Growing up during the Great Depression, Bob Seng learned to appreciate hard work, dedication and the value of an honest day’s work. It was those principles that guided him during his nearly 20-year career at Shell Oil, which began 60 years ago in 1949. For Seng, now a spry 85 years young, the experience at…
Ethnic Flair Drives Roller Grill
My, how the roller grill continues to evolve. No longer visited exclusively by customers hungry for a hot dog, roller grills now boast a growing variety of ethnic foods nationwide, featuring everything from Mexican tortas to pork-filled Chinese steamed buns to breadsticks stuffed with jalapeno peppers and cheese. “We brought egg rolls and tornados into…
Focused on the Future
If it has mechanical parts or it’s sown from a seed, Nevada resident Donald Bently can probably enhance its performance or improve its propensity for growth. To shorten a very long story, in fact, this accomplished inventor and engineer has chiseled himself some commanding niches in the most curious and seemingly disparate of industries: pressurized…
Establishing the Right Foodservice Brand
There are few sure things in business. But partnering with an established foodservice brand could be about as close as one can get. That’s because proven concepts offer so much, such as built-in brand equity, customer loyalty, honed or even turnkey systems with shorter learning curves, proven menus and recipes, pre-existing designs and equipment packages…
Redbox Heads To 7-Eleven
An instant video-rental concept is moving into a leading c-store chain after storming the grocery channel. Redbox is spreading into 7-Eleven stores nationwide as it continues its focus on the c-store market. Starting this month and continuing through next year, Redbox will be installing its DVD rental machines into 2,600 7-Eleven locations nationwide, boosting its…
Casey’s Intros New Store
In keeping with a plan outlined in 2008, Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s General Stores is rolling out expanded store designs. Casey’s executives said that roughly six stores with the new design are open or nearing completion, and the company hopes to finish a total of 20 by the end of April. The new ‘O’ floor plan…
Pilot Testing Electronic Smokeless Products
In an effort to boost sales in the smokeless category, Pilot convenience stores in the Knoxville, Tenn., market are testing the Vegas E-cigar, a product manufactured by Minneapolis-based Ruyan America Inc. that looks and feels like a premium cigar, but uses a microchip and nicotine-infused liquid to produce a vapor that provides its user with…
Step One: Knowing Your PCI Merchant Level
Merchant Levels are designated by the PCI Standard as follows: Level 1: Any merchant, regardless of acceptance channel, processing over 6 million Visa transactions per year; that has suffered a hack or an attack that resulted in an account data compromise; that Visa, at its sole discretion, determines should meet the Level 1 merchant requirements…
EZ Energy Acquires 42 Stations
EZ Energy USA Inc., the U.S. entity of Israeli-based EZ Energy Ltd., has signed a contract to acquire 42 gas stations in the U.S. and all related inventory—as well as four lots—for a reported $32.6 million. When the deal is closed, EZ Energy will own 93 stores that sell approximately 160 million gallons of gas…
By the Numbers
» 13 Months in prison Ashraf “Mike” Ali, owner of 26 Fast and Easy convenience stores in California’s Bay Area, will serve for an elaborate scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration. » 25 Ranking for Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores on Forbes’ 2008 list of the largest private companies in the U.S., a…