CStore Decisions November 2022 by WTWH Media LLC

CStoreDecisions

Solutions for Convenience Retailers

Celebrating

Nouria The family-owned and -operated company has experienced remarkable growth over the past two years with four major acquisitions, as well as the rollout of its first two self-branded convenience stores and fuel stations. Its commitment to excellence has earned the retailer CSD’s 2022 Chain of the Year honors.

INSIDE Hot New Product Contest Winners

Driving Lunch Sales

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Digitalization Transforms Forecourt Marketing

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EDITORIAL VICE PRESIDENT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Lofstock jlofstock@wtwhmedia.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Erin Del Conte edelconte@wtwhmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Emily Boes eboes@wtwhmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Zhane Isom zisom@wtwhmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Marilyn Odesser-Torpey CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Mark Battersby Anne Baye Ericksen Carol Brzozowski Howard Riell COLUMNIST Thomas Briant

SALES TEAM PUBLISHER John Petersen jpetersen@wtwhmedia.com

(216) 346-8790

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES Tony Bolla tbolla@wtwhmedia.com

(773) 859-1107

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Ashley Burk aburk@wtwhmedia.com

(737) 615-8452

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Patrick McIntyre pmcintyre@wtwhmedia.com (216) 372-8112 REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Jake Bechtel jbechtel@wtwhmedia.com (216) 299-2281

CUSTOMER SERVICE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER Stephanie Hulett shulett@wtwhmedia.com

Leading Through Innovation

LEADERSHIP TEAM

DIGITAL MARKETING

MANAGING DIRECTOR Scott McCafferty smccafferty@wtwhmedia.com

VICE PRESIDENT, DIGITAL MARKETING Virginia Goulding vgoulding@wtwhmedia.com

CO/FOUNDER, VP SALES Mike Emich memich@wtwhmedia.com

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Taylor Meade tmeade@wtwhmedia.com

EVP Marshall Matheson mmatheson@wtwhmedia.com

CREATIVE SERVICES VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE SERVICES Mark Rook mrook@wtwhmedia.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erin Canetta ecanetta@wtwhmedia.com ART DIRECTOR Matthew Claney mclaney@wtwhmedia.com DIRECTOR, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Bruce Sprague bsprague@wtwhmedia.com

WEBINAR COORDINATOR Halle Kirsh hkirsh@wtwhmedia.com

Lisa Dell’Alba, President and CEO Square One Markets • Bethlehem, Pa. Raymond Huff, President HJB Convenience Corp. • Lakewood, Colo.

MARKETING GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hannah Bragg hbragg@wtwhmedia.com

Bill Kent, President and CEO The Kent Cos. Inc. • Midland, Texas Patrick Lewis, Managing Partner Oasis Stop ‘N Go • Twin Falls, Idaho

WEB DEVELOPMENT

EVENTS MANAGER Jen Osborne josborne@wtwhmedia.com

SENIOR DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Pat Curran pcurran@wtwhmedia.com

EVENTS MANAGER Brittany Belko bbelko@wtwhmedia.com

DIGITAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Reggie Hall rhall@wtwhmedia.com

EVENTS MARKETING SPECIALIST Olivia Zemanek ozemanek@wtwhmedia.com

DIGITAL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Nicole Lender nlender@wtwhmedia.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION

DIGITAL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Nicole Johnson njohnson@wtwhmedia.com

VIDEOGRAPHER Garrett McCafferty gmccafferty@wtwhmedia.com

Robert Buhler, President and CEO Open Pantry Food Marts • Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

DIGITAL DESIGN MANAGER Samantha King sking@wtwhmedia.com

EVENTS

VIDEOGRAPHER Bradley Voyten bvoyten@wtwhmedia.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

WEBINAR COORDINATOR Kim Dorsey kdorsey@wtwhmedia.com

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dave Miyares dmiyares@wtwhmedia.com

Reilly Robinson Musser, VP, Marketing & Merchandising Robinson Oil Corp. • Santa Clara, Calif. Bill Weigel, CEO Weigel’s Inc. • Knoxville, Tenn.

NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP (NAG) BOARD Vernon Young (Board Chairman), President and CEO Young Oil Co. • Piedmont, Ala. Joy Almekies, Senior Director of Food Services Global Partners • Waltham, Mass. Mary Banmiller, Director of Retail Operations Warrenton Oil Inc. • Truesdale, Mo. Greg Ehrlich, President Beck Suppliers Inc. • Fremont, Ohio

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Jay Hopper jhopper@wtwhmedia.com

VIDEOGRAPHER Kara Singleton ksingleton@wtwhmedia.com

Derek Gaskins, Senior VP, Merchandising/Procurement Yesway • Des Moines, Iowa

Brent Mouton, President and CEO Hit-N-Run Food Stores • Lafayette, La.

YOUNG EXECUTIVES ORGANIZATION (YEO) BOARD Kalen Frese (Board Chairman), Food Service Director Warrenton Oil Inc. • Warrenton, Mo.

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SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES To enter, change or cancel a subscription, please go to: http://d3data.net/csd/indexnew.htm or email requests to: bsprague@wtwhmedia.com Copyright 2022, WTWH Media, LLC CStore Decisions (ISSN 1054-7797) is published monthly by WTWH Media, LLC., 1111 Superior Ave., Suite 2600, Cleveland, OH 44114, for petroleum company and convenience store operators, owners, managers. Qualified U.S. subscribers receive CStore Decisions at no charge. For others, the cost is $80 a year in the U.S. and Possessions, $95 in Canada, and $150 in all other countries. Single copies are available at $9 each in the U.S. and Possessions, $10 each in Canada and $13 in all other countries. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CStore Decisions, 1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44114. GST #R126431964, Canadian Publication Sales Agreement No: #40026880. CSTORE DECISIONS does not endorse any products, programs or services of advertisers or editorial contributors. Copyright© 2022 by WTWH Media, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Circulation audited by Business Publications Audit of Circulation, Inc.

CSTORE DECISIONS •

Doug Galli, Vice President/General Manager Reid Stores Inc./Crosby’s • Brockport, N.Y.

Joe Hamza, Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Nouria Energy Corp. • Worcester, Mass.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Jane Cooper jcooper@wtwhmedia.com

CStore Decisions is a three-time winner of the Neal Award, the American Business Press’ highest recognition of editorial excellence.

November 2022

Jeff Carpenter, Director of Education and Training Cliff’s Local Market • Marcy, N.Y. Megan Chmura, Director of Center Store GetGo • Pittsburgh Ryan Faville, Director of Purchasing Stewart’s Shops Corp. • Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Caroline Filchak, Director, Wholesale Operations Clipper Petroleum • Flowery Branch, Ga. Cole Fountain, Director of Merchandise Gate Petroleum Co. • Jacksonville, Fla. Alex Garoutte, Director of Marketing The Kent Cos. Inc. • Midland, Texas Daillard Paris, Director of Petroleum Supply and Trading Sheetz Inc. • Altoona, Pa.

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CONTENTS November 2022

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Number 11

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Volume 33

CStoreDecisions

FRONT END

8 Editor’s Memo: Preparing for NAG 2023 10 Quick Bites: Consumers Are Considering Healthier Food Options 12 NATO Update: Corrective Statements Point-of-Sale Settlement Agreement

16 Nouria Honored With CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year Award SPECIAL REPORT

40 Announcing the Winners of CStore Decisions’ 2022 Hot New Products Contest

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

86 Cigar Category Braces Against Proposed Flavor Bans 90 Meat Snacks Appeal Despite Inflation 96 Spiked Slushies Offer Opportunity For C-Stores 100 Packaged Beverage Sales Continue To Flow

COVER STORY 26 Celebrating Nouria

FOODSERVICE

106 Driving C-Store Lunch Sales TECHNOLOGY

112 Transaction Technology Transformed 116 Digitalization Transforms Forecourt Marketing

The family-owned and -operated company has experienced remarkable growth over the past two years with four major acquisitions, as well as the rollout of its first two self-branded convenience stores and fuel stations. Its commitment to excellence has earned the retailer CSD’s 2022 Chain of the Year honors.

OPERATIONS

122 Restroom Sanitation Rises in Significance 128 How to Create a Succession Plan for Your C-Store

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

BACK END 130 Product Showcase 137 Ad Index 138 Industry Perspective: Weigel’s Rolls Out On Demand Pay For Employees

cstoredecisions.com

GROWTH BEST NEW

AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE NATIONALLY THROUGH DISTRIBUTORS

P R O DUCTS AWA R D S

BEST NEW

PR O D U C T S

Trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Certain of Black Buffalo's smokeless tobacco alternative products contain pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, which is an addictive chemical, and Black Buffalo's products are intended for use solely by adults age 21 and over who are existing users of tobacco or nicotine products.

Editor’s Memo

For any questions about this issue or suggestions for future issues, please contact me at jlofstock@wtwhmedia.com.

Preparing for NAG 2023 Despite a global pandemic and looming economic recession, the convenience store industry continues to grow sales at record numbers. But the stakes have never been higher as storeowners face competition from multiple retail channels, regulations that are threatening foundational categories like gasoline and tobacco and a labor crunch that is crippling chains of all sizes. As competition increases across the board, savvy retailers are learning to take cost out of their operations to run as lean, efﬁcient top quartile businesses. The National Advisory Group (NAG) caters to these businesses. NAG has created an environment where small, mid-sized and family-owned retailers can interact with each other and share ideas for reducing operating costs and increasing sales. The proof can be found in our just-announced educational lineup for the 2023 NAG Conference in Austin, Texas. The sessions at this year’s conference were developed exclusively with the boards of NAG and the Young Executives Organization (YEO). These sessions are geared toward helping operators understand where the industry is going over the next ﬁve years and how to navigate the murky waters that lie ahead. THESE SESSIONS INCLUDE:

• Developing and Reﬁning Your Corporate Culture • Understanding Foodservice Customers: Forecasting Future Demand • Developing Your Long-Term Fuel Strategy • Managing Next-Generation Point-of-Sale and Payment Systems • Private Label Product Branding • YEO Breakout: Getting Involved: Why Young Executives Need Political Relationships Plus, the 2023 NAG Conference will feature two exclusive research sessions. • The Convenience Experience Report: NAG has partnered with Bluedot to identify exactly what Americans think about convenience stores today and what drives their behavior, sentiment and loyalty. • The Impact of Drive-Through Programs on Convenience Store Foodservice Sales and Consumer Loyalty: Since COVID-19 hit, the way customers are purchasing food has changed. Learn what is driving food sales and loyalty, and how younger consumers order and purchase foodservice items. 8

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

NAG is an association driven by convenience store retailers for retailers. It is an organization committed to building profits and relationships for members, and the annual conference is the driving force behind our success. Convenience store retailers have leaned on NAG for more than 35 years to help them grow sales, cut costs and generate new ideas in the competitive convenience store market. NAG has many core strengths, but most notably, it’s our ability to identify winning strategies that help convenience store retailers through our events, education and networking. The organization finds success in many ways; mainly, it’s through our ability to maintain excellent relationships with retailers and supplier partners across the convenience store and petroleum industry. The NAG mission remains the same: to help convenience store retailers interact with one another to discuss new concepts, share information and come away with innovative ideas to grow sales and profits. The foundation of NAG remains its innovative Information Exchanges, which allow retailers the opportunity to connect with other noncompeting retailers in an intimate setting that is conducive to learning new ideas and fresh perspectives. YEO is a special group of next-generation industry leaders who are 40 years of age or younger. Members are entrepreneurs, leading top businesses and actively pursuing a higher level of professionalism in the convenience store and petroleum marketing industry. The industry’s young executives and leaders of tomorrow face unique challenges as they grow their businesses in the competitive convenience store market. YEO was formed specifically to addresses these challenges and help retailers identify solutions with others in their age group. With the help of our retailer board of directors and generous input from CStore Decisions’ readers, we feel we have assembled the perfect agenda to help you grow your business in 2023 and beyond. Visit Nagconvenience.com to view the agenda and speaker lineup and Nagconvenience.com/join to join NAG as a member.

