DALLAS -- Convenience-store retailer Sheetz Inc. has won Restaurant Business magazine’s Tech Accelerator Award in the nontraditional category, presented at Winsight’s recent FSTEC technology conference.

Going beyond traditional convenience-store foodservice models, Sheetz is using technology to attract younger diners with its two food-first units near Penn State and West Virginia University, the magazine said. Under “Pay Here” signs, the chain brought in self-ordering kiosks in an effort to help lines during peak hours. And it is encouraging eat-in guests too by including outlets and USB ports near many seating areas. The chain’s marketing team is even on board, turning to social media to drum up some attention.

Established in 1952 in Altoona, Pa., Sheetz is one of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience-store chains, with more than $6.9 billion in revenue and more than 16,000 employees. The company operates more than 500 locations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.

Restaurant Business also named Eatsa—an automat-like concept expanding from the San Francisco Bay area—as the 2016 Tech Accelerator of the Year, a recognition of the restaurant industry’s leading innovator in automation.

Eatsa has changed the restaurant experience. Customers order a highly customized meal via an app, delivered into a cubbyhole-like slot. Customers tap twice to open a door and extract their meal.

Except for a facilitator in the area to answer questions and explain the process, humans are not involved in the ordering—just the preparation.

The new model of frictionless service has drawn considerable industry attention. Eatsa has four location and said it expects to open more in high-density employment and residential areas.

Eatsa was selected for the top technology honor by the editors of Restaurant Business from among the top innovators in three categories: limited service, full service and nontraditional. It honored Eatsa in limited service, Johnny Rockets in full service and Sheetz among nontraditional foodservice outlets.

For the second annual Restaurant Business/FSTEC Awards, the magazine’s editors reviewed nearly 200 restaurant chains to single out and celebrate the concepts that exemplified best practices—and guts—in the past year through social media, digital or comprehensive technology efforts. These awards are a collaboration between RB magazine and FSTEC, the technology conference of parent company Winsight, which was held Sept. 25-27 in Dallas.

Restaurant Business is the companion publication of CSP magazine and CSP Daily News.

DENVER -- Marijuana is not just about the smoke. Legal pot also finds its way into brownies, candy and other snacks. To protect children and adults from ingesting these products unintentionally, Colorado has taken steps to distinguish edible marijuana products from its lookalikes, reported the Associated Press.

As one of four states where recreational marijuana is legal, Colorado has added a requirement that edible marijuana products come with a diamond-shaped stamp and the letters THC on the packaging and directly on the candy or brownies.

The rule takes effect Saturday, Oct. 1, and was added after complaints that the treats looked too much like their non-intoxicating counterparts. It is the first such requirement to reference the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana in any state where it is legal.

Colorado’s “universal symbol” for foods that contain marijuana is designed to give the treats a distinct look even after they’re out of the package. The stamping requirement comes in addition to labeling and packaging rules that include childproof zippers and lids, along with warnings that the product should be kept away from children and not eaten before driving or while pregnant or nursing.

“We want to ensure that people genuinely know the difference between a Duncan Hines brownie and a marijuana brownie, just by looking at it,” state Rep. Jonathan Singer, a Democrat who sponsored the law, told AP.

There are no numbers in Colorado or any other marijuana state (Alaska, Oregon and Washington) on how many children or adults accidentally eat marijuana, according to the news agency. None of the other legal marijuana states has considered a universal symbol requirement for the products themselves, as opposed to the packaging. Colorado requires that packages of edibles contain the phrase, “Keep out of reach of children.”

Starting next year, the state also will ban any edible marijuana products in the shape of a fruit, animal or human--in addition to existing bans on the use of cartoon characters on packages or other images deemed attractive to kids.

Meanwhile, five states are voting on recreational marijuana in November. They are Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada. At least one Colorado state leader has encouraged other states to defeat the effort. Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said the law approved by voters there has had dire consequences, including increased teen use and more criminal activity. 

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Albertsons Cos. LLC and Chevron Products Co., a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., are bringing their Gas Rewards program to customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Customers who earn reward points by shopping at area Albertsons and Tom Thumb stores will now be able to use their reward points for up to 20 cents off per gallon when filling up at participating Chevron- and Texaco-branded locations. They can also redeem rewards points, up to $1 a gallon, at Albertsons and Tom Thumb on-site fuel centers.

