Innovative flavors and new packaging target female and young snackers. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Manufacturers are finding other ways to woo women into choosing their products over chips and cookies when mid-day hunger pangs strike. One way is by emphasizing the snacks’ “better-for-you” attributes. Oh Boy! Oberto retooled its recipes to make them all-natural,…

A handful of big brands own the  market, but they’re not resting on their laurels as new players enter the arena with new flavors and formats. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. The company whose name is synonymous with energy drinks worldwide is still showing that it is bullish on the American market. For the first…

Give customers some fresh ways to start their day and they’ll keep coming back for more, according to savvy c-store operators who are driving a.m. loyalty. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Two years ago, Nashville-based Tri Star Energy took at good, hard look at its Daily’s convenience store operation and decided the 80-unit chain needed…

Retailers don’t have to wave goodbye to their roller grills to put a fresh face on lunch and dinner foodservice menus. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to lunch and dinner foodservice. Not everyone has the capital to invest in a proprietary commissary or the in-store…

Whether it’s implementing emerging technology or promoting a host of new foodservice items, 2013 promises to be an exciting year for convenience stores. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Thirteen isn’t usually regarded as a fortuitous number, but it takes more than luck to grow a business. Industry experts offered Convenience Store Decisions insights into some…

Suddenly everybody’s a coffee expert, even the neighborhood pharmacy. So what are c-stores doing to maintain customer loyalty as the competition over brewed beverages heats up? By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Et tu, Walgreens? With the opening earlier this year of a new Upmarket Café in Walgreens’ new Chicago flagship store, shoppers can have a…

With foodservice taking on a greater role in the industry, retailers find themselves with a tough decision: invest in a commissary, partner with a third party or build an in-house brand of their own. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Bob Goodwin pulls no punches when he says he wants to make sure everyone in Tedeschi…

Technology is making it faster, easier and more convenient for consumers to purchase, manage and reload prepaid cards. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. The direct-to-consumer prepaid market, including general-purpose, reloadable cards, such as Green Dot and NetSpend, phone cards and gift cards of all types, is growing by leaps and bounds. Last year, dollars loaded…

The limited time offer is a proven strategy for testing new products, generating a buzz in your stores and giving consumers a compelling reason to make an immediate purchase. Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Everyone knows when the McRib comes to town. McDonald’s does not even have to advertise it; the saucy pork sandwich’s legions of…

Technomic’s 2012 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report found that more than half (55%) of Americans are now purchasing grab-and-go sandwiches. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Just two years ago, the top-selling sandwiches at Famima convenience stores were tuna salad, turkey and cheese and egg salad, all on white bread. Today, the same proteins lead the pack,…