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quickBites CONSUMERS ARE CONSIDERING HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS With inflation still at an all-time high, consumers are starting to demand more convenient, fresher and cheaper food options.

PLANT-BASED FOODS ON THE RISE The most common categories for plant-based switching are:

25% 18% 14% 14%

Milk alternatives Frozen meat alternatives Coffee creamer alternatives Frozen meal alternatives

Source: 84.51, “September Consumer Digest,” September 2022

HEALTHY FOOD AS MEDICINE

> Overwhelmingly, 84% of consumers consider health and wellness when purchasing fresh food items. > Another 80% believe fresh food is healthier for them than packaged or processed food marketed as healthy. > More than half (55%) of consumers are willing to pay a premium for the right foods because they contribute to their health and wellness. > Consumers believe the right food can improve health and wellness by boosting mental or physical performance (79%), offering preventive (78%) or therapeutic beneﬁts (76%) or being the best medicine (75%).

PLANT-BASED MEAT

> 24% of consumers report eating plant-based meat, poultry or seafood products. > 40% of consumers say that a factor affecting their decision to eat plant-based meat alternatives is that they like the way plant-based meat tastes. > 35% of consumers are trying to eliminate or reduce meat consumption for health reasons. > Concerns about animal welfare issues and the environmental impact of animal farming are also common reasons for consuming plant-based meat products (31% and 30% of plant-based meat eaters, respectively). Source: Packaged Facts, “Plant-Based-Meat-Industry-Growth-Key-Drivers-and-Challenges,” October 2022

Source: Delotte “Fresh Food as Medicine for The Heartburn of High Prices,” September 2022

CHEAPER FOOD OPTIONS > Approximately one-third of consumers are trading down. Some are switching from name brands to private labels (38%), especially in rural areas (45%). > Almost one in ﬁve are swapping fresh for frozen or other shelf-stable food for cost savings (18%), especially in lower-income and rural groups (nearly one in four). > 37% say they are shopping for discounted items or using coupons. > Nearly half (46%) are buying fewer expensive food items. Source: Delotte “Fresh Food as Medicine for The Heartburn of High Prices,” September 2022

FAST FOOD IS CONVENIENT

Source: NPD Group, “Gen Zs Favor Quick Service Restaurants, Particularly Fast Casual Restaurants,” September 2022

CSTORE DECISIONS • November 2022

> Gen Z skews toward quick-service restaurants (QSRs) — and particularly toward fast-casual restaurants — that balance value and a focused menu. > In the 12 months ending July 2022, Gen Z made 5 billion restaurant visits: 4.3 billion visits were to QSRs and 736 million were to full-service restaurants. > Overall QSR trafﬁc was ﬂat compared to a year ago, while Gen Z’s fastcasual visits were up 4% in the period compared to a year ago. > Gen Z is seeking more from their restaurant foods and beverages, including local, low-calorie, organic, sustainable and plant-based options. cstoredecisions.com

FRONT END NATO Update

Corrective Statements Point-Of-Sale Settlement Agreement C-store retailers with cigarette programs should prepare to comply with corrective-statement sign requirements as they await a decision from the Federal District Court. Thomas Briant • NATO

As the tobacco industry awaits word from the Federal District Court on whether a corrective-statement sign settlement is approved, c-store operators with cigarette programs are wise to learn what it means to be in compliance with corrective-sign requirements and the penalties for non-compliance.

agreement with the federal government, through the U.S. Department of Justice, and several public health organizations that intervened in the case regarding how these court-ordered “corrective statements” will be displayed in retail stores. As part of the settlement agreement, these manufacturers will be required to amend their cigarette program agreements with retailers to require the placement of a corrective-statement sign or signs in retail stores.

At press time, a federal judge had not yet issued an order approving the settlement agreement entered into by the U.S. Department of Justice, Altria Group Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and ITG Brands LLC regarding certain correctivestatement signage to be displayed in retail stores that have manufacturer cigarette programs in place. A court order regarding the settlement agreement was expected sometime in October or November of this year.

AMENDMENTS PROGRAM AGREEMENTS The settlement agreement states that the cigarette retail program agreements between retailers and the manufacturers will be amended to include the settlement agreement provisions. The settlement agreement provides that a retail store with a cigarette retail program agreement will need, depending on various circumstances, to display one, two or three corrective-statement signs for a 21-month period. However, it is important to note the government had previously proposed that 25% of the cigarette display space and 25% of all off-set advertisements devoted to the manufacturers’ cigarette brands in each retail store be covered with corrective-statement signs for a 24-month period. The settlement agreement replaced the government’s 25% proposal with the one, two or three correctivestatement signs alternative and ensures that no signs will cover any portion of the main cigarette display.

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BACKGROUND In 1999, the U.S. government sued the major cigarette companies asserting claims under various federal laws. In 2006, a federal judge entered judgment in favor of the government on certain claims and, among other things, ordered Altria Group Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to make “corrective statements” on certain topics. ITG Brands LLC became a party to the litigation for purposes of the court-ordered remedies when it purchased four cigarette brands from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 2015. These manufacturers have now reached a settlement 12

CSTORE DECISIONS • November 2022

CORRECTIVE-STATEMENT SIGNS The following corrective-statement sign requirements are a part of the settlement agreement and apply to all

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FRONT END NATO Update

retail stores, which have contracts with the manufacturers: For a regular store that is not a kiosk-style store, one 348-square-inch corrective-statement sign will be displayed. The sign will be either square (18.655 inches by 18.655 inches) or rectangular (32 inches by 10.875 inches). The sign will need to be displayed in one of four locations based on the following order: 1.) above the main cigarette display, 2.) adjacent to the main cigarette display, 3.) within 48 inches of the main store entrance, or 4.) within 48 inches of the cash register. For a retail store that is not a kiosk-style store but has more than nine feet of horizontal linear display space devoted to the manufacturers’ cigarette brands, a second 348-square-inch corrective-statement sign will be displayed and placed in one of the same four locations. For a retail store that is not a kiosk-style store and has cigarette promotional signage displayed elsewhere in the store, other than on the main cigarette display (and excluding signage that only identifies the brand, price or has a picture of a pack of cigarettes), an additional 144-square-inch corrective-statement sign will be displayed within 48 inches of the main store entrance. The sign will be either square (12 inches by 12 inches) or rectangular (20 inches by 7.2 inches). For kiosk-style stores, which are those that either don’t allow customers to enter and have a selling window between customers and store personnel; or that are no more than 325 square feet in area, not including restrooms, regardless of whether customers are allowed to enter the store; one 144-square-inch sign will need to be displayed near the transaction window or near the cash register. The sign can be either square (12 inches by 12 inches) or rectangular (20 inches by 7.2 inches). The manufacturers will print the corrective-statement signs with 17 different court-ordered messages, with one message printed on each sign. The signs will be randomly distributed by manufacturers to stores across the country.

DISPLAY PERIOD Under the settlement agreement, there is a threemonth “posting period” for manufacturers to place the corrective-statement signs in stores. Then, after this “posting period,” the corrective-statement signs will be displayed in stores for 21 consecutive months. During the 10th, 11th and 12th months of the 21-month period, the manufacturers will rotate the signs in stores by replacing existing signs with signs that have a different court-ordered message. Photos of the signs placed in all stores will be uploaded to a database to confirm compliance with the settlement agreement. 14

CSTORE DECISIONS • November 2022

RETAIL COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE If a retailer complies with the terms of the agreement by displaying the required sign or signs, the retailer will not incur any non-compliance penalties. If a retailer does not fully comply with the sign-display requirements, then a retailer may incur various consequences depending on the kind of non-compliance. “Minor Non-Compliance” includes obstructing a portion of a sign (other than the smoking/health-related statement) or displaying a sign incorrectly (as long as it remains visible to consumers). Minor Non-Compliance would result in counseling by the manufacturers on the proper signdisplay requirements and, if not corrected, could lead to a warning letter and the retailer being required to display an additional 144-square-inch corrective-statement sign in the non-compliant store for 120 days. “Major Non-Compliance” includes not posting a sign, obstructing or displaying a sign so that the message is not visible, damaging or removing a sign, or failing to rotate a sign. The penalties for Major Non-Compliance include counseling by the manufacturers on the proper sign-display requirements; displaying an additional 144-square-inch corrective-statement sign for the duration of the 21-month display period; and paying to each manufacturer with which the retailer has a retail marketing contract a financial penalty equivalent to the retailer’s price-promotion discounts for a period of four weeks or 13 weeks, depending on the number of violations. Repeated Major Non-Compliance would result in the retailer’s suspension from the retail marketing programs for various periods of up to 17 weeks. An auditor will be retained by the manufacturers to review photos of signs and visit some stores to take pictures and make determinations of retail compliance or non-compliance. A working group composed of 10 members, including persons appointed to represent the manufacturers, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), will be formed to address implementation and compliance questions from retailers. A hearing before the Federal District Court to determine if the judge accepts the settlement agreement was held on July 28, 2022. At this time, the industry is waiting for the judge to issue an order on whether the settlement is accepted by the court. Thomas Briant is the executive director for the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). NATO’s mission is to enhance the business interests of retailers that sell tobacco products, support the legislative and regulatory interests of members, and encourage the expansion of the retail tobacco segment in a responsible manner.

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Front End | COY News & Pictorial

Nouria Honored With CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year Award Nouria was presented with the prestigious Chain of the Year award at the NACS Show in Las Vegas. Emily Boes • Associate Editor

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

cstoredecisions.com

beyond the best 2 02 2

CSD’s

CHAIN of the YEAR Success is earned not given. Congratulations on being named CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year.

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10/7/22 11:08 AM

Front End | COY News & Pictorial

On Sunday, Oct. 2, CStore Decisions honored Worcester, Mass.-based Nouria Energy with the 2022 Chain of the Year award at Jardin Restaurant at Encore at the Wynn in Las Vegas. The event was held on the second night of the National Association of Convenience Stores Show (NACS). John Lofstock, editor-in-chief of CStore Decisions, introduced Nouria and the award, highlighting the chain’s commitment to growth, leadership and treating its team with respect. He noted that these qualities, along with hard work, are found in convenience store chains throughout the industry. “While we are here to honor Nouria, this is very much a night to celebrate the work being done by the entire industry. And family-owned businesses like Nouria very much remain the backbone of our great industry,” he said. Lofstock praised c-stores for their commitment to the customer, particularly through the struggles of the past few years. “We are a symbol of devotion to hard work, innovation and unity,” Lofstock said.

Left: Thomas Trkla, CEO of Yesway (the 2021 Chain of the Year Winner), presents Tony El-Nemr, CEO of Nouria, with the 2022 Chain of the Year trophy. Above (top image): Tony El-Nemr holds the Chain of the Year trophy surrounded by his sons, Fouad El-Nemr and Badih El-Nemr — both executive vice presidents in the family business. Above (bottom image): The Nouria team celebrates at the Chain of the Year award dinner.

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

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Guests mingle inside and out at the Chain of the Year award dinner, which was held Oct. 2 at the Jardin Restaurant at Encore at the Wynn in Las Vegas during the NACS Show.

Nouria is the 33rd winner of the prestigious Chain of the Year award. Although the award celebrates excellence in convenience retailing in general, Lofstock emphasized Nouria’s achievements that won the chain the award this year. He commented that Nouria practices its core values of educating, empowering, inspiring, incentivizing and instilling accountability. “When looking at Nouria, one of the first things that comes to everyone’s mind is its commitment to doing things the right way,” said Lofstock. “I have grown to know Nouria as one company you can count on to exceed expectations.”

