The need to effectively merchandise tobacco in convenience stores has grown in importance due to what some c-store executives see as industry dynamics that have led them to focus more on three product categories: vaping, cigars and other tobacco products (OTP). Some see selling combustible cigarettes as a challenge requiring large amounts of capital, which…

Thousands of new SKUs and services are launched each year. Which ones will be successful and gain traction? CStore Decisions let our retailer panel of judges decide. In this video-based product contest, winners were determined by a point system that included innovation, packaging, likeliness to carry or implement in stores and more. New products/services are […]

Despite the recent setback for its flavored Bidi Sticks, which were caught up in the wave of Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) marketing denials issued by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against all non-tobacco and non-menthol flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), Bidi Vapor remains committed to compliance with FDA standards, stringent youth-access prevention…

Peter Krueger is the State Executive/Director of the Nevada Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (NPM&CSA) The past year has been difficult for everyone, but small businesses were especially hurt. Sorely missing the steady flow of customers during lockdowns the industry had come to rely upon, our businesses were left to fend for themselves. Unfortunately,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August issued the first marketing denial orders (MDOs) for electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products and is continuing processing applications and making decisions. As of Sept. 23, a total of 323 MDOs accounting for more than 1,167,000 flavored ENDS products have been issued. Products subject to an MDO…

Swisher announced the retirement of its CEO and president, John Miller. Neil Kiely, a member of the board of directors, has assumed the role of president of Swisher. “On behalf of the Board of Directors and Swisher’s employees, I would like to thank John for the work he has done for the company and our…

It has long been a given that American consumers not only want but expect basically everything – which makes finding the right mix of tobacco products all the more challenging for convenience store operators. Tobacco is already as diverse a category as there is, including everything from cigarettes (both traditional and natural), smokeless tobacco (chewing…

Amanda Gray is the Executive Director of the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association. As a working mom of three young kids, I agree that universal pre-kindergarten education – as proposed in the current spending package spearheaded by congressional Democrats – would be good for families and society.  However, the positive components of the spending package could be…

Convenience chain Circle K will be the brick-and-mortar outlet for diversified cannabis, hemp and vaporization company Canopy Growth Corp.’s first CBD vape, called whisl. The new line, which launched this week at Canopy Growth’s online store, will be available on store shelves starting Oct. 1, at more than 3,000 Circle K convenience stores nationwide. The…

In new statement, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it has made significant progress in reviewing the unprecedented number of new product applications submitted since the Sept. 9, 2020, deadline. FDA continues to review applications of the more than 6.5 million “deemed” new tobacco products – many of which were already on the market.…