Sunoco Inc. reported its 2010 second quarter results today, including a net income attributable to Sunoco shareholders of $145 million ($1.20 per share diluted) compared to a net loss attributable to Sunoco shareholders of $55 million ($.47 per share diluted) for the second quarter of 2009. “While market conditions during the second quarter remained challenging,…
Consumer Confidence Returning?
Impulse purchases of sodas, Hershey bars and snacks are on the upswing at U.S. convenience stores, a sign the economy and consumer confidence might slowly be turning around, Bloomberg.com reported. The decline in soda sales at convenience stores slowed last quarter for the first time in at least a year, according to PepsiCo and Coca-Cola,…
Cosmetic Lenses Cause Conflict in Connecticut
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is demanding that convenience stores and other retail locations in the state immediately stop selling cosmetic contact lenses, the Hartford Courant reported. Noncorrective lenses can only be legally sold to consumers by licensed eye care professionals, Blumenthal said at a press conference. Dr. William Ehlers, a Hartford ophthalmologist, discovered the…
7-Eleven To Offer New Magazine For Hispanic Audience
This summer, nearly 2,000 7-Eleven stores across the country will offer the quarterly Spanish magazine Constru-Guia al Dia, which will increase the publication’s readership 251% and reach a growing demographic at c-stores. The new distribution at 7-Eleven, coupled with an existing collaboration with The Home Depot, will put Constru-Guia al Dia directly into the hands…
Hess Launches ’Gas Giveaway’ for East Coast Drivers
Hess, the leading independent gasoline convenience store marketer on the Eas Coast, has launched Hess Gas Giveaway, an online contest for residents of 12 states to win up to a year’s worth of free gas. Residents 18 years of age or older who live in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North…
Pizza Offers Foodservice Flexibility
As foodservice sales make up for lost gasoline and cigarette profits, more retailers are jumping on the pizza bandwagon. It’s a wise move considering Americans love their pizza. According to Parade magazine, 94% of the U.S. population eats pizza; Pizzaware.com noted that Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza each day (350 slices per second);…
Managing the Crowded Cold Vault
When it comes to packaged beverages, what gets put on the shelves may not be what customers are looking for and, in this economy, that’s a situation retailers must avoid. Making wise, informed buying decisions is the crucial difference between boosting cooler sales and blowing a lot of hot air. From colas to energy drinks,…
Changes Abound at ExxonMobil
Since winning CSD’s Chain of the Year award in 2003, Exxon Mobil Corp. has been busy, beefing up it’s foodservice program at On the Run stores, then forming a new strategy that moves away from direct-store operations and beating out Wal-Mart for the top spot on the Fortune 500 list. But it’s the changes at…
Get a Grip
The Can Grip is a newly developed novelty drinking accessory that easily clips onto 12-ounce cans giving them a stein style handle. The Can Grip ensures the can stays cold and the hand stays warm and also eliminates the need for a coaster. It can be used on sodas or beers making it a versatile…
Establishing the Right Foodservice Brand
There are few sure things in business. But partnering with an established foodservice brand could be about as close as one can get. That’s because proven concepts offer so much, such as built-in brand equity, customer loyalty, honed or even turnkey systems with shorter learning curves, proven menus and recipes, pre-existing designs and equipment packages…