Convenience & Carwash May June 2019

MAY | JUNE 2019

Canada’s most read Canadian owned and operated Convenience, Retail Petroleum and Carwash Publication

CORE-MARK

UNVEILS THE

CENTRE OF

EXCELLENCE sponsored by RACEPRO

Eric Rolheiswer president Core-Mark Canada

PM41670539

BLUEPRINT TO FOODSERVICE: LUNCH PROGRAMS PAGE 14 GREENER STORES: ENERGY EFFICIENCY PAGE 17

PAGE 31

CARWASH CANNABIS PAYMENT ACCESSORIES: SYSTEMS: COMING COMPLIANCE FULL CIRCLE CHECKLIST GUIDE PAGE 51 PAGE 24 WOMEN IN CARWASH: FORECOURT INSIGHT: CONFERENCE CLEANING UP DIESEL REVIEW PAGE 60 PAGE 06

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50 th

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CANADA’S VEHICLE WASHING CHEMICAL & EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER Protecting The Environment

INDUSTRY LEADING: • Touchless products • Packaging • Car Wash Equipment • Chemical Monitoring • Service

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PAYMENT

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

Cover Story

Petroleum and Carwash

Industry News

Instore and Nutrition

30 43 06 10 Centre of Excellence – Core-Mark’s Concept Becomes Reality

04 Publisher’s Message – Welcome to Spring

05 Editor’s Message – Meals on the Go

Car Care – A Chemical Conversation

51 Payment Solutions – Carwash Systems

Hockey Cards Help Build Women in Carwash – Conference Review

Become a Shopping Destination – Little Things Count

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CICC – Making an Impact

Blueprint to Foodservice – Lunch Programs

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Washtalk – PA Hand Wash

CannaBIZ – Market Update

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24

Forecourt Insight – Diesel Fueling

Cannabis Accessories – Compliance Checklist Guide

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Shell Hydrogen Service Stations

On Your Corner – Gas King Fuels Curling Championships

17 Greener Stores – Energy Efficiency

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What’s New Upcoming Events June 6, 2019 Maritime Golf Tournament Fox Creek Golf Club, Dieppe, NB hammoud@conveniencestores.ca Mike Hammoud (902) 880-9733

October 1 – 4, 2019 PEI Convention at the NACS Show Georgia World Congress Centre, Atlanta, GA https://www.pei.org/show

June 27th, 2019 9th Annual Western Golf tournament GlenEagles Golf & Country Club Cochrane, AB bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com Brenda Jane Johnstone (204)-489-4215

October 21, 2019 Retail Convenience Awards Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS hammoud@conveniencestores.ca Mike Hammoud (902) 880-9733

January 20 – 22, 2020 Women in Carwash™ conference Arlington, Texas www.womenincarwash.com 204-489-4215 / 778-772-3057 Brenda Johnstone/Andrew Klukas

October 22, 2019 Atlantic Convenience Expo Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS Hind@hammoudconsulting.ca Hind Hammoud (902) 877-8132

June 22 – 24, 2020 Women in Carwash™ conference Niagara Falls, Ontario www.womenincarwash.com 204-489-4215 / 778-772-3057 Brenda Johnstone/Andrew Klukas

September 12, 2019 NL Golf Tournament Clovelly Golf Course, St. John’s, NL hammoud@conveniencestores.ca Mike Hammoud (902) 880-9733

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Publisher’s Message

Welcome to Spring

It’s time to wipe off the dust, sweep your parking lot, clean those windows and spruce up your business to welcome the new season. As we all move forward into the sunshine and warmer weather I’d like to congratulate Core-Mark International on the grand opening of the Race Pro Centre of Excellence and invite you to sit back and take a tour through this innovative and very forward thinking initiative.

We are very happy to walk you through PA Wand Wash of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. If you want to know what determination is, read this article, Devin and Shay Meeks know how to make things happen, and their carwash is Prince Albert, Saskatchewan’s answer to carwash excellence.

Recently, I was on a Facebook closed group called Talk Carwash. This is a group of carwashing professionals who post and respond to all types of questions regarding running and improving your carwash business. During one of these online conversations there was a discussion about carwash chemicals, does one take the chance and mix their own to save money? Or, is it imperative to work with professional carwash chemical sales reps. Well, we spoke with three people from this group in a roundtable discussion. If you’re in the carwashing business and are not a part of this group, it is well worth joining.

It’s been more than six months since the legalization of cannabis in Canada and this issue we offer you a cannabis update article along with a vaping products article to help keep you up to date with this growing and controversial market.

Don’t forget to send your registration form in for the Western Golf Tournament, June 27th at GlenEagles, Golf & Country Club, Cochrane, AB. This edition is full of great, educational articles that include Energy Efficient Equipment, Greener Stores, Add-on Services and more. So, go outside, sit in the sun and enjoy the read.

My business is your business for without you, our reader, we would cease to exist.

I encourage you, as always, to contact our advertisers first for without their support we would also cease to exist.

If you have stories that you would like to share or if you’d like us to cover a topic you’ve not seen, please send me an email, bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com or call me at 204-489-4215.

Brenda Jane Johnstone Publisher

Convenience & Carwash would like to introduce you to our new advertisers.

Delcan Products – page 31 Acosta / Clover Leaf – page 37 Blu / Fontem Ventures – page 31 Brand Strategy/Marsham Group – page 40 BUNN Canada – page 35 Exacta – page 54 HQ Fine Foods – page 34

Maqabim Distributors Ltd. – page 60 McCowan – page 36 McSweeney’s – page 37 Mondelez Canada Inc. – page 31 MYLÉ – page 38 RacePro Products – page 39 ZAK’s Commercial – page 56

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

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Editor’s Message

PUBLISHER Brenda Jane Johnstone bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com SALES Cody Johnstone Vice President, Sales 416-838-4674 codyj@convenienceandcarwash.com Brenda Jane Johnstone 204-489-4215 bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com Diana Signorile National Sales Media Solutions 403-607-8133 diana@convenienceandcarwash.com MANAGING EDITOR Angela Altass editor@convenienceandcarwash.com DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA Cody Johnstone codyj@convenienceandcarwash.com DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Doug Coates, Edge Advertising Keith House, Production EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Ian Burton, Istobal Scott Findlay, Core-Mark Int’l Kim Hansen, MI Petro David Hoy, Peninsula Co-Op Andrew Klukas, WCSA Dave Watson, The Chamois & Convenience Store Ltd. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Angela Altass Meline Beach Ariel Glinter Carter Hammett Chris Heismann Ed Kammerer Tania Moffat Brent Morris CIRCULATION James Gordon subscriptions@convenienceandcarwash.com WEBSITE www.convenienceandcarwash.com PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT No: 41670539 Return Undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department 543 Borebank Street Winnipeg, MB R3N 1E8

Meals on the Go

Foodservice and convenience go hand in hand. Whether it’s the hungry student, the overworked person on his daily commute, the senior who is looking to pick up a ready-made meal to take home or the weary traveler – many people turn to foodservice to provide meal options that are quick and easy. That doesn’t mean, however, that they will always settle for unhealthy or highly processed foods.

Comparing what you offer in foodservice with the needs of your customers will help make sure your products are a good match for your clientele.

Make sure you read our regular Blueprint to Foodservice articles in each issue to keep up-to-date on what is new and exciting regarding foodservice, as well as find out the latest information in what can be a competitive, yet profitable, part of your business.

This issue’s Blueprint to Foodservice looks at lunch programs and offers insights into meeting the needs of today’s health and money conscious consumer. One of the innovations mentioned in the article is a pizza vendng machine. Can you see something like this being a big hit if your store is located near a university or college student residence or is in the vicinity of a local high school?

If your store is located on or near a high volume of traffic area, such as a highway, you might want to consider what healthy options you can add to your offerings. Those who travel regularly, or are on a long trip, tend to seek out variety and choices that offer nutrition as well as can get them back on their way as quickly as possible.

If your location is close to a neighbourhood with a large number of seniors or has some residential seniors’ buildings nearby, think about having in some ready-made food options that might grab their attention.

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks, people are eating on the go more often, and many tend to choose smaller meals throughout the day instead of sitting down to three daily main meals at home. Make sure your store is a location of choice for those who are seeking ways to incorporate on-the-go or prepared meals into their lifestyles, whether it be the busy parent running from work to their children’s next activity or the post-secondary student who lives down the street. Having healthier foodservice choices can make the difference in whether someone buys from your store or their favourite fast food chain.

Many people are looking for, and interested in, healthier choices – help make it easier by developing a reputation in your neighbourhood for offering quality foodservice and catering those offerings to suit the area and location of your store.

Angela Altass Managing Editor

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Women in Carwash Conference Exceeds Expectations!

The first International Women in Carwash conference was held April 29 through May 1 in beautiful Niagara Falls, Canada. It was a unique event that exceeded expectations and left its’ guests enriched and inspired – so inspired that organizers are planning a second and third edition for 2020.

What a wonderful experience of learning, networking, and growing ideas through meaningful interaction with insightful and informative speakers. The very first conference has already begun to change the culture of the industry to promote greater collaboration across all areas of the business. All of this along with the professionalism on display throughout this event offers a definite value-add for anyone attending. – Amy Cantin from, Zep Vehicle Care The educational, productivity-focused workshops included topics geared towards helping attendees build their businesses and better engage with colleagues, family members, and industry peers. The sessions were focused on stress management, personality profiling, branding, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills and all were delivered in a uniquely congenial setting.

It was much more intimate and personable than other conferences and seminars I have been to. I am used to a large

convention-center type event. I liked this conference because I felt like I got to actually meet and talk to almost everyone in attendance. – Emily Gertenbach, Kleen-Rite Corp The presenters and the open format as far as conversations and the intimacy of the program were extremely valuable.

– Joanne Gambert, Auto Laundry News The idea for this ground-breaking conference emerged just one year ago as Brenda Johnstone and Andrew Klukas – co-creators and organizers of the event – shared a meal at a small restaurant in Vancouver, BC. After a few phone conversations and emails with others in the industry it became clear that the time was ripe for the kind of event they were planning. The positive response was simply overwhelming! P.D. McLaren signed up as the title sponsor during the very first conversation, and the rest soon followed.

Women in Carwash #1 offered insight into the new business environment that women in the car washing industry are creating.

“We wanted our guests to be inspired, motivated, and energized by the presentations, discussions, networking opportunities and after-hours fun, and to leave with practical tools to strengthen their business” says Johnstone. The feedback received from attendees indicates that they undoubtedly were.

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I enjoyed the fact that, though the speakers were obviously experts in their field, they were available at different times during the conference for follow up discussions and questions.

The next conference will delve more deeply into how men and women do business together and to strengthen their ability to thrive and to promote greater productivity in the car washing industry.

My company paid for me to be at the conference. It would have been well worth spending my own money to attend” – Kevin Thompson, Zips Car Wash

Women in Carwash #2 will take place from January 20 – 22, 2020 in Arlington Texas. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas! However, the goal is to continue to deliver the conference in relatively intimate, smaller group settings. Additional conferences and venues may be added and, if so, early registrants will be able to transfer their registrations to alternative Women in Carwash events.

When first organizing the conference, it was asked if participation should be limited to women. The answer was an emphatic “No!” As Johnstone put it, “The fact that this is the first ever Women in Carwash conference is proof that the many women who have built their success in the industry didn’t need any special help to get there, so they certainly don’t need it now.”

In its own unique way, Women in Carwash recognizes and celebrates the best of what is already happening in the industry and further promotes it. “We knew we were on the right track when we found men asking if they are allowed to participate, but Women in Carwash #1 merely tested these waters,” says Klukas. “We now know how we can take things to a whole new level at the next event.”

“It was altogether enjoyable. It was fun. It was informative.

In these three ways, it was similar to other conferences, but the difference was the feel that somehow it was also groundbreaking.” – Kevin Thompson, Zips Car Wash

Registration will open soon. Be among the first to join Women in Carwash #2 by visiting www.womenincarwash.com and registering early.

“It was my distinct pleasure to be a guest speaker at the Women in Carwash conference held in Niagara Falls on April 30 through May 1, 2019 and I found this event to be first class all the way. From the amazing organizational skills and attention to detail displayed by the organizers, to the venue, to the quality of the presentations. I can’t say enough about the way this was organized and executed and I would jump at the chance to be involved in any future events put on by this group. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.” – Gary McDougall, Presenter

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The Convenience Industry makes an Impact with Governments Since launching in January 2019, the Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC) has already made an impact with federal and provincial governments. To represent the interests of retailers, wholesale distributors and vendors, and the customers we serve, the CICC was able to represent the voice of 234,000 Canadians that the convenience industry employs.