PASSING THE TORCH

Thomas Trkla, president and CEO of Yesway, CStore Decisions’ 2021 Chain of the Year award winner, passed the award to Nouria, sharing his appreciation for the c-store industry in the process. “I’ve never been in an industry where people care more about each other and help each other than (the convenience store) industry,” said Trkla.

Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria (right) shakes hands with Thomas Trkla, CEO of Yesway, as Tony El-Nemr, CEO of Nouria, and his son, Fouad El-Nemr, vice president of Nouria, look on.

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

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YOU LIGHT THE WAY TO THE TOP!

ON WINNING

CHAIN OF THE YEAR

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Above: Guests enjoyed a meal served at various stations around the restaurant. Right: Tony El-Nemr and his wife, Gladys, pose with the Chain of the Year trophy at the Wynn Encore Jardin Restaurant during the Chain of the Year event.

Trkla extolled Nouria’s growth and paid tribute to Nouria’s care for its people and customers as the reason it deserved the award. “This is the true American success story,” he said. Tony El-Nemr, Nouria founder, accepted the Chain of the Year award on behalf of Nouria. El-Nemr was proud to share Nouria’s success with those who attended the event.

NOURIA’S PATH TO SUCCESS

Guests look on as Tony El-Nemr accepts the 2022 Chain of the Year award on behalf of Nouria and shares information on Nouria’s path to success with attendees. 22

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

“Our company, through its 33 years of growth, has remained bonded to the same ideals that have helped make it successful,” said El-Nemr. In 2017, the chain launched a customer-facing Nouria brand in a new-to-industry store. The year also saw the launch of the chain’s private-label brand, My Nouria. “As we continue to build on an enduring legacy of success, we are elevating our mission to withstand the significant challenges our company and industry as a whole have been facing,” said El-Nemr.

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! t e e Sw Congratulations Nouria Energy CStore Decisions Chain of the Year 2022

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CStoreDecisions

congratulations

2022 Chain of the Year Thank you to our sponsors:

The Chain of the Year dinner welcomed more than 200 attendees who came to celebrate Nouria, CStore Decisions’ 2022 Chain of the Year award winner, and the 33rd recipient of the prestigious honor.

He mentioned how the chain has undergone a transformation over the last six years to reposition its business for continued growth and expansion. El-Nemr noted he was proud to say Nouria continues to invest in its people’s success through education, empowerment and by outlining a clear path for growth and career development. The chain also continues to look for new acquisitions. “We have the desire and resources to continue to aggressively acquire assets that fit our standards and our long-term growth strategy,” said El-Nemr. Founded in 1989, Nouria has over 170 branded stores in New England. It joins the ranks of industry elites such as Sheetz, Maverik, QuikTrip and more as a Chain of the Year winner.

PEPSI_H1_NB_SM_4C (FOR USE .25” 1.5" ) CMYK

Thank you to the companies who sponsored the Chain of the Year event: Altria Group Inc./Altria Group Distribution Co., BIC, Black Buffalo, Boston Beer Co., Capital One, Clearly Canadian, Coca-Cola Co., Core-Mark, Fintech, E. & J. Gallo Winery, The Hershey Co., HWY Partners, Kellogg’s, Lockton, Mars Inc., Mondelez International, Monster Energy, Nomura Holdings, PepsiCo, Polar Beer, Reynolds American Inc., Swedish Match, U.S. Tobacco/Premier Manufacturing and Wells Fargo. PEPSI_H1_NB_MEDIUM_4C (FOR USE 1.5" TO 4")

CMYK

From Left: Derek Gaskins, chief marketing officer, Yesway; Thomas Trkla, CEO, Yesway; Tony El-Nemr, CEO, Nouria; Joe Hamza, COO, Nouria; Fouad El-Nemr and Badih El-Nemr, vice presidents, Nouria. 24

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Chain of the Year l Nouria

Celebrating

Nouria

CSTORE DECISIONS •

February 2022

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Operational excellence; phenomenal leadership; a laser focus on its people, values and culture; and an ongoing commitment to investing in convenience retailing are what Nouria embodies and fully embraces. These are extremely important characteristics of the best convenience store chains in the industry, which is why CStore Decisions is proud to honor Nouria as the 2022 Convenience Store Chain of the Year.

cstoredecisions.com

Founded in 1989 by Tony El-Nemr, Nouria is one of the fastest-growing family-owned convenience store chains in the country. Today, the Worcester, Mass.-based company operates 170 stores (150 company owned and operated) in ﬁve New England states, 56 car washes, two lube centers, the award-winning Whately Diner and a successful wholesale business servicing over 300 locations in New England and New York.

October 2022 • CSTORE DECISIONS

Chain of the Year l Nouria

Family Values Nouria has positioned itself as a people-first company and has worked internally to create an environment where the team understands it is appreciated. One of the core tenets of its operations is a commitment to doing things the right way. Whether it’s taking care of employees or customers, the company strives to be an employer of choice in a competitive environment for retail talent, and it stays true to its Five Core Values: To Educate, Empower, Inspire, Incentivize and Instill Accountability. Nouria encourages and rewards its people for making a difference in people’s lives. The industry has changed dramatically over the past two years, but the one constant driving Nouria’s success is doing things the right way.

The Chain of the Year award recognizes retail excellence, and Nouria is deserving of its place in this rich tradition as the 33rd winner of this most prestigious industry honor. As many industry marketers are struggling to reinvent themselves as we come out of a global pandemic and identify a strategy that will lead them into the future, Nouria has been able to develop a winning market strategy to become a powerful force in the competitive convenience store industry. “We are honored and humbled to have been chosen by the industry elites for this prestigious award,” said Tony El-Nemr, founder, president and CEO of Nouria. “It was an even greater honor to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past Chain of the Year honorees. We’re grateful for CSD’s and the nomination committee’s recognition of our Tony El-Nemr, CEO of Nouria, contributions and progress. and Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria, pose with This award serves to validate our efforts while challenging the Chain of the Year trophy during the award dinner at the us to continue our journey Wynn Encore Jardin Restaurant. with conviction in pursuit of excellence.” 28

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

NOURIA’S WINNING WAYS

What makes Nouria special is that it continues to cement its presence as a retail leader by evolving to exceed its guests’ expectations with a new upscale foodservice program and technology initiatives, all while expanding through acquisitions to also become one of the top 10 car wash operators in the country. Combined with vibrant team member and community outreach programs, Nouria boasts exceptional leadership and guest service to rank the chain with the absolute best the convenience store industry has to offer. “This award is a testament to the incredible work, dedication and commitment our frontline heroes have for delivering on our mission to serve and delight our loyal guests every day,” remarked Joe Hamza, chief operating officer for Nouria. “To be considered for this award is gratifying enough, but to win it is nothing short of exhilarating.” El-Nemr’s vision for Nouria began in earnest as most American success stories do. He acquired one store in 1989 and grew the company to the regional powerhouse that it is today. Over the past two years alone, Nouria has had four acquisitions across three states including five New England Farms stores in Massachusetts, Verc Enterprises (17 stores and two car washes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire), Mega X (five stores in New Hampshire) and Mulligan’s (one store in Maine). During that time, it has increased its loyalty membership an extraordinary 60%.

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Chain of the Year l Nouria

Nouria is committed to expanding its team and training members to grow into leadership positions.

While Tony El-Nemr remains active in day-to-day operations, the second generation is also hard at work learning the family business. Tony’s two sons Fouad El-Nemr and Badih El-Nemr serve as executive vice presidents. When observing the Nouria brand, the first thing that comes to mind is its people and commitment to the future of convenience retailing. The company has built outstanding retail programs and an elegant new-to-industry retail brand, but within the walls of all it accomplishes is the people component, which drives its success. Industry veterans like Hamza and Chief Information Officer Doug New joined Nouria from Tedeschi Food Shops, which was CSD’s 2012 Convenience Store Chain of the Year. The company added talent from across the retail spectrum all while focusing on best practices and employee recruitment and retention. Their addition enriched the company with a wide range of incalculable retail ex-

periences that helped the company avoid the pitfalls and errors that young growing companies often run into. The result was unprecedented growth over the past five years and an equally impressive five-year growth strategy. “Our company has grown to the size it is today mostly through successful acquisitions over its 33 years of existence. So, we continue to look for and participate in acquisition opportunities where it makes sense for us in a fiscally responsible way,” said Executive Vice President Fouad El-Nemr. “We have the desire and resources to continue to aggressively acquire assets that fit our standards and our long-term growth strategy. Our 10-year objective is to quadruple the size of the company to over

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November 2022

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Chain of the Year l Nouria

Nouria’s proprietary coffee brand is called Café Nouria. 600 convenience stores and more than 200 car wash locations throughout New England and beyond.” This year and over the next several years, Nouria will be investing millions of dollars in new technology infrastructure and business intelligence platforms to help augment its value proposition and improve operational efficiency and decision-making processes. “We are investing in store automation — adding selfcheckouts, expanding mobile payment options including pay-by-car, enhancing our mobile ordering platforms and delivery options for the purpose of making all shoppers’ interactions with us faster, better and more convenient,” Hamza said. “It’s a fun and exciting time.”

About the Chain of the Year Award CStore Decisions’ Convenience Store Chain of the Year award annually honors a convenience store or petroleum chain that has established itself as a superior retailer and innovator in the c-store industry. CSD’s first Chain of the Year award was Wawa Inc. in 1990. Nouria Energy follows 2021 Chain of the Year winner Yesway. Past winners of this prestigious award include Sheetz, Maverik, RaceTrac, 7-Eleven Inc., Kwik Trip, Alimentation Couche-Tard, QuikTrip, Rutter’s and Family Express.

Past Chain of the Year Winners • 1990 — Wawa Inc. • 1991 — SuperAmerica • 1992 — QuikTrip Corp. • 1993 — Casey’s General Stores Inc. • 1994 — Sheetz Inc. • 1995 — Diamond Shamrock Corp. • 1996 — Mapco Express • 1997 — Speedway Inc. • 1998 — Krause Gentle Corp. • 1999 — Dairy Mart Inc. • 2000 — Amerada Hess Corp. • 2001 — Huck’s Food & Fuel • 2002 — Petro-Canada • 2003 — Exxon Mobil Corp. • 2004 — Kwik Trip Inc. • 2005 — 7-Eleven Inc. • 2006 — Valero Inc.

