It had to happen sometime. Energy drinks, arguably the most popular convenience store product in the early-to-middle years of the decade, have begun to slow their sharp rise. Call it a correction, perhaps. A report released last month on the category by research firm Mintel showed that while growth in the category from 2005-2010 was…
Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Inc. magazine has revealed its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy-America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Music Web site Pandora, convenience store chain 7-Eleven, Brooklyn Brewery, and Radio Flyer, maker of the iconic children’s red wagon,…
Kum & Go Teams With Iowa Wine Growers
Kum & Go and Iowa wine growers have joined forces to offer a directory and coupon booklet that could generate up to $50 in savings at Kum & Go stores, the Des Moines Register reported. Visitors to the Iowa Wine Garden at the 2010 Iowa State Fair can buy the Iowa Wine Companion for $15.…
Managing Packaged Beverages
New products and core beverages will always drive cold vault sales. So when is the right time—and how often does that right time come—for category managers to reset them? “We do cold vault resets twice a year, which means we’re making fairly minor adjustments all the time,” said Richard Ginther, category manager for Kum &…
Kum & Go Features E85 Promotion
To start off the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race weekend the Kum & Go station at 2110 Guthrie Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa featured an E85 promotion and a two-hour appearance and autograph signing by race car driver Marco Andretti. On Thursday, June 17 from 5:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m. customers that visited the Kum &…
ISU Wins Krause Challenge
Kum & Go L.C. announced that Iowa State University is the 2010 winner of the Krause Challenge. Launched in 1998 by W.A. Krause, founder and chairman of Kum & Go, the Krause Challenge gives finance students at The University of Northern Iowa, Drake University, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa real world investment…
Empowered by Energy Efficiency
With energy costs soaring and customers rewarding sustainable behaviors, many convenience store chains are realizing the need to upgrade stores to be more energy efficient. World marketed energy consumption is projected to increase by 44% from 2006 to 2030, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The increase could hit c-store retailers especially hard…
Kum & Go Debuts ‘Name Our Cup’ Contest
Kum & Go L.C. has kicked off its summer fountain drink contest dubbed the ‘Name Our Cup Contest’ where customers get a free soda with purchase. The contest, which started on May 1, is a first of its kind for the convenience store chain. Customers will submit names at the beginning of the summer for Kum…
Kum & Go Raises $95,000 For JDRF
Kum & Go L.C. collected $95,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) during its 2010 sneaker campaign. In March, customers at Kum & Go stores were asked if they would like to purchase a paper sneaker for $1 to support JDRF. Customers donated more than $85,000 and Kum & Go added to the total contribution.…
Kum & Go Donates $8,000
Kum & Go L.C. has donated $8,000 to the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools (FSPS)-collected through the c-store chain’s Fuel Your School Program. Kum & Go contributed three cents from every gallon of gas sold on April 8 at 41 Springfield area locations to the organization, which supports the Springfield Public Schools. The check was…