Federal Budget

The CICC recognizes the importance of investing in the middle class but calls on the government to support those small businesses that serve all Canadians. Despite the positive measures to reduce red-tape, small businesses are concerned about the impact of increased EI premiums to pay for the EI training support benefit. Anne Kothawala, CICC president and CEO stated: “While we see that the government is proposing a small business rebate, we need to understand better the impact they will have on payroll costs. We support investing in training as our industry is constantly changing and innovating. However, being balanced against increased costs for businesses is needed.”

Retailers are disappointed to see no further action against the underground economy as a part of Budget 2019. Canada remains a safe-haven for the sale of illegal

tobacco products, which continue to rise in Canada’s biggest province (Ontario).

The sale of contraband not only deprives governments of tax revenue but more importantly, it has the potential to affect the health and safety of communities.

Ontario Budget

The CICC applauded actions taken by the Ontario government in Budget 2019 that will result in red tape reductions, lower business costs and put consumers first across Ontario. The council also welcomes measures designed to address regulatory burdens in the small business sector and spur growth and investment across the province.

“As the organization representing convenience store retailers, distributors and other members of the supply chain, we are excited to help make expanded beverage alcohol sales in our Ontario stores a reality,”said Kothawala.

Other measures in Budget 2019 also bode well for the convenience store industry, including breaking down interprovincial trade barriers between Ontario and Quebec and the commitment to press the federal government to legalize single sports wagering in Canada.

“Overall, our sector is very pleased with Budget 2019 which recognizes the importance of our businesses and the contributions we make to communities across the province,” said Kothawala.

National Convenience Industry Summit

The industry will unite once again for the National Convenience Industry Summit this September in Toronto, Ontario.

Taking place at Hotel X, this year’s event will provide high quality learning and networking with top industry executives.

Mark your calendars for September 2426, 2019.

golf tournament JUNE 27, 2019 The Links of GlenEagles Golf & Country Club Cochrane, Alberta Convenience & Carwash Canada in partnership with Women in Carwash™ invite you to continue a strong Western Canadian tradition that the Western Convenience Stores Association has hosted for the past decade: The annual Western Canadian charity golf tournament.

Proceeds from this year’s tournament will go toward the development of Cstorenet – a new online portal initiated by the President of the WCSA and designed to serve as a new, modern hub to support business exchanges and networking, product introductions and market development, and to strengthen the industry’s identity to support more potent government advocacy.

Says Andrew Klukas, President of the WCSA, “This use of golf proceeds will work in the best interests of the industry as the development and launch of Cstorenet will overcome the challenges posed by Western Canada’s vast geography and help strengthen the business environment for retailers, distributors and suppliers across the region.”

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By Carter Hammett

Little Things That Count It’s spring in tiny Hastings ON, population 3,000. A bustling c-store welcomes customers into

its brightly-coloured environs. Shoppers browse.

Locals mingle. But wait: along with the standard

are or what size their outlet, a common theme emerges: It’s the little things that count. This means details and personalized touches that imply the difference between simply being a store or a shopping

Whether it’s a children’s play area, a spare umbrella or even a comfy chair, attention to detail, in the form of the simplest ideas, can go miles toward enhancing your store as a shopping destination. cigarettes, milk and fast-food items, your eye comes to rest on a rather unique item: worms.

That offering makes sense. Hastings is the gateway to Rice Lake, a popular go-to fishing spot in eastern Ontario. It’s also indicative of how well the store knows its customers. Along with the standard products sold virtually everywhere, many smaller c-stores tap into their demographic, seeking out value-added products and services that create reasons for customers to return.

When you talk to pundits, no matter where they

destination.

This can take many forms, says marketing consultant and founder of Barrie ON-based marketing firm Collaborative Haus, Nicole French. “Adding value is about understanding your customer and putting them first,” she says. “If you know your customer and understand what their lives are like, what their needs are - their pain points - you can offer ways to solve their problems and become invaluable in their lives.”

And, adding value is about two things, says

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 

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www.core-mark.com

For everything you need.

Candy Coffee Cold Beverages Foodservice

Fresh Sandwiches Full Category Management

Contact your local Core-Mark office Ontario 1-877-864-0285

NW Ontario/Sask.

1-800-665-7575

Manitoba 1-800-982-7552

Calgary 1-800-242-8402

www.core-mark.com carcand@core-mark.com

Vancouver 1-800-663-9963

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

Consider the idea of a carryout service, especially helpful and attractive to seniors and shoppers with disabilities. It’s an idea that acknowledges that these two communities have purchasing power, yet so simple, that it’s bound to generate repeat business.

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French: Bringing customers into your power, yet so simple, that it’s bound to store and keeping them coming back. generate repeat business. We discovered “An attractive entrance with enticing one c-store that offered an umbrella products on display can help to trigger lending service for unsuspecting custhe reminder of a need or initiate an tomers who happen to get caught in the impulse purchase,” she says. “Seasonally, rain. Other outlets offer a pick-up service, you can carefully select products to dis- so consumers can retrieve missed UPS play that you know are needed. In the deliveries or other mailed items. spring and summer put out flowers and Amazon (yes, that Amazon) takes the plants, last minute sun toys and beach idea a step further with the recently-initems, bug repellent, sun screen, fly swat- troduced Amazon Locker. The offering ters, etc. In the winter have shovels, snow provides a self-service location to pick brushes, blankets, windshield wiper flu- up Amazon.ca deliveries. Once delivered, id and other items that you know are es- you get an email notice which includes a sential. It’s communicating to the public pickup code, including the address and that you have these items and it’s a quick business hours of your locker location. stop rather than a full shopping commit- While broadly available in the United ment at a larger store.”

States, the service is slowly making There is a trend right now in pop-up Canadian in-roads with locations curshops – supporting small businesses rently in Vancouver and Toronto. that don’t have store locations, says Services can extend beyond the inFrench. “These shops partner with other store experience as well. Cultivate online stores and then advertise that they will relationships. Use social media to highbe in that location for a certain time light specials, promotions, contests, and period. Offering pop-up shops space in prizes. A brief quarterly newsletter can your store for certain periods can drive take customer contact to another level. a whole new demographic to your loca- The customer relationship can exist tion. It may become a great partnership. completely outside regular store hours This also shows and grows your connec- as well. You might even get some great tion in the community and with other customer reviews through outlets such business owners.” as Yelp.

Consider the idea of a carry-out serAs you’ve probably surmised, the simvice, especially helpful and attractive plest ideas are usually the most effective to seniors and shoppers with disabili- and often the most meaningful for the ties. It’s an idea that acknowledges that customer. Some ideas are based on seathese two communities have purchasing sonal themes, (like Christmas) or context (licenses during hunting season), but all good ideas are based on c-stores who actively listen to and want to enhance the customer experience.

“Customer service and personalization can go a long way,” says French. “That feeling customers get when you remember them can keep them coming back.

Create this feeling by having variety, meeting individual wants. But also, prepare for returning customers. Make them feel special.”

Amazon takes the idea a step further with the recently-introduced Amazon Locker. The offering provides a self-service location to pick up Amazon.ca deliveries.

Carter Hammett is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor.

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Blueprint to Foodservice

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LUNCH PROGRAMS

By Meline Beach

As posted on their Facebook page, Gas King is pleased to launch freshly made, handcrafted sandwiches at two of their locations in Alberta. The level If we don’t of detail of their foodservice offering is top-notch, have facilities from a variety of bread options (white or whole to produce on wheat thick slice, submarine and multi-flavour soft site, we source tortilla) to a range of deli meats, such as ham, turkey our sandwiches, breast and beef; topped with leaf lettuce, real chedsalads, fruit dar, green pepper and sliced sweet red onion, served trays and other with a side pickle or banana pepper rings. deli products “Our proteins and condiments are of the highest from regional quality and our combos are very popular,” says Kelly commissary Klimchuk, district sales manager at Gas King Oil Co. partners.

Ltd. For less than 10 dollars, a customer can purchase a handcrafted sandwich, wrap or submarine, with potato or macaroni salad and medium cold or hot beverage. A lighter fare and higher protein option of fresh pepperoni with real marble cheddar cheese is also available. “High quality ingredients at value prices will always be our mission.”

As more millennials and generation Z enter the Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, workforce, Parkland has been responding to its convenience stores across Canada are upping changing customer demographic with its foodsertheir game with fresh foodservice options for vice offering. their customers. While the foodservice landscape “Our customers’ palate for fresher, healthier and remains competitive, C&G retailers are securing their more diverse options is growing and we need to share of the market with an innovative foodservice balance our offering to meet all tastes,” says Neil offering comparable yet more convenient than Turkington, national category manager, food servictraditional QSRs. es at Parkland Fuel Corporation, “If we don’t have faTake for example, Parkland and Gas King. These cilities to produce on site, we source our sandwiches, C&G retailers are in it to win it with their fresh foodser- salads, fruit trays and other deli products from revice lunch program. Convenience & Carwash Canada gional commissary partners. As the consumer base spoke with them, along with foodservice providers, to is changing, we need to be mindful of their tastes find out their secret to success when it comes to lunch and expectations. An egg salad wedge sandwich in the convenience channel. If you don’t already have a won’t cut it, although it is still a staple and a great fresh foodservice program in place, or if your current seller.” offering is ordinary at best, this article will offer you some insights on meeting the needs of today’s health Fingertip Service Another staple foodservice item is pizza and Les and money conscious, on-the-go consumer.

Tomlin, president of PFX Canada has stirred the Fresh is Best market with what he calls, a pizzaruption Along Freshii, just as its name suggests, serves fresh food with business partner Will Moyer, their claim to designed to energize people on the go. Through its fame in the convenience foodservice channel is the partnership with Shell Canada, Freshii offers C&G launch of an automated artisanal pizza vending customers a diverse menu of bistro boxes, salads, machine. Customers can purchase one of five wraps, juices and snacks – the green genius cold types of personal-sized pizzas, featuring novel and pressed juice and avocado smash bistro box are traditional ingredients (BBQ chicken, honey with among some of the most popular. Prepared fresh from goat cheese, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni), local commissaries, Freshii’s food offering lives up to from a touch screen and tap of a credit card. Within its mission of making healthy food convenient and three minutes, a freshly-heated pizza is ejected from affordable. the built-in oven.

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

A.

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B.

C. A. Sandwich features variety of breads, proteins and vegetables, paired always with a baby dill.

B. Subs, desserts and salads ready for a combo?

C. Variety of wraps paired with pepper rings

For less than 10 dollars, a customer can purchase a handcrafted sandwich, wrap or submarine, with potato or macaroni salad and medium cold or hot beverage.

The PizzaForno refrigerated vending machine holds 70 pizzas, made by local commissaries, and takes up 68 square feet of space – a key point to note for any C&G retailers interested in licensing this vending machine for their location.

“With zero labour costs and zero waste, PizzaForno is a turnkey solution for retailers looking to enhance their foodservice offering with great tasting, quick and convenient pizza at high margin,” says Tomlin, who first saw this technology in France and purchased the rights for North America and Mexico.

Self-described as a serial entrepreneur, Tomlin plans to expand PizzaForno in the C&G channel and envisions home delivery right from the c-store a very likely possibility in the near future.

Freshii has also taken convenience to the next level with mobile ordering and fast delivery to any home or office through its partnership with Shell Canada and 25 of its gas stations, as part of its first phase rollout.

Gas King offers quick, counter service with its small, efficient in-store kitchen, that allows them to prepare food on site for the day’s inventory and on demand.

“The intent is to provide our guests with high quality, value priced, fresh food options prepared on site inside our store by food safety certified management,” says Klimchuk. “We are vertically integrated, which allows us to plan, prepare and deliver efficiently and effectively.”

Brand Recognition

“For new sites, we prefer to pair with a well-known QSR partner to handle our foodservice offering,” says Turkington. “We have found a winning combination pairing our On the Run c-stores with partners, such as Tim Hortons, A&W and Triple O’s. Combined with our well-established gas banners, our On the Run c-store, with recognized QSR brands, give customers the ultimate convenient experience under one roof.”

While Parkland values brand recognition, the independent marketer of fuel and petroleum products tries to accommodate regional nuances.

