C-store retailers can prepare in advance for lovers and chocolate-fanatics flocking to stores Valentine’s Day to buy their family, friends and loved ones their favorite chocolate products with the help from Mars Chocolate North America. Consumers want a wide variety of choices during holidays. The company released a list of some items it plans to…
Chocolate Sales Boost Confections
Despite the weak economy, consumers continue to indulge in candy. By Joe Bush, Contributing Editor. The confectionery retail market has grown across all trade channels, but convenience stores have outpaced the overall retail market. Iconic brands (Hershey, Nestlé, Mars) prowl the chocolate landscape and provide consumers an affordable indulgence in a bitter economy. According to…
Shop Around The Clock
7-Eleven has an array of gifts for last minute shoppers this holiday season. With retailers opening their stores even earlier for Black Friday door-buster sales, shoppers started the hunt for December holiday deals as early as Thanksgiving evening, jockeying for flat-screen TVs and fighting over waffle irons. But shopping in the middle of the night…
Keeping the Menu Fresh
Foodservice customers are becoming value-conscious, a reflection of current economic conditions. Consumers are now expecting better value in terms of price, service, consistency and food quality. By John Lofstock, Editor. Bringing consumers into convenience stores to buy food requires a great offering at a good price. But with all the competition for share of stomach,…
Starbucks Launches Holiday App
New Starbucks Cup Magic App, skinny peppermint mocha and holiday Starbucks Petites debut on Nov. 15, alongside returning seasonal favorites. Starbucks Coffee Co. is celebrating the holiday season with an innovative new mobile app. This year, Starbucks will make the season come alive with Starbucks Cup Magic, an augmented reality app customers can download for…
Holiday Cheer Beer Promotion
Heineken has unveiled its ‘Spread Your Holiday Cheer’ retail program in plenty of time for c-stores to plan for big 2011 holiday sales. The program runs through December and includes channel specific offers and incentives (where legal) to encourage consumers to enjoy Heineken and Heineken Light, while increasing retailer profitability during the year’s most critical…
Gaining Insights into Convenience Store Customers
MSA and Paradigm Sample, in partnership with Convenience Store Decisions, delve into c-store shoppers’ attitudes about buying seasonal and holiday candy. By Trish Temmerman, Contributing Editor. With Halloween and Christmas just around the corner, we are approaching that time of year when some of the most widely recognized seasonal confectionery items are purchased and consumed:…
Thinking Outside the Box
In 2010, retailers are getting creative to reach customers with the general merchandise category. As with other categories, expect customers to be focused on finding more value for their dollar. 7-Eleven Inc. sees quirky, fun products attracting customer attention at its chain in 2010. The Dallas-based chain ended the fourth quarter of 2009 with an…
Celebrate the Reason for the Season
It makes not one iota of difference whether you believe in Santa or celebrate Christmas to make a difference in someone’s life at this special time of the year. We all recognize that 2009—like no other year in the past 50—has created a genuine and critical need that provides both an opportunity for all of…
Marketing the Forecourt
When it comes to convenience stores, every square inch of selling space is precious real estate. And when the inside of a store is fully merchandised, the only place left to go is the forecourt area. Some convenience store retailers have always made good use of the forecourt area—whether or not it featured fuel pumps—to…