By Mel Kleiman, CSP Just as you should consistently ask applicants questions that get you all the information need, so should you question yourself every time you consider hiring a new employee. These six questions will help glean valuable company information and ultimately save time and money. 1. Can we do this job differently or…

Convenience retailers are building incremental sales with “gift card mall” selections from a host of local and national retail chains. Convenience retailers are building incremental sales with "gift card mall" selections from a host of local and national retail chains. By John Lofstock, Editor Convenience and grocery executives are desperately looking for new growth drivers.…

Kwik Trip is maximizing efficiency by combining business intelligence with energy intelligence. Kwik Trip is maximizing efficiency by combining business intelligence with energy intelligence. By Mark Kortkamp, Contributing Editor Kwik Trip Inc. was chosen "Chain of the Year" in 2004 by Convenience Store Decisions largely because people are the heart of their company, and technology…

The convenience store industry was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, and many retailers are still recovering from the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Hurricane Katrina caused nearly $1 million in damages to a dozen Danny & Clyde’s convenience stores owned by Donna Cyprowski and Chris Rittiner, who took the chain’s reins from their fathers.…

Chevron Invests in Biodiesel FacilityChevron Corp., which operates 2,800 convenience stores, has invested through a subsidiary, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), in a Houston-based company that is building one of the first large-scale biodiesel plants in the U.S. The facility will have the potential to produce 100 million gallons per year of this clean-burning renewable…

The concept of tomorrow is being offered today. A CSD Staff Report For convenience store retailers, cashiers embody both the assets and the liabilities of running a cash-intensive business. Cashiers provide the face and the feel for store operations, but also the risk from cash and cash handling in the form of both internal and…

Armor Safe is urging retailers to utilize their financial resources on cash management systems that help reduce internal theft and maximize employees’ time. A CSD Staff Report Missing deposits, shortages, security concerns and the time spent handling cash are constant problems for busy convenience store managers. Armor Safe understands the growing demands of today’s store…

Circle K and Worsley roll out innovative programs to streamline costs and boost profitability. By John Lofstock, Editor With fuel prices soaring to record highs, marketers are desperately looking for software solutions that can help them manage the business more effectively. On the fuel supply side, tighter control of distribution could enhance margins and increase…

Grappling with consumers’ growing interest in wine and spirits, major beer manufacturers are turning to new tastes and flavors—and, in some places, it’s working. By Ross Markman Retail Relations Editor Forget for a moment about the rising tide of wine and spirit sales and that traditional beer companies in recent years have introduced everything from…

By Ross Markman Retail Relations Editor Highlighted by a theme dinner that mimicked the Food Network’s popular Iron Chef television program, the National Convenience Store Advisory Group (NCSAG) foodservice conference was a success, particularly for the more than 300 retailers and suppliers in attendance. The three-day event, held in Atlanta, was the first NCSAG show…