From PCI compliance to loyalty programs, ensuring customers that their private information is secure and being used appropriately is essential in gaining their trust. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Consumers trust retailers with vital personal information every day. For their sake—and yours—protect it. It’s not as hard as some may fear. There are some basic…

More Americans than ever are eating pizza, according to data from consumer research firm Technomic. A full 41% of respondents to a Technomic survey said that they now eat pizza at least once a week, up from 26% two years ago. Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Americans’ love affair with pizza isn’t likely to end any…

The near-term future of beer sales in convenience stores involves flavor, value and craft products geared toward specific age groups. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. The good news about beer for c-stores is that consumers absolutely love it. The bad news is that consumers love lots of different types of beer—and there are more places…

Our nation is in the midst of an energy crisis. And it has nothing to do with the price of oil. Sleep-deprived and overworked, Americans crave anything with the word “energy” on the label. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Energy drinks are of course wildly popular, but energy shots—those two-ounce packages loaded with concentrated doses…

The meat snack industry has seen unprecedented growth over the past decade. With beef jerky leading the way, the industry has seen double-digit growth in eight of the last 10 years. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Meat snacks like beef jerky, meat sticks, nuggets, pork rinds and more have long been convenience store mainstays, but…

Little cigars are gaining a loyal following with older demographics based on affordability. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Consumption of little cigars, which have lower taxes and fewer marketing restrictions than cigarettes, has increased dramatically over the past three years. And while convenience store retailers can apply the usual merchandising techniques to them, an in-depth…

Squeezable pouches, which have been the preferred packaging on children’s products for many years, are emerging as a big hit for alcohol marketers. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Retail dollar sales of alcoholic beverages in pouches were only $12 million for the 12-month period ending August 2010, according to Nielsen. For the same period ending…

Roller grills, the backbone of many convenience store foodservice programs, continue to provide chains with an inexpensive, labor-friendly foodservice concept that allows store operators to expand their fresh food offering. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Discussions about trendy ethnic roller grill items require participants to learn a number of words in Spanish. Now, as retailers…

With gasoline prices again soaring, convenience store and petroleum retailers are investing in software solutions that can help them manage the business more effectively. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Convenience store operators are feeling the pinch from skyrocketing gas prices, which makes fuel inventory controls even more critical in helping retailers reduce costs and bolster…

As more cigarette buyers switch to smokeless and electronic tobacco products, convenience store retailers juggle SKUs to drive profit.    By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Traditional cigarettes—once the mighty margin maker for retailers—continue to face a rocky road as the tobacco market shifts toward increasing consumer interest in moist smokeless, flavored cigars and electronic cigarettes.…