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• 2007 — Alimentation Couche-Tard • 2008 — Chevron Inc. • 2009 — Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes • 2010 — Rutter’s Farm Stores • 2011 — Thorntons Inc. • 2012 — Tedeschi Food Shops • 2013 — Maverik Inc. • 2014 — RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. • 2015 — Family Express Corp. • 2016 — QuickChek Corp. • 2017 — Sheetz Inc. • 2018 — Kwik Trip Inc. • 2019 — Weigel’s Inc. • 2020 — Parker’s • 2021 — Yesway • 2022 — Nouria

November 2022

BRANDING UPGRADES

Nouria reached two key milestones over the past 18 months with the opening of a prototype convenience store that featured 14 fueling stations, two electric vehicle charging stations and a 5,500-square-foot convenience store in Milford, Mass. In addition to the bright, modern and more spacious layout, the store offers a wider variety of fresh, healthy foods; an assortment of new-age beverages; Nouria’s proprietary coffee brand, Café Nouria; and was co-branded with an Amato’s Italian restaurant. The property had previously housed an outdated threecar garage and service station. The company has made a commitment to invest heavily in redeveloping buildings with high potential to meet the needs of the communities it serves. “This store was an aging site that did not fulfill the needs of our guests at the high standards we hold,” Tony El-Nemr said. “The market dictated it necessary for us to update and expand in order to serve the heavy flow of commuter traffic, local businesses and the surrounding community in the most exceptional way that Nouria is known for.” The company followed up its success in Milford, Mass., by opening its first fully branded fuel and convenience store in Wareham, Mass. This was the company’s first step towards positioning itself to be a top-tier fuel supplier under the Nouria brand, while showcasing a modern design and a more spacious, brighter layout. The site offers an expansive line of new products and services including electric vehicle charging stations, a wide variety of fresh, healthy foods and an assortment of new-age beverages. The location also features Nouria’s proprietary coffee brand, Café Nouria, and Amato’s, which offers meals made in-store as well as through online and mobile ordering. The location also has Wi-Fi and a seating area where customers can relax and enjoy their meals or beverages. As with all Nouria’s operated locations, the Wareham, Mass., c-store prioritizes exceptional guest service, a valuefocused culture and commitment to community. “There is new development around this location, so we saw an immediate need to serve the growing neighborhoods,” Tony El-Nemr said. “This was the perfect opportunity for us to test the Nouria top-tier fuel brand, at a

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Chain of the Year l Nouria

Nouria has more than doubled its support center staff over the past three years. It invests in employees’ success through education, empowerment and by outlining a clear path for both personal growth and career development.

state-of-the-art facility and I am thrilled we are part of this thriving community.” Developing a proprietary retail brand is a seminal moment in the growth of the company, which will guide its future retail plans. Simply stated, Nouria’s long-term vision is to establish a cohesive brand identity free of the brand confusion co-brands create. “We wanted to ensure brand consistency throughout our locations starting from the street sign and canopy to the store’s interior,” Hamza said. “Furthermore, over the past ﬁve years, we have been rebranding the convenience

stores under the Nouria brand and cultivating a family of proprietary brands with My Nouria packaged snacks and beverages, Café Nouria for dispensed beverages, and Nouria’s Kitchen on commissary and fresh-made foodservice items with the aim of creating a superior value family of products that complement their counterpart national branded products.” As it developed the Nouria brand, Hamza said the company was keenly focused on rallying the team to understand the branding strategy and getting their input to ensure they delivered something special and unique. “As we were developing the brand, we realized then, and continue to believe, that no matter what brand we put on our building, the reality is that the essence of Nouria will always be its people,” Hamza said. “Accordingly, we ﬁrst needed to ensure that our team was engaged in our mission and understood their role in turning

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November 2022

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Chain of the Year l Nouria

Nouria’s brand aspirations into reality. As such, our brand, at its core, was born from the inside out.” During this same period, Nouria has gone all-in on developing private-label products. “Private label is an area of enormous growth for us,” Hamza said. “To date, we have introduced over 900 privately branded products and menu items and plan to roll out many more in the near future.” Additionally, the company was convinced that doing things the right way and not taking shortcuts would lead to a winning retail brand. “We realized from the very beginning that when you combine great team members with flawless execution, exceptional quality of service, unique proprietary products and flavorful foods, that we would most certainly create a superior brand,” Hamza said. Executing such a bold strategy requires good people providing great leadership. Tony El-Nemr praised his team for not just working together to bring the Nouria brand to life, but taking ownership in the mission to ensure its success. “Creating a great brand requires having incredible people around you. Our management team starting with my two sons Fouad and Badih; Joe Hamza; Doug New; Tom Healy, vice president of store development; Chief Financial Officer Erdem Cimen; Human Resources Vice President Deb Moore; Glenn Leger, general counsel; and Rich Smith, vice president of car wash, who along with their respective teams, are directly responsible for the success that we enjoy today,” Tony El-Nemr said. “The team works closely together to determine how our evolution will continue. They believe in our company values and amplify them to build and enhance our corporate culture, which is the core of our brand’s personality.” The chain is committed to expanding its team and training members to grow into leadership positions. “The past few years saw us welcome new talent to our ranks to help support our frontline teams and our growth initiatives,” Tony El-Nemr said. “In fact, we have more than doubled the count of our support center staff over the past three years and have continued to invest in our people’s success through education, empowerment and by outlining a clear path for personal growth and career development.” FOOD FOCUSED

Areas Nouria is developing to distinguish itself include foodservice and snacking. The company has been growing its Nouria’s Kitchen foodservice program to include sandwiches and salads, chicken and pizza, plus bakery items and better-for-you-beverages. On the snack side, Nouria continues to reﬁne its private-label product portfolio to include beverages, candy, baked goods, chips and packaged snacks, and many 36

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November 2022

Nouria’s goal is to grow the share of fresh food to 30% of inside store sales and offer made-to-order fresh food in every new location and all existing locations where it makes sense.

other categories. The expanded product portfolio reinforces Nouria’s brand promise to provide its customers with a terrific shopping experience with quality products across all its stores. “Our quest for differentiation is even more evident in our new fresh food initiatives, with the launch of café Nouria and Nouria’s Kitchen. We continue to expand and heavily invest in our existing made-to-order Nouria’s Kitchen and build new ones in larger format stores,” Hamza said. “Today, foodservice has taken a big share of inside store sales. In fact, made-to-order fresh food ranks (as the) highest category in most of the stores that offer it. Our goal is to grow the share of fresh food to 30% of inside store sales. We plan to offer made-to-order fresh food in every new location and expand it to all existing locations, where doing so makes sense.” Looking to boost its food and snack offering, Nouria has expanded its private-label brand, My Nouria, into freshly packaged baked goods, creating a complementary pairing for commuters and guests stopping by for a treat with their freshly brewed coffee. Nouria heavily invested in development, sourcing quality ingredients and reputable partners while conducting multiple taste tests to ensure products excelled in criteria, which resulted in items that include fresh ingredients and iconic American staples such as Reese’s and Nestlé Tollhouse. Ranging from cake, muffins and Danishes to cookies and brownies, the collection has something to satisfy every sweet tooth. Moving over to its own brand also enabled Nouria to introduce six additional flavors versus its previous assortment, as well as great value for the quality. The snacks are conveniently merchandised next to the fresh-brewed coffee station. cstoredecisions.com

Chain of the Year l Nouria

Nouria at a Glance Headquarters: Worcester, Mass. Store Count: 170 c-stores, 56 car washes, two lube centers and the Whately Diner, plus a 300-store wholesale distribution network across New England and New York Markets of Operation: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island Notable Acquisitions: New England Farms, Verc Enterprises, Mega X and Mulligan’s Foodservice Brand: Café Nouria and Nouria’s Kitchen Executive Team: Tony El-Nemr, Founder, President and CEO Fouad El-Nemr, Executive Vice President Badih El-Nemr, Executive Vice President Joe Hamza, Chief Operating Officer Tom Healy, Vice President of Store Development Erdem Cimen, Chief Financial Officer Deb Moore, Vice President, Human Resources Glenn Leger, General Counsel Rich Smith, Vice President, Car Wash Doug New, Chief Information Officer

Since launching the Nouria brand in 2018, the c-store chain has focused on expanding key categories that highlight fresh ingredients and quality at great value to ensure the offerings are consistently exceptional, satisfying and innovative in addition to My Nouria products that offer everything from lip balm, water, salty snacks and healthy trail mixes. Nouria’s Director of Category Management Kristine Modugno, an industry veteran with over 25 years of private brand development, leads the charge in innovation for best-in-class shopping experience with a focus on Nouria brands. “We are extremely proud of the Nouria brand,” Modugno said. “Our brand starts and ends with our people, communities and guests, so we do not take it lightly when selecting items on which we put our name. Private-label products are gaining market share and we are excited to expand our offerings with highly regarded Nouria products.” All these products and the fuel program are supported by the My Nouria Rewards program. Nouria Rewards helps the company generate a unique experience that engages customers and motivates them to visit its stores and pumps more frequently. Nouria leverages its loyalty program to run joint promotions with its vendors and other major supplier partners. The company believes that a loyalty program is a critical element to building relationships with their customers and differentiating its new brand in the competitive New England market. 38

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

This year and over the next several years, Nouria will be investing millions of dollars in new technology infrastructure and business intelligence platforms.

“Loyalty is formed when our guests’ needs are not just met, but exceeded,” Hamza said. “Accordingly, we strive to provide our guests with delightful experiences and meaningful value during every visit. As a result our Nouria Rewards program has grown in membership 60% over the past two years. Our frontline heroes are our loyalty program’s biggest advocate. They promote our program by consistently engaging our guests with information about the many benefits and value our rewards program provides. In addition to the stacked savings on fuel, food and packaged products, our loyal guests receive surprise gifts every Friday when they visit their favorite store. The gift is typically a new product or food item that was recently introduced.” With such a strong foundation, Tony El-Nemr and Hamza agree that the company is well-positioned for growth over the next five years. Still, ever the perfectionist, El-Nemr said that there is more work to be done as the company pushes forward. “As we look ahead to the future, I am excited to watch a new generation of leaders, my two sons, Fouad and Badih, step up and to someday guide our organization to new heights. I was only in my mid-20s when all of this began, and I have so much faith in the tireless effort, drive, talent, leadership and power that young people in our organization have,” he said. “The second generation will continue the journey I started with significant growth targets. I’m certain that throughout the journey and at the heart of the Nouria experience, just as it has been from the beginning, will be Nouria’s mission to inspire and nurture the spirit of our people — one guest, one team member and one interaction at a time.” CSD

cstoredecisions.com

Congratulations to Nouria on the well-deserved Chain of the Year Award!

Excellence in customer experience, an innovative spirit and sound operating fundamentals are clearly a winning combination.

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Announcing the Winners

of CStore Decisions’ 2022 Hot New Products Contest

Winners were determined based on key factors to success at c-stores, including innovation, packaging and more. A CStore Decisions Staff Report

In the convenience store industry, thousands of new products and services are launched each year. But how can retailers predict which of those new products will ultimately be successful with customers? CStore Decisions’ 2022 Hot New Products Contest evaluated a number of new product launches and is awarding the products set for success at c-stores this year. 40

CSTORE DECISIONS •

This year, CStore Decisions received more than 100 entries across dozens of categories. A panel of retailer experts judged this year’s entries. Winners were determined using a point system that looked at key factors to success, including innovation, packaging and more. New products and services are deﬁned as having launched in 2022.

November 2022

Introducing the 2022 CStore Decisions’ Hot New Products contest winners...

cstoredecisions.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Adult Beverage Category Modelo Oro

Constellation Brands Inc.

Modelo Oro is a time-crafted sessionable cerveza that seals in Modelo’s golden flavor to deliver an exceptionally smooth, light beer with a crisp clean finish. The drink is only 90 calories and has three grams of carbs. It is 4.5% ABV per 12 fluid ounces and comes in 12-ounce 12-pack slim cans and 24-ounce single-serve cans. Modelo Oro was released regionally in select markets in March 2022 and will be launching nationally in retail stores in March 2023.

High Noon Pineapple and Peach Flavors E. & J. Gallo Winery

Consumer demand for alcoholic hard seltzers has been increasing. High Noon Hard Seltzer was created as a response to consumers who were seeking healthier and more natural substitutes to alcoholic drinks. High Noon’s seltzer is spiked with real vodka and juice. Now the line of seltzers is growing with new Pineapple and Peach flavors. High Noon Vodka & Soda Peach and High Noon Vodka & Soda Pineapple from E. & J. Gallo Winery are made from real vodka, real fruit juice, natural flavors and sparkling water. The company’s hard seltzers come in at 4.5% ABV, which is a low average for a hard seltzer. These new flavors only have 100 calories, 2.6 grams of carbs and 2.3 grams of sugar, making them an excellent choice for an adult beverage flavored with real fruit juice. Consumers can enjoy a drink with simple ingredients without the guilt of heavy carbs and sugar. The entire High Noon Vodka & Soda line is gluten free. 42

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

Coppa Cocktails Mojito Coppa Cocktails

The Mojito is a worldfamous cocktail made with Caribbean rum, hints of mint and lime. Customers can pour this drink straight from the fridge into their glass of choice over crushed ice. They can garnish with mint leaves and a slice of lime. Under the palm trees or in the comfort of their living room, the Coppa Cocktails Mojito is best enjoyed in great company. Coppa Cocktails uses the best natural ingredients. Sedimentation might occur, so customers should shake before use. Once opened, it should be kept in a cool place.

cstoredecisions.com

GOLD WINNER

ADULT BEVERAGE CATEGORY

12-PACK, 12-OZ. CANS

24-OZ. CAN

Drink Responsibly.

