Smith’s Food & Drug Stores, a division of the Kroger Co., has opened its first Express fuel station and convenience store at 1974 S. 1100 East in Sugar House, Utah, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. A second location at 873 E. South Temple in Salt Lake City is set to open this month. Both…
Zippo Acquires Ronson Corp. Assets
Bradford, Pa-based Zippo Manufacturing Company has completed the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Ronson Consumer Products Corporation of Woodbridge, N.J., and Ronson Corporation of Canada Ltd.; and certain related assets of Ronson Corporation. Zippo is one of the world’s most widely recognized brands, best known for its iconic refillable windproof lighter. The…
The 2010 Foodservice Report
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…
Gulf Oil Acquires Gulf Brand From Chevron
Framingham, Mass.-based Gulf Oil LP, a division of Cumberland Farms Inc., has acquired the rights to the Gulf brand in the U.S. from Chevron USA Inc., the Boston Business Journal reported. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gulf Oil began using the Gulf name in 1986 through a licensing agreement with San Ramon, Calif.-based…
Fuel Rising Fast
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN The average price for regular grade gasoline sold at retail outlets across the United States is poised to climb to a 15-month high early this week when government pricing data is released, with the Jan. 4 average reported at a $2.665 gallon two-month high. A 3-cent…
OPMCA Appoints Vice President
The Ohio Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (OPMCA) has named Christina Haddad Polesovsky as vice president of the organization. Polesovsky will oversee government and regulatory affairs as well as assist the president and CEO in managing administrative and public relations functions for the statewide trade association. Polesovsky most recently served as chief of staff…
Protecting Cigarette Sales
TOP PERFORMERS Altria Sales & Distribution (Philip Morris USA) R. J. Reynolds Lorillard HONORABLE MENTIONS Liggett Vector Natural American Spirit/Santa Fe (Reynolds American) Commonwealth Brands Despite the wild nine-month ride that saw a large federal tax increase and the Food & Drug Administration gain control over the category, cigarettes continue to dominate in-store sales, accounting…
Changing its Stripes
Susser Holdings Corp. at a glance A dynamic marketer Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, Susser Holdings is the largest non-refiner, convenience store operator in Texas, with additional stores in Oklahoma and New Mexico. It operates 516 convenience stores through its Stripes LLC division and is the 19th largest c-store chain in the U.S. Convenience Store…
Acquisitions Fuel EZ Energy’s Growth
EZ Energy USA At a Glance Headquarters: Mansfield, Ohio Stores: 92 (68 company-operated and 24 dealer-operated sites) Total Estimated Sales: $480 million Markets of Operation: northeast and central Ohio, Pittsburgh Retail Brands: ampm, Easy Trip Fuel Brands: BP, Marathon Fuel Volume: 160 million gallons annually While many marketers are struggling to ride out this economic…
Marketing the Forecourt
When it comes to convenience stores, every square inch of selling space is precious real estate. And when the inside of a store is fully merchandised, the only place left to go is the forecourt area. Some convenience store retailers have always made good use of the forecourt area—whether or not it featured fuel pumps—to…