Under the Gas Rewards program, for every 100 reward points customers earn by shopping at participating Dallas-area Albertsons and Tom Thumb stores, they receive a 10-cent-per-gallon Gas Reward. Customers earn reward points every time they use their registered phone number while shopping at any of the local Albertsons and Tom Thumb stores.

Customers receive one point per $1 spent on eligible grocery purchases; they receive two points per $1 spent on qualifying gift cards; and they receive one point for every out-of-pocket dollar they spend on pharmacy items, including co-pays.

Customers redeem their Gas Rewards by entering their registered phone number at the pump or in the store before fueling.

“This program extends the shopping experience because it benefits our customers after they leave our stores and gives them a great reason to keep coming back,” said Dennis Bassler, president of Albertsons Cos.’ Southern Division.

More than 900 of Albertsons Cos.’ 2,300 stores offer the program, and more than 2,800 Chevron and Texaco stations participate.

“Chevron is continually looking for innovative ways to provide value to its customers and reward them for brand preference,” said George Wall, vice president of Americas Products Chevron Products Co.

Albertsons customers can register for the program through the “just for U” app or online. Tom Thumb customers can use their Tom Thumb Rewards Card or phone number.

The Gas Rewards program is also available in Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and Carrs stores located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States. It operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 19 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs.

San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron Corp. is a major integrated energy company.

CUBA, Mo. -- Wallis Cos. has closed on the acquisition of a portfolio of convenience stores in the greater St. Louis area. This acquisition consists of 13 Dirt Cheap locations, 19 U-Gas convenience stores, one commissary operation and one undeveloped parcel for future store development.

Wallis Cos. signed the agreement to acquire the assets of U-Gas Holdings Inc., including the c-stores and Gigi’s Commissary, in late July.

The acquisition strengthens Wallis’s existing convenience-store network throughout Missouri.

“With entrepreneurial roots, our company has always focused on growth. We are excited about the new customers and new markets this acquisition allows us to serve. Our team has worked hard to make the transition smooth for customers,” said Lynn Wallis, president and CEO of Wallis Cos.

Most of the existing staff joined Wallis Cos. The company said it plans no immediate changes for store operations.

U-Gas was founded in 1977 in Fenton, Mo. Over the years, the company created multiple retail gasoline and convenience-store brands, including U-Gas and Dirt Cheap. It also is one of about a half-dozen c-store chains that have joined Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), committing to provide healthier food and snack choices to customers.

Founded in 1968 and based in Cuba, Mo., Wallis Cos. is a petroleum distributor and convenience-store operator. Its portfolio now includes more than 230 c-stores in the region. Wallis Cos. is a regional franchise developer for ExxonMobil’s On the Run c-store brand in Missouri. Other Wallis Cos. businesses include a lubricant division, a transportation division and a car-wash division.

CORONA, Calif. -- Monster Beverages will take aim directly at Mountain Dew this winter when it rolls out its newest variation, the appropriately named Mutant Monster.

With 115 milligrams of caffeine per 20-ounce bottle (vs. 180 mg in a 16-ounce Monster Energy), the green, citrus-flavored soda will go head to head with PepsiCo's Mountain Dew (91 mg of caffeine per 20-ounce bottle).

The new drink is Monster's first swing at bridging the short gap between energy drinks and legacy carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), and it's targeting the best-selling CSD in c-stores right out of the chute.

"We are putting our resources together to basically go after the leading carbonated soft drink in the convenience space, which is Mountain Dew. We are going to position it in the carbonated-soft-drink doors," Monster chairman and CEO Rodney Sachs said, according to a report in The Street.

New packaging will underscore Monster's move into a new category. Mutant Monster will come in a 20-ounce plastic bottle, a significant move for the company that's made itself synonymous with 16-ounce cans. Mutant Monster is expected to be priced at $1.99.

Mountain Dew is often considered the original energy drink with its caffeine content nearly double most CSDs. It also owns the most successful CSD/energy-drink hybrid, Mtn. Dew Kickstart. Introduced in 2013, Kickstart is now available in eight flavors targeting multiple dayparts. It is one of the fastest-growing beverages in convenience stores.

