Zip back to Nov. 4, 2008, when CNN newscaster Wolf Blitzer seemed smitten by some techno-spice his network rolled out during its coverage of the presidential election. It went like this: A 3D image of a CNN correspondent in Chicago was beamed to the network’s New York headquarters, where she appeared in-studio as a hologram.…

Security remains an ongoing concern for convenience store operators, but new technologies and approaches are offering some great help. And great help is a great asset, because there is a lot of work to be done. Bad economic times mean increases in petty theft at retail. In fact, U.S. retailers lost $34.8 billion in stolen…

Tougher economic times are pushing convenience retailers to look at how they can improve operations. While cutting costs may be one common theme, savvy retailers are also looking at other avenues to help them stand out among the competition. “The economy changed and that changes how people are buying,” said Brooks Blair, owner of Bells…

Built masterfully Master-Bilt, a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration systems, introduces an innovative reverse-cycle process into its new and existing product lines. Adding a reverse-cycle valve to the condensing unit reverses the direction of refrigerant flow during defrosts when automatically activated by the Master Controller system. The process uses less energy than electric defrost heaters, resulting…

The Alto-ShaamCombitherm has further developed combination oven/steamer technology to provide complete smoking ability. Available in three electric boiler-free models, thispatented technology gives operators the unique ability to smoke any product,hot or cold, and follow it with a non-smoked item without any residual smokeflavor. Rich, smoke flavor offers menu diversification and even greater costsavings over smoked…

Until recently, spending hours scanning through poor-quality videotapes was the only way Flash Foods could investigate “questionable” transactions in its stores. The company wanted to maintain a “presence” at the point-of-sale to deter internal theft, but it needed something that met the needs of its time-pressed managers. “The system we had in place was archaic,…

Alto-Shaam Inc.’s SC-36/2 Heated Countertop Display Unit is a free-standing, hot food merchandiser designed for the high visibility of hot packaged foods. Its compact design is just 36″ wide, fitting easily in most countertop layouts. Thermal-kinetic glass technology provides two evenly heated display surfaces, holding packaged foods at safe temperatures to offer quality holding on…

  Generac Power Systems introduces its new line of automatic standby generators. Thenew QT Series models, ranging in output from 15 to 150 kilowatts, have been designed specifically for commercial applications. All QT models feature sound attenuated enclosures to ensure quiet operation, as well as interior cooling fans and air passageways for maximum cooling effectiveness…

  KZCO adds the I-OpenR to its automated product line. KZCO’s patented I-OpenR allows for hands-free disposal through an automated swinging door available for installation in a wide variety of trash bins. The I-OpenR provides retailers with a cleaner, more efficient facility by reducing embarrassing spills and subsequent cleanup. The I-OpenR includes a LED trash level…

Frymaster Dean continues to lead the industry with innovative designs that meet customers’ changing needs. The new Frymaster Application Series combines an open pot and tube fryer in the same cabinet and shares a common filter. Frymaster and Deancontinue to “Fit the Way You Fry” with high performance, low maintenance and innovative designs to lead…