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…
Susser Holdings Reports Q4 And 2011 Results
“Our newly built stores continue to perform very well, and as a result, we plan to increase our overall capital budget in 2012 to accelerate new store construction to a planned 25-30 stores,” says Susser Holdings CEO. Susser Holdings Corp. reported strong financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2011.…
Is Big Oil Losing its Drawing Power?
For many, many years the power of the Big Oil brands was indisputable. They owned the refineries, the stations and the credit card networks to boot. While my father was an Exxon dealer and jobber for more than 30 years I distinctly remember seeing Shell and Texaco credit cards lying around the house. In those…
Sunoco Releases Q1 2011 Results
Earnings from retail marketing saw a $22 million drop compared to the same quarter in 2010 due to lower average retail gasoline margins. Sunoco Inc. reported a net loss attributable to Sunoco shareholders of $101 million ($0.84 per share diluted) for the first quarter of 2011 compared to a net loss attributable to Sunoco shareholders…
The Pantry Inc. Posts First Quarter Loss
The Pantry Inc. has reported a wider-than-expected first-quarter loss, due to below-average fuel and grocery margins, Reuters reported. For the first quarter ended Dec. 24, the company posted a net loss of $26.1 million, or $1.17 a share, compared with a profit of $38.5 million, or $1.73 a share, last year. Excluding 90 cents…
Tracking the Trends
An otherwise tough year for convenience stores was balanced out by strong retail fuel margins from the unprecedented drop in wholesale fuels prices during the fourth quarter of 2008, according to National Association of Convenience Stores’ (NACS) 2009 State of the Industry report. However, credit card fees continue to take a toll on industry profitability.…
Multiculturalism in the Marketplace
With the election of the nation’s first African-American president, the time is right to get a better understanding of our consumer base to make sure we’re meeting their needs. Things have been quite difficult for most Americans this holiday season. There have been thousands upon thousands of job layoffs, though the retail sector has weathered…