John Lofstock

  Par Mar Convenience Stores has reached a deal to acquire Mountaineer Marts, a 17-store chain based in Buckhannon, W.Va., CStore Decisions has learned. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal brings Par Mar’s store count to 137 units in four states — West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania — and 81 total…

Whether or not you realize it, your brand is tremendously important to every aspect of your business. A well-crafted and well-executed brand strategy can articulate your promise to customers, set you apart from the competition and establish you as a leader in the convenience channel. Yet, many companies underestimate and neglect their brand. Even those…

The convenience store and petroleum industry is as dynamic and diverse as it has ever been. I have been fortunate to have a front row view of the industry’s evolution through the years, first as a young child learning the automotive and fuel industry at my father’s stations in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., then as an…

As the convenience store industry evolves, your brand image and what it stands for will define you in the eyes of your customers and your employees. Consider the outstanding social perceptions of companies like Southwest Airlines and Costco to realize the importance of how your brand is perceived in the marketplace. Brand image is something…

The convenience store industry continues to grow sales at record numbers, but the stakes have never been higher as convenience store owners face competition from multiple retail channels and the growing home delivery industry. As competition increases across the board, savvy retailers are learning to take cost out of their operations to run lean, efficient…

As the founder of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes, John MacDougall was a longtime supporter of the National Advisory Group (NAG). In his personal life, he was also a strong supporter of higher education. Though MacDougall passed away in 2014, we continue to honor his legacy and his longtime support of NAG.  For the fifth…

We all know the importance of a well-educated workforce and the c-store landscape is certainly no exception. The National Advisory Group (NAG) scholarship fund was developed to help qualified individuals offset some of these costs. Among NAG’s core mission is to help to cultivate and groom the convenience store leaders of tomorrow. In keeping with…

Next-generation and young executive c-store leaders can benefit from a good attitude and shaping the environment they desire.  By John Lofstock, Editor We all know young c-store leaders do crucial work across the convenience store industry. They shape culture, improve employee performance, drive creativity and innovation. And yet, fewer training dollars are typically earmarked for…

Featuring an 80s theme, S. Abraham & Sons draws nearly 1,200 attendees and 175 booths in Grand Rapids, Mich.  Convenience store retailers from across the Midwest convened in Grand Rapids, Mich., for S. Abraham & Sons’ (SAS) 33rd Vendor Exhibit & Trade Show. The annual exhibit and trade show, which featured a “Back to the…

Many years ago, when the National Advisory Group (NAG) was preparing to relaunch the Young Executives Organization (YEO), I reached out to John MacDougall, the venerable founder of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes in New York, and asked him for advice. John was an excellent source for NAG because he believed in the association and…