TEMPLE, Texas -- Convenience-store, grocery and foodservice distributor McLane Co. Inc. has expanded Spark, a companywide initiative focused on identifying workplace diversity opportunities through a variety of programs, community outreach and lending support to nationally recognized diversity-focused annual events.

With the expansion, McLane is furthering its commitment of creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce to foster creativity and innovation to better understand evolving trends.

As part of this expansion, McLane has collaborated with the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehab (DVR), Workforce Boulder County and Easter Seals on a Workplace Diversity Hiring pilot program that provides real-world work experience to individuals with disabilities.

DVR and Workforce Boulder County refer participants of the Workplace Diversity Hiring program to participate in a six-week training program that combines classroom and on-the-job training. The two weeks of classroom instruction includes soft-skills training, such as teamwork and problem solving taught by Easter Seals. The remaining four weeks of the program are located at the McLane Western Distribution Center, where participants will be exposed to real-world work experience as they integrate and work alongside McLane teammates. During the experiential training, a job coach accompanies participants, ensuring they receive proper training based on their individual abilities.

The second training session is scheduled to kick off in early October.

Other programs currently deployed under the Spark initiative include:

• Hiring Our Heroes (HOH): McLane embarked on a partnership with Hiring Our Heroes in 2015. Initiated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the 12-week corporate fellowship program strives to make the transition to civilian careers easier and more seamless for military veterans. McLane works with other HOH partners Workforce Solutions and the Texas Veterans Commission to source active-duty military personnel for on-site project work lasting 11 weeks. To date, McLane has successfully hosted four fellows and has hired three. With this partnership, McLane is able to tap into the skills, drive and value our veterans have to offer.
• Operation Impact Network of Champions: To further expand its veteran reach and talent with expertise in logistics, information technology, security, maintenance and business operations, McLane became part of the Operation Impact Network of Champions. Northrop Grumman, a Department of Defense contractor, started this program and sets out to assist wounded service members injured during the war on terrorism with transition from military to civilian careers.

"McLane recognizes the value of a diverse workforce to include people with disabilities from diverse backgrounds, and with highly trained military expertise. The launch of Spark deeply aligns with McLane's beliefs and values of honesty, integrity and high Christian principles, and further demonstrates our commitment to diversity inclusion,” said Jennifer Rojas, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance and inclusion manager for McLane.

McLane plans to include additional disability training programs under the Workplace Diversity Hiring Program, as well as seek out additional opportunities.

Temple, Texas-based is a supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions for convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores and chain restaurants throughout the United States. It is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Omaha.

ALTOONA, Pa. -- Executives at Sheetz convenience stores worked long and hard to gain the right to sell alcohol beverages, and they’re not going to let the sale of what it says will be the first bottle of wine from a Pennsylvania c-store go unnoticed.

The c-store chain’s board director, Louie Sheetz, will join the state’s speaker of the house, Mike Turzai, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, to commemorate the sale.

Both Sheetz and Turzai were instrumental in pushing for changes to the Pennsylvania Liquor Code.

Act 39, known as the "ABC and Wine Privatization Act," was approved in June and went into effect in August. It changed regulations on direct wine shipping, all-day liquor licenses for casinos, as well as expanding wine-to-go sales in groceries, convenience stores, restaurants and hotels. Customers will be able to purchase 3 liters, or four bottles of wine, in any one transaction at a c-store that holds an expanded restaurant permit.

"We have been lobbying for adult beverage sales reform for a long time," Sheetz said as long ago as 2013. “Allowing the private sector to manage the sale of alcoholic beverages is long overdue."

Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz operates more than 500 convenience stores in six states.

CHICAGO -- How’s business in 2016? What’s your outlook for 2017?

For the past decade, CSP’s annual, award-winning Outlook Survey has gauged convenience-store retailers’ business sentiment for the year ahead, challenges and opportunities, and their plans for the major in-store categories and fuel.

Last year, c-store retailers said they were having their best year ever. How does 2016 compare? 

Here’s where you come in. CSP is looking for convenience-store retailers to share their opinions and expectations in our quick survey. We will present the results in aggregate, with analysis, in the November issue of CSP magazine.

