By Brett Wilshe, Contributing Editor When Apple released iTunes in 2001, music retailers began to question their futures. The music industry, once an invincible force in the global market, suddenly seemed vulnerable. But a much larger question loomed: Would it stop with music?  We live in an age where corporeal media is vanishing. Newspapers are…

Now that customers are used to finding fresh food at their local c- stores the pressure is on the roller grill to maintain its share of foodservice sales. Thanks to the innovation of retailers and suppliers alike, the roller grill continues to turn out strong sales. Chains are bundling meals with fountain drinks and chips…

  7-Eleven, Inc. aims to donate more than $2 million to charities as it launches its charity-focused coffee campaign this month: “7-Eleven Coffee Cup With A Cause.”   Throughout 2010, 7-Eleven will introduce limited-edition 20-ounce coffee cups designed by entertainment and sports celebrities to be sold in 7-Eleven stores nationwide. Proceeds from cups sold will benefit…

  Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc.’s Joe DePinto is starring on CBS’ new reality show Undercover Boss, later this February and is appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about what he discovered walking in his employees’ shoes, the Dallas Morning News reported. The show reveals the impact of decisions made at the corporate level, defining problems…

Convenience store operators still not convinced foodservice is the future take heed. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is predicting record-high sales of $580 billion in 2010. Furthermore, of the 70 different retail segments NRA tracks, the group identified convenience stores as the food industry’s “bright spot” when it comes to meeting consumer demand for fresh…

Lifeway Foods Inc., makers of the probiotic dairy beverage called Kefir, will donate 5% of the proceeds from all Lifeway and Helios brand Kefir and ProBugs product sales in the U.S. generated through shipments during February to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of Haitian relief efforts. The effort strives to provide life-saving supplies…

Innovation will differentiate the winners from the losers in this crowded retail marketplace. IRI’s Summit 2010 will enable retailers to identify innovative ways to use valuable insights to drive profitability and growth in the current economy, how to understand and predict shopper behavior across channels and geographies and learn best practices for profitable pricing and…

Professional comedian and motivator Don McMillan is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at NACStech, the premiere technology solutions event for the convenience and petroleum retailing industry, NACS reported. NACStech will take place May 5-7, 2010, in New Orleans. McMillan will combine his technical experience and humor during the event’s Opening General Session talk. At…

This week, 7-Eleven is being honored by Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) as the 2009 winner of the Retail Chief Award for Merchandising Excellence. The award will be given during POPAI’s Annual Night of Honors on Thursday, Jan. 21, in Miami Beach, Fla., concluding the 2010 MarketSmart Conference. “I can’t think of a more…

7-Eleven Inc. has selected FM Facility Maintenance to handle all store maintenance for its 6,200+ corporate- and franchise-owned locations in both the U.S. and Canada. The agreement allows 7-Eleven to centralize maintenance activity in order for stores to operate more efficiently, while reducing costs. “We believe 7-Eleven, our store operators, franchisees and, most importantly, our…