While the COVID-19 pandemic has increased cigar demand by homebound consumers, production across Central America and the Caribbean has withered due to health concerns and government-mandated lockdowns. Those things add up to supply chain shortages. That has retailers like Brent Mouton, president of the 11-store Hit-n-Run chain in Louisiana, working to keep product on his…
Flipping Over Family Partnerships
Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) are a common estate planning strategy. However, with the threat of estate taxes minimized in this age of pandemic-impacted c-store businesses, today a FLP’s principal benefit might be income tax bills reduced by spreading income among family members. Although controversial, FLPs create a mechanism by which one generation can transfer wealth…
Foundations of Innovation
As consumer demand for touchless and frictionless experiences has risen rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, convenience retailers — on the average — are encountering greater challenges in meeting these needs than retailers in other verticals. These outsized challenges facing c-stores are in large part due to technology debt that the convenience vertical still bears and…
Why Do I Have to Praise Someone for Doing Their Job?
Do you ever feel like there is way too much appreciation going on in your workplace? If you said no, you’re not alone. Your team would probably say the same thing. A recent Gallup survey revealed 65% of employees haven’t received recognition in the last year. This directly correlates to the studies that consistently report…
New Safe Shop Program Offers Consumers Certified-Safe Retail
With the COVID-19 pandemic forever changing the way consumers shop, a new third-party certification program aims to help retailers offer a safe space and customers to shop with confidence. In all retail environments, consumers and employees have developed new and lasting expectations regarding safety. The newly formed Safe Shop Assured certification program provides retailers…
BAT Strengthens Portfolio With Acquisition of Dryft Modern Oral
British American Tobacco (BAT) announced that it has acquired the nicotine pouch product assets of Dryft Sciences LLC (Dryft), a U.S.-based Modern Oral nicotine product company. BAT will rebrand Dryft’s U.S. portfolio under its global Modern Oral brand, VELO, and expects to accelerate growth through superior distribution, marketing and channel capabilities. “We’re proud of the…
Preparing for Post-Pandemic Headwinds
By Brandon Lawrence, Fuel Consultant, and Frank Beard, CStore Decisions’ Director of Special Projects Discussions of disruption often create a perception of all or nothing. This is of course a false dichotomy as reality is more nuanced. In the near future, the real question facing retailers is ‘Can your business survive if revenue drops by…
Adapting the Menu Amid Changing Customer Demands
Customer food preferences have changed during COVID-19, with more customers looking for takeout and delivery options. Savvy c-store retailers like Kwik Chek are listening to their customers and transforming their food offerings to fit the needs of today. CStore Decisions recently caught up with Benjamin Hoffmeyer, vice president of marketing and food service for Spicewood,…
Q&A With Heather Schott, Kum & Go’s New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Kum & Go parent company Krause Group recently appointed Heather Schott as its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager. Schott graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Business with an emphasis on management from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Prior to her new role, Schott worked for Principal Financial Group for 23 years.…
Soapy Joe’s Suds It Up in SoCal
Soapy Joe’s has been soaping up cars and trucks in Southern California’s San Diego County for nearly a decade, growing from one car wash to today’s 13 locations. The company also operates two 7-Eleven franchises and an unbranded convenience store, each co-located with a car wash. One car wash location also performs auto service. Soapy…