“The public has a right to choose between imported oil and home-grown energy and today’s action by the EPA advances that goal,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The Obama administration has given final approval for the sale of E15 ethanol blends under the waiver conditions set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Southwest Farm Press reported. …
NACSTech, PCATS To Team for 2013 Convention
NACSTech, an event that brings together c-store and fuel retailers and supplier IT professionals, kicked off May 21 in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center and concluded today, May 23. At the conclusion of the event, came an announcement that next year’s technology convention is set to look quite different. NACS, the Association of…
Service to the Fleet
With fuel costs again on the rise, a fleet card network can attract new business while offering fleet managers the safety, security and reporting tools they need to be successful. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Fleet cards are a nice piece of business for c-store operators. But the key to keeping that business growing is…
Online and Mobile Buying Trend Upward
Sales from mobile devices reached 13.3% in Q1 2012, up from the 7% in Q1 2011. The U.S. retail industry saw continued growth in online and mobile buying trends in the first-quarter, driven by today’s rising digital consumer marketplace. According to the IBM retail online economic indicator, a cloud-based analytics report that examines the state…
Are CAFE and RFS Doomed?
“RFS and CAFE policies cannot coexist without substantial changes in the retail and vehicle markets,” says NACS vice president of government relations. The requirements mandated by the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and the proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are likely to create a situation in which one or both of these programs will…
Renewable Fuels Hearing Set For This Week
House Subcommittee to hold hearing on renewable fuels liability bill. This Thursday, Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL) of the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing on the “Domestic Fuels Act of 2012” (H.R. 4345), which would provide a legal and regulatory pathway for retailers to sell EPA-approved fuels including E15. Witnesses…
Shell’s Smart Driving Program Kicks Off
The Taylors will drive throughout the 48 contiguous states to demonstrate improved fuel efficiency. As global energy demand continues to rise, Shell is helping to improve energy use for transportation through Smarter Mobility. Demonstrating that improved fuel efficiency is possible today, the Shell Smarter Driving program helps inform motorists on how to make the most…
Kwik Trip Headquarters Gets Alternative Fuels Station
The station is set to open in May and will serve Kwik Trip’s LNG- and CNG-powered vehicles, private fleets, and vehicles using multiple or other alternative fuels. A Kwik Trip Inc. Alternative Fuels Station, featuring Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), has been constructed at Kwik Trip’s corporate headquarters in La Crosse,…
The 2012 Convenience Retail Outlook
Economic uncertainty is causing retailers to be cautious as they plan for the upcoming year, but investments in technology, social media and foodservice appear to be expanding. By David Bishop, Contributing Editor. The outlook for 2012 depends largely on the focus of the question. What is clear based on the CSD/Balvor 2012 Convenience Retail Outlook…
Price Is Deciding Factor in Choice of Fueling Location
NACS releases results of its annual Retail Fuels Report. Price remains the dominant reason why consumers buy fuel at a particular location, according to the results from the new 2012 NACS Consumer Fuels Report. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) rated price as the most important reason why they select a particular location for fueling, more…