Modelo Oro® Light Beer. Imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL. Per 12 fl. oz. serving average analysis: Calories: 90, Carbohydrates: 3.0 grams, Protein: 0.6 grams, Fat: 0.0 grams

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Beverage Category Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Keurig Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper has launched Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (DPZS), a delicious new offering that celebrates the one-of-a-kind blend of its signature 23 flavors in a zero-sugar soda that delivers the flavor consumers deserve. Packaging was intentionally developed to follow dark carbonated soft drink (CSD) category norms with black logo cues and a black cap, synonymous with zero sugar in the CSD category and providing differentiation from regular and diet variants. From research, DPZS packaging is easy to read, highly liked by millennials and Hispanics and communicates the product benefit of zero sugar well. Line priced with the existing Dr Pepper, the 20-ounce offering is a well-known package that satisfies on-the-go occasions. With over 30% of CSD treat occasions occurring away from home, it is critical that the right flavors in the easy portability of a resealable bottle exist to satisfy consumer needs.

Nitro Extra Bold Cold Brew La Colombe

A great taste that keeps a person going, the Nitro Extra Bold Cold Brew combines foamy nitro texture with single-origin Brazilian coffee to retain the naturally bold and nutty ﬂavors consumers love. Dark roasted and brewed extra bold, this rich and smooth-tasting coffee carries a little more caffeine to help consumers make the most out of their day. Nitro Extra Bold Cold Brew is all-natural with no preservatives. Plus, it boasts: • 100% Arabica, singleorigin, Brazilian cold-brew coffee • 210 milligrams of natural caffeine (about three cups of coffee) • Dairy and gluten free • Certiﬁed kosher and vegan • No sugar 44

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

Minute Maid Aguas Frescas The Coca-Cola Co. Minute Maid, an American icon and long-trusted brand, launched Minute Maid Aguas Frescas in 16-ounce cans in March 2022. The new product line has disrupted expectations for on-the-go refreshment with a beloved Latin American-inspired juice drink. Minute Maid Aguas Frescas is offered in three bold and refreshing flavors: Strawberry, Mango and Hibiscus. The great taste of Minute Maid Aguas Frescas utilizes real fruit juice, water and other ingredients to deliver a subtly sweet taste in a caffeine-free and non-carbonated beverage. Minute Maid Aguas Frescas — which contains half the calories of the closest competitor — connects to young consumers by delivering the taste they’re looking for, while simultaneously satisfying their desire for new experiences yet a permissible (i.e., lower-calorie) choice. In the U.S. and Canada, it is also available on Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers in two flavors — StrawberryLimón and Limonada — and will be expanding to additional dispensed platforms in late 2022 and 2023. Six flavors each will be available for bubblers and traditional fountains. cstoredecisions.com

CO N G R AT S N O U R IA ! We’re so happy Nouria has been named 2022 Convenience Store Chain of the Year. The Coca-Cola Company family of refreshments raises a glass to thank you for serving the community and being an excellent partner. Cheers to you!

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Beverage Functional/Energy

Category

Kiwi Strawberry Lyte BodyArmor

BodyArmor Lyte Sports Drink — Kiwi Strawberry — was released on March 1, 2022, with a suggested retail price of $1.25 for one 16-ounce bottle. BodyArmor Lyte is a premium, better-for-you sports drink that has no sugar added; no artificial sweeteners; only 20 calories per bottle; and includes potassium-packed electrolytes, antioxidants and B vitamins. The coconut water in BodyArmor Lyte provides hydration benefits which help improve sports performance. BodyArmor Lyte contains 100% of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of antioxidants of A, C and E, and 200% RDI of vitamins B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12 (which provide metabolic support). BodyArmor Lyte is also vegan, gluten free, certified kosher, soy free and non-GMO. Lyte’s latest innovations — Kiwi Strawberry, Orange Clementine, Watermelon and Tropical Coconut — were all trending flavors amongst latest consumer data polls. BodyArmor Lyte is currently available in stores nationwide and online via Amazon in 16-ounce and 28-ounce bottles and eight-packs.

Ac+ion Water

BlueTriton Brands

BlueTriton Brands’ mission is to sustainably provide fresh water to communities throughout North America. Its name comes from Triton, a god of the sea in classical Greek mythology. BlueTriton Brands is proud of its role as a guardian of its resources and a provider of fresh water. Moreover, BlueTriton will continue its commitment as an independent business to sustainable high-quality products and services. BlueTriton has introduced Ion Charged Alkaline Water with a 9.5 pH. This Ac+ion Water stays true to BlueTriton’s mission. Features include: • Multi-stage purification and filtration • No added sodium • Electrolytes for taste • Official water of Spartan Races

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

C4 Energy Skittles C4 Energy

C4 Energy launched a delicious partnership with Skittles to bring a new flavor — the fruity taste of Skittles Original. C4 Energy is infused with the heritage and technology of a wellloved performance energy brand. Powered by 200 milligrams of caffeine, consumers will be bursting with explosive energy to elevate their performance. The clinically studied CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine and superfood extract, BetaPower Betaine, are added for refreshing hydration and endurance in every sip. With the new Skittles flavor, consumers get their candy fix with zero sugar, carbs, artificial colors or flavors. When consumers crack a can, they can get ready for a taste of explosive energy and fruity flavor. Skittles’ trademark is owned by Mars or affiliates and used under license. cstoredecisions.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

candy Category Chamoy Sour Neon Worms Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks

Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks extended its popular Hispanic candy and snack line to include several fan-favorite gummy candy items, now coated in the familiar sweet, salty, spicy Chamoy seasoning. Its Chamoy Sour Neon Worms pair well with everything from hitting the road to hitting the couch. Sour Neon Worms gummy candy provides the right amount of pucker to combine with sweet, salty, spicy Chamoy for a unique ﬂavor proﬁle. They are available by the case.

Sour & Chewy Bears Theater Box Candy Dynamics

Candy Dynamics is excited to announce a new look for its Sour & Chewy Bears. Now available in theater boxes, the Sour & Chewy Bears are a wonderful, vegan friendly alternative to traditional gummy bears. These ﬁve delicious ﬂavors make up the three-ounce pack weight: Lime, Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, Pineapple and Tangerine. According to the company, the chewy sour candies product is vegan and packs in three-ounce boxes that have a suggested retail price of $1.49. They ship in six 12-count displays per case.

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

OH SNAP! Spiced Pineapple Bites GLK Foods

Category leading brand OH SNAP! is launching more healthy goodness with new pickled fruit in its same convenient single-serve pouch — gluten free, fat free and non-GMO — delivering more shelf life than fresh fruit. Spiced Pineapple Bites pack a sweet and savory ﬂavor in every bite with a perfect touch of heat. Also available in this game-changing new product line are three more ﬂavors — Apple Bites, Pineapple Bites and Spiced Apple Bites. OH SNAP! takes pickling to a whole new dimension. It turns fresh veggies and fruit into convenient graband-go snacks. Its innovative process ensures that the products stay cold and are never heated, to keep that extra crisp crunch people love. No added brine equals less mess, so consumers can have healthy snack options for on the go. cstoredecisions.com

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cBD Category CBD Living Mango Guava Sparkling Water CBD Living

CBD Living introduced Mango Guava, the hotly anticipated new ﬂavor of CBD Living Sparkling Water. Each 12-ounce can of CBD Living Mango Guava Sparkling Water boasts 25 milligrams of nano CBD and is vegan, sugar free, gluten free and certiﬁed kosher. Vitamins A, B5, B6 and B12; potassium; and zinc add a boost of energy and immunity to this tropical treat. CBD Living is a leader in the CBD industry. Driven by its interest in the global hemp industry, it spent its early days lab testing claims on other companies’ products. After noticing gaps between what people were advertising and the level of expertise that companies were bringing, the company decided to create CBD Living to push the envelope on the science of CBD. CBD Living has grown to reach stores all over the world, providing consumers with superior hempderived CBD products.

Single-Serve Exotic iDELTA8 Diamond Hemp Cannabinoid Disposable Vape Pen Pure CBD Now Gummies The new iDelta8 rechargeable

Paragon Corp.

Paragon Corp.’s Delta Infinity set out to make a gummy to fit all moods. The company has one of the nation’s top-selling exotic cannabinoid gummy brands and has been in the hemp space for more than five years. Delta Infinity is also the manufacturer of its products in Denver. The fast-growing gummy brand is currently stocked in more than 250 brick-and-mortar locations and recently expanded into the convenience store space with its new counter-top dispenser boxes. This offering is a two-count gummy pouch that has 50 milligrams of cannabinoids. The gummies are allnatural and vegan, and customers love the effects they get. Selling for $5.99 per pouch, storeowners can make five times the return on investment on their inventory. The product sells itself, the branding is modern and there are huge margin opportunities. The company also offers display units for its 10-count bags, plus offers legal delta-8, THCO, HHC and delta-9 gummies. 50

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

Disposable Vape Pen in Diamond offers the strongest delta-8 formula from the iDelta8 lineup, containing full delta-8 THC without any other cannabinoids to balance out its more powerful intoxicating effects. Great for experienced delta-8 users, this offers the most potent delta-8 consumers can get, alongside terpene profiles in various popular strains. The disposable vape pen device comes fully charged and filled with vape juice and requires no charging or maintenance throughout the duration of its life. Customers can simply replace it with a new one when the vape juice runs out. All flavors include: • • • • • •

Blackberry Kush (Indica) Blue Dream (Sativa) Northern Lights (Indica) Pineapple Express (Sativa) Skywalker (Hybrid) White Recluse (Hybrid)

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foodservice Category Tyson Hot ‘N Spicy Chicken & Waffles Sandwich Tyson Foods

The chicken sandwich wars show no signs of slowing down. Tyson chicken sandwiches feature the destinationworthy quality customers crave with on-the-go ease they need. Each sandwich is butcher wrapped for serving ease, added safety and greater peace of mind. This sandwich has a 14-day shelf life and a four-hour hold time. Tyson is a preferred brand for chicken with a 53% share in purchase intent for retail. The Tyson Hot ‘N Spicy Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches are made with no antibiotics ever (NAE)-portioned chicken breasts, Belgian-style waffles and a breading profile that gets its kick from a blend of spices, onion, garlic and paprika.

