“Consumers are back in the game,” James Russo, vice president of global consumer insights at Nielsen, assured the crowd of retailers at the NACS State of the Industry Summit in Chicago this week. Russo shared the top consumer behaviors c-store operators should watch for this year, noting that while consumers were on the sidelines in…
Economists Offer 2010 Outlook
Economists presented both sides of the picture to retailers at the NACS State of the Industry Summit in Chicago this week. The 2010 NACS State of the Industry Summit marked the 40th anniversary of the State of the Industry survey conducted by NACS. When the survey began, industry sales were recorded at just over $1…
SymphonyIRI Reveals Top New Products
At the NACS State of the Industry Summit in Chicago this week, Matt McCourt, director of Convenience / Spirits for SymphonyIRI Group, spoke on the new products in the c-store channel drawing the most excitement from consumers. Topping the list by Symphony IRI of the top new items in total U.S. c-stores for the 13…
All in the Family
In these difficult economic times it’s rewarding to meet successful businesses that are doing things the right way. It’s even more gratifying when these businesses are family owned and operated. Such is the case with High’s of Baltimore. There aren’t too many 82-year-old companies in this industry that I’m not familiar with, but I admit…
President Obama Signs PACT Act
NACS and convenience retailers are enjoying a huge win today, thanks to enactment of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act), which addresses the long-standing convenience store industry concern of tax evasion via remote sellers of tobacco products. Today’s White House signing by President Barack Obama caps a 10-plus year effort by retailers to…
FDA Panel Looks At Menthol Cigarettes
A new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel is examining menthol cigarettes and how the government should regulate them, although most believe an outright ban is unlikely, the Associated Press reported. The committee is meeting Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the scientific research on the public health effects of menthol cigarettes, including among children…
FDA Issues Final Rule On Tobacco
The FDA has released its final rules regarding the sale of tobacco. Retailers will need to be in compliance with these rules by June 22, 2010. Today’s action by FDA restricts the sale, distribution and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, including provisions that: • Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to…
Senate Passage of PACT Act a ‘Major Win’ for Retailers
The March 11 Senate passage of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act), which addresses the long-standing convenience store industry concern of tax evasion via remote sellers of tobacco products, is a “major win” for retailers, according to NACS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Lyle Beckwith. Authored by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and…
Kansas Debates Higher Sin Taxes
The Kansas Senate Assessment and Taxation committee had a hearing Wednesday to hear all sides before ruling on the legislature’s proposed tax increases on cigarettes, liquor and fuel that would cover an estimated $400 million budget shortfall, the Kansas Reporter reported. Tom Palace, executive director of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas,…
The Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco supports passing Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking
The Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco has praised the New York Association of Counties for passing a resolution calling for the federal government to support and implement the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009, S. 1147. The resolution, passed by NYSAC on Feb. 11, 2010, calls on Congress “to take any and…