And by sharing your business outlook, you will be entered into a drawing for a $500 American Express gift card. But hurry—the deadline to participate is Oct. 7.

Click here to get started. Thanks!

And click here to read last year's survey results.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The state of North Carolina has dissolved the Guess Corp., a business that set its sights on becoming a force in the convenience-store industry with an aggressive store-development plan and a secondary chain of "ultra-luxury" c-stores.

"The Guess Corporation has been administratively dissolved ... for failure to file required annual reports on or before the date due," North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall wrote in a certificate dated Sept. 22.

The Guess Corp., Raleigh, N.C., claims to be in many business, including diamonds, yacht sales, construction and hospitality. In the past three months, the company has said it:

• Will buy 1,000 convenience stores to operate under its GP Express brand.
• Released drawings of the store design.
• Announced a restaurant concept—The Guess Bread Co.—that would provide foodservice to the c-stores.
• Requested applicants to become approved store operating partners.
• Launched the concept of a chain of “ultra-luxury gas/convenience stores as country clubs with memberships required” open to "households with a net worth exceeding $50 million."

The Guess Corp. has the option of requesting reinstatement in North Carolina, and some of its secondary arms—The Guess Bread Co., Guess Constriction Co., Guess Development Co. and Guess Petroleum, among them—have retained their corporation status.

CSP questions the legitimacy of the Guess Corp. and offers the caveat that little is known about it.

CSP Daily News has been studying the Guess Corp. since its first press release came out in July. Watch for a complete report in coming days on CSPDailyNews.com.

WASHINGTON -- Growth Energy is partnering with four major fuel retailers for its annual Pink Out program to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer during the month of October.

For each gallon of clean-burning E15 sold at participating Sheetz, Altoona, Pa.; Minnoco, Little Canada, Minn.; Protec, Boca Raton, Fla.; and Murphy USA, El Dorado, Ark., locations, 2 cents will be donated to an organization fighting to eliminate breast cancer.

“We are proud to work with such great partners to bring awareness to breast cancer research and support wonderful organizations working to eradicate this terrible disease,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, Washington, D.C. “Ethanol has replaced toxic, carcinogenic chemicals that were previously blended in gasoline, so ethanol has already helped in the fight against cancer in tangible ways.”

The Pink Out program will run through October at participating stations, with more than 720 dispensers included in the program in North Carolina, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas and Florida. Drivers who want to participate in this program should look for the pink nozzle handles and signage, and can find the nearest E15 station at getethanol.com.

E15 contains 5% more ethanol than regular gasoline and is approved for any car manufactured in the 21st century. 

Washington, D.C.-based Growth Energy represents producers and supporters of ethanol working to bring consumers better choices at the fuel pump, grow America’s economy and improve the environment for future generations.

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Social media has become such a big part of the daily cultural experience in America, even for business, and retailers including those in the convenience-store industry have been exploring how best to use it for enough years now that it’s easy to forget there are no rules, and that it can be used maliciously.

Plaid Pantries Inc., a 110-unit c-store chain based in Beaverton, Ore., learned that lesson the hard way when someone created a fake Plaid Pantries account, @PlaidPantryInc on Twitter and began posting less-than-complimentary comments, appropriating the chain’s official logo.

Most of the tweets allude to drinking, drugs, sex, robberies and cars crashing into the stores. Some of the milder tweets:

Construction delays on @trimet are nothing an ice cold 24oz can of malt liquor in a paper sack can't fix.

— Not Plaid Pantry (@PlaidPantryInc) August 23, 2016

The weekend doesn't have to end! Call in sick today if by some miracle you still have a job, and chill out with an ice cold @CoorsLight.

— Not Plaid Pantry (@PlaidPantryInc) October 3, 2016

If you aren't still wide awake from last night's debauchery, stop in for a hot cup of fresh coffee to jump-start your day #NationalCoffeeDay

— Not Plaid Pantry (@PlaidPantryInc) September 29, 2016

As you wonder where the summer went, remember that your tan will fade, but your drunken mistakes will haunt you forever.

— Not Plaid Pantry (@PlaidPantryInc) August 29, 2016

“We were made aware of it when a local newspaper, The Oregonian, contacted and asked me if it was our account,” Jonathan Polonsky, president of Plaid Pantries, told CSP Daily News. “We didn’t condone it.”

