Today on CStore Decisions
How to Make More Money for Your Store by Also Selling Online
Corner convenience and grocery stores have traditionally sold their items only in-store, and have relied almost completely on customer foot traffic for sustained revenue. But now, for several reasons, the days of independently owned c-stores and neighborhood small groceries yielding online sales to bigger chains are over. To ensure continued operations in the black, Mom…
7-Eleven Refreshes Big Gulp With Five New Flavors
The 7-Eleven Big Gulp has five new, non-traditional flavors: AHA sparkling flavored water, craft lemonade made with real juice and cane sugar, electrolyte-infused vitaminwater zero squeezed and 7-Eleven‘s private brand vitamin-infused sport drink Replenish Zero and energy drink Power Berry by Quake. “We’re excited to offer these new, great-tasting beverages at an equally great value…
GPM Adds Alcoholic Beverages to Eight Additional Stores
Customers can now buy beer at eight more ARKO Corp. convenience retail chain GPM Investments, the company announced this week. The stores’ new beer licenses are in response to legislation passed in November 2020 elections that now allow the sale of beer in selected municipalities. Beer licenses have been added to five locations in Arkansas,…
Kum & Go Sustainable Clothing Partnership Celebrates Pride Month
Des Moines, Iowa-based convenience store chain Kum & Go has teamed up with acclaimed fashion label HOMOCO to produce a new limited-run line of sustainable swimwear and shirts to celebrate Pride Month. Kum & Go and HOMOCO are partnering with the Transgender Law Center (TLC), funneling a portion of the proceeds from the collaboration toward…
ACE Happy for USDA Pandemic Relief, But Is It a Fair Share?
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a statement regarding this week’s announcement from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack of more details about the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. In March, the USDA unveiled the initiative which dedicates $6 billion in unspent pandemic relief for a variety of producers, including renewable fuels.…
Love’s Adds Northern Mississippi Travel Stop
Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Holly Springs, Miss., thanks to a travel stop that opened on June 10. The store, located at 929 Highway No. 7 South, off I-22, adds 70 jobs and 46 truck parking spaces to Marshall County. “We’re excited to add our 18th clean and safe location for customers…
Growth Energy Applauds Nevada’s Move to E15 Biofuel
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak signed AB 411 into law, legislation that would require the Nevada Board of Agriculture to approve a 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) as part of any fuel regulation adopted by July 1, 2022. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor applauded Nevada for moving to approve E15 as part of its state fuel…
Lighters See Double-Digit Growth at C-Stores
Pandemic lockdowns led to customers stocking up on their favorite products wherever and whenever they could find them, and the data reflects this: Smoking accessories saw a massive 23.5% increase in dollar sales and a 16.3% increase in unit sales for the latest 52 weeks ending April 18, 2021, according to IRI Total U.S. Convenience…
Marathon Scores 100% on Corporate Equity Index
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has ranked Marathon Petroleum (MPC) as a “Best Place to Work” for LGBTQ equality for the second consecutive year. For 2021, MPC scored 100% on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) survey, which is the highest possible score. The CEI is a national benchmarking report for LGBTQ-related corporate policies and practices…
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7-Eleven Refreshes Big Gulp With Five New Flavors
The 7-Eleven Big Gulp has five new, non-traditional flavors: AHA sparkling flavored water, craft lemonade made with real juice and cane sugar, electrolyte-infused vitaminwater zero squeezed and 7-Eleven‘s private brand vitamin-infused sport drink Replenish Zero and energy drink Power Berry by Quake. “We’re excited to offer these new, great-tasting beverages at an equally great value…
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Managed fire safety solutions for convenience stores
