While merchandise sales are up, the tobacco category remains a challenge, says chief executive of Couche-Tard. Canadian convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s adjusted quarterly profit is up, boosted in part by recent acquisitions, stronger merchandise sales and higher fuel margins, Reuters reported. Net earnings for the company fell, however, due to one-time costs associated…
Retailers Lost More Than $34 Billion To Theft in 2011
Report shows a $2.6 billion decrease when compared to the $37.1 billion loss recorded in the previous report. Retail theft, including shoplifting, employee theft, administrative error and vendor fraud is down, according to an annual survey recently conducted by the University of Florida with a funding grant from ADT Commercial Security, soon to be Tyco…
Susser Reports Strong Operating Results
“Traffic through our stores remains brisk, and we saw increased sales across all of our key categories,” says Susser Holdings Corp. president and CEO. Susser Holdings Corp. has reported strong financial and operating results for the quarter ended April 1, 2012. Same-store merchandise sales increased by 6.7%, compared with growth of 5.6% a year earlier. …
Sweeten the Deal for Chocolate
Market researchers report that between 82% and 92% of Americans admit to indulging in chocolate candy. Even more important is the revelation that the majority of them do it at least once a month. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Americans aren’t eating out as much as they used to, but they are eating more chocolate,…
Cash Isn’t King at Cleveland Car Washes
American Pride has switched from cash-based operations to tokens, and customers are coming back stronger than ever. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Brian Costa operates five American Pride car washes in the Cleveland area. All told, there are 29 self-service bays and six touchless automatics. Until early 2000 each location was quarter-based. Then, when the…
Study by NACS Points To Hidden Card Fees
Study shows as gas prices increased 80% between 2004 and 2011, card fees grew 180%. A new study by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) called “Hidden Bank Fees Siphon Money from Customers and Merchants at the Pump,” shows drivers are paying 6-10 cents a gallon in hidden bank fees every time they purchase…
Walgreens March Sales Decrease 4.3%
Walgreens had March sales of $6.02 billion, a decrease of 4.3% from $6.29 billion for the same month in fiscal 2011. Total front-end sales increased 2.5% compared with the same month in 2011, while comparable store front-end sales increased 1.2%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 1% while basket size increased 2.2%. “We continued to…
Atlas Oil Hosts First Annual Sammy Awards
The Sammy Awards are voted on by Atlas team members who wish to recognize excellence among their peers. It was a star-studded evening complete with a red carpet and Oscar-esque award statues on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich. “Atlas Oil is a company that prides itself on its entrepreneurial spirit…
NCR, VendorNet Integrate In-Store Pick Up With POS Software
Integration of product inventory to point-of-sale software helps retailers drive sales across channels and preserve margin in an increasingly competitive market. NCR Corp. and VendorNet Inc., a provider of cross-channel fulfillment technology, have entered into a strategic agreement that will see NCR integrate VendorNet’s cross-channel StoreNet In-Store Pickup fulfillment technology into its NCR Advanced Store…
Global Partners To Gain 542 Gas Stations
Global Partners acquires Alliance Energy in a deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2012. Global Partners LP is acquiring Alliance Energy LLC, which operates 542 gas stations in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for about $116 million, Reuters reported. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter…