It’s always nice when a general statistical look at an industry can be confirmed locally, and that is the case with convenience store beer sales as 2011 closes. The Beer Institute confirms that the convenience channel is one of the most important for beer. The category accounts for 30% of total U.S. industry volume. A…
NATSO Appoints New Vice President Of Membership
Darren Schulte welcomed to NATSO leadership team. NATSO has appointed Darren Schulte as the association’s new vice president of membership. “Darren brings a wealth of knowledge about the truckstop and travel plaza industry,” said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. “Combined with his retail merchandising, marketing and operations experience, Darren will be a valuable…
Love’s Unveils Free App and Sweepstakes
“Love’s Connect” is the first travel stop application available on all three major mobile platforms. Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores has announced its new “Love’s Connect” mobile application for iPhone, Android and Blackberry smartphones is available to download. The new Love’s mobile app provides customers real-time access to store locations, fuel prices, store amenities,…
Customer Relations Expert
Ralin Nespeca, the customer contact center manager for Oklahoma City-based Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, learned the value of customer service and an unwavering work ethic at a very young age. Those skills have proved to be a valuable asset on her career path. She joined Love’s in December 2008 as the call center…
How Foodservice Impacts Profits
Dennis Peters has no complaints about the proprietary fresh chicken program at two of his 24 Friendship Foods stores in Ohio. It’s popular, it’s profitable and it’s been a proven concept for the past 12 years. Well, maybe there’s one complaint. It’s a little too fresh. Not “peck-you-on-the-hand-when-you-grab-it” fresh, but certainly fresh enough to see…
Meeting the Growing Foodservice Demand
This is what happens: Dad breaks to one side of the store to choose a sandwich from the Hot Spot, which he complements with a cup of hot coffee and a bag of chips. Mom heads for the cappuccino dispenser, then works her way to a fresh salad kept cool in a temperature-controlled center-island…