When managing maintenance for Convenience Stores, we understand it can be anything but convenient! With hundreds, if not thousands of locations nationwide, facility managers can quickly get overwhelmed with all of their fire and life safety issues. That’s where Commercial Fire, a National Fire and Life Safety Provider, comes in. We can quickly help you…
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Lighters See Double-Digit Growth at C-Stores
Pandemic lockdowns led to customers stocking up on their favorite products wherever and whenever they could find them, and the data reflects this: Smoking accessories saw a massive 23.5% increase in dollar sales and a 16.3% increase in unit sales for the latest 52 weeks ending April 18, 2021, according to IRI Total U.S. Convenience…
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The PRIDE Stores Gives Back Through Local CharitiesCStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Sarah Sullivan, the marketing director of The PRIDE Stores, which operates…
Frank Tries the New Chicken Lineup at Love’s Travel StopsLove’s Travel Stops recently introduced a new lineup of baked and pre-fried chicken products that, they say, are unlike anything…
Maverik Teams With Feeding America To Fight HungerChuck Maggelet, president and chief adventure guide for Maverik, speaks with CStore Decisions Executive Editor Erin Del Conte to share…
Jiffy Trip Supports Oklahoma Children’s HospitalA little over five years ago, Jiffy Trip partnered with Oklahoma Children’s Hospital and began running an annual fundraising campaign…
Dandy Mini Marts Completes 16th Annual Dandy Canes CampaignDandy Mini Marts hosts its Dandy Canes Campaign each holiday season, from Black Friday through Dec. 26. Every dollar raised…
Tiger Fuel Supports Charlottesville City Schools Reopening FundTiger Fuel gives back to the communities where it operates in a wide variety of ways, from helping neighbors secure…
Stewart’s Shops Donates $7.5 Million Annually Across 5,000 OrganizationsGiving back is important to Stewart’s Shops, which employs over 4,500 people and operates over 337 shops across New York…
VERC Enterprises Leads in Hiring Individuals with DisabilitiesMany people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are overlooked by employers even though they have the skills to do the…
GetGo Supports Toys for TotsCStore Decisions’ Executive Editor Erin Del Conte speaks with Rug Phatak, senior director of marketing and the chief of staff…
Casey’s Gives Back With Cash for Classrooms Grant ProgramCasey’s believes a key part of strong communities is education, which is why a portion of its giving has always…
Video: FriendShip Kitchen Awarded Safe Shop Assured CertificationThe COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way we shop. In all retail environments, consumers and employees have developed new…
Cliff’s Local Market Raises More Than $27,000 for Autism AwarenessCliff’s Local Market is a third-generation family-owned and operated company with 19 c-stores in central New York. The c-store chain…
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Labor Management in the Age of COVID-19CStore Decisions and Humetrics, for the 13th consecutive year, have collaborated on the annual Human Resources (HR) Benchmarking Survey, which…
The 2021 Social Media AwardsCStore Decisions, for the ninth consecutive year, is recognizing convenience store chains standing out on social media. If there was…
CStore Decisions’ 2020 40 Under 40 C-Store Leaders to Watch2020 has brought challenges to the c-store industry like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in spring, changing the way…
C-Stores Conquer New HR ChallengesCStore Decisions’ and Humetrics’ 12th annual Human Resources (HR) Benchmarking Survey polled c-store retailers — between Jan. 5 and March…
The 2020 Social Media AwardsCStore Decisions, for the eighth consecutive year, is recognizing convenience store chains leading the way on social media and mobile…
2019 40 Under 40Today’s retail environment is changing faster than ever before as technological disruption pushes c-stores to adapt for the future while…
C-Stores Rally in Tight Labor MarketBy Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics and Erin Del Conte, Executive Editor Convenience Store Decisions and Humetrics recently collaborated on our…
2018 40 under 40 Effective and well-trained leaders are invaluable when it comes to formulating and communicating new strategic directions, motivating employees, satisfying…
2019 Category Management ReviewConvenience categories are evolving quickly. This year, CSD highlights the latest movers and profitable moneymakers. A CSD Staff Report If…
