C-stores warm up to the growing demand for popular energy drinks by infusing their store selections with top sellers. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor As soon as the temperatures outside signaled the onset of summer, Terry Messmer, sales manager for Tri Star Energy, increased in-store signage promotions for his top-sellers in the energy drink…

After a product development lull, the e-cigarette segment is gearing up for a next-generation breakthrough. When JUUL debuted three years ago, the e-cigarette industry was preoccupied with how federal regulations classifying electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as tobacco products could affect future sales and product development. Manufacturers, tobacco retailers, and convenience store category managers didn’t give…

Heightened black market activity due to cigarette smugglers continues to rob c-stores of tobacco revenue. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor Earlier this year, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, in conjunction with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security investigators, took possession of six million counterfeit cigarettes during a warehouse inspection in Florida, with…

A top indulgent impulse purchase from the candy category, chocolate continues to sweeten basket sales for c-stores. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor The first quarter of 2018 ended on a sweet note for chocolate candy in convenience stores and other retail channels. The period started on the heels of the holiday season, carrying that…

Will smokeless tobacco be able to capitalize on reduced-risk classification? By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor Last year, convenience store owners and operators along with other tobacco retailers were forced to empty out several slots of their smokeless tobacco racks because of a nationwide recall issued by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (USST), an operating…

The new cup was designed by New York artist San Sigü Enza and was created especially for the 2018 Fiesta de la Flor event. Stripes Stores is releasing two new limited-edition and limited-release Selena Commemorative Collectible cups that will be sold across Stripes stores in Texas and Louisiana April 7. Stripes took to its Facebook…

The popularity of pod devices and the growing buzz around heat-not-burn products have primed the e-cig/vaping category for a profitable start to the new year. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor Philip Morris International (PMI)’s recent announcement was surprising: “We’re trying to give up cigarettes” on display in newspaper ads in the United Kingdom. The…

C-stores face more restrictions and taxes on cigarettes in 2018. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor As of Jan. 1, smokers in Aspen, Colo., are paying $3 more per pack of cigarettes than they did last month. Also, Oregonians must now be 21 in order to purchase any type of tobacco products in the state.…

Where carbonated soft drinks are slipping, RTD coffees and sparkling water are picking up the slack. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor According to National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) data released this summer, carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), energy and sports drinks, water, juices and teas, accounted for about 15% of total in-store sales for…

Retailers are discovering the power of data to bolster their capacity to personalize the customer experience, increase sales and drive brand loyalty. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor No longer is each convenience store transaction a simple exchange of goods for cash. Technology empowers businesses to turn each purchase into an opportunity to mine information…