While the chain does have a website and mobile app, Plaid Pantry does not use social media of any kind. It does not have official Twitter, Facebook or other accounts.

“Our social-media strategy is not to have a strategy,” Polonsky said. “We don’t think it’s a win-win situation, so we decided that instead of doing it poorly, we wouldn’t do it at all. There was not a lot of upside from our point of view. We decided to not engage.”

Through an arduous process, Polonsky finally convinced Twitter to get the owner of the account to make it more explicit that it was not a Plaid Pantry account. It also posted a notice that reads: “Please fix your account.”

“It was shocking to me how hard it was to even get that done,” he said. “I had to prove that I was authorized to act on behalf of Plaid Pantry, and once I crossed that hurdle, I had to prove that we owned the trademark, and prove that they were doing something malicious from our point of view.”

The account holder has since altered the account profile to read “Not Plaid Pantry.”

“We’re still not comfortable with that, because they are still using our logo,” said Polonsky. “So I’ve got a call into our trademark attorney to figure out what course of action is open to us.”

Brought to you by WhiteWave Away From Home.

In convenience stores, coffee stations are often perceived to be cost centers, and the common strategy is to keep coffee costs painfully low. After all, you don’t want to waste time or money on something that has only an indirect effect on your overall success, now do you?

But what if devoting more to your coffee bar can have a monumental effect on how your customers see you, what they come to you for and how often they keep coming back? That’s worth some investment.

Here are six tips to elevate your coffee bar.

1. Brand engagement. Coffee drinkers of today are looking to engage with a brand. Use in-store signage and imagery to tell your brand’s story, emphasizing its rich, exotic or humanistic roots. Make stepping up to your coffee station an enveloping experience. Use branded ancillary products to reinforce the customers’ perception of quality.
2. Design details. The design of your coffee bar should be simple and sleek. Use a muted, natural color palate and varying textures such as woods and stainless steel. If possible, install new light fixtures over your coffee area, setting it apart and modernizing its look with soft, dim bulbs to create a relaxed vibe. If space permits, consider adding a modest seating area so customers can relax and stay awhile.
3. Customer flow. Your coffee bar should create a seamless self-serve experience for customers, using well-stocked inventory and efficient supply placement to minimize waiting and maximize up-sales. Get inside the mind of a customer and take note of their subconscious cues. Could pouring a cup of coffee inspire a craving for a pastry or an inkling to read a newspaper? Place these items within arm’s reach.
4. Smart supplies. Customers appreciate the ability to customize, but they also appreciate simplicity. Options are good, but too many can be overwhelming. Zero in on what syrups, spices, toppings, and creamers will be most popular with your clientele and then index around maximizing your return on investment. Consider portion-control creamers, which minimize waste and spillage and make for easy restocking.
5. Find your specialty. In the United States, there’s a growing population of specialty coffee drinkers who are willing to pay more for quality brews under seed-to-cup labels. Customers—specifically millennials—are now educated about things such as desirable single-origin coffees, brewing methods and coffee-to-water ratios. And they have distinguishing tastes. Make sure your staff is thoroughly trained and clear procedures are in place to maintain your coffee station so quality and flavor is consistent.
6. Be well-equipped. Coffee-making technology has come a long way and now French presses, espresso machines and commercial coffeemakers are available in many varieties with many different features. Before purchasing equipment, consider how the equipment’s look fits in with your vibe, the ease and expense of maintenance and the demands of your specific clientele.

MILFORD, Iowa --Kum & Go LC named Land Mark Products, an Iowa-based food manufacturer and distributor, its supplier of the year at the convenience-store chain’s annual meeting.

Several factors led to Land Mark receiving the award, according to Kum & Go, but it was Land Mark’s new artisan pizza program that contributed to the convenience-store retailer's official recognition of the manufacturer. Land Mark’s pizza platform offered a three-pronged approach that included menu development, customer research and employee training initiatives.

“The best convenience stores are also in the restaurant business,” said Dana Evaro, vice president of marketing for Land Mark Products, Milford, Iowa. “Kum & Go has always provided outstanding pizza but last year, they expressed that they wanted to offer their customers an artisan menu that would really establish their brand as a go-to pizza place.”