The 2019 Social Media AwardsSocial media trends are evolving and savvy chains are keeping pace, going into 2019. CSD recognizes c-store chains succeeding at…
New Products! See More >
Zero-THC CBDHappy Lane is the latest offering from CV Sciences, makers of PlusCBD. Happy Lane 0.00% THC products provide fun, effective…
Rich Products recently added nine new options to its plant-based pizza and flatbread portfolio, each comprised of more than 20%…
Direct Tea SourceHarris Tea has launched a new website, www.teamarketplace.com. The site offers restaurant-quality tea direct, fast and fresh to foodservice operators,…
To-Go Packaging ProductsWidely recyclable in paper streams, each ProAmpac product strives to remove avoidable plastics and use the least amount of materials…
Hard Seltzer BrandDos Equis is launching Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer, the latest innovation to join the popular Mexican Import portfolio,…
Limited-Edition Packaging and ContestSwisher Sweets announced the launch of an exciting contest, Life is Sweet, along with limited-edition Swisher Sweets Red packaging. From…
Chili Lime Chicken Egg RollVan’s Kitchen, a certified women-owned and minority owned egg roll manufacturer, is preparing fans for the ultimate summer treat with…
Cherry Limeade Flavored VodkaJust in time for the start of summer, SVEDKA Vodka is releasing its latest flavored vodka: SVEDKA Cherry Limeade. Developed…
Outdoor Air SystemModel XRV-10, the latest addition to the Accurex line of dedicated outdoor air systems, is ideal for applications requiring a…
Coffee-Inspired Sparkling WaterS.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water has a new line of coffee-inspired S.Pellegrino Essenza. The latest innovation for S.Pellegrino Essenza has…
Mini Beer Bottles and CansWith the same traditionally smooth, nicely blended bitterness, and clean finish as its larger counterparts, Heineken has put new focus…
Tangy Hot Sauce in Three SizesAfter launching in January 2020 as a limited-edition item, McCormick For Chefs has announced the return of OLD BAY Hot…
Independent Operators See More >
How Can Independent C-Store Operators Use Key Performance Indicators?Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a vital resource to managing your operation. Rather than relying on old adages and “I…
How Independent C-Stores Can Jump Into FoodserviceStarting a foodservice program in your convenience store requires attention to detail in store-operation areas that may be new to…
How to Put the Heart Back Into the Business: a Conversation With Andrew ThorntonIt’s a difficult hiring market. Standing out isn’t easy, and sometimes it takes more than competitive wages for retailers to…
How Can Independent C-Stores Negotiate Better Supply Contracts?Small and medium independent convenience store chains may not have the buying power of large chains, but that doesn’t mean…
How Should Independent C-Stores Approach Labor Management?Labor management is perhaps one of the most fundamental aspects of running a profitable business. Servicing the customer with too…
How Independent C-Stores Can Find Hidden Dollars in the P&LFew operators take the time to better understand both revenue projections as well as variable and fixed expenses so they…
How an Independent C-Store Can Stage a Killer Grand Opening (or Anniversary)Creating an exciting retail grand opening or anniversary event requires work upfront, but in the long run will make your…
How Does Safe Shop Assured™ Certification Benefit Retailers?Discussing cleanliness and safety isn’t always easy for retailers. Much of their hard work happens behind the scenes in ways…
Tobacco Loyalty Tools Finding Their Way to Independent C-StoresSingle-site and independently operated c-stores will find it easier, regardless of fuel brand, to use tobacco manufacturer funds and promotions…
StrasGlobal Appoints Leaders for Small Chain ServicesStrasGlobal, provider of contract operations for gas stations and convenience stores around the country, has announced the addition of two…
Study: NY Flavored Tobacco Ban Bad for Businesses, State CoffersOutlawing the sale of flavored tobacco products for adults — such as cherry pipe tobacco and menthol cigarettes — would…
Skupos, 5-hour ENERGY Partner for First Consumer Promotion at Independent C-StoresSkupos, a technology platform connecting the convenience retail industry, and the makers of 5-hour ENERGY shots announce the energy shot…