“Various acquisitions across the country have led

us to adopt new programs regionally and have had success with fresh sandwiches delivered by Bread Garden in our British Columbia Chevron Network, as well as strong volume with our fresh made, onsite Transit Café sandwich program within our Ultramar network in Quebec.

A partnership between brands, Shell Canada General Manager Andrea Brecka states in their May 2018 press release, “We know from our 100+ years serving Canadians that convenience and choice is critical. Partnering with Freshii allows us to provide healthy and convenient choices to customers on the go that may not otherwise have time in their day to fit in a healthy meal.”

Parting Thoughts

In terms of advice, Klimchuk encourages retailers to know their clientele’s needs and wants, and says: “This is achieved by relationship-building and simple questioning strategies. When an opportunity presents itself, take quick action to deliver and also keep inventing yourself by changing things up and measuring responses.”

Marc Rex, director of Fresh/Foodservice at CoreMark International, also shares some insights on the lunch category. “Convenience is changing with more technology, instore execution and quality products.” Having helped many franchise and independent C&G retailers launch a fresh foodservice offering, Rex has seen the category evolve. He adds: “Home delivery, instore dining with seating and free WIFI, and mobile ordering from the gas pump with delivery are just some of the changes we expect to see in the C&G channel. Innovative possibilities in the foodservice category across the C&G channel are tremendous.”

Meline Beach is a Toronto-based communications practitioner and frequent contributor to Convenience & Carwash Canada. In addition to freelance writing, Meline provides communications and public relations support to businesses across Canada.

She can be reached at www.mlbcomms.ca.

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

By Meline Beach

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5 RESPONSIBLE RETAIL

Five Focus Areas to Greener Stores Sustainability is not just a fad but a vested interest and commitment today’s consumers are making when choosing what products and services to buy and where they want to do business. As a daily topic in today’s conversations, sustainability covers everything from how products are made, where they are sourced to how a business chooses to run its operations in an ethical manner. C&G retailers, though small in comparison to big box stores and large corporations, are not exempt from applying sustainability practices that capture a customers’ attention and secures their loyalty. Greener stores are the road to better profits and long-term sustainability.

Lighting

LED lighting is a long-term investment with immediate savings. According to Dave Bowen, national sales manager at Webco Lighting Products Inc., a leading Canadian commercial lighting supplier, the sooner a site converts their interior and exterior lighting to LED bulbs, the faster their bottom line will improve.

“Not only will a retailer see immediate cost savings, their

location will also appear brighter and safer, with a clean colour temperature that will make the site pop and the products inside appear more appealing, which can positively enhance sales and profits,” says Bowen.

Nika Mai, owner and operator of an ESSO gas station and Convenience 4U store located in Kettleby, Ontario has outfitted her new build with LED lighting. On bright sunny days, with a wall full of windows, Mai turns off interior and exterior lights to save on energy.

Setting interior and exterior lights on a timer is another way to conserve.

“We leverage timers and have enough lighting for our security system to capture any activity,” says Ramona Roberts, who owns and operates Big Dog Convenience in Prince Edward Island, with her husband. Together, they have three c-stores, each with a gas bar. “It is always a balance between safety and being energy conscious.”

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MAY/JUNE

A very understandable point, which Bowen addresses through an enhanced service offering.

“As a lighting partner to our retail customers, we come in and completely analyze a site to maximize energy savings and reduce maintenance, as well as recommend correct fixtures, colour temperature and wattages,” says Bowen. “We are then able to supply them with the lighting fixtures that best meet their energy sustainability and security needs.”

Bowen adds the option to consider solar LED lighting for greater sustainability results and additional savings achieved by being off the grid altogether.

In terms of store temperatures, Roberts keeps it on the cool side and provides branded Big Dog jackets and sweaters for the staff to wear. Not only does it offer warmth, but also a sense of pride and store promotion.

“We also capture the heat from coolers and use it to heat the store in the winter months and in summer, we vent the heat out,” says Roberts. “We are able to greatly control heating expenses in this manner.”

A programmable thermostat can manage temperature settings in an efficient manner, especially for areas that are less occupied, such as stock rooms.

Cleaning Supplies

many consumers still opt in.

In PEI, Roberts says the province is phasing out single-use plastic for retail, with a complete ban by July 1, 2019. In preparation for this ban, Roberts is in the process of sourcing reusable bags to sell and offer customers. The challenge being that it’s an emerging market with not a lot of priced options.

“This is going to change how we look at sales, especially for grocery and liquor purchases,” says Roberts. “PEI is mandating that we must charge customers for paper bags. The landscape here is changing.”

Washroom Facilities

Washrooms play a vital role and How we go about cleaning is also a big accommodate high traffic in a c-store Heating, Cooling & Appliances You can’t deny the amount of equipment sustainability factor. Many commercial setting. Greening your washroom can it takes to sell convenience in the C&G and even residential-grade cleaning support your sustainability mission and channel. Consider dedicated refrigerated products can be harmful. Artificial make a positive contribution to your coolers for beverages, frozen products, fragrances, corrosive drain cleaners, bottom line – starting with the toilet. dairy, ice and foodservice, plus convection bleach and ammonia-based products Toilets are one of the greatest sources of and microwave ovens, coffee machines, can contain toxic chemicals and have a water consumption. Immediate savings heat lamps and grills. According to negative impact on the air we breathe and can be achieved with the installation of ENERGY STAR – a government-backed the environment in which we live. Many a low-flow toilet. Even better, a dual flush symbol for energy efficiency based of these chemicals are flushed down the option gives your customer the choice for on a membership of thousands of drain which pollute our waterways, fish liquid or solid waste.

Hands-free motion sensor faucets organizations committed to energy and wildlife.

While cleaning is not optional, Mai are also effective at managing water efficient solutions, a high dependence on refrigeration in the c-store channel uses prefers to take a more organic approach waste and the transfer of germs with the up to 40 per cent of the property’s total using vinegar and water for many surfac- elimination of faucet handles. At this es, including the coffee machine and pots. time, Roberts and Mai have traditional energy.

“Open coolers are much more attractive Roberts does as well, and also sells greener washroom equipment at their c-stores, but can be energy wasters,” says Roberts. household cleaning products as “there’s a but both recognize the opportunity for improvement.

“We look for air curtains and screens that market for it.”

When choosing cleaning products, be And if your washroom doesn’t have we can pull down at closing. We also turn sure to look for ones that promote safety, a window for proper ventilation, an some cooler lights off at night.”

Better technology, energy efficient op- low toxicity, biodegradable, are phos- ENERGY STAR rated fan can also achieve both sustainability and economical tions and improved practices can lead phate-free and environmentally safe. savings. to greater energy conservation and costThe sooner a retailer commits to sussavings. Regular maintenance involving tainability, the sooner they will see immerefrigerator temperature checks (ideal diate benefits. temp being -13 to -10 degrees Celsius for freezers and 1.3 to 1.6 degrees Celsius), ensuring door seals close tightly (not even allowing the width of a piece of paper between the seal) and cooling coils at the Meline Beach is a Toronto-based comback of each unit are kept clean, free of munications practitioner and frequent dust and debris will also extend the energy Bags efficiency of your equipment. Additional Grocery stores and larger retailers have contributor to Convenience & Carwash information on ENERGY STAR savings added a cost to their plastic bags, often Canada. In addition to freelance writing, for the C&G channel can be found online: mandated by municipal governments. she provides communications and public https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/ While the intent of this “tax” was to relations support to businesses across facility-owners-and-managers/small-biz/ reduce its use and negative effect on our Canada. She can be reached at www. environment, as they end up in landfills, mlbcomms.ca. grocery-and-convenience-stores

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PEI CONVENTION AT THE NACS SHOW Georgia World Congress Center | Atlanta, GA Mark your calendar for the PEI Convention at the NACS Show in Atlanta. PEI’s headquarter hotel, the Westin Peachtree, will host several events on Tuesday, Oct. 1, including PEI 10-Groups, PEI Women and PEI Young Executives. The PEI Convention will open with a kick-off keynote presentation at the GWCC on Oct. 2. Registration will open in the spring. www.pei.org/show

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CannaBIZ

MAY/JUNE

By Tania Moffat

There’s a Black Cloud Hanging Over the Cannabis Market

By Tania Moffat

Weed is legal, so no one has to worry about back alley deals anymore, right? Wrong, the black market is alive and well. In

fact, it’s doing so well that a recent industry analysis conducted

by Scotiabank estimates that illegitimate businesses will account for over 70 per cent of all cannabis sales in 2019. These sales aren’t being made by some guy in a leather jacket, meeting clients on a shady street corner either. Today’s black market cannabis retailers are high-class charlatans with professional looking websites and chic physical stores offering a tantalising array of cannabis goods. But for a few telltale signs, they look legal and attract several customers who aren’t even aware that they are supporting unlawful businesses. Unfortunately, this is a trend that is harming all of the legitimate store operators and growers who have had to jump through hoops to open their stores.

Slow Start

Cannabis hasn’t even been legal for a year yet, and of course, the black market isn’t going to disappear overnight. These numbers are disheartening but not surprising given the logistics of launching legalization nation-wide. Health Canada was drowning in applications long before the legalization

date last October. Growers were cautious too, delaying their grow operation set-up until they were confident the cannabis act would pass. Many retailers, such as 5Buds, didn’t open until much later than October 17. In some markets, such as Winnipeg, supply was an issue with stores selling out of product only hours after they had opened. Still, other areas lacked access to any available legal retailers. With a slow and bumpy start to such an anticipated industry, it’s no wonder illegal stores and sites took full advantage of the legal market’s logistical nightmares.

Two Separate Playing Fields

Corey Tyacke, retail store general manager for 5buds Cannabis, reports that their two stores, North Battleford and Warman, Saskatchewan are not performing at the levels they had previously forecasted. He agrees that black market sellers are a likely cause for lower sale volumes. Unsanctioned stores have several advantages; the largest one is that they don’t have to follow any of the rules and regulations that legitimate operators do. Many of the laws create price differences between legal and illegal sellers. Shady operators don’t pay for licences,

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

income taxes, or the 10 per cent excise tax imposed by the government.

Packaging has been another issue from the start. Tamper-proof, child-resistant, opaque packaging with a yellow warning label on it was part of the packaging regulations outlined by Health Canada. In the beginning, packaging shortages were the problem, but there are other packaging problems according to Tyacke. “As a retailer, we follow Health Canada’s guidelines, that means any products we sell, the packaging has to be very plain and generic, include a yellow warning label and must list the terpene and THC percentages on it,” he says. “There is no opportunity for any product to stand out. It’s shut down the ability for growers to showcase their products.”

What concerns Tyacke the most is safety. Customers have no assurances from illegal retailers on what they are buying. All growers are subject to issues like mould, insects and other contaminations. Health Canada tests for these but no one is testing in the underground market. And, if illegal businesses say they are testing, to what standards?

Are their products grown in controlled environments as mandated in the legal market? How can a customer truly be sure of the strain, potency, and safety of what they are purchasing? They only have the word of the retailer as there are no checks and balances.

“Health Canada ensures you have a safe product and that you know what it is - how was the plant grown, what was it derived from and what strain it is,” explains Tyacke. “Terpene and TCH percentages have to be listed.”

Health Canada demands tests for potency, proper identification and labelling because no two cannabis strains have the same effects. Information that is important to disclose to customers.

If someone was looking for Indica for sleep and instead was sold a high THC Sativa, there will be unpleasant consequences. There are medical benefits to cannabis use, but Health Canada requires that only medically trained professionals give health advice. Medical grade marijuana is subject to even more stringent requirements. Governance in the industry is to protect the consumer

from themselves and unscrupulous retailers.

Edibles are another area where the black market has an advantage. Edibles are an industry unto themselves with a plethora of choices from brownies, potato chips, chocolates, colourful gummies, and more. Although edibles are not legal yet, they will be by October 17, 2019.

Tyacke cautions consumers that they won’t be like the fun products currently

21

advertised in the illegal market. “I think Health Canada is very cautious with edibles and they will likely be sold in measured doses, so people know what they are taking,” he says. Edibles are, in many cases still thought of as fun things to try; the danger lies in not knowing how much you are ingesting. Since edibles take longer to produce a high, it is easier for people to over-do it and become sick.