Extra Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese Chester’s Chicken

Chester’s Extra Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese is one of ﬁve sides customers can choose when ordering its world-famous fresh, fried chicken. The new and improved Mac & Cheese recipe uses extra creamy cheddar cheese and cavatappi (corkscrew) noodles to create a taste that reminds customers of home. The corkscrew noodles make a perfect vehicle for the rich, cheesy sauce that satisﬁes customers’ wants while on the road. Since releasing this new product in January of 2022, Chester’s has created a strong mac & cheese following, paving the way for future innovative offerings such as Buffalo Mac & Cheese bowls and a Buffalo Mac & Cheese Sandwich. 52

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November 2022

Pretzel Bun Gonnella

Gonnella Pretzel Buns are made using a timeproven process for authentic Bavarian texture and flavor. This helps create the deep brown, chewy crust and classic German soft pretzel flavor that everyone loves. Retailers can surprise and delight their guests with a unique sandwich build that can fit all dayparts. Its Pretzel Bun pairs well with eggs, cheese and breakfast proteins and is the perfect base for a distinctive deli sandwich or burger ready to eat from the hot case or cold deli case. Its premium artisan Pretzel Buns have the quintessential pretzel flavor, with salt baked into the dough, not encrusted on top. Retailers can easily make a menu swap for fall and Oktoberfest promotions. They are pre-sliced, freshly baked and frozen for the operator’s convenience. Its Made in Store bun line was developed for foodservice and commissary kitchens, holds up to four hours in a warmer and has a cooler shelf life of up to three days. cstoredecisions.com

Lette • PC LAM DESIGN • 06.04.15

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New! garlic parmesan Chicken RollerBites® Featuring 100% white meat chicken, zesty garlic, savory parmesan cheese and wrapped in a light flavorful breading. RollerBites are the perfect partner for the roller grill, hot case and made-to-order applications.

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MENU BOARDS & POS with initial order

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10/17/22 10:29 AM

foodservice Category Continued

Garlic Parmesan Chicken RollerBites Home Market Foods

Chicken RollerBites team up tender, juicy chicken with spices for one epic-flavored grab-and-go snack for on-the-go customers. Now Home Market Foods has launched Garlic Parmesan Chicken RollerBites, which combine serious bold flavor with traditional Italian seasonings, zesty garlic and parmesan cheese with 100% white-meat chicken wrapped in a light, flavorful breading. For more than 60 years, Home Market Foods has been bringing deliciously flavorful foods to customers looking for quality, variety and convenience. From its beginnings as a purveyor of fresh meats to its current role as a major provider of high-quality chicken, all-beef franks, fresh and frozen meatballs, appetizers, snacks and meal components for the foodservice industry, its focus has always been on making it easy for stores to offer craveable, authentic, great-tasting foods to valued customers and guests.

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

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GIVE ‘EM SOMETHING NEW. HEAT-AND-EAT, ON-THE-GO SINGLE-SERVE GYROS

Merchandise frozen or refrigerated*

BRONZE WINNER CStore Decisions 2022 Hot New Products (Foodservice Ethnic Category)

Check out all of our products *Product can be refrigerated for five days

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Foodservice Ethnic Category San Luis Quesadillas E.A. Sween

San Luis quesadillas are the perfect on-the-go meal. The Pork Carnitas Quesadillas are filled with pork, a three-cheese blend and tomatillo salsa in a flour tortilla. These are part of a three-item lineup including Three Cheese and Chicken with Cheese. The quesadillas are wrapped in modified atmosphere packaging giving them a 21-day shelf life. They are merchandised in the cooler and can be heated in the microwave in 40 seconds. From new breakfast and lunch sandwiches to consumer-centric research to advancements in modified atmosphere packaging to product date coding, E.A. Sween has continued developing innovations over 65 years that have transformed the industry and provided tremendous top-line growth for customers.

El Monterey Mini Tacos

Ruiz Food Products

An idea is one thing. A viable product that sells is another. As a leader in the creation of new flavor profiles and menu items, Ruiz Foods’ extensive research and development staff knows how to turn the best ideas into commercial successes. A team of 13 food technologists with a combined 200-plus years of experience remains focused on a clear goal: deliver the right product to the right market at the right time. With innovation driving its business, Ruiz is proud to launch El Monterey Mini Tacos, which are made with crispy crunchy seasoned shells and are filled with delicious ingredients like real shredded steak, then served hot, crispy and ready to go. The company now has more than 185 SKUs to help convenience stores promote their fresh foodservice programs. 56

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November 2022

Opaa! Premade Beef & Lamb Gyros Sandwich Tray Grecian Delight Kronos

Customers can enjoy authentic, restaurant-quality Greek Gyros right from the freezer. Everything that’s needed is in one convenient package from Grecian Delight. The complete sandwich includes beef and lamb gyro slices, pita bread and a Greek yogurt tzatziki sauce packet. It is microwavable and ready in minutes. Twelve sandwiches come in a display-ready tray that’s easy to merchandise in freezer or refrigerator coolers. Two pioneering brands, Grecian Delight and Kronos Foods, have their own unique histories and heritages, laying the foundation for their quest to discover the great flavors of tomorrow. Grecian makes it easy for c-stores to offer customers new experiences as well as familiar fare, providing unmatched taste and trendsetting solutions for success. Grecian’s unique manufacturing capabilities allow it to create global proteins, plant-based proteins, specialty breads, sauces, dips and spreads to meet flavor profiles and exceed needs. cstoredecisions.com

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Foodservice Equipment Category OrderHQ Smart Food Lockers Powered by ApexiQ Software Welbilt Inc.

Customers love order-pickup lockers because they get what they want in seconds, with no confusion, no contact and no worries. And convenience store retailers get a solution powered by easy-to-use technology that provides more flexibility than anyone else. Fast, contactless order-pickup lockers allow customers to pick up orders in less than 10 seconds. Employees get more done with less effort. Retailers get data insights to optimize workflows and processes. Smart Food Lockers give everyone more time to focus on what matters. Plus, these Smart Lockers offer: • Secure orders with no mix-ups • Increased throughput • Reduced congestion and lines • Customer pickup notifications

A400 Fresh Brew

Franke Coffee Systems — Americas

The A400 Fresh Brew is the latest innovation in hot coffee from Franke Coffee Systems — Americas. This new system allows for consistent, bean-to-cup, fresh coffee every time. The machine has a small footprint of just under 13.5 inches wide that is perfect for c-stores where counter space is limited. This fully automatic machine walks customers through the ordering process in three quick steps with the Advanced User Interface. The unit has two bean hoppers with dedicated grinders to ensure a quality ﬂavor every time and can produce up to four sizes of hot coffee. This system does not require an operator, making it easy for consumers to use. For c-stores, the A400 Fresh Brew provides consistency assisting in determining what will add proﬁts and keep customers coming back. The A400 Fresh Brew bean-to-cup machine grinds beans fresh for each cup, allowing employees to focus on checkout lines instead of making coffee during busy times. 58

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November 2022

BOHA! BYO (Build Your Own) Labeling TransAct Technologies

For decades TransAct Technologies has pioneered solutions that help restaurants, convenience stores and contract foodservice companies ensure operational efﬁciency, accountability and both food and customer safety. With more convenience stores moving to include fresh food offerings, the BOHA! team developed a new way to quickly build Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-compliant fresh food labels for custom products. The solution is BOHA! BYO. The Build Your Own (BYO) feature reduces food waste by letting employees quickly build custom products based on ingredient selections from current on-hand inventory. After the ingredients are selected, BOHA! auto-populates the nutritional information, so new creations are on display and ready for purchase quicker than ever. cstoredecisions.com

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General Merchandise Category Yellow Flame Butane Lighter Insert Zippo Manufacturing Co.

Zippo has a brand-new addition to its popular collection of swappable inserts for the classic Zippo lighter case: the Yellow Flame Butane Lighter Insert. The refillable butane insert stays true to Zippo’s roots in form and function, with a spark wheel and flint ignition, and a chimney reminiscent of the original windproof design. The butane lighter insert features an odorless, long-lasting flame that burns cooler than torch-style blue-flame lighters for added versatility. The pressurized Yellow Flame Butane Lighter Insert gives Zippo users the option of using their lighters for various activities, such as lighting up a grill or bonfire. The butane insert can be used with all regular-sized, classic and Armor Zippo lighter cases. In addition to its versatility, the insert requires fewer refills. The yellow flame butane lighter insert contains 125 lights per refill, allowing users to go longer between refills with Zippo butane fuel.

Remedy+ The POWER PACK

Extra Strength Rev Energy Gum

Remedy Products LLC

Rev Energy

Extra Strength REV Energy Gum, available in both Spearmint and Polar Mint flavors, successfully combines great taste with a functional level of caffeine in every piece. Each piece of Extra Strength REV Energy Gum contains 100 milligrams of caffeine, roughly the equivalent of a double shot of espresso. Extra Strength REV Energy Gum delivers on all of the key benefits today’s consumer is looking for: • Value-add innovation • Better-for-you (sugar-free) products • Better value (Each pack contains six servings, equal to six eight-ounce energy drinks at a fraction of the cost.) • Convenience (REV is considerably easier to carry than six energy drinks.) REV is for the on-the-go individual who needs energy throughout the day and wants to be able to take their energy anywhere, from the morning commute, the office or the gym without the need for refrigeration and without taking up space in their bag. 60

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November 2022

Remedy Products LLC has launched “The POWER PACK.” The pre-packaged grab-and-go box set features one serving each of Remedy+’s two popular energy-boosting products: the cherry chocolate-flavored hemp protein snack bar “The BAR” and CBD-infused energy drink “The SHOT.” The BAR is a protein snack bar (190 calories per bar) utilizing the power of hemp protein with chocolate berry flavor. Hemp protein is packed with essential nutrients that enhance performance and boost physical health. It contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a “complete protein.” The SHOT is an energy shot boasting a blend of nano broad-spectrum CBD, vitamin B12, caffeine, ginseng, cinnamon and agave. The SHOT provides focused energy without a foggy crash and is a portable and natural alternative to other energy beverages and supplements. The POWER PACK is Remedy+’s first multi-product package and will begin rolling out across the country at a suggested retail price of $7.49 per unit. cstoredecisions.com

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meat snacks Category 18-Ounce Family-Sized Bags of Beef Jerky Old Trapper

Old Trapper’s latest release, 18-ounce family-sized bags (the largest package on the market to date) of its authentic beef jerky, fulﬁlls the oft-repeated request for more product. All four of Old Trapper’s signature ﬂavors including Old Fashioned, Peppered, Teriyaki and Hot & Spicy are available in the larger format size. Old Trapper’s newest family-sized bags of beef jerky give snackers plenty of the quality beef they crave in a larger size that can be shared with friends and family alike, used to stock pantries or taken along on road trips and other outings. The larger format bags feature Old Trapper’s signature clear packaging, enabling consumers to clearly see the quality and amount of product they are receiving when purchasing.

Teriyaki-Style Mini Pork Sticks Country Archer Provisions

Slowly but surely, more and more people found Country Archer grassfed beef jerky, and its meat snacks found their way into grocery stores nationwide. The company continues to expand its product line with Country Archer Teriyaki-Style Mini Sticks. These Teriyaki-Style Mini Sticks are packed with protein from 100% natural pork and crafted with mouthwatering, real ingredients, including real chunks of juicy pineapple, creating the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Not only are these individually wrapped eight-count mini sticks perfect for on the go, but they’re also free of MSG, nitrates, antibiotics, added hormones and the nine major allergens. This launch is the latest in Country Archer’s quest to push the envelope with innovative meat snacks that are responsibly sourced and made with mindful ingredients for everyone to enjoy. 62

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November 2022

Dill Pickle Flavor Wenzel’s Farm Meat Sticks Wenzel’s Farm

Wenzel’s Farm, a provider of highquality, hand-crafted, small-batch meat snacks, has just added another flavor option to its popular line of meat sticks. “Dill Pickle” is now available. The new Dill Pickle flavor offers an appealing taste that blends perfectly with Wenzel’s naturally smoked meat. The new sticks are available in eightounce packages with a two-ounce option coming later this year. For those who like the addicting taste of a good dill pickle, these snack sticks are for them. A natural, authentic flavor presents itself, making for the perfect snack on the go. Like all Wenzel’s Farm snack sticks, Dill Pickle has no MSG, no artificial colors and is certified gluten free. Wenzel’s Farm now offers 14 snack stick varieties, all of which are crafted in small batches using premium cuts of meat, perfectly seasoned and naturally smoked. This is a tradition that has been in place since the Wenzel’s Family first started producing quality meat products in 1949. cstoredecisions.com

order a taste of our success! Wenzels snacks are hand crafted in small batches and naturally smoked with hardwood hickory for a rich taste, color, and texture that your customers will love. • • • •

NATURALLY SMOKED SMALL BATCHES NO MSG GLUTEN FREE

• • • •

NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS NO FILLERS NO BINDERS NO CORN SYRUP

Wenzel’s Farm. Real Meat for Real Life. National Retailer and Wholesaler programs available. Let us develop a program specific to your market. Wenzel’s Farm, LLC | 500 E. 29th Street, Marshfield, WI 54449 | 1-800-336-6328 | sales@wenzelsfarm.com

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salty snacks Category Cereal-Flavored Popcorn General Mills Convenience

A new opportunity is popping up for convenience stores with a fun, nostalgic snack that combines two of the most beloved cereal brands with a popular snack form: popcorn. General Mills Convenience introduced cereal-flavored popcorn, available in Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs flavors. The ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn features fluffy pieces of popcorn coated with Cinnadust or a cocoa glaze for a combination of sweet and salty. The individually packaged 2.25-ounce format is ideal for the on-the-go patron or for the entire family to enjoy. Features include: • Available in a 2.25-ounce bag • Shelf location: Salty Set • Suggested retail price: $1.99 RTE popcorn is a $250 million category and is growing rapidly at 15%, according to Nielsen AOD, January 2021, latest 12 months vs. last year. Sweet Popcorn is highly incremental with only 9% cross purchase with savory popcorn, according to the same source. Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs are beloved brands and are outpacing RTE cereal growth, according to Nielsen Scanner data for the latest 52 weeks ending July 10, 2021.

