More than two decades ago, Greg Lorance discovered where he wanted to work—Cumberland Farms. Today, he and the company are facing the future together. By David Bennett, Senior Editor It’s been a long time since Greg Lorance worked the third shift at convenience retail chain Cumberland Farms. As an 18-year-old clerk at the time, he…

Tim Cote might not be a candy traditionalist, but he knows how to make confections appealing to Plaid Pantry customers. By David Bennett, Senior Editor The traditional approach to selling candy is going the way of Root Beer Barrels and Charleston Chews. Retailers who are satisfied with a few racks of the normal candy offerings…

Drivers are becoming younger, but it doesn’t mean they’re driving more. By David Bennett, Senior Editor One of the forwarding looking topics at this year’s M-PACT show in Indianapolis is how new technology is driving U.S. fuel sales. In some cases, however, technology is combining with other factors to slow fuel sales, including younger Americans’…

The president appears in Cleveland to explain how “middle-class economics” is taking hold and helping. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Boasting one of the most diverse manufacturing bases in the country, the city of Cleveland served as a suitable backdrop for President Obama who arrived Wednesday to promote proposals for more federal investment to help…

With new locations planned for Kentucky and Indiana, third-generation C.E. Taylor Oil is positioning its Chuckles convenience store chain for the future. By David Bennett, Senior Editor When C.E. Taylor Oil Inc. was just getting started, family members who were intent on growing the business realized that while gas was the base of operations, retail…

After the city of Somerset, Ky. opened its own gas station last summer, a Kentucky senator has now sponsored a bill to determine how fair the enterprise is to surrounding businesses. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Kentucky Sen. Chris Girdler (R-Somerset), on Feb. 6, filed a bill that would require government entities to conduct a…

Though its legacy derives from the dairy business, CoGo’s commitment to modern convenience retail is reshaping its future. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Since Pittsburgh-based CoGo’s Co. chose to expand its operation in the shadow of West Virginia University (WVU) more than a year ago, the return on investment has been noteworthy. Not only did…

Convenience retailers should weigh their options to determine how their operations will coexist with the Affordable Care Act. By David Bennett, Senior Editor When Congress in 2010 enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), one pillar of the law’s sweeping objective was fostering a wide span of health plans to empower smaller employers.…

New c-store will offer kitchen-cooked food and beer on site. By David Bennett, Senior Editor GetGo is moving ahead with its plan to construct its newest prototype store—this one outside of Erie, Pa. Officials from Harborcreek Township are reviewing the company’s plan for the 6,100-square-foot c-store and restaurant that is the second proposed GetGo location…

NOCO Express finds itself buried along with many other western New Yorkers. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Like thousands of stranded New Yorkers over the last few days, employees of NOCO Express found themselves buried to the hilt in one of the largest snowstorms to every hit the Buffalo area. In western New York, locations around Buffalo were covered with massive mounds of…