Xtra Mart tops an ambitious growth plan by adding new concepts to its proprietary food program. Quietly resting upon a busy ruralhighway in Bowie, Md., one ofXtra Mart’s small satellite officesdiscreetly sits. Though it’s petiteand unassuming, this office is the baseof operations for Xtra Mart’s new proprietaryfood program, Deli Joe’s, which hasjust been heavily modified…
chevron lauded at global marketing event
Touting its dual branding strategy and ExtraMile convenience store concept, retailers are offered concessions on gift cards and credit processing. Chevron Corp.’s North America n Marketing Conventiongave Chevron and Texaco operators plenty to be excitedabout. In addition to announcing its dual branded fuelstrategy was a rousing success, the oil company reportedit is ahead of industry…
paperback profits
Periodicals can be a slipperyslope for the convenience industry.A good magazine title can be justas powerful as an impulse item forteens and adults as well-placed candy itemsare for kids. But for every one shopper thatpicks up a title, dozens walk by without givingthe selection a second thought, and that’swhere the opportunity lies. Retailers want to…
the new cornerstone on the back bar
Cigarette sales are still one of the biggest draws for convenience stores, but many retailers are gradually shiftingtheir attention to the new king of the back bar: the othertobacco product (OTP) category. It’s no secret that OTP products—moist smokeless tobacco (MST) in particular—have been red hot over the past two years, showingvolume growth as high…
exxonmobil offers sweet candy promotion
Working with Hershey, coffee customers offered free Kit Kat in August. As candy manufacturers roll out holiday products, Fairfax,Va.-based Exxon Mobil Corp. is taking advantage of sweetseason’s start. During August, ExxonMobil ran a special promotion in itsOn the Run convenience stores throughout the U.S.A free Kit Kat barwas given with the purchase of any size…
growth on tap at gulf
As part of a fuel reimaging campaign, the oil company is launching the new Gulf Express convenience store brand. Gulf Oil, the venerable New England fuel brand, is midway through a major branding campaign that will seethe oil company convert 11 Exxon travel plazas along theMassachusetts Turnpike. But what is most significant aboutthe Turnpike deal…
couchetard named convenience store decisions chain of the year
Under CEO Alain Bouchard, the marketer has built an extensive c-store network in the U.S. and Canada. In a year where several top convenience store companies distinguishedthemselves with new store prototypes,increased sales and strong financialportfolios, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.stood out from the crowd by cementing itsposition as a dominant marketer in the U.S.and Canada. As a…
convenience with a hint of elegance
For an iconic neighborhood c-store, Short StopMarket's current owner hasstepped up its foodservice and beverage programs. Situated behinddoors that have guarded the same structure that has stood in Sarasota, Fla. for 50years is a blend of dedicated convenienceand undeniable class. Ali Molavi took over ownership of thesingle Short Stop Market in February 2002,bringing his wife…
satisfying summer shoppers
The inFlux oF summer tourism isa boon for many c-store operators.That’s why adjusting merchandiseto meet vacationers’ last minute needs has proved to be a winning strategy. One area that has proved to be especially profitable is health and beauty care(HBC). Retailers report that while categorysales typically hold its own for the first partof the year,…
food for thought
Product sampling and a thorough understanding of customers helps form an effective foodservice marketing plan. I remember my first managerial job in foodservice retail. The year was1987 and I was a manager trainee forLittle Caesars Pizza. I had just completed an eight-week apprenticeship andwas named company store manager inNorthbrook, Ill. Northbrook is a well-to-dosuburb of…