Kum & Go’s pizzas are made fresh in house. Available varieties of specialty pizza at Kum & Go include Italian Meat, Hawaiian, Bacon Cheeseburger, Taco and Chipotle Chicken Bacon Ranch. Customers are also offered the option to create their own pizza from a wide assortment of meat, cheese and vegetable toppings.

“We’re proud of our history in developing pizza programs," said Land Mark Products president Jason Farrell. "But serving great pizza is not easy. There are so many factors that have to come together to do the job right.”

According to Farrell, the strategic partnership with Kum & Go contributed to the program’s success. “Credit has to go back to Kum & Go as they’re willing to do the hard work to achieve excellence. We met their challenge,” he said.   

Based in West Des Moines, Iowa, Kum & Go operates more than 400 stores in 11 states.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Heineken will bring its "There's More Behind the Star" campaign to retail this holiday season through limited-time packaging and a collection of merchandising elements and marketing tactics.

The campaign, featuring Academy Award winning actor Benicio del Toro, brings Heineken to life by focusing on the brand’s rich heritage and international footprint. "There’s More Behind the Star" represents the brand’s biggest campaign and highest media investment ever in the United States.

Beginning in November, TV, digital and social media activations will reinforce Heineken’s credentials and drive consideration as legal-aged consumers plan and purchase for their holiday celebrations. A full suite of retail and on-premise merchandising elements and shopper marketing tactics, including partnerships with Yieldbot, Foursquare, My Web Grocer, Drizly and Shazam, will engage shoppers before and during their shopping experience and provide digital offers to drive repeat visits and purchases.

Special holiday packaging invites consumers to scan a Heineken bottle or pack and go to Heineken.com, where they can create their own personalized Shazam holiday card to share with family and friends and unlock prizes and high-value rebates (where legal).

In addition, Heineken is once again partnering with Pernod Ricard USA spirits brands and Terra brand real whole vegetable chips to offer consumers total shopping solutions at retail and provide retailers with display solutions to drive incremental basket rings.

“Beer is an essential purchase for holiday celebrations, large and small,” said Roberto Ryder, brand manager of Heineken, Heineken USA. “More than any other season, consumers want the brands they serve and enjoy during the holidays to reflect the spirit of the season and show their friends and family how much they care."

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Convenience-store retailer Cumberland Farms has chosen HighJump Warehouse Advantage as its warehouse management system (WMS).

“Last year, we made the decision to find a WMS that would not only modernize operations at our distribution center but prepare us for future growth,” said George Fournier, vice president of supply chain at Cumberland Farms, Framingham, Mass.

The chain needed a solution to replace its outdated homegrown system, a decades-old platform with limited WMS capabilities, it said. The company wanted to increase productivity and improve inventory and order accuracy at its 555,000-square-foot distribution center while maintaining scalability. That one warehouse acts as the hub for Cumberland Farms, which has nearly 600 convenience stores in eight states and more than 6,000 employees.

HighJump Warehouse Advantage will allow the distribution center to use system-directed operations, taking advantage of both radio frequency and voice technologies.

“Food and beverage suppliers face particular challenges like temperature and quality control,” Fournier said.

“Stocking close to 600 stores with a variety of food and beverage products requires careful coordination that can only be supported with highly adaptable warehouse technology,” HighJump COO Chad Collins said.

HighJump, Minneapolis, is a global provider of supply-chain network solutions. Its suite of warehouse management, business integration, transportation management and retail/direct-store-delivery (DSD) solutions form a complete and adaptable platform.

DALLAS and TULSA, Okla. -- In a deal that brings the Sinclair brand to Empire Petroleum Partners LLC’s list of branded fuel partners, Empire and Arkansas Valley Cos. are merging their assets, the companies have announced.

This deal is the latest in a series of mergers and acquisitions for Dallas-based Empire. It merged with Taylor, Mich.-based Atlas Oil’s retail dealer business in 2015, acquired the wholesale distribution rights of Keeman Petroleum, Valdosta, Ga.; Triple A Fuels, Dallas; and Sunshine Fuel, Palm Beach, Fla., in 2016.

