to open the company’s first nonprofit community store at the new Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center in the west end of Louisville, Ky., a project that’s intended to kick-start economic development and revitalization of this area. Thorntons will build this first-of-a-kind storefront into an…
Why DashMart Should Be on Every Convenience Store’s Radar
As you probably know, DoorDash is slated to IPO at a mammoth $32 billion valuation. While much attention has been given to the fact that they’re still unprofitable in what might be considered the best possible environment for a delivery aggregator — and by their own admission expect revenue to decline in the future —…
Love’s Makes Cameo in Hulu Hit ‘Happiest Season’
Oklahoma City-based Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, a family-owned and operated chain with more than 530 locations in 41 states, makes a surprise appearance in Hulu’s “Happiest Season,” a new holiday film that broke premiere records for the streaming service as the most-watched original film on Hulu in its opening weekend. Directed by Clea…
Vape’s Steady Rise
Despite COVID-19 disrupting the nation’s economy and looming tobacco category regulation at all levels of government, vape and e-cigarette sales continue an upward trend. Dollar sales of electronic smoking devices ticked up slightly at an annual rate of 1.4% for the 52 weeks ending Nov. 1, 2020, and unit sales were up a solid 10.8%…
Appreciating a Job Well Done
In this age of COVID-19, your employees are taking on an even greater role when it comes to serving your customers. The work the industry is doing has been nothing short of amazing in the midst of a global pandemic. Yet, a Gallup survey revealed that 65% of employees haven’t received recognition in the last…
CStore Decisions’ 2020 40 Under 40 C-Store Leaders to Watch
2020 has brought challenges to the c-store industry like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in spring, changing the way retailers approach their businesses and escalating digital disruption. Stores have scrambled to keep customers and employees safe with social distancing decals, masks and plexiglass shields. At the same time, they’re launching mobile apps, online ordering,…
Kum & Go Names Tanner Krause CEO, Effective January
Kum & Go Chairman and CEO Kyle Krause will transition out of his role as CEO of the company, effective Jan. 1. He will be succeeded by his son, Kum & Go President Tanner Krause. In 2004, Krause became owner, president and CEO of Kum & Go, growing it to more than 400 stores in…
Tech Trends Ahead for 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the rate of digital disruption. Many c-stores are finding opportunities in this changing landscape, ensuring that they are necessity stores in terms of their offering, and rolling out new services such as order ahead, delivery, pickup, contactless payment and more. I recently spoke with Daniel Burrus, global futurist, speaker and…
Arm Yourself With Forecourt Marketing Tools
Bringing the customers to the forecourt and then into the store is more important than ever, and location-based marketing offers retailers another avenue to make this happen. Geolocating, geotargeting and beacons enable retailers to reach customers, build loyalty and increase engagement by specifically targeting the audiences they want to reach. Patrick Raycroft of W. Capra…
From Convenience to Destination Retail
By Brandon Lawrence, Fuel Consultant, and Frank Beard, Director of Safe Shop, Special Projects The marketplace is running out of room for generic retailers. Convenience is being redefined, and retailers face challenges from many directions. Whether it’s goPuff, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), dollar stores, direct-to-consumer tactics or disintermediation from third-party delivery partners, it’s never been easier…