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MAY/JUNE

RED FLAGS THAT YOU MAY BE BUYING FROM THE BLACK MARKET Resolving the Issues

1. Concentrates, isolates, and edibles are available the study estimates that by 2020 only 37 per cent of sales will be made in the illegal market – these products are not currently legal.

2. Promotion of health benefits – not permitted under the Cannabis Act. 3. Coupons and enticements to purchase –illegal under the Cannabis Act (e.g., BOGO sales) 4. No adult signature or ID required on delivered products – a requirement for legal businesses.

5. Low prices – illegal shops do not pay taxes, business fees, etc. and can charge less per gram.

6. Sexy marketing and packaging – required packaging is plain and opaque with a yellow warning.

While there remain several logistical challenges, the industry is in its infancy, and we are in unchartered territory. There will be growing pains, but Scotiabank analysts are confident these issues will resolve in time. The study estimates that by 2020 only 37 per cent of sales will be made in the illegal market. While this may be an overly optimistic view, the number will assuredly drop with more market experience, new legal virtual and physical stores opening and resolved supply issues.

Most importantly, however, is a committed task force that will focus on shutting down the illegal businesses, and word on the street is that it is in the works. How long before the task force is put into effect is anyone’s guess.

Tania Moffat is a freelance writer, editor, publisher, and photographer. She has worked in the publishing industry for the last 15 years on a wide variety of B2B and consumer publications, both in print and online. You can contact her at info@ chiccountrylife.com.

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Cannabis Accessory Compliance Checklist: Guide for Retailers

By Ariel Glinter

The Cannabis Act on October 17, 2018, cannabis accessories are now a bona fide consumer good that may legally be sold in canada for use with cannabis. This has created an entirely new opportunity for retailers.

On October 17, 2018, Canada became the first G7 country in the world to legalize cannabis for non-medical use. While the majority of the attention

thus far has been concentrated on the details of the plant itself, cannabis presents only the base of an entirely new economic vertical that includes practically every aspect of the business world as service providers, part suppliers, and others jockey for space in one of the fastest growing industries on the planet.

One aspect of the burgeoning cannabis economy that has continued to exist under the radar so to speak, is the business of cannabis accessories. Prior to legalization, cannabis accessories were mainly sold in specialty stores, and almost always “for tobacco use only.� The market for accessories has consequently been very highly fragmented with very little information available to differentiate between different products and companies.

That all changed last October. With the passage of the Cannabis Act on October 17, 2018, cannabis accessories are now a bona fide consumer good that may legally be sold in canada for use with cannabis. This has created an entirely new opportunity for retailers of all types to begin carrying these products in a legally compliant manner. This has resulting in an enormous influx of cannabis accessory products to enter the Canadian market, and has created an entire new ancillary industry of companies interested in getting involved in the space.

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The Cannabis Act, however, includes a number of very specific rules related to their promotion and sale, and failure to abide by these rules can result in significant penalties and potential criminal prosecution.

Cannabis accessories are not new. The current market, however, looks vastly different than it did just a few short months ago. With many new retail entities looking to start carrying these products there are a number of very important and specific rules that should be kept in mind by any business that is interested in entering this lucrative and growing product segment. With that in mind, five of the most important factors to keep in mind when purchasing cannabis accessories for your business are: 1. Not all materials are created equal

Modern cannabis accessories come in many different material types and qualities. These qualities affect the experience of the user, as well as the price. Accessory categories vary greatly and include products used for storage, consumption, cleaning, and ancillary products. Glass is generally considered to the best material to use for cannabis accessories in terms of quality, as well as highest in price. Other materials that are commonly used include wood, acrylic, and silicone. Each has their own unique pros and cons. Suppliers who carry exclusive products help differentiate retailers from their competitors. Having

25

access to a distributor who is a leader in offering you the latest trends will help you service your customers with the most appealing products when they are most popular.

2. Glass products vary by thickness which significantly affects their quality

Many glass products such as bongs and pipes are sold without reference to the thickness of the glass used in their construction.

It is important to note that many of these products are only approximately four mm thick and will break easily. Higher quality glass products will be at least five mm thick and will often be seven mm or even nine mm thick. Knowing the thickness of the glass used in cannabis accessories can be a good clue as to their overall quality.

3. Customer service

There are many cannabis accessory distributors that operate in Canada today, and choosing suppliers can always be tricky. When choosing a cannabis accessory supplier, there are a number of things that you should ask about, including turn-around time, which can vary greatly, warranty support, and reimbursement for broken and damaged items. Suppliers should also be capable of offering technical and service support seven days a week, and should be able to assist you in creating orders and payment processes.

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As cannabis accessories are a new product category for many retailers, the ability of your accessory supplier to provide you with meaningful and impactful merchandising support can be the difference between success and failure. An accessory supplier should be able to explain to you how to best sell the products, including display methods, and ensuring that there are multiple price points in each category.

Choosing the right products for the market you are in can make or break inventory turnaround and may be one of the most important factors. Sales staff who have appropriate experience and knowledge can help advise you and in turn can help increase the success of your store. Customers have preferences and it takes knowledge to understand these customers and provide them with the exact product they are looking for.

5. Liability insurance

Since cannabis accessories have only recently become legal, many of the formalities and best practices of the consumer goods industry have yet to be incorporated into many supplier’s businesses. Retailers of cannabis accessories should be vigilant in ensuring that their accessory suppliers maintain adequate insurance to cover any liability issues. Furthermore, retailers should ensure the products they are carrying are compliant with the Cannabis Act, which do not allow certain graphics, such as cartoons, to be used. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in substantial penalties under the Cannabis Act and provincial regulations.

By examining these factors in relation to the accessories you are considering selling at your business you can avoid many of the costly mistakes that can be made with the sale of these items, and create a profitable new product category for your business.

Ariel Glinter is a former lawyer who now acts as director of business development and regulatory compliance for Maqabim Distributors Ltd., a Canadian industry leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of cannabis accessories, vaping products and accessories,

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY

Down On Your Corner

L to R: Kelly Klimchuk, Scott Sibbet, Allan Stenbeck, Brent Morris

In the Fall of 2018 when Curling Canada contacted Gas King president Brent Morris to inquire about a possible sponsorship for their curling championship in April 2019, it was a no brainer.

Gas King had already sponsored seven local curling Gas King also championships since 2000. The sponsorship provided the comprised of providing Gas King fuel for the shuttle organizers with vehicles used to transport the curling teams to and $20 Gas King gift from the hotel to the curling venue and included a cards which were carwash on the day that vehicles are returned to the given out as trivia car dealership.

A total of 13 member associations competed in contest prizes to Lethbridge, Alberta, which is the second year of a the fans watching the curling at the 13-team format. Teams qualified through PacificEnmax Centre. Asia, Le Gruyere AOP European Championships, Americas Challenge, and the World Qualification Event. Teams were from China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, USA and of course, Canada.

“Curling Canada has always been very organized and are great to work…we get great exposure” states Morris. Gas King has received some great perks in the past in return for supplying fuel. Tickets to the opening reception and to watch the curling, including meals in the sponsorship lounge, online recognition, signage at the venue, program ads, pins with the Gas King logo on them, merchandise, and new this year - they had the Gas King logo on 24 Murray’s Chev Cadillac shuttle vehicles driving around Lethbridge. We distributed the curling and meal tickets to Gas King account holders and employees, which all were very well received.”

Also part of the deal this year was that Gas King received Curling Rocks t-shirts with their logo and the other sponsor’s logos on the back of the shirt.

Gas King Fuels 2019 World Men’s Curling Championship “We decided to outfit all of our local store employees, so we purchased a box of shirts from Curling Canada and asked our staff to wear them for two weeks – one week before the start of the event and while the event was on,” says Morris. Gas King also provided the organizers with $20 Gas King gift cards which were given out as trivia contest prizes to the fans watching the curling at the Enmax Centre.

When the call for volunteers went out to assist at curling’s legendary party place, The Patch, Morris and three members of the Gas King management team stepped forward to help serve thirsty curling fans. “We had a blast,” claims Morris, “and we would gladly do it again.”

Gas King District Sales Manager, Kelly Klimchuk, had an extra busy night. When finished with his shift at the bar he and his band, Uncovered, hopped on stage and played dance music until after midnight. “But he was still at work for 8 a.m.,” Morris said laughing.

All in all, it was a great week of curling, and Gas King is looking forward to doing it all again whenever that may be.

“Lethbridge is a hot bed for curling and has done a fantastic job hosting many world class curling events – so who knows; the fun may be back here sooner than we think,” says Morris.

The Canadian team skipped by Calgarian Kevin Koe made it to the final game by beating Switzerland in extra ends but lost to Sweden with a packed house on Sunday.

“That was the only disappointment – but Sweden has won many championships, and now we know why,” says Morris.

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Core-Mark is one of the largest marketers of fresh and broad- help these retailers with in-store execution and customer service, line supply solutions to the convenience retail industry in North which is critical for them to improve the retail experience for America. It offers a full range of products, marketing programs their customers.” and technology solutions to approximately 44,000 retail locations “If our channel continues to differentiate itself with better in Canada and the United States through 32 distribution centers. product offerings combined with new digital platforms to meet The new Race Pro Centre of Excellence (COE) is the new evolving consumer trends and continuing to leverage convemeans by which Core-Mark enhances category management nience, the c-store industry will continue to grow and prosper,” solutions for its Canadian retailer partners. states Rolheiser.

The concept for the Centre of Excellence started over two years “Our vendor partners were instrumental in helping us develop, ago” explains John Carbone, vice president, Sales and Marketing, design and build the COE,” says Carbone. “Without their conCore-Mark International. The COE is a full sized convenience tributions, it would not have been possible. From the onset, the store format used for innovation and training. Our intention is feedback from customers, vendors, and our Core-Mark team to help retailers maximize profitability by attracting new cus- have been tremendous.” tomers and giving existing customers more of what they want.

The Centre of Excellence (COE) is designed to not only look Deliver Competitive Advantage at today’s environment to maximize profits for Core-Mark’s cus- We have a team of dedicated and tenured industry professionals that work tirelessly every day to bring value to our customers tomers but to also evaluate emerging trends.

“We can help with planograms and mix optimization,” says and live our corporate values of customer centricity, family, Carbone, noting Core-Mark’s ability to capitalize on emerging integrity, pioneering, and commitment. We have an incredible trends quickly says John Carbone, noting Core-Mark’s abil- team in Canada that I know, without question, are authentically ity to capitalize on emerging trends quickly by designing fresh driven every day to support our customers and our industry. For food service offerings in both made-to-order and grab-and-go that I am very grateful to be part of our organization.

Given the dynamics in the convenience induschoices, and providing healthier product offertry, we challenge ourselves every day to grow our ings. “Also, in the COE, we are working on a digi- The Centre of share, deliver industry-leading category tal applications platform to help our customers Excellence is market management solutions to our retailers, and stay relevant with emerging trends. Whether it’s designed to leverage cost to ensure the best return for our tap-and-go payments, frictionless solutions or shareholders and our customers. Our sales and online loyalty programs.” be a dynamic marketing team diligently monitor trends within The convenience and gas industry faces many space and is the industry, looking for ways to deliver a comchallenges in today’s environment, notes Eric petitive advantage to our retail partners. Our fointended to Rolheiser, president, Core-Mark Canada. cus on foodservice solutions, technology, loyalty, “Consumers today are much more discerning. change and innovation, and demographic analysis provides Their tastes and behaviors are changing and they evolve over meaningful growth to our customers and will are looking for a much higher standard in concontinue to drive our innovation and investment venience,” says Rolheiser. “The COE is designed time. strategy. That will be our differentiation and value to help our customers and our vendor partners proposition for the foreseeable future. by addressing increased customer expectations Many retailers do not have access to syndicated or demothrough an enhanced product offering and in-store experience.”

The Centre of Excellence is designed to be a dynamic space graphic data on a store by store basis. Core-Mark built an entire department devoted to solving this need and filling gaps in data and is intended to change and evolve over time.

“I guarantee that it will be completely different in 12 months,” and category management for all of our customers both large states Carbone. “We will adjust the product offering, layout and chain and single store operators.

Understanding our consumer and the new target consumers design as consumer behavior and demands evolve. We will also adapt to emerging trends. Technology will also be a big part of is critical for the future of convenience. Full service coffee locathis evolution. The goal is to have an online virtual experience for tions are lined with consumers throughout the day. Our team the COE to be able to maximize the benefits to more customers is focused on exceling the evolution of traditional convenience stores to ensure our retailers thrive in a sustainable business throughout Canada.”