Flipz STUFF’D White Fudge pladis Global

New Flipz STUFF’D White Fudge is a crunchy salted pretzel nugget stuffed with thick and creamy peanut butter and coated in sweet white fudge. Each bite is the perfect combination of sweet, salty and crunchy. At pladis Global, family and ideas have always been the key ingredients. Its founding families believed biscuits and chocolates could bring moments of happiness to the world. Their ideas have stood the test of time. Their spirit continues to inspire the future. It’s in the care and the craft that’s baked into biscuits and chocolates that have been loved for generations. And it’s also in the fresh ideas, the new twists, ﬂavors and textures added to old and new favorites. 64

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November 2022

Hot & Spicy Sausage Sticks and Bites Carl Buddig and Co. Naturally hardwoodsmoked and packed with a bold ﬂavor blend of Serrano, Jalapeño and Red Peppers, Old Wisconsin’s New Hot & Spicy Sausage Sticks and Bites are a perfect way to add a little extra kick to everyday snacking occasions. They are available in the following package sizes: four-ounce Sausage Bites and 1.5-ounce, three-ounce, six-ounce, 14-ounce and 28-ounce Sausage Sticks.

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Store Displays and Fixtures Category ZipTrack Pusher System Trion Industries

The Trion ZipTrack Pusher System features a locking paddle option to free both hands for easy rear loading. ZipTrack’s new locking option on the pusher paddle frees both hands to make rear loading a breeze. Pusher spring options optimize shopability and keep the display looking full even when stock is low. ZipTrack precisely ﬁts all shelf depths, from shallow front-end coolers, to center store gondolas, to deep rear-load coolers. Items are always billboarded at the shelf front for maximum visibility and accelerated sales. Level shelves mean store staff doesn’t have to spend time straightening those annoying tip-overs from gravity feed. ZipTrack lanes easily adjust to accommodate everything from skinny Red Bulls to oversized Gatorades — and even box packs when using an optional lane expand.

Inverted Pump Topper MDI Worldwide

This unique top-mounting pumptopper integrates perfectly with the pump and tapers to a V-shape, giving ample 30-inchby-16-inch graphic viewing space on each side (or use the divider bars that hold two 15-inch-by-16-inch posters per side). Graphic change-out is easy with its front-loading lift and fall slide-in method. The unit is two sided and mounts from the top of the fuel dispenser with screws. Sturdy metal fabrication, with all mounting hardware, is included. MDI Worldwide helps design, plan, coordinate, build and deliver exceptional retail and consumer-immersion experiences where it matters: the point of transaction. Its researchers, artists, inventors and fabricators work with some of the biggest names in retail, petroleum, quick-service restaurants and more. Whether it is creating a custom design or fulﬁlling an off-the-rack order, MDI Worldwide delivers. 66

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November 2022

Gravity-Fed Beverage Ice-Glide Display Technologies

Display Technologies launched merchandise-angled cold vault shelves to drive sales. The Display Technologies Ice-Glide maximizes beverage brand exposure while frontfacing the product to ensure optimal appearance. Easy-touse, customizable lane width dividers snap into place to provide ﬂexibility in meeting ever-changing planograms and packaging retail needs. Retailers can look for the new Ice-Glide launching in early 2023. Display Technologies is a proud Marmon Foodservice Technologies brand where uptime is the priority.

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MODERNIZE YOUR MERCHANDISING

SELL MORE IN THE SAME SPACE

Gain Facings and Cut Labor with WONDERBAR®Tray Merchandising

BEFORE WONDERBAR

99 FACINGS

AFTER WONDERBAR

121 FACINGS

Sell More Salty Snacks ■ Increased facings from 99 to 121, a 22% increase*. ■ Automatically billboards and faces product. ■ Reduces losses from bag hook tearout. ■ Cuts over 1 hour/day labor for restocking. ■ Allows rear restocking and proper date rotation.

WonderBar® Tray Merchandising

■ Dramatically increases sales in the same space. ■ Adjusts to accommodate various package widths.

Trion Industries, Inc. TrionOnline.com info@triononline.com 800-444-4665

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Store Equipment Category MOCO Beverage Stations Modern Store Equipment

Modern Store Equipment’s MOCO line offers versatile hot and cold beverage stations for busy c-stores. The Self-Serve Beverage Center makes it inviting for customers to dispense their favorite cold beverage and easy for staff to clean up. Cup dispensers flank the equipment area, bottom shelves adjust from straight to slanted to display snacks, and two trash receptacles help keep the store neat. There is impressive space for signage on the top panel. The Hot Beverage Prep Wall is a sleek unit built to stand up to busy morning traffic. There is plenty of space for hot drink dispensers on the counter with cup dispensers directly beneath and two handy trash receptacles. Doors hide ample storage for supplies. All MOCO units can be combined with other MOCO units for a sleek, coordinated store. It is available in seven beautiful finishes and four durable countertops.

Cold Door 4

D25 Sink System

SloanLED

Excel Dryer

Sporting an elegant and compact design, the new D25 Sink System featuring the XLERATORsync Hand Dryer from Excel Dryer is a turnkey handwashing and drying solution with customizable aspects to enhance any modern commercial restroom. The system’s sleek and compact 25-inch sink design is available for a quick and easy purchase and a speedy turnaround installation, which is perfect for smaller restrooms typically found in c-stores. Through its motion-activated faucet and state-of-the-art hand dryer, the D25 provides a streamlined and touchless experience for people to wash, rinse and dry their hands hygienically and effectively, all in one place. The XLERATORsync Hand Dryer promotes superior hygienic standards by eliminating the need for dirty, discarded paper towels. A HEPA Filtration System comes standard on the XLERATORsync — removing 99.999% of viruses from the airstream. The XLERATORsync uses 80% less energy than a conventional hand dryer and can reduce a facility’s carbon footprint by up to 75%. 68

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November 2022

Retailers can increase sales and guide foot trafﬁc with enhanced LED lighting for reach-in cold displays. Retail providers understand that customers shop with their eyes and use eye-catching logos, displays and packaging to draw customer attention and drive sales. Enhanced lighting can further capitalize on this. Improving cold storage lighting helps guide customers to refrigerated cases and past other essential items, increasing the potential for additional sales. Cold Door 4 high-performance LED luminaires provide uniform illumination, improve product visibility and enhance the customer shopping experience while reducing energy and maintenance costs and brightening the bottom line.

cstoredecisions.com

AS GOOD AS GOLD!

CMY

Self Serve Cold Beverage Center with side cup holders, adjustable shelves and 2 trash receptacles

Coffee Prep Station with cup holders, storage and trash receptacles

Coordinating base cabinet with doors

Modern Store Equipment’s versatile MOCO hot and cold beverage stations have won the gold! The Self-Serve Beverage Center makes it inviting for customers to dispense their favorite cold beverage and easy for staff to clean up and 2 trash receptacles help keep the store neat. Impressive space for signage on top panel. The Hot Beverage Prep Wall is a sleek unit built to stand up to busy morning traffic. Plenty of space for dispensers on the counter with cups directly beneath 7 beautiful finishes and 4 durable countertops.

Visit our website to learn more about all our unique c-store solutions and three generations of family leadership.

MADE

EXCLUSIVE E EXCLUSIVE

AMERICA

modernstoreonline.com/cstore info@modernstoreonline.com | 877.532.8433

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sweet snacks Category Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Hostess

Announced in February 2022, the new caffeinated Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes contain slightly less caffeine (50-70 milligrams) than one cup of coffee and are available in two decadent ﬂavors: Chocolate Mocha and Caramel Macchiato. They are lightly glazed and caffeinated with coffee bean extract. Hostess Brands is a leading sweet snacks company that makes, markets and distributes its delicious treats throughout North America. Its approximately 2,600 employees put their hearts in everything they do, inspiring moments of joy by baking new and classic snacks including Hostess Donettes, Twinkies, CupCakes, Ding Dongs and Zingers, as well as a variety of Voortman cookies and wafers.

Rich’s Fully Finished Donut Portfolio — Glazed and Iced Rich Products

Rich’s spent over three years developing the exclusive extended shelf-life recipes that outlast the competition by a full day. The doughnuts maintain an airy, soft texture; fresh flavor; and longer ambient shelf life in a sealed bakery case: 48 hours for yeast doughnuts and 72 hours for cake doughnuts. Rich’s Fully Finished Donuts are ideal for c-stores who want to serve a fresh-quality doughnut but are challenged with limited labor. The thaw-and-serve lineup includes a wide variety to satisfy every c-store customer: yeast and cake varieties, specialty and filled options, three glazed and four iced. All the doughnuts are easy to handle, ready to serve and maintain fresh quality over an extended shelf life. The delectable flavors include: chocolate-iced yeastring, chocolate-iced sprinkled cake-ring, white-iced raspberry-filled jelly, Bavarian-crème long-john, glazed yeast-ring, glazed cinnamon-roll, glazed apple-fritter and a plain cake-ring. 70

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November 2022

Cookie Dough Chunks (Edible) David’s Cookies

David’s Cookies has launched a new line of snackable, bite-sized Edible Cookie Dough Chunks. The cookies are available in three flavors: Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake and Churro. All of the products are nut free, dairy free, egg free and certified vegan kosher. The cookies are made with heat-treated flour and distributed frozen in 12 eight-ounce stand-up pouches per case. Stores simply display in a refrigerator case for sale. Cookies have a three-month refrigerator life. Over the past 20 years, through a clear vision and relentless pursuit of excellence, David’s has enjoyed consistent growth in its primary markets: foodservice, in-store bakeries, e-commerce and luxury corporate and consumer gifts. By adhering to the same principles to grow the business — using only the finest ingredients available, striving to always exceed customers’ expectations and investing in the team by having the right people with the right skills in the right positions — David’s products are now distributed throughout the world. cstoredecisions.com

Mentos Gum Paperboard_Ad_CStore_20220616.pdf

6/16/22

10:45 AM

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technology Category Eagle Eye LPR (License Plate Recognition) Eagle Eye Networks

Eagle Eye LPR (license plate recognition) is an affordable, cloud-managed solution for accurate detection and recognition of license plates. LPR helps convenience stores effectively monitor safety and efﬁciency in their parking and fuel areas. Store owners and managers can track license plate information with their existing security cameras — no need for new hardware or expensive specialty cameras. Eagle Eye LPR uses powerful artiﬁcial intelligence to turn any security camera into a highly accurate license plate reader. Development innovations and updates are instantly delivered to customers via the cloud. AI is continuously improving and updates are instantly delivered to the customer via the cloud.

