As many Americans avoid BP stations in protest over the Gulf oil spill, BP-branded station owners are insisting BP do more to help them convince customers that such boycotts hurt independently owned businesses, not the British oil giant, the Associated Press reported. To win back customers, stations want BP to help in reducing the price…

Canadian c-store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard is calling on Casey’s General Stores to discuss its bid, as the Iowa-based chain moves to instead thwart the hostile acquisition, the Globe and Mail reported. “A meeting would be more productive than putting roadblocks, like a poison pill, in the path of our compelling proposal,” Couche-Tard said in a statement.…

DID YOU KNOW? After several years of decline, the frozen novelties category was up close to 2% for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 27, 2009. Retailers can expect to see more customers eating at home, searching for value on purchases and buying more healthful food items, according to the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA).…

For the fifth year in a row, Rutter’s Farm Stores and the nonprofit Support Our American Recruits will send Valentine’s Day goodie boxes to area troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or Kuwait. The organizations plan to send about 50 boxes – each containing enough items for a military unit of 15 to 20 people. Area…