New merger will provide both companies with better resources. An investment fund managed by Houston-based Saracen Energy Advisors LP has acquired FuelQuest Inc., a provider of information technology, supply chain management and tax automation technologies to the downstream petroleum complex, fuel retailers, fuel suppliers, distributors, trading firms and large transportation companies. The acquisition will provide…

Services will be made available to current and newly franchised On the Run and Tigermart stores. Burnaby, B.C.-based TIO Networks Corp., automated bill payment and financial services network, opted for a five-year extension to its strategic alliance with Exxon Mobil. The relationship, which began in 2004, has been extended to 2012. Under the terms of…

Combining ACH networking technology with an established loyalty program can divert customers from paying with plastic. by Michael Ferrari ____________________________________________ Cash, in its green, paper form, is being phased out. Customers are relying more and more on credit cards to make most of their transactions. And why shouldn’t they? Cash can be cumbersome to have…

Company renegotiates terms and ups capacity. The Pantry Inc. has completed the expansion and renegotiation of certain terms of its senior secured credit facilities. The facilities include a $350 million term loan, increased from approximately $304 million previously, and a $225 million revolving credit facility, increased from $150 million previously. In addition, the agreement includes…

Retail safes, or “smart safes” as they’re often referred, are quickly becoming a regular component of secure, successful stores. And with their increasing regularity in the industry comes expanded options and technology for retailers to take advantage. CSD gathered insight from four of the biggest cash management suppliers to discuss how their products can best…

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Gate Petroleum Co. has selected the Boomi Visual Integration Platform to meet the company’s current business-to-business integration software needs as well as emerging application integration requirements. “We evaluated our technology infrastructure and realized we could significantly improve business processes if we pulled together information from standalone applications and connect directly with our trading…

Combining both top-of-the-line technology and in-depth training, Circle K is taking strong steps in the field of cash management. Cash management and securityare essential components of anyc-store operation. Retail venues of all types run high risks of robbery—from both internal and externalsources—but c-stores face a higher riskdue to the inherent nature of the business. For…

Opportunities exist to capture fuel acquisition cost-savings, but do you know what they are? By Brian L. Milne, Contributing Editor Downstream fuel buyers face unprecedentedchallenges in high levels of priceand supply volatility with their fuel buying Opportunities to capture acquisition cost-savings and maximize profit can be lost seconds in up-and-down markets. More than ever, the…

Between lighting, refrigeration and heating and air conditioning, retailersuse an average of 62 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, accordingto the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Coupled with the skyrocketingprice of natural gas and historically high summer demands, electric costs takean even larger bite of c-store owners’ operational costs. Most chains have already implemented the…

Loyalty programs are cultivating a new breed of price-conscious consumers. As long as gasoline prices remain high, consumers will be attracted to fuel discounts. That’s the common sense that led retailers to create customer loyalty programs in which fuel discounts are the prize, instead of the more customary prizes like airline travel or cash back.…