Independent customers are important to the convenience in- model by not only enhancing their offering for existing customdustry in Canada and remain a focus for Core-Mark’s sales and ers but attracting new customers. Fresh food, quality coffee and beverage programs, and innovative products delivered through marketing team.

“The COE will be a great benefit to our independent op- a higher level of technology and loyalty platform are the tools erators,” says Carbone. “These operators in many cases have we utilize to help our customers succeed . That’s the flavour of limited resources and turn to us for category management so- convenience already brewing today. We are not reacting; we are lutions, SKU selection and product offering options, emerging innovating and providing ideas and solutions so our customers trend and digital solutions to meet the needs of their customers. remain relevant.

Regular training sessions, which will be held at the COE, will

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blu is a global brand and pioneer in the electronic vapour category. We are committed to bringing the world’s adult smokers the highest quality vaping experience. Our parent company, Fontem Ventures, is headquartered in Amsterdam with offices all across the globe focusing on EVPs. In 2009, we arrived with our first innovation long before vaping existed and was a word in the Oxford dictionary. Since then, we haven’t stopped developing, refining and re-designing experiences and levels of innovation and satisfaction.

FEATURE STORY

Today, blu is officially in Canada with our latest innovation - an easy-to-use vapour pod system called myblu, backed by international success in the US and Europe. myblu was developed solely for adult smokers and delivers fast satisfaction with flavour pods catering to various taste preferences, along with a battery that lasts all day. In addition to the myblu vapour pod system delivering fast satisfaction, we also aim to provide Canadian adult smokers the best value to switch into the vapour category.

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Brand Strategy Execution Inc, Division of Marsham International Food Brokers Inc, Canada’s foremost natural product broker.

We have identified key manufacturers products that represent the growing call for healthier, nutritious snacking for the gas/convenience channel. We are proud to have the following brands represented in the launch of the Core-Mark Center of Excellence.

Kettle Brand Potato Chips – Bold all natural taste from real food ingredients. Gluten Free. Non GMO G.H. Cretors Popped Corn – All natural no artificial flavouring or colouring. Gluten Free Clif Bar & Company – Free of artificial sweeteners, colours, and flavours, no high fructose corn syrup, Healthy Nutrition. Snyders Gluten Free Pretzels – Dairy Free, Casein Free, Egg Free. No1 Natural Pretzel Brand Beanfields Bean Chips - Full on Flavour, Vegan, Gluten Free, Non GMO. Bean Crisps – Thin and Crispy Popped Bean Crisps.

Gluten Free Non GMO. PopCorners – Crunchy Wholesome Popped Corn Snack, Gluten free, Non GMO, 0g Trans Fats.

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HQ FINE FOODS WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CORE-MARK INTERNATIONAL ON THE LAUNCH OF THEIR RACE PRO CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE. We salute the Core-Mark team for the forward thinking food service initiative that they have shown. We are proud to be a preferred provider of prepared sandwiches.

Phone: 780-474-5201 Fax: 780-467-1199 www.hygaard.com

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 

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Clover Leaf Canada’s leading seafood brand has brought the power of seafood to Canadians with quality and taste for 148 years. At Clover Leaf, we are committed to improving our consumers’ quality of life by providing sustainable, nutritious, convenient and affordable seafood products.

Clover Leaf offers a broad range of seafood products including canned tuna, canned wild salmon, flavoured tuna, snack kits, smoked oysters, crabmeat, shrimp, baby clams, sardines and much more. We constantly innovate and strive to meet consumers’ lifestyle demands and challenges.

At Clover Leaf, sustainability is a part of our mission.

Clover Leaf is a founding member and the only Canadian participant in the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).

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2019-03-28

Clover Leaf supports the ISSF financially to fund scientific research that assists in the improvement of fishing practices, mitigate by-catch and fight illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.

In 2017, Clover Leaf was voted to be the most trusted canned seafood brand by 20,000 Canadian consumers.

In 2018, Clover Leaf Seafoods joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative is a cross-sectoral alliance committed to ensuring safer, cleaner oceans by driving economically viable and sustainable solutions to the problem of ghost fishing gear, globally.

In 2019, Clover Leaf Seafoods began supporting Ocean Outcomes to Improve Longline Tuna Fisheries in the South Pacific Ocean.

12:36 PM

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FEATURE STORY

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Gas convenience is our business. Unlike other When it comes to packaged sandwiches, no one does it store fixture suppliers, McCowan is focused better than Quality Fast Foods. on serving gas bar and convenience store Since 1977 we have satisfied our customers’ cravings operators. McCowan’s products and services for sandwiches that are fresh and readily available at are geared specifically to the needs of our market. grocery and convenience stores.

McCowan Solution: Cash Desks/Paypoints, Distributed across Canada, Quality Fast Foods offers Service Counters, Gondola & Shelving, many different channels to get our products to our Forecourt Solutions, Signage, Secure Tobacco retailers. For more information or to find out where you can Merchandising, Security Solutions and other purchase one of our delicious products please contact us at Specialty Fixtures.

1-800-243-4033 or http://www.qualityfastfoods.com/.

Durability. All McCowan products are made from high quality materials to hold up in high + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + traffic environments and harsh conditions. Our products keep your stores looking better longer!

Consistency. When deployed across a network of stores, McCowan product will be 100 per cent consistent store-to-store and year-to-year.

This makes for easier brand management and easy upgrades in the future. Modularity. Our systems are flexible and can be customized to fit any space using our library of standard parts.

Interchangeable components and accessories YOUR SINGLE SOURCE FOR can be used to reconfigure layouts should STORE FIXTURES & DISPLAYS operational needs change. Merchandisable.

Integrated merchandising solution – all standard McCowan shelves and accessories will fit on the cash desk and gondolas. Industry Expertise.

INNOVATION + DURABILITY + MODULARITY McCowan offers a vast knowledge of the Experts in complete modular store fixture solutions for Convenience and gas bar industry having 25+ Convenience & Gas Bar, Pharmacy, Food Service & other Specialty Retailers years of experience serving this market. Short Our Products Include: Our Services Include: Lead Times. McCowan consistently delivers Cash Desk / Paypoint Systems Project Management custom stores with unparalleled turnaround from design & layout Service Counter Systems to production, rollout times. Integrated Domestic Manufacturing.

From idea to Gondola & Shelving & installation Over 200,000 square feet of manufacturing installation, Pharmacy In-House Design & Engineering capability. All products are manufactured in our let’s work Forecourt Solutions 200,000 Square Feet together on Signage facility in Toronto. Knocked Down Shipments domestic manufacturing your next Tobacco Displays space and Easy Assembly. Our products ship knocked project.

Security Solutions Import through network of down and assemble easily with minimal tools. offshore suppliers Specialty Displays This will reduce assembly time and shipping cost. No carpentry required on site! www.McCowan.ca 416.291.7111

We Get It.

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FEATURE STORY

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McSweeney’s proudly Canadian meat snacks are honoured to be part of Coremark’s new Centre of Excellence.

McSweeney’s prides itself on providing the best tasting, premium jerky and meat snacks. In addition to our strong Canadian branding, McSweeney’s is also committed to supporting Canadian meat producers.

McSweeney’s Jerky, Steak Nuggets and Steaks Strips are now 100 per cent Canadian.

McSweeney’s success comes through its strong partnerships and has allowed us to get where we are. Together our meat snack line has continued to grow year-over-year and we’re proud to have done it together.

Mondelēz International is the second largest snacking company in Canada and a top 10 food company.

At Mondelēz International our mission is to lead the future of snacking around the world by offering the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way. Empower people to snack right is our purpose, right for real, everyday life - from the yummy bite to the feel-good, well-being moment. And right for our local communities and planet, which is why we have donated over $3m to Canadian communities and charities in the last five years alone.

We are well positioned to succeed in living this purpose with over 2,400 passionate makers and bakers across Canada, inventing new chocolate bars; baking millions of cookies on state-of-the-art production lines; we are proud to call

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… and excited to support the Core-Mark Race Pro Center of Excellence.

NUTRITIOUS, DELICIOUS, CONVENIENT AND PORTABLE GRAB AND GO OPTION! customerservice@acosta.com www.cloverleaf.ca

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Carry a product with the highest margins.

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FEATURE STORY

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Mondelēz International continued

ourselves the home of Canada’s most delicious household brands including OREO, CADBURY, MR. CHRISTIE and MAYNARDS. As the second largest snacking company in Canada our brands are unrivaled in occupying many of the number one, two or three spots across their categories. We are a business that is ambitious, with leading marketing campaigns, famous sporting partners and sellout innovations such as CADBURY DAIRY MILK OREO. Snacking Made Right. This is who we are. This is our future.

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MYLÉ (my-lee) is proud to be the alternative to number one.

MYLÉ is a sleek and stylish podbased nicotine delivery system moonlighting as the industry’s best-kept secret. We offer accessible, quality products and alternative solutions to the common issues users experience with competing devices. MYLÉ is influenced by the consumer - providing a longer battery life, larger pods, Canadianmade e-Liquid, and a flavour for

every vaper.

Meet MYLÉ, the new kid on the block. MYLÉ intends to challenge the status quo.

MYLÉ is the underestimated, independently affiliated vaping product and proud runner-up in an industry of titans. The difference between us and our current industry leaders can be reduced to one fundamental facet - attitude.

Runners-up have the confidence and drive to constantly strive

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OUR MISSION AT RPP PRODUCTS, INC. IS TO DELIVER VALUE AND QUALITY TO OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGH IMPECCABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT, AND DEDICATION. Check out our website at: https://rppproducts.com/ or scan QR CODE:

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FEATURE STORY

towards improvement. Runners-up have the humility to listen to their customers.

MYLÉ’s core focus is to be better.

Better flavours, more device colors, and a higher quality user experience.

If you haven’t heard of us before, it’s because you saved the best for last.

MYLÉ, the better vape.

RPP Products, Inc. is a full-service manufacturing and distribution company dedicated to serving the needs of supermarket chains, convenience store distributors, automotive distributors and more.

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We have over 60 years of combined and more. All in dynamic packaging experience involved in category for maintaining and enhancing management of the automotive the performance of motor vehicles, sector. We have extensive knowledge marine vessels, and more. on product placement, sales, profit, Always relationship focused. margins, inventory turns, rebates, (Manufacturer and Retailer) TPR’s, promotions, and more. We Laser focused on automotive also have tools available to update servicing in over 30,000 stores. automotive sections for auto resets Committed to excellence in fill rate and schematics, and the personnel and customer service. for field work for merchandising – if Flexible– “We are a speed boat not and when required. a tug boat”.

RPP Products, Inc. offers a For more information about RPP complete line of professionally Products, Inc. visit our website at formulated oil, lubricant, window http://rppproducts.com/ wash, antifreeze & coolant, additives,

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Contact info Brand Strategy Execution Inc, Div. Marsham International Food Brokers Inc 1-905-881-4762 Colin Desmeules cdesmeules@marsham.ca

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By Carter Hammett

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

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A Chemical Conversation

Like all professional sectors, the car care industry is constantly evolving. Knowledge develops to reflect customer demand and societal values. As sites continue to change and grow, advances in essentials like technology and chemistry grow and advance too. It’s natural then for carwash pros to share knowledge, leads, experiences and opinions on matters like this. Carwash chemicals are designed to clean vehicles with efficiency, safety, environmental integrity and thoroughness in mind.

Chemicals are devised to rinse easily from all kinds of vehicles in both tunnels and bays.

But while many owners are savvy enough to understand that the proper cleaning formulations can produce dazzling results, there’s dialogue in some Internet chat rooms lately about the virtues and challenges associated with some carwash owneroperators wanting to save money by either mixing their own chemicals or using cheaper products while attempting to duplicate the results of brand chemicals. What are the pros and cons of this? The ethics? The potential risks of damage to the environment or reputation?

To probe these and other questions, we assembled a panel of

some industry pundits with nearly a century of combined experience brought to the table. As you can imagine, they had some very strong opinions on these issues.

So, without further ado, let’s introduce our panel: Chad Palmer from Olathe KS with 25 years in the carwash industry. Michael Gordon 59, is a carwash consultant from Denver Colorado and has performed vehicle cleaning services in various capacities since 1994. Kevin Brin, 60, Vehicle Care Specialist for ZEP living in south Florida near Boca Raton is a 15-year veteran of the carwash and chemical industry.