Arkansas Valley’s AVP Metro Petroleum LLC operates 137 retail outlets, including 12 company-owned and -operated Sinclair-branded Fiesta Mart c-stores in Oklahoma and 125 dealer-operated gas stations in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas.

The Fiesta Marts are located in Broken Arrow, Chouteau, Warner, Eufaula, Okemah and Tulsa, Okla.

The owner and founder of Tulsa-based Arkansas Valley, Weister Smith, will continue to be an integral part of Empire Petroleum’s growth plans in the Sooner State and surrounding states, said the companies.

“We welcome Weister to the Empire family, and look forward to working with him to continue to grow in his markets,” said Hank Heithaus, CEO of Empire Petroleum.

“After 40 years as a petroleum distributor, I found it time to partner with a company that I trusted and would want to continue to grow on the successes that we have experienced at Arkansas Valley,” said Smith. “We believe that Empire will be successful not only with the assets that we currently have in place, but will continue to grow well into the future.”

As reported in a McLane/CSP Daily News Flash, the addition of the Arkansas Valley retail dealer business increases Empire’s fuel volumes in Oklahoma while also strengthening its relationships with its branded partners, including ConocoPhillips and others.

Empire Petroleum is a motor fuels distributor of brands that include Chevron, Shell, Valero, ConocoPhillips, Marathon, CITGO, Texaco, Sunoco, BP, Exxon, Mobil and Gulf. It distributes motor fuel products to more than 1,300 gas stations in 27 states in the mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest.

SAN FRANCISCO -- As PAX Labs introduced two new vapor products recently, the ever-morphing state of nicotine delivery appears to be experiencing both strides and headwinds.

San Francisco-based PAX introduced its PAX Era, what it described as a “new vapor platform for concentrates,” and a revised version of its premium vaporizer called PAX 3, at a time when a major manufacturer declared bankruptcy, big tobacco has stepped up its game and federal “deeming” rules have put added scrutiny on new products.

“The lifeblood of a technology company is innovation,” said Tyler Goldman, CEO of PAX Labs. “The development of the entirely new Era platform and PAX 3 device are the result of tens of millions of dollars of investment spent on [research and development] over the last few years.”

Beyond dollars, Goldman says the company’s track record of selling more than 1 million PAX vaporizers and millions of pods for its JUUL e-cigarette are strong indicators of the new products’ success. “I’m confident that we will find an equally high level of consumer demand for the latest additions to our product portfolio.”

Last month, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based NJOY declared bankruptcy after the introduction of a new product in 2013 failed to resonate with consumers. Meanwhile, the announcement of federal “deeming” rules this past spring have placed a complex registration process before manufacturers and their new products.

Competition has also stepped up from major tobacco companies, not just nationally but internationally. Daejeon, South Korea-based KT&G is gaining ground globally with the Seoul, South Korea-based Korea Herald reporting that 40% of KT&G’s profits come from countries overseas, including the United States. Geneva-based Japan Tobacco International has launched its Ploom Tech solution in Japan to take back ground already claimed by Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris and its iQOS product, reported New York-based Bloomberg. There is no word on when Japan Tobacco’s Ploom product would be entering the U.S. market.

With regard to PAX’s products, the company’s development team used $46.7 million in Series-C funding in early 2015 to develop PAX Era and PAX 3. PAX Era is the first temperature-controlled, portable-oil vaporizer, the company said. So-called “pen” products have become prevalent in the oil market, but so far have “limited the quality of oil experiences available to consumers,” PAX officials said in a statement.

The PAX 3 is a dual-use vaporizer for loose-leaf and concentrate materials. The product offers selection between three different ovens: a full-size oven, a half-pack oven and a concentrate oven. PAX 3’s heating system provides double the power of PAX 2, delivering consistent vapor in as little as 15 seconds, the company said.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As a convenience-store operator, you’re well aware of the contractual obligations you’re inundated with. These obligations tend to cause a lot of headaches and uncertainty, and span from agreements you have with your suppliers, lenders, leaseholders and so on. In turn, you may place contractual responsibilities on your vendors, dealers, service contractors, etc.

When it comes to your contractual liabilities, there are a lot of I’s to dot and a lot of T’s to cross. To safeguard your investment, it’s critical to understand the various insurance provisions and requirements addressed in each contract you’re involved with.

