Murphy USA Inc. and Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc. are continuing their partnership and embarking on a new five-year supply agreement. Through the renewed agreement Core-Mark will continue to serve as the primary wholesale distributor to Murphy USA, delivering over 75% of the merchandise sold in their stores. “We are confident the Core-Mark team will continue…
Bud Light Reveals New Super Bowl Ad
Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade fans should tune in on Super Bowl Sunday to see the product’s first-ever Super Bowl LV ad, titled “Last Year’s Lemons.” The commercial celebrates the relatable moments in 2020 and is inspired by the do-it-yourself haircuts, postponed weddings and other inconvenient situations, and looks to provide a little bit of levity…
Mars Wrigley Plans Spring Release of Skittles Gummies
While disruption remains the overarching effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the confection market is growing in the convenience channel and the folks at Mars Wrigley are keeping busy with new product innovations. The candy giant introduced a fresh angle into its industry-leader Skittles – new Skittles Gummies, destined for store shelves in spring of…
CWU Campus Dining Launches Fresh Food Concept
Central Washington University’s (CWU) Campus Executive Chef Joe Ritchie has a background in fine dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, but he sees his current role managing the CWU’s dining programs as his biggest opportunity yet — introducing young consumers to new foods and styles of cooking. At CWU, he’s responsible for all food and…
A Salute to Our Industry
For the first time in 24 years I will not be joining the industry at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show this year in Las Vegas as the COVID pandemic has claimed yet another industry gathering. On paper, it’s just another show in a long line of canceled conferences since March, but in…
NAG/YEO Conference’s Hallmark InfoExchanges More Than a Virtual Success
The Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19, session of the 2020 National Advisory Group (NAG)/Young Executives Organization (YEO) Virtual Conference featured what has become a hallmark of the annual conference — its InfoExchange Breakout Sessions. As in years past, the small-group meetings attended by convenience industry retail executives provided a truly rare opportunity for direct networking and…
NAG/YEO Conference: Experts Bring Clarity, Direction to Data Privacy Issues
Session No. 2 of the 2020 NAG/YEO Virtual Conference featured a pair of presenters with more than 50 years of combined experience with issues related to data collection and usage policies. NAG President John Lofstock welcomed Alan J. Thiemann, general counsel for Conexxus Inc., the technology standards arm of the National Association of Convenience Stores…
Experts Weigh In on Speedway Deal
The announcement today that the largest U.S. c-store chain, Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven, will grow to 14,000 North American locations with the $21 billion acquisition of Speedway, the No. 3 chain, has prompted many questions as to how the combination of the two will affect the rest of the industry. Convenience industry consultant Frank Beard said…
Experts Weigh In On Possible Couche-Tard, Speedway Deal
Canada-based Alimentation Couche-Tard announced last week that it plans to divest itself of 1,250 stores in the U.S. market in anticipation of gaining U.S. Federal Trade Commission approval of a planned purchase of Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Speedway chain. Couche-Tard is the second largest convenience retailer in the U.S. with just under 6,000 stores under…
Kwik Trip Waives Delivery Fees Amid Health Emergency
With a general public staying at home, wisely shy about venturing out amid the COVID-19 health emergency, La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip is making it easier for hungry, homebound customers to have food come to them by waiving delivery fees. Consumers can be forgiven for expecting some unscrupulous operators to take advantage of the situation…