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Convenience & Carwash Canada (C&CC): There seems to be a big reliance on the part of some carwash owner/operators to depend on outside chemical specialists—especially from The main costs the major chemical players-- to mix the soluassociated with tions that ultimately wind up cleaning the cars. washing a vehicle But I’m told that there’s an opportunity to have can be found chemicals mixed using a lesser chemical so cliin the costs of ents can save money? Is that accurate? Further electricity, water money might be saved if operators learn to do usage, and it themselves and still yield the same results? chemicals.

What are the pros of this? The cons?

Chad Palmer: An individual operator is much more capable of using a local supplier, or even mixing their own chemicals. As a company gets bigger, this means it becomes less and less viable due to production constraints, supply chain logistics, and purely from a liability standpoint. There is sometimes a lack of consistency from batch-to-batch with these bathtub blenders.

Michael Gordon: Carwash operators for the most part are not chemical engineers. Much like not every

person who can make a nice dinner is a chef. The complexity of the products we use in the industry can seriously damage a vehicle when ingredients that are designed to clean are not matched with proper buffers and surfactants. These items are designed to protect and hold containments that have been lifted from the surfaces of the vehicle. As such, in most cases many operators simply choose to hand over their chemistry needs. In particular, new operators will rely on the recommendations made by their chemical supplier. Operators in many cases simply follow these recommendations without evaluating other potential cost effective solutions.

As for an ability to save money, I suspect there is a little of this. While it may appear as potential cost savings, risk factors far outweigh the savings.

Kevin Brin: Let’s start off by saying yes, any operator who has been in the business long enough knows what to do to make his own blend. So if that’s the case, then typically the quality batch-to-batch will never be the same.

Another potential problem is a liability factor with owner-operators mixing their own chemicals and

Offering a variety of cleaning solutions featuring the

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

someone having an injury to themselves or another.

Chemicals are usually mixed in small batches on an as-needed basis. Imagine if the material safety data sheet (MSDS) that must accompany all chemical shipments is not attached. Say, you’re mixing a batch of chemicals, and it gets in your eyes, there’s a huge liability to whoever’s doing the mixing. Safety procedures need to be in place.

C&CC: One of you said interestingly, that the cost of chemicals is one of the top three operating costs an owner/operator has to bear. That struck me as quite interesting.

How much money could potentially be saved by owners taking the lead on this?

Chad Palmer: I’m not really qualified to answer this without a whole lot of data I am not privy to. A good guess would be 25 per cent or more. If someone is big enough, a better alternative is to buy at a distributor discount from a big company. Anecdotally, I was with a company that saved 40 per cent off list price from a major company by buying $8,000 or more at a time.

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Michael Gordon: This is correct when you set aside the cost of the facility (building, land, taxes, etc.). The main costs associated with washing a vehicle can be found in the costs of electricity, water usage, and chemicals. Some wash operators know their overall monthly or yearly cost of chemicals but do not truly understand the cost of each chemical applied per vehicle in the wash process. Other operators use sophisticated volumetric analysis to establish a base line of the cost of each solution per application.

This baseline is used to create an operating cost per service and to compare one company’s cleaning solution cost and usage against another. Over the life of a particular product purchased many things can occur that will change these costs and volumes consumed. Items such as temperature, water purity, dwell time of the solution, equipment failures, equipment used for the application, and even the process performed by humans will affect the costs of not only the chemistry being applied but the water and electricity needed to do the work. It is for this reason, when choosing chemistry, the operator needs to pay special attention to balancing the entire wash process. It is imperative that they make sure

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the chemical solutions used throughout the process not only complement one another but are economical to use. Balancing carwash chemistry is a continuous process that needs to be reviewed regularly. As conditions change, operators need to react to maintain the results they are all looking for: a clean, shiny, dry vehicle.

Kevin Brin: It really depends on carwash volume and the type of wash being put out. With an in-bay, you might have to only apply two or three chemicals, so the wash is short and quick. With a tunnel, there’s a whole series of steps: stripping, cleaning, conditioning, spot-free rinse, etc. The carwash company may have a clientele that doesn’t demand a perfect wash. The owner-operator can dial back name brands and still get a good wash. You can save a little money in the short term, but you’ll also sacrifice things like marketing support. I’ve seen the statistics. Brands matter. If you wash 10,000 cars per month, you’re saving money

C&CC: Are there also specific chemicals that you would recommend or suggest that owner/ operators consider? Or are there alternative people you could consult to save money?

Advantages to this? Disadvantages?

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C&CC: I was sitting in on some discussions amongst carwash owner/operators recently and was struck by how ethical the whole thing seemed to be. By taking on the wrong chemicals, I can only imagine the risk of damage that might occur, not only to the vehicle but also your reputation. It’s a fickle business and return business is critical for success. Customers are also quite concerned about the environmental impact of the chemicals being used to clean their vehicles. Care to comment on these two dimensions?

Chad Palmer: I think some operators are concerned with the environmental impact. Anecdotally, it’s probably less than the average citizen. When they are, it is more often a cost analysis than an ethical analysis, at least here in the States. That being said, I know individuals that have focused on that as a part of their business model.

Michael Gordon: Regarding environmental impacts, car washing can pose threats to the environment. Water discharge and high-water usage are the primary problems associated with a carwash.

Reclaim systems have become mandatory in many

Chad Palmer: There is a specific chemical I would recommend against, very firmly: Hydroflouric acid, known in the industry as HF. It is cheap, cleans well, and was very prevalent 25 years ago. A lot of operators are still willing to use it because of the low cost. It can kill and maim people, and it has in this industry.

It should be completely removed from the carwash industry immediately.

Michael Gordon: In today’s competitive environment, operators need to look at how to differentiate their wash. Partnering with a company that offers a wide variety of dilution, colors and fragrances can be a game changer for carwashes. Putting on the right show is required in today’s environment. Find a chemical partner that offers customized solutions. Most large chemical companies offer only off-the-shelf solutions that everyone else is using. From an insurance claim standpoint, make sure your chemical partner only uses non-staining dyes. As all operators know, especially in today’s very expensive vehicle market, customers are very sensitive about their vehicles. For self-serve operators, this can also be even more important in the event the chemical dyes get on a customer’s clothing or skin.

Kevin Brin: Every location has a different chemical need. Why? It has to do with what you’re trying to clean.

Is it dirt? Sand? Salt? Two carwashes 100 miles apart will have different needs. On top of that, every location has different water use, including hard or soft, or water with too many minerals. That’s why you need a partner to help you figure it out.

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areas to reduce water consumption and municipalities continue to increase water and sewer rates. Many carwash chemicals contain ingredients that may be difficult to treat and is compounded when the soapy water is mixed with the road films, dirt, grease, and soils that are removed from vehicles. On a positive note, containing this within the carwash reclaim systems and pits and via sewage treatment system is better than not washing the vehicles as these soils when removed by rainfall can have more serious impact on the environment as they are directly discharged into the streets and end up directly into the ground, water, or into storm water systems.

Kevin Brin: Customers truly feel we’re partners. All of us on the road always try to change the game.

The industry changes fast and we share those ideas with owner-operators. We need to listen to them.

Most owner-operators are very knowledgeable. It’s a professional business and has been for several years.

Regarding the environment, larger operators always strive for perfection and are looking at more eco-friendly products. And, larger chemical manufacturers who have the resources are working to reduce the environmental impact some chemicals may have.

C&CC: Gentlemen, this has been a most enlightening discussion. It’s truly a pity we don’t have more space to elaborate, but I really appreciate your insights! Any final thoughts before we go?

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Chad Palmer: Overall, I think using an established brand with a good reputation is the way to go. For some smaller operators, this may not be cost effective up front, which makes it hard to convince them they should go name brand, until there is property damage or bodily harm from a mistake.

Michael Gordon: Operators should consult with their chemical supplier or reach out to consultants that understand the limitations one product may have versus another. Carwash cleaning solutions should be customized to meet the operator’s business development and financial plans, not the business plan of a manufacturer or distributor.

Kevin Brin: I strongly believe in brands. They’re a major force to back you up. This is a fluid, exciting, dynamic industry.

There you have it. It’s pretty obvious that the

complexities of such a topic can’t be captured in one conversation, but it’s fairly clear where these gentlemen stand. They all stand for quality and an outstanding product that can only be delivered by owner-operators who have an in-depth understanding of their business and customer requirements. Their commitment to customer care and ethics is commendable too. Thank you, gentlemen, for sharing your insights with us.

Carter Hammett is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor

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By Chris Heismann

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

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CARWASH PAYMENT SYSTEMS We’ve come full circle. From the moment the first carwash opened in 1914, carwash operators have needed a way to collect payment from their customers. For the first half-century or so, it was mostly

the friendly attendant, ready to collect money and upsell services. Every customer was greeted, hopefully with a cheerful smile, services offered, the money collected, and their car washed. The attendant was not only a means of collecting payment but a key component of the carwash operator’s marketing for additional services.

As carwashes evolved and automated and self-serve carwashes came into being, we moved away from the attendant, in favor of the humble coin mechanism. Invented long before the automobile was, the coin mechanism came into its own in the post-WW2 years and adopted to many different types of industries, from amusement to laundry, and of course, the carwash. But the adoption of the coin mech and automation led to the separation of payment collection and marketing.

Marketing at the point of sale of most carwashes became a collage of signs and logos. Less expensive than attendants, for sure, but far less interactive.

Codes became widely used as a form of payment when the petroleum industry began installing tunnels and automatics at gas stations.

Protocols arose to allow a simple way for the customer to pay for a wash along with their fuel. They also offered marketing options, such as free gas with a fill up.

When credit cards became an everyday transaction tool for the common consumer, many carwash operators sought to add the ability to accept plastic, thus expanding the payment options for their customers. And with the same technology needed to accept credit cards often came the ability for operators to offer their own fleet and gift card options, further expanding the payment options available to them and their customers.

Along with Fleet and gift card options came additional marketing opportunities. The savvy operator leveraged these abilities of their point of sale systems to increase customer loyalty by getting out and selling customers prepaid gift cards or setting up businesses on payment plans.

System manufacturers responded by adding new features, such as promotional discounts, monthly memberships, and even RFID systems so that drivers wouldn’t even have to roll down their windows to buy a carwash.

When credit cards became an everyday transaction tool for the common consumer, many carwash operators sought to add the ability to accept plastic, thus expanding the payment options for their customers.

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POS marketing options became slightly more interactive again as POS systems evolved from buttons and switches to monochrome and later full-color touch screens.

Ever evolving security for credit cards has led to the creation of chip and pin plus tap systems, which made their way into the carwash industry first for tellers for automatics and tunnels, and most recently for self serve bays and vacuums. The additional features of these EMV tap readers have allowed for more options, such as Interac Debit, Apply Pay and Google Pay. EMV Tap has been a huge boom to payment systems. It allows quick payment, with fewer struggles associated with worn magnetic strips and dirty card readers. It works with most credit cards and Interac debit cards. They are far more secure than traditional magnetic card swipes because the account information on the card is uniquely encrypted every time it accessed. Each Interac Flash debit purchase is protected by a $100 maximum limit and a cumulative $200 contactless spend limit each day. And debit card purchases are protected by Interac’s Zero Liability policy. The tap readers also allow the acceptance of the increasingly popular smartphonebased payment methods Apple Pay for iOS devices, and Google Pay for Android devices.

A phone application can offer things such as loyalty programs that reward good customers and offer deals and discounts.

More than 70 per cent of Canadian adults own a smartphone, making the ability to accept mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay more important than ever before.

More than 70 per cent of Canadian adults own a smartphone, making the ability to accept mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay more important than ever before. It is the possibilities of the smartphone that have brought us full circle as carwash POS system manufacturers introduce their own phone applications. At the point of sale, the carwash phone app can collect payment for the wash, provide the same upselling of services that signs and color screens can offer. Not only do these phone apps allow in-app payment for washes, but they also introduce additional marketing opportunities. They can become, in essence, a carwash attendant in the customer’s pocket, combining payment collection and marketing all in one device.

A phone application can offer things such as loyalty programs that reward good customers and offer deals and discounts. Like the attendant, they can recommend upsells, but unlike an attendant, they can also do this off-site. Features such as geofencing and beacons let the app notify the customer when they’re in the area, and offer them reminders and incentives to get their car washed.