All contracts are loaded with words, words and more words … and by the end, your eyes may be saying, “Give me a break!” But a thorough review is necessary, and there are two important factors to consider when doing so:

1. Is my business accepting any unnecessary liability by signing the document?
2. Does my current insurance policy language provide the required coverage and limits dictated by the contract?

Staying on top of all of these contractual relationships is challenging and poses an administrative nightmare. Most retailers are good with their main contracts. However, many struggle with maintaining annual updates on companies that serve their business. This can lead to situations where a vendor may have insufficient insurance coverage or no insurance at all. In those cases, you could be brought in to pay for your vendor’s accident.

So what should you do?

• Start off with devising a contract management policy. This practice needs to be “owned” by someone within your company where they’re responsible for maintaining standards. The process should include a protocol for each contract to be evaluated by your insurance consultant.
• Then, you would confirm the proper coverage and limits are in place to satisfy the language within the contract.
• Finally, you should maintain an annual system to confirm that all of your relationships are vetted for proper coverage.

Don’t let contractual liabilities go unchecked; it could sink your business.

SAN RAMON, Calif. --Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has launched the aFANity sports-themed rewards program.

Eligible participants were able to sign up as members and begin earning points as of Oct. 1. They can redeem those points for prizes such as football tickets, autographed memorabilia, officially licensed team gear and experiences with their favorite teams.

Members earn points for signing up with aFANity and can earn additional points through activities such as connecting their social-media accounts, connecting their Chevron and Texaco Techron Advantage Credit Card, using their connected card at Chevron and Texaco gas stations in participating areas and attending Chevron-sponsored football games.

aFANity is available to residents of Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

“Sports fans are extremely passionate individuals, so we wanted to tap into that enthusiasm and find a way to reward them,” said Don Walker, general manager of the Chevron brand. “Being able to offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences with teams and other rewards such as autographed memorabilia will allow us to connect with consumers in a way we never have before.”

aFANity Rewards Program members will have several ways to redeem their points on the aFANity website. Through auctions and sweepstakes, members can win autographed memorabilia from Fanatics Authentic, tickets and experiences such as a round of golf with a legend from their favorite team or feeling what it’s like to be an equipment manager for a day. The aFANity Rewards Program leverages Chevron’s sponsored relationships with football properties across the NFL and NCAA to cater to all types of fan interests.

Consumers were able to sign up as members and create an account starting Oct. 1 at www.aFANity.com. There is no cost to participate.

San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron Corp. is a major integrated energy company.

NEW HOPE, Pa. -- Gerry Ramm, former chairman of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA), has been selected to serve as the new president of Spirit Petroleum. Ramm, of Soap Lake, Wash., will take the helm as Vera Haskins retires in December.

Ramm has been in the petroleum marketing business since 1976, when he began working for Inland Oil Co., and has served on several boards, committees and associations. His service to his state association and to PMAA spans nearly four decades.

He has worked in every aspect of the business at Inland Oil and bought the company in 1982. Shortly after that, he became involved in the Western Petroleum Marketers Association (WPMA) for the state of Washington. Joining the PMAA board as the Washington delegate, he became the chair of two committees. He left the PMAA board in 2000 to serve on the WPMA executive committee and became that organization’s president in 2002. Continuing his service with PMAA, he worked through various offices to become PMAA chairman in 2010.

In 2008, Ramm sold Inland Oil. After his retirement in 2011, he continued to serve the petroleum marketing industry. He completed his term as PMAA chairman and took on the leadership of the small-business political-action committee (PAC), raising funds to lobby for legislation that would improve the industry.

During his service with PMAA, Ramm was instrumental in the creation of Spirit Petroleum.

He praised the foundation that Vera Haskins has built for Spirit. “Through her dedicated leadership, she has taken the company from a mere concept to a high-profile brand with a great financial footing,” he said. “Taking the lead from her, I will continue to build relationships with our licensees while we explore new ideas to continue to strengthen the brand.”

Ramm also plans to strengthen the ties between PMAA and Spirit, and to work toward making the Spirit brand more competitive with major distributors.

New Hope, Pa.-based Spirit is a nationally recognized petroleum brand managed by marketers and owned by PMAA, which is a nonprofit organization.