While frozen dispensed beverages are not a huge portion of the typical store’s overall sales, the product is proving to be quite profitable, thanks to a gross margin north of 50%. Although the slush-style drink was a c-store original, other retailers recognized its potential, and today, frozen beverages with a variety of names and logos…
A Taxing Time for Tobacco
Last year was truly a difficult time for tobacco. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) increased tobacco taxes from a “modest” 158% increase on cigarettes up to a hideous 2,000 plus percentage increase on roll your own tobacco and small cigars. (RYO went from $1.10 per pound to $24.68 and small cigars went from…
7-Eleven Adds Stores In Salt Lake City
7-Eleven Inc. has announced a real estate partnership with NAI Corporate Real Estate Services (NAI CRES) in the Salt Lake City market to build its presence in the area and significantly add to the nearly 100 stores the company operates, franchises and licenses in the area. The convenience retail leader selected NAI as its exclusive…
7-Eleven Expands in Central Florida
Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc.’s plans to expand in Central Florida already are underway with one new franchisee open in DeLand, Fla., and five more Florida stores in the works for 2010. The chain aims to open or convert 45 local stores by 2012, the Orlando Business Journal reported. The first of the five are opening soon.…
7-Eleven Looks To Las Vegas
Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. is ready to expand in Las Vegas, with 15-20 more stores in the next three years. Starbucks, meanwhile has closed 12 locations in the area, Las Vegas Review Journal reported. The c-store chain already runs 160 convenience stores in Clark County, Las Vegas, but recently hired a commercial real estate firm to…
7-Eleven Joins NATO
NATO, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, announced that 7-Eleven Inc. has joined NATO as a retail member. Based in Dallas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and licenses more than 6,970 stores in the U.S. and Canada. As one of the leading national retail trade associations that focuses exclusively on state and federal tobacco legislative issues, NATO’s…
7-Eleven Sells 12-Asset Portfolio
A portfolio of 12 7-Eleven stores, all of which were part of small strip centers, has sold to different buyers in transactions with a combined value greater than $20 million, GlobeSt.com reported. The 12 assets in Nevada, Texas and Virginia were acquired from the locally based 7-Eleven through all-cash deals. Seller representative Mehran Foroughi, senior…
7-Eleven Grows In New Jersey
7-Eleven is expanding in New Jersey, and at the Jersey Shore plans to add five new locations in Monmouth County and three in Ocean County this year alone, App.com reported. Throughout the state, 7-Eleven plans to open 200 more stores in 2010 and 2011, according to The Goldstein Group, a commercial real estate firm in Paramus.…
IRI’s Thom Blischok Keynote Speaker at Retail Technology Conference
Leading consumer trends expert Thom Blischok will be the keynote speaker at Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Retail Technology Conference, March 8 – 11 at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, N.C. On Wednesday, March 10 at 8:00 a.m. Blischok will discuss trends in retail and how technology is essential to compete. As president of thought leadership and…
Thinking Outside the Box
In 2010, retailers are getting creative to reach customers with the general merchandise category. As with other categories, expect customers to be focused on finding more value for their dollar. 7-Eleven Inc. sees quirky, fun products attracting customer attention at its chain in 2010. The Dallas-based chain ended the fourth quarter of 2009 with an…