When a customer travels within a predefined area – a virtual fence overlay, geofencing, uses the built-in GPS of their smartphone to trigger notifications – a virtual fence overlay on the real world. This technology allows the operator to create special discount deals or reminders that appear on their smartphone as they drive toward their site location.

Beacons are a similar feature, but are typically based on physical transmitting devices placed at the site, and can tailor more specific and detailed information to the customer, based on their location within site.

Phone apps are also good for selling multiple wash packages, and monthly memberships, without the added expense of finicky RFID systems. On the back end, phone apps have some additional benefits for the operator. These include information about their customers that would be difficult to obtain from even the best, most attentive attendant; information such as on average how long customers are on site to how often they drive by. All of this information can be used by operators to adjust operation items like staffing and marketing efforts.

The evolution of payment systems in the carwash industry over the last century has brought us a lot of changes. What will the next century bring?

Chris Heismann is a technician with over three decades of experience in the vending, amusement and carwash industries. He can be contacted at chrish@exacta.com

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PA Wand Wash Offers Cutting Edge Service The modernistic PA Wand Wash is Prince Albert, Saskatchewan’s answer to carwash excellence.

a way to get there. I started knocking on doors to see if people would sell me their houses, and Ready to move out of the excavating industry, within 48 hours I had four signed sale agreements,” says Devin of the process. owners Devin and Shay Meeks were looking for The houses were sold and moved to other a more family-friendly business endeavour. With properties. Using their previous business knowlthe last carwash in town built 18 years ago, the edge and assets the duo prepared the property couple saw a need in the marketplace and their for the build themselves. Construction began 90 interest in the industry sealed the deal.

“We felt it was time for a new wash with state- days later. of-the-art technology,” says Devin of their 14-bay Innovative Design carwash which also includes a three-bay pet wash and a 2000 square-foot convenience store with “Our goal in this build was to choose materials that would keep the carwash looking new, even rentable office space above.

The couple researched innovations and attend- 20 years from now. That’s why everything from screws and fasteners to walls and ductwork is ed several carwash conventions to identify the amenities they wanted to include in their wash. made of stainless steel or plastic. Building a carwash is a customised project due to their Finding the ideal location, though, required a little harsh interior environments; Chad had great ingenuity. With only one bridge crossing the North contacts and expertise in wash building,” Devin Saskatchewan River in town, the Meeks wanted property on the street connecting to the bridge. adds of their decision to team up with the general contractor, Chad Zacharias.

“For us, it was all about the location. We knew what “This design-build project utilised several street we wanted to be on; we just needed to find

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Neoteric features, such as a 24-hour pass card allows customers after hour access to the wash.”

Devin went above and beyond with his state-ofthe-art facility.

customised products,” says Chad, vice president of construction at Zak’s Building Group. The building’s roof system consisted of a loose-laid EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer), an extremely durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane, with a gravel ballast and open-web galvanized, epoxy coated steel joists.

Concrete-filled Nuform products were used for the walls with Reline, CF8, and CF8i panels. “Reline is used as a PVC liner panel on stud walls and CF8 and CF8i are pre-finished polymer panels. The conform walls are great solutions for high moisture environments. They are erected on site and filled with reinforcing steel and concrete which provide long-lasting structural integrity. The polymer panels protect the building envelope and are proven to last in the harsh climates of Western Canada,” explains Chad.

The high-speed spring-less door system supplied

by SDI (Service Door Industries) comes highly recommended by Ronnie Thorimbert, president of Overhead Door of Prince Albert Ltd. “The polycarbonate door with aluminum frame is powder-coated to withstand the damp environment, and the powerful electric operating drive located at floor level, allows for easy installation and future maintenance,” he adds.

Other features that deserve to be highlighted include in-floor heating that the Meeks had installed throughout the carwash and on an additional 12 x 16-foot concrete slab in front of the building’s entrance and exit to keep ice from building up in the winter. The four Viessmann boilers that run the building’s floor and water heating needs operate on a computer system that cycles demand equally through all four.

Pumps and Pressure’s proprietary Hotshot pressure washers, installed at Devin’s site, incorporated the PowerSave option which uses variable speed drives on the electric motors. This option is more efficient than a conventional system, and provides considerable savings in power and reduced wear on the equipment.

Darcy Ray, operations manager for Pumps and Pressure Inc., adds: “We are also storing all of the rejected reverse osmosis water and using it for a floor wash down system. Potable city water is run through a water treatment process that removes all of the minerals from the water and produces on average one gallon of reject water versus one gallon of spot free water (R/O water). Rather than letting this wastewater go down the drain we recapture it in a holding tank and use a booster pump to supply the building with large volume floor wash stations.”

The Meeks installed 14 individual sump pits instead of a trough floor draining system which allows for individual bay cleaning preventing complete wash shutdowns.

Customized Features

Working with companies as innovative as they are, Devin’s idea for a foam cannon was made a reality with the help of Pumps and Pressure. “We designed a unique bug remover option for Devin that applies thick foam over the vehicle surface to loosen up the

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 

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Their 14-bay carwash which also includes a three-bay pet wash and a 2000 square-foot convenience store.

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The Meeks offer full barista-style coffee and ice cream services.

bugs as a pre-treatment to washing. This option is then changed over in the winter to a salt shield spray which helps eliminate vehicle corrosion by neutralising road salt,” shares Darcy. “Devin went above and beyond with his state-of-the-art facility, and Pumps and Pressure were proud to be involved.”

Neoteric features, such as a 24-hour pass card allows customers after hour access to the wash.

Passholders pull up to the door, swipe their card which deactivates the alarm, opens the door and turns on the LED lights. Paymaster pay machines offer cash and credit card payment options. Upon leaving, the alarm counts down, locks the doors, dims the lights and reactivates.

To protect their investment, Prince Albert Alarm Systems Ltd. installed a combination of Geovision Cameras, Kantech Access control and DSC alarm products for a complete security integration solution. The system includes a door access control system that automatically unlocks and locks the doors at 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. respectively.

The 2,000 square foot convenience store provides contemporary offerings as well. The Meeks offer full barista-style coffee and ice cream services. They are currently the exclusive distributors for Spirit Bear coffee and their new FlavorBurst machine adds a tasty twist to their soft-serve ice cream offerings.

PA Wand Wash hasn’t been open a year yet, but rave reviews from the community indicate that it will be around for a long time, thankfully, it was built to last.

Tania Moffat is a freelance writer, editor, publisher, and photographer. She has worked in the publishing industry for the last 15 years on a wide variety of B2B and consumer publications, both in print and online. You can connect with her at info@ chiccountrylife.com.

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CONTACT: JIM YELLE Office 403.266.5558

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The most trusted resource for news and information about Canada’s convenience, retail petroleum, and carwash industry.

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Forecourt Insight 60

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By Ed Kammerer

Everyone has had the experience of sitting at a traffic light with a dump truck or 18-wheeler idling in front of them,

then having a plume of diesel exhaust emitted at their vehicle as the truck moves forward when the light turns green. While it’s true that this experience is less common today thanks to stricter dieselemission regulations, the development of low-sulfur diesel-fuel formulations, and the refinement of clean-diesel fueling technology (such as diesel exhaust fluid or DEF), diesel still carries the stigma as a dirty fuel One place where this unflattering reputation more and more passenger vehicles that are is hard to shake is at the service station – powered by diesel, creating more and more in many ways.

HOW TO CLEAN UP THE DIESEL FUELING EXPERIENCE especially if the retailer allows it to fester. Diesel exhaust fumes are not the culprit here. Instead, it is the grimy, unappealing appearance of diesel-fuel nozzles and surrounding forecourt surfaces that are covered with fugitive fuel that escapes at the completion of the vehicle-fueling process.

This may become increasingly problematic from a brand-image and reputation standpoint for fuel retailers. As indicated in a 2018 report in The Globe and Mail, the number of dieselpowered vehicle options for drivers is expanding, highlighted by Ford’s introduction last year of a diesel version of its iconic and popular F-150 pickup truck. This means there will be

instances where those fugitive drops of diesel can stain fuel nozzles and the ground. This also becomes problematic for the gasoline customer as well. We see an increase of 3+1 dispensers where the gasoline nozzle and the diesel nozzle share the same side of the dispenser. The gasoline customer does not want to see a messy, dirty diesel nozzle hanging right next to his gasoline nozzle.

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In other words, for retailers, cleanliness isn’t only next to godliness, it is next to indispensible if they wish to attract the repeat customers that help them remain in business.

Admittedly, it is much easier to keep some forms of retail sites clean when compared to others. One of those that is susceptible to eventually looking a little rough around the edges is the retail fuel station. This is mainly due to the actual nature of the business, the fueling of all types of motor vehicles in an outdoor environment that can feature rain, snow, dirt, grime, grease and many other forms of hard-to-control contaminants.

Still, that doesn’t mean that fuel retailers should not make every effort to ensure their site – especially the forecourt and its various pieces of equipment – is as appealing to the eye as possible. If the forecourt serves as the welcome mat for the customer, the fuel nozzle is the proverbial handshake with the driver, the first point of hands-on interaction that can play a huge role in determining if that interaction is a pleasant one.

Therefore, it is imperative that fugitive fuel is not allowed to gather on the nozzle trigger, hand insulator and fuel guard, making it dirty and unappealing for customers to handle. Customers will also be put-off by a forecourt surface that is dotted with diesel-fuel stains. In the long term, any excessive amounts of spilled fuel, or an accumulation of spilled fuel over time, will necessitate a cleanup program and, along with it, associated costs and pump-island downtime.

Capture It, Don’t Release It

Knowing the importance of a clean fueling site in establishing a favorable brand image and reputation for the fuel retailer, OPW has created the 14 Series

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Nozzle family, which uses innovative, patented technology to provide a cleaner fueling experience. A key member of this family is the 14C Series Diesel Capture Nozzle, which is approved for use with traditional diesel and biodiesel blends up to B5.

The 14C nozzle sets a new consumer standard and expectation in diesel fueling with the introduction of its patented diesel-capture technology. At the conclusion of the diesel-fueling process, any excess diesel fuel that remains on the spout will migrate back to the capture device.

This excess diesel fuel is fully secured in the diesel-capture chamber until the next fueling cycle begins when a venturi built in to the chamber is activated to introduce the captured diesel fuel back

into the fuel stream. The nozzle also features a drip guard that captures any fuel that may run out onto the outside of the nozzle. The result is a nozzle that will not become coated with unsightly diesel-fuel drops, creating a much more inviting look and feel for the customer.

Other features that further separate the 14C nozzle from the competition include a FlowLock that halts fuel flow if the nozzle falls out of the vehicle or is tipped up, a durable Duratuff lever guard that won’t scratch vehicles, AccuStop to-the-Penny flow control technology, comfortable two-piece NEWGARD hand insulator, and a one-finger holdopen clip that easily lets the user set the flow rate.

Conclusion

Brand image and reputation play a huge and undeniable role in the ultimate success or failure of a business. For fuel retailers, a dirty, fuel-stained forecourt is a detriment that can cause prospective customers to fulfill their vehicle-fueling needs elsewhere. With the use of diesel fuel beginning to rise, retailers can ill afford to have unattractive fuel nozzles or forecourt surfaces be the impetus for driving customers away. OPW addresses the challenges that can be caused by fugitive diesel fuel with its new 14C Series Diesel Capture Nozzle. The 14C’s standard-setting Diesel Capture Technology can make it a go-to choice for fuel retailers who want to put the cleanest face on their sites.

Ed Kammerer is the director of marketing and global product strategy for OPW, based in Cincinnati, OH, USA. He can be reached at ed.kammerer@opwglobal.com. For more information on OPW, please go to OPWGlobal.com.

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battery-powered electric cars and fuel cell cars will exist next to each other for a long time to come.

“People driving short distances in and around the city will rather choose for a battery-powered car, but when you need to cover larger distances, you need more electric potential. Then hydrogen is an obvious choice”, Elliot says.

Shell recently announced the development of a hydrogen fuel service station network in the Netherlands as part of the European H2Benelux subsidy program.

The announcement reflects part of a much larger project by Shell to develop hydrogen alternative fuel for vehicle transport around the world.

In 2017, Shell published a study on the future of hydrogen in the transport sector, jointly produced with the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.

The study concluded that in 2050, 113 million fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) could save up to 68 million tonnes of fuel and almost 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions, making a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

For hydrogen electric transport to succeed, vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers and governments need to work together.

