Amid a pandemic that’s shifting norms and shopping habits, retailers nationwide must grapple with an economy in flux. As early as February, Raymond Huff predicted COVID-19 would impact his Russell’s Convenience Stores business. What he didn’t anticipate was a whopping 85% drop in sales when states locked down. The president of Denver-based HJB Convenience Corp.,…
July 2020 Issue: 2020 Chains to Watch
CStore Decisions July 2020 Digital Edition is sponsored by Hunt Brothers Pizza CITGO, Charge Up and Dandy Mini Marts head this year’s class of innovative chains energizing and expanding their brands. In just 10 short years, Charge Up has grown from a singlestore operation to a 40-store chain with locations in Texas and Louisiana, with…
June 2020 Issue: Tobacco’s 2020 Trajectory
Rising sales are boosting retailer optimism across the category, but regulatory hurdles loom. Tobacco sales have proved a bright spot for many convenience stores during the COVID-19 pandemic, but while c-stores anticipate robust tobacco sales for the remainder of 2020, retailers are bracing for the potential chill of regulatory headwinds. As the pandemic first hit…
May 2020 issue: Choice Market’s Omnichannnel Approach
The tech forward company is crafting a uniform experience across platforms while leading with prepared foods and investing in cutting-edge technology, including its own delivery service and vision-based autonomous checkout. Choice Market isn’t letting a pandemic impede its plans for 2020. If anything, COVID-19 has increased consumer demand for seamless delivery of convenience products, fresh…
April 2020 Issue: C-Stores Conquer New HR Challenges
The 12th annual CSD/Humetrics HR Benchmarking Survey outlines how c-stores are responding to today’s human resources challenges, as COVID-19 presents never-before-seen obstacles. CStore Decisions’ and Humetrics’ 12th annual Human Resources (HR) Benchmarking Survey polled c-store retailers — between Jan. 5 and March 2, 2020 — on top HR challenges and evolving practices. Already, some c-store…
March 2020 issue: The 2020 Category Management Review
CStore Decisions outlines extensive insights on top trends and critical headwinds impacting today’s core c-store categories. In 2020, convenience stores are enticing customers with increased category innovation, from new beverage varieties to fresh food to mobile payment options. In the year ahead, c-stores are also set to face ongoing challenges, including increasing tobacco regulations, technological…
5-hour ENERGY
In 2004, the energy drink category was fairly new, but growing fast in convenience stores. Similar to traditional sodas, energy drinks were confined to store coolers. But what if an energy product could be adapted to a store’s front end? That was the question that started the development of 5-hour ENERGY® and gave birth to…
ADD Systems
ADD Systems® software helps you spend less time on administrative tasks and more time providing a great customer experience and improving your financial position. Designed in concert with our trusted client advisors from top industry chains, ADD Systems software exemplifies a modern convenience store application with unprecedented efficiency and visibility into your operation, tighter management…
Apter Industries, Inc.
At Apter Industries, cleaning solutions are our business. As the convenience store industry continues to strive for improved appearance, Apter Industries works to develop answers for their cleaning problems. When the industry started installing grouted floors, Apter Industries responded with TILE TIME to provide clean, safe floor surfaces. When food service became the “go to”…
ASCC Inc.
Retail customers within the c-store sector face complex challenges due to convergence of technologies over the decades. As the need for technology has grown, so has the volume of equipment often provided by a variety of vendors. The result can be a communications nightmare. Efficient information technology in a c-store requires use of vendors with…