Circle K will run its largest U.S. business unit, the Texas Business Unit (BU), from San Antonio. The Texas BU will manage close to 700 stores in Texas. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., on June 28, announced that it has successfully closed on its deal for CST Brands Inc., following approval…
Tobacco Pressed by Local Laws
C-stores are finding the burden of tobacco control regulations is often heaviest within the communities where they operate. By David Bennett, Senior Editor In 2016, tobacco was the c-store industry’s biggest growth driver, generating $53 billion in sales, according to new Nielsen Homescan data. In fact, the tobacco category accounted for 38% of total c-store…
Dewbre Resigns From CST Brands Board
The industry veteran’s resignation was reported in a SEC notice filed today. Rocky Dewbre, a veteran with decades of experience in the energy, distribution and convenience store sectors, has resigned from the board of directors at San Antonio-based CST Brands Inc. According to the June 8 SEC filing, “effective June 5, 2017, Rocky B. Dewbre…
Renewable Fuel Helps C-Stores Stay on Top of the Sustainability Trend
By Jon Scharingson, Renewable Energy Group Inc. If it seems like the sustainability trend is everywhere, that’s because it is. Walmart recently launched Project Gigaton, with a stated goal of reducing emissions in its supply chain by 1 gigaton by 2030. The Hershey Company is on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, which select companies based…
Apple to Introduce Peer-to-Peer Payments
Providing U.S. consumers another payment option, Pay Cash will allow one user to pay another user through their smartphone. CNBC recently reported that Apple announced that its new iOS 11 mobile-operating system will support peer-to-peer payments through a new feature called Pay Cash, making it a direct competitor to similar services offered by Square Cash,…
Alta Convenience Ready to Grow
After a restructuring of ownership, this Colorado chain is in the process of branching out within its marketplace. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Alta Convenience c-store chain, based in Denver, has undergone big changes in the last few years. The latest transition alteration occurred in October 2016 when Alta Convenience parent Western Alta Holdings LP…
Adopting Technology for Tomorrow
The most savvy convenience retailers are applying automation that puts the focus on the customer. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Inventorying, loyalty perks, customer engagement, forecourt marketing and supply chain strategies carry weight in a successful convenience store operation. How developed each segment is and how well it functions more often than not depends on…
Tobacco Accessories Face the Unknown
Tied to the fortune of cigarettes, sales of tobacco auxiliary products begin an uphill climb. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Given the market for tobacco accessories, lighters, rolling papers and other product lines produce an excellent margin for convenience retailers—between 40-50% in some cases. More importantly, sales have been steady for the past decade, despite…
M-PACT Reveals Impact of Generational Shift
Because of more Americans retiring and growth in retail markets, competition for younger workers will intensify. In light of this, companies should prepare ways to make Millennials feel more welcome. If convenience retailers are perplexed by the generational gap in today’s workforce, that gap will only widen in the coming years. The topic of disparity…
Kum & Go Donates Fresh Food
A pilot program that delivers fresh food to Colorado residents in need has the potential to become prevalent in other communities the convenience retailer serves. By David Bennett, Senior Editor Convenience retailer Kum & Go is exploring the power of fresh food as part of a program that targets a whole different group of consumers.…