In Germany, Shell is part of a joint venture with industrial gas manufacturers Air Liquide and Linde, car manufacturer Daimler and energy companies Total and OMV, to develop a nationwide network of 400 hydrogen refuelling stations for new hydrogen car models by 2023. The German government and

the European Union are also part-funding the initiative.

In the USA, Shell has hydrogen fuel service stations in Los Angeles, and is currently working in partnership with Toyota, with the support of the State of California, to further develop its hydrogen refuelling network. This year also saw Shell open its first hydrogen service station in Vancouver, Canada.

The H2Benelux program estimates €5,3 million to subsidize eight hydrogen stations in the Benelux: 4 in the Netherlands, 3 in Belgium and 1 in Luxembourg. The rest of the investment is done in partnership with local governments and the industry.

“These subsidies are necessary because building and maintaining a hydrogen refueling station is expensive”, Alice Elliot, hydrogen expert at Shell, says. “In the beginning demand will be low, while operational costs are high. Those costs will decrease the moment the critical mass is increasing.”

Shell is active in the electric charging business and has expanded its electric charging network recently by taking over NewMotion, and it is rolling out 80 superfast Ionity chargers across Europe. in its own fuel station network. It believes

At the end of 2017, only 40 hydrogen fuel cell cars were driving around in the Netherlands. One of them driven by Shell Netherlands CEO, Marjan van Loon. The H2 platform estimates by 2020 there will be some 2.000 hydrogen fuel cell cars in the Netherlands. This compares to 130.000 electric (including hybrids) cars in the Netherlands.

Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles convert compressed hydrogen from the fuel tank into electricity that powers the electric motor of a vehicle. When driven, such cars do not produce greenhouse gases from their tailpipe – the only emission is water vapour. When renewable electricity is used to make the hydrogen, the vehicle can effectively be powered without generating any emissions.

Hydrogen vehicles have similar performance and acceleration capabilities to petrol and diesel cars.

They are quick to refuel and can drive similar distances. Energy is stored in compressed hydrogen fuel, rather than a battery, which means that hydrogenpowered cars can potentially drive up to 700 kilometres without refuelling.

It is intersting to note that in the last 18 months, Shell is assessing the potential of hydrogen service station projects in Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, England (UK), France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and USA. Shell is part of a growing number of initiatives to develop hydrogen electric energy as an alternative fuel. 092018

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What’s New

JUUL Labs Releases 1.5 per cent nicotine JUULpods in Canada to Provide Country’s Five Million Smokers with a Third Nicotine-Strength Option JUUL Labs recently announced a new nicotine-strength option for current smokers seeking to switch from combustible cigarettes. As part of its mission to eliminate the use of cigarettes in Canada, JUUL Labs is making 1.5 per cent nicotine JUULpods available across the country. JUULpods containing five and three per cent nicotine by weight are already available.

“We’re excited to offer more options to Canada’s five million adult smokers,” said Mike Nederhoff, Canada general manager, JUUL Labs. “We know that choice can help adult smokers switch away from combustible cigarettes by giving them the chance to determine the nicotine-strength option that works best for them.”

“We have also heard from adult smokers that different people need different nicotine-strength options,” says Nederhoff.

“Our diverse product offering helps adult smokers switch and stay switched.”

Online, using unique ID match and age verification technology to make sure minors can’t access and purchase the products. An adult signature at time of delivery is required for all deliveries in Canada. JUUL Labs’ online age-restrictions are more robust than the Ontario Cannabis Store.

All retail partners must ask for identification when selling nicotine products.

This year, JUUL Labs launched a secret shopping program to ensure stores are complying and will report non-complying retailers to Health Canada and appropriate provincial governments.

All products are clearly labelled as containing nicotine and packaging includes nicotine warning messaging, including a skull-and-crossbones warning decal which is described in Canadian packaging regulations for consumer chemicals but has not yet been applied to the vaping industry. This graphic warning is voluntary; studies by researchers at the University of Waterloo indicate that graphic warning labels are one of the most effective measures at preventing youth uptake of restricted products.

New Hire Announcement – VP Strategic Initiatives LSI Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Nelson Wesley as vice president strategic initiatives. Wesley will oversee initiatives focused on improving sales, driving operational efficiency and ultimately improving financial performance of the company. As a senior level leader, he will report to the CMO, Scott Coleman.

“What I found compelling about LSI is its rich history in the industry and the team’s dedication to growth through new product development and focusing on the customer.” said Wesley. “It’s an exciting opportunity to add value!”

Wesley joins LSI Industries with over 20 years of marketing, sales and product management experience. He started his career at Ingersoll Rand and most recently he served as vice president of sales, marketing, & aftermarket, involving direct management of sales, marketing, aftermarket and bid teams at Ellis & Watts in Batavia, OH. Wesley holds two bachelor degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Science, from University of Kentucky and Asbury University, respectively.

“We are excited to find a person of this caliber and background for this new position,” remarked Coleman. “Nelson will be a strong asset to the team here at LSI Industries.”

Andy Chambers Joins PSD Codax New Hire Addresses Rapid Growth in the Company’s Australasian Market Wind Gap, PA — Innovative Control Systems (ICS) is pleased to announce that PSD Codax, ICS’s U.K.-based subsidiary responsible for international sales, has added Andy Chambers to the team as lead support resource for the company’s established and growing markets in Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to joining the PSD Codax team, Chambers served 29 years in several key technical roles for Washtec, most recently with the Australia/New Zealand team where he served as the company’s National Technical Manager since 2005. Prior to that, he was with Washtec’s U.K. team from 1989 to 2005.

“Andy brings a wealth of industry-specific knowledge and experience to PSD Codax and will be a great addition to the team as we expand our presence in Australia and New Zealand; markets that are key to the PSD Codax growth strategy,” said Rob Deal, managing director of PSD Codax.

As a Royal Air Force veteran who served as a corporal in the propulsion systems group, Chambers enjoys spending time with his family in his free time by including his grandsons in his passion: flying. He holds a recreational pilot’s license and flies on a regular basis.

“I am excited to be joining PSD Codax,” Chambers said. “It is a great organization with more than 25 years of experience delivering innovative solutions to the vehicle care industry.”

Chambers will be based in Melbourne, Australia.

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA

What’s New

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New OPW 14E ECO Nozzle Receives CARB Certification Patented and Patented-Pending Dripless-Spout Technology Earns the 14E Recognition as the Industry’s First CARB-Certified Dripless Nozzle OPW, a Dover company and a global leader in fluid-handling solutions, is proud to announce that its new OPW 14E ECO (Enhanced Conventional) Nozzle has received California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification, as the industry’s first dripless conventional gasoline-fueling nozzle. The 14E ECO (enhanced conventional) nozzle is available for dripless conventional CARB-required fueling jurisdictions, as well as for any fuel site desiring a cleaner, greener fueling experience for its customers.

“The new OPW 14E CARB ECO nozzle is the first true conventional dripless nozzle in the industry,” said Ed Kammerer, director of marketing and global product strategy for OPW Retail Fueling. “It is a landmark accomplishment for OPW and for the industry. Our patented spout design free drains any remaining fuel instead of collecting it in the spout like all other previous dripless designs. If a nozzle spout collects fuel, it is then allowed to evaporate into the air causing more harm than good. The 14E is truly unique, dripless and better for the environment so marketers can rest assured that their customers will have a cleaner fueling experience. This nozzle is truly defining what’s next in clean fueling!”

The 14E ECO nozzle earned CARB approval through a design that features a patent and patentpending dripless-spout design with a fuel-activation interlock valve located inside the bellows. This results in the industry’s first true dripless spout and the only CARB-certified dripless nozzle. Other features of the 14E CARB ECO nozzle include no-pressure/no-flow nozzle-activation technology and a FlowLock system that allows the nozzle to shut off if it should fall out of the vehicle during fueling. The 14E CARB ECO nozzle is cULus-listed, has been cycle-tested for more than one million use cycles, and is compatible for use with gasoline and up to 10 per cent ethanol blends.

For more information on the 14E CARB ECO nozzle and the rest of OPW’s 14 Series family of nozzles, visit OPWclean14.com.

Washworld, Inc. Launches New Website Washworld, Inc., a DePere based manufacturer of vehicle wash systems, is proud to announce their launch of a new website which coincides with their expanding role as a global leader.

Washworld’s new website provides a clear message of their value in the carwash industry. The website boasts a clean design, intuitive site-wide navigation, improved menu functionality and more carwash information. It is also fully responsive, making it easier to navigate on a wider range of browsers and devices. They’ve introduced a range of new content to the website, including quick and easy access to their carwash pages. These pages are packed with carwash information for each of Washworld’s carwash systems, filled with vibrant images of standard and optional features, plus on-demand video content to provide you with a walk through of their products. Additionally, they now offer easy access to Washworld marketing downloads and a comprehensive part department page. These pages include a library of content designed to help you market and sell Washworld carwash products and parts more effectively.

Washworld, Inc. is proud of their new website and feel it will create the experience you are looking for when you pay them a visit. Check out the website here: www. washworldinc.com.

Southwest Car Wash Association First Big Carwash Show of the Year Breaks Records The 2019 edition of the Southwest Car Wash Association Convention & EXPO recently concluded another record breaking event with more than 2,100 attendees converging in Texas in the largest regional gathering of carwash owners and vendors.

According to SCWA President Andrew Zamora, “We are proud of all the positive responses we have had to our convention & EXPO. Attendees and exhibitors have used words like: awesome show, fantastic time, outstanding show, first class in all aspects, and this will be a permanent trip for our group from now on. As we continue to expand we want all of our efforts to continue to be relevant to our growing attendance.”

The 2019 SCWA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ben Alford, Benny’s Car Wash & Oil Change chain in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to Awards Chair, Jeff Blansit: “The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest recognition given by the SCWA and we are proud to add Ben’s name to our honor roll.”

The 2019 edition included an expanding EXPO area with more than 320 booths and over 75,000 square feet of exhibits plus premier education sessions.

The event was summed up in an article by Rich DiPaolo of Professional Car Washing & Detailing magazine: “SCWA was able to successfully achieve another WOW factor event this year.”

SCWA is Now Heading to Fort Worth!

Mark your calendar now for EXPERIENCE SCWA 2020 – January 29-31, 2020 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

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Ad Index AcAcosta ........................................................................... 38 Aerodry Systems, LLC......................................................... 21 Blu /Fontem Ventures..........................................................32 Brand Strategy Execution Inc............................................. 41 Bulloch Technologies Inc....................................................64 Bunn....................................................................................36 CICC/NACDA .....................................................................70 Clover Leaf..........................................................................38 CoreMark Int’l................................................................12, 46 Delcan Products Ltd.............................................................8 Distribution Regitan.............................................................26 Erie Brush & Mfg Corp....................................................... 48 Exacta.................................................................................55 Gourmet Chips..................................................................IBC HQ Fine Foods.....................................................................34 International Drying Corp................................................... 58 JUUL Labs........................................................................OBC Lassonde.............................................................................40 Maqabim Distributors Ltd.................................................... 61 Marsham group of companies............................................ 41 McSweeney’s..................................................................... 38 MYLÉ...................................................................................39 McCowan............................................................................ 37

MI Petro...............................................................................59 Modernwash........................................................................ 11 Mondelez Canada Inc.........................................................31 Mondo Products............................................................... IFC North Shore Tobacco..........................................................23 NUForm............................................................................... 57 Oasis Car Wash Systems..............................................22, 50 OPW Fueling Systems.........................................................62 P.D. McLaren Limited................................................... 44, 65 Petroleum Equipment Institute............................................19 ProtoVest Inc.......................................................................53 Pumps & Pressure Inc........................................................ 58 RacePro Products...............................................................40 Reclaim Equipment Company............................................ 47 RockyView Industries..........................................................16 Scholtens Inc.......................................................................25 Wallace & Carey Inc............................................................29 Washtech Vehicle Wash Systems.......................................44 Western Refrigeration..........................................................35 Women in Carwash™ ......................................................... 27 .XpresSystems Inc...............................................................42 ZAK’s Commercial................................................................57

SEPT 24 - 26

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Join us in Toronto September 24 - 26, 2019 to listen to inspiring and informative speakers, network with colleagues at the trade exchange and celebrate excellence in our industry.

Don’t miss the industry event of the year

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NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS: This is an age-restricted product and age verification is required at sale. * Source: Nielsen Canada C&G channel, week ending March 2nd, 2019. © 2019 JUUL Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.