You might know that the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp, which effectively legalized CBD, too. So, does that mean that CBD and hemp are the same thing? Yes. And no. Hemp Hemp is a strain of the ‘cannabis sativa’ plant species. Although cannabis (the drug) and industrial hemp both derive from cannabis…
What is Disruption?
Disruption is a term heard frequently in most industries these days, but what exactly are people talking about when they reference disruption? And more importantly, what can c-stores do about it? Technology today is moving quickly and it’s transforming the way various industries do business. This technological transformation is disrupting the status quo by offering…
What’s the Difference Between CBD and Cannabis?
CBD and cannabis are hot topics, but many people don’t know what they are exactly, or the difference between the two. The laws and regulations about selling or using them vary depending on location and other circumstances. So be sure to do significant research before you add any CBD or cannabis-related products to your shelves.…
What’s the Difference Between Grass-fed and Grain-fed Beef Jerky?
Don’t be surprised as more and more beef jerky makers begin touting their products with the “Grass-fed” label. That would mean the jerky meat comes from steer that is raised on a diet of grass alone all of its life – as opposed to being fed with grain. It’s better, right? Well, kind of. As…
What is CBD?
Since the production of hemp was federally legalized in 2018, the CBD industry began to rapidly grow. Retailers have recognized the sales potential and have been working to get these products on their shelves. But what exactly is CBD, anyway? ‘Cannabidiol,’ better known as CBD, is one of about 100 identified chemical compounds called ‘cannabinoids’ that…
What’s the Difference Between Proprietary and Co-branded Foodservice?
As the line between c-stores and fast-casual restaurants blurs, foodservice programs are becoming an integral part of the convenience store industry. But what exactly is the difference between proprietary and co-branded foodservice, and which is the best option for your business? In a nutshell: Co-branded foodservice is when a store partners with another brand or…
What is Smokeless Tobacco?
Combustible cigarettes are the overwhelming leader in tobacco sales not only in the United States, but worldwide. Smokeless tobacco products are only a small fraction of the market. Still, their sales increases are consistently wafting upward. So, what does the industry mean by “smokeless”? The answer is fairly straightforward – anything you can’t light up…
What’s the Difference Between Snuff and Snus?
Two popular types of smokeless tobacco on today’s c-store shelves are snuff and snus (rhymes with goose). Both are usually packaged in a small round “tin” or “can,” with plastic replacing the metal of old. So what’s the difference? Don’t fret. It’s easy to be confused by the terminology. In fact, “snus” is the Swedish…
What’s the Difference Between Skimming and Shimming?
Most convenience store retailers are unfortunately familiar with the term skimming. Skimming is a process by which a thief places a device on a card reader — usually at the gas pump or ATM — and intercepts the magnetic stripe information from credit cards as unsuspecting customers slide their cards. This allows the thief to…
Why AI Matters for Retail
Gartner and McKinsey Global Institute forecast trillions of dollars in annual impact from artificial intelligence (AI), yet most retailers still struggle to understand what AI is and how to pilot it in their organizations. A recent research project from MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) analyzed AI adoption based on a…