The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13 issued a pair of rulings that affect employer vaccine and mask mandates handed down by the Biden administration. One ruling put a temporary halt to the administration’s COVID-19 vaccine, testing and mask mandate for large employers. The high court, though, let stay a separate rule that applies only…
Street Corner’s Post-Pandemic Reinvention
Street Corner may not be the new kid on the block — it first entered the market in the mid-1980s — but the chain’s reinvention post-pandemic positions it as a cutting-edge, modern c-store business. With a new CEO at the wheel, Street Corner recently debuted a revamped foodservice menu and is aggressively rolling out three…
Security Strategies for 2022
If COVID-19 weren’t challenging enough for convenience retailers, the start of the pandemic saw an increase in crime, said Sean Sportun, a security expert who’s spent almost 18 years in the convenience store world, 15 of which were with Circle K, leading the company’s Central Canada Loss Prevention Department. “People, it seemed, felt very comfortable…
GPM Investments Ready With Winter Deals
GPM Investments announced its winter season promotions, running through March 29, including winter deals that will help customers save on essentials for Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day, as well as extra savings for enrolled fas Rewards members. GPM’s winter deals make any one of its 18-banner family of stores a destination for customers looking…
Kum & Go Partners With BLK & Bold Coffee Brand
Kum & Go recently partnered with premium coffee brand BLK & Bold to elevate customers’ coffee options. Currently available at 35 Kum & Go locations in Little Rock, Ark.; Omaha, Neb.; and Des Moines, Iowa, BLK & Bold’s featured roasts are all sustainably grown, small-batch roasted and Fair Trade Certified. “Kum & Go is committed…
Refuel Funded to Continue Expansion Strategy
The successful closing of First Reserve Refuel Fund has provided Refuel, a buy-and-build platform with over 170 operated convenience stores located across the Southeastern U.S., a $511 million capital influx. The Fund provides additional dry powder for Refuel to continue pursuing its acquisition-driven growth strategy. The Fund was led by the Goldman Sachs Asset Management…
7-Eleven International Names Ken Wakabayashi Co-CEO
7-Eleven announced Ken Wakabayashi as the new co-CEO of 7-Eleven International (7IN), following his now prior role as 7-Eleven’s senior vice president and head of International. Wakabayashi will now lead the 7-Eleven brand’s global growth strategy alongside co-CEO Shinji Abe from Seven-Eleven Japan. “We are thrilled to offer our congratulations to Ken Wakabayashi on this…
Foxtrot Raises Additional $100 Million in Funding
Foxtrot announced it received $100 million in Series C funding, led by D1 Capital Partners with continued participation from existing investors Monogram, Imaginary, Almanac, Wittington, Fifth Wall and Beliade and joined historical investors Lerer Hippeau and Revolution. The Series C brings total funding to $160 million. Founded by Mike LaVitola and Taylor Bloom in 2014,…
Love’s to Open More Than 40 New Locations in 2022
Love’s Travel Stops announced plans to open more than 40 locations and add more than 3,000 truck parking spaces and 3,000 jobs in 2022. The announcement follows a challenging but successful 2021. The company opened 38 new locations, added over 3,000 truck parking spaces and donated several million dollars to support its core customer —…
Why NAG Is Right for You
I’m sure everyone will join me in saying good riddance to 2021, and let’s hope 2022 brings good health, and personal and professional growth. As we move into a new year, we are working hard on the upcoming National Advisory Group (NAG) conference scheduled for March 27-30 in La Jolla, Calif. Personally, I can’t wait…