RJ3200 Mobile Printer Series

Punchh Subscriptions

Brother Mobile Solutions

PAR Technology

Retailers can save time, eliminate waste, improve the customer experience and help drive sales faster by printing labels on the spot with the compact, rugged and highly connected three-inch Brother RJ3200 mobile printer series. They can use this versatile solution for product labels and tags; shelf-edge labels and tags; return and markdown labels; fresh food labeling; prepared food labeling; compliance labels; eGrocery receipts and labels; and online order and in-store pickup labels — even curbside pickup and delivery solutions, queue-busting receipts and mobile point-of-sale receipts. Because when products are ﬂying off the shelves and deliveries never stop coming in, a solution is needed that can keep pace.

Punchh, a loyalty technology provider for the convenience industry, has launched its newest product, Punchh Subscriptions. This revolutionary new loyalty solution allows the world’s leading convenience brands to tap into their most dedicated fan base by leveraging a continual payment model to maximize the loyalty life cycle of a customer. C-store brands have several options on how to manage their subscription service to ensure profitability: recurring payments; one lump sum payment with unlimited redemptions during the time period it covers; and one lump sum payment with limited redemptions that can be used up. The implementation of Punchh Subscriptions is fast, easy and provides c-store brands with the option of designing a completely customized program that fits their specific requirements. In addition, brands that implement Punchh Subscriptions can expect a seamless transition that rewards the most loyal customers, increases frequency through connections made with the customers and more.

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2022

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Your uptime is our priority. Marmon Foodservice Technologies enables your operations to run faster and more eﬃciently. Our industry-leading expertise coupled with comprehensive aftermarket service and support optimizes the life of your equipment to maximize our investment. Learn more at marmonfoodservice.com.

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technology fuel Category Ovation Multi-Hose Dispenser with Anthem UX and DX Promote Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS)

The Wayne Ovation Multi-Hose fuel dispenser is built to accommodate more fuel offerings for customers and secure the retailer’s inventory. The dispenser is also compatible with the DFS Anthem UX User Experience Platform and therefore, DX Promote, to create a seamless digital experience for customers and help increase in-store sales. The dispenser is an exciting portfolio expansion with up to four nozzles per side and the ability to dispense up to seven different fuel grades with the Anthem UX platform. It also has advanced blending options with Dual Blending or Double Dual Blending and helps save money and prevent fuel loss with the Xﬂo fuel meter that maintains its calibration better than traditional piston meters. The Wayne Ovation Multi-Hose fuel dispenser comes ready to supply retailers with future-ready hardware and software, equipped to evolve with the expanding fuels landscape. Along with the four nozzles per side, this enables the retailer to expand their offering with up to seven fuel grades per fueling point (with Anthem UX).

Maintenance Management System for EV Charging Stations

fuelWRAp

Warren Rogers Fuel System Diagnostics

Techniche

Warren Rogers’ fuelWRAp is one of the most precise and efficient fuel management systems available today. fuelWRAp uses realtime data and leverages the flexibility and smart analytics of the cloud to help travel center and convenience store operators continuously track every drop of precious fuel inventory — as it makes its way to the site, enters the tank, flows through each fuel line and reaches the meter — even at the most complex, highthroughput sites.

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November 2022

Techniche Maintenance Management System (MMS) for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations helps customers deliver an exceptional EV driver charging experience by automating the repair and planned maintenance of EV charging assets, reducing downtime and improving the reliability of EV charging stations. The maintenance management system manages all assets that affect the EV charging customer experience, from the charger itself to lighting and signage. The Techniche solution gives EV charging station owners and operators full visibility across all EV charging assets to track maintenance spent, KPIs and make intelligent datadriven decisions.

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TechnologY POS Category Paytronix Order & Delivery with PDI Integration Paytronix Systems Inc.

Paytronix Order & Delivery with PDI Integration is an exclusive launch of a new solution combining the two tech leaders’ offerings for a single solution that enables c-stores to sell more merchandise through all digital channels — including order ahead, curbside third-party marketplaces and delivery. The combination of Paytronix and PDI makes it easier for c-store brands to manage digital ordering and delivery, providing the tools to track real-time inventory, maintain pricing and manage ﬁnancial information for reporting and accounting. By connecting Paytronix Order & Delivery customers to the inventory and pricing information in PDI Enterprise, this new integrated solution helps retailers create a digital storefront with a store’s entire inventory, which can often include more than 4,000 SKUs. The new Paytronix Order & Delivery with PDI Integration helps c-store brands win in the competitive digital-ordering marketplace, enabling c-stores to sell their full inventory of items more easily through both ﬁrst-party and third-party ordering sites.

SWIPEBY for Convenience Stores NRS Cinch e-Commerce Platform SWIPEBY

National Retail Solutions (NRS)

SWIPEBY, a holistic direct-toconsumer platform, launched a new product in April 2022 to enable c-store brands to compete with the increased pressure from third-party delivery companies and ghost warehouses/supermarkets like Gopuff and Gorillas. SWIPEBY provides c-stores with white-label online ordering; in-store, pump-side and curbside pickup; and delivery as c-stores work to take advantage of customers wanting off-premise options using a platform that has been proven in the restaurant space. The effort is underscored by a deployment of the platform at Quality Marts in Winston-Salem, N.C., and being rolled out to other c-store chains in New England and the West Coast over the next few months.

NRS Cinch offers a unique e-commerce platform, with end-consumer and merchant wholesale ordering and van delivery. NRS Cinch’s “Home Delivery” program integrates with each store’s NRS pointof-sale system for easy ordering from the store on the NRS Cinch app and website, with delivery service provided by popularly known Uber, DoorDash and others. NRS Cinch also offers its new “FindMe” program for stores to be easily found online and be able to showcase their vital information on various online and social platforms. Better still, part of its mission statement, which extends well beyond simple delivery, is a supreme dedication to customer service and providing White Glove Service. Its deliveries will always include special communication with its customers to ensure their delivery is placed wherever they desire, whether it be directly in the pantry, by the garage door, the ﬁfth ﬂoor of a walk-up apartment building or a special delivery entrance.

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November 2022

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Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

hemp/delta-8 Category Vesl Dispenser Display Treeline Brands

VESL products have been formulated for the past four years at the company’s 12,000-square-foot manufacturing facility outside Denver. VESL pledges to keep pushing the boundaries in growth and development to continue teaching the world about natural healing and the VESL culture. It offers gummies, capsules, hemp oils, muscle gels, bath bombs and more in CBD, CBG and CBN conﬁgurations.

Cool Out Delta-8 Infused Seltzer

Tree-Bites

Tree-Rolls Hemp Co.

Kind Grade

Cool Out delta-8 seltzer is a premium hemp beverage that is light and refreshing with hints of fruit ﬂavor. Crafted from natural ingredients, its hemp is non-GMO and grown on certiﬁed organic farms in the U.S. Cool Out is sugar and sweetener free, so the taste is clean and crisp with zero calories, zero carbs, and it’s gluten free. Its watersoluble nanotechnology allows the delta-8 to absorb quickly, offering the body and mind an easy way to chill and unwind. It’s alcohol free so consumers can enjoy the delta-8 seltzer today and still feel good tomorrow. Cool Out’s goal is to bring hemp more into the American beverage culture as an approachable and social product. Backed by decades of beverage industry experience, this seltzer was crafted by co-creators, Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas, who each bring more than 18 years of beverage industry experience.

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November 2022

Building on its success with Tree-Rolls CBD hemp prerolls, Tree-Rolls Hemp Co. has added Tree-Bites Delta-9 gummies to its family of products, designed specifically for the c-store industry. Tree-Bites contain 10 milligrams of hemp-derived delta-9 per gummy (10 gummies per 100 milligrams delta-9 per package) and are certified compliant by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory. Fan-favorite flavors include Strawberry, Tangerine, Green Apple and Sour Melon. Consumers enjoy premium quality with an affordable luxury. The suggested retail price is $9.99. Staying true to its roots, Tree-Rolls was inspired by those who demand premium quality while branching out to restore the environment and help those in need. Wherever someone finds their escape and inspiration, Tree-Rolls products are crafted to heighten and enhance those experiences.

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Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Tobacco OTP Category Grizzly SNUS Natural American Snuff Co.

Finally, there is a spitless pouch from folks who know a thing or two about great tobacco. Grizzly has entered the snus game with three premium styles made from real tobacco. Traditional dippers can now keep enjoying Grizzly on even more occasions. Existing snus users get to enjoy a snus worthy of the Grizzly name. Grizzly SNUS is available in three styles: Arctic Blue, Wintergreen and Natural.

White Owl Swirl: Triple Grape

Cuban Rounds Toro Fresh Pack

Swedish Match North America

Kretek International

White Owl Swirl: Triple Grape provides an explosion of red, black and green grape flavors in a unique experience for the taste buds and eyes. Featuring an unforgettable wrapper and a blast of grape flavor together in combination with three different colored wrappers, White Owl Swirl is the first of its kind in the market. The revolutionized wrapper brings innovation and excitement to the consumer experience. White Owl continues to innovate by providing the market’s first-ever three-toned wrapper with White Owl Swirl: Triple Grape. Consumers in the homogenized tobacco leaf (HTL) segment look forward to trying unique new flavors and look forward to trying White Owl’s revolutionary offerings. White Owl continues to innovate by providing retailers with something new and exciting for their shelf coupled with the great flavors consumers love. This line from White Owl brings an exciting twist that continues to intrigue consumers and create demand within the c-store market. White Owl Swirl: Triple Grape launched nationwide January 2022.

The Cuban Rounds Toro Fresh Pack is a satisfying new size created with both customers and counter space in mind. Bunched and rolled in the Traditional Havana style, these smooth cigars are easy to grab and go. Handcrafted, all-natural and affordably priced, Cuban Rounds brings an exceptional experience of heritage and tradition to the everyday consumer. The Toro Fresh Pack boasts: • Popular premium cigar size now in a fresh pack • No humidor needed • Convenient grab and go for customers

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November 2022

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Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Tobacco otp Category Continued

Black Buffalo Long Cut and Pouches (with nicotine) Black Buffalo Inc.

Black Buffalo has created a moist smokeless tobacco (MST) alternative, using flue-cured leaves from the cabbage family (along with food-safe ingredients and pharmaceutical-grade, tobacco-derived nicotine) to deliver the same ritual and tradition that millions of adult MST consumers love, just without the tobacco leaf. Black Buffalo launched nationally in 400-plus Yesway and Allsup’s stores in January 2022 and is now available in over 800 c-stores and tobacco outlets, with thousands more stores scheduled for launch over the next few months. Black Buffalo has invested 20,000 hours of research and development to perfect its products, and has also timely filed a bundled premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) in September 2020 for all eight of its nicotine-containing products (five Long Cut and three Pouches products in flavors of Wintergreen, Mint, Straight, Blood Orange and Peach). Since January 2022, Black Buffalo has earned approved vendor status with every major wholesaler and distributor, including McLane, Core-Mark, Eby-Brown, S. Abraham and Sons and AMCON, among others.

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Introducing the Cuban Rounds Toro Fresh Pack — a satisfying new size created with both your customers and counter-space in mind. Bunched and rolled in the Traditional Havana style, these smooth cigars are easy to grab-and-go, with carefully crafted flavor and value-pricing that keeps people coming back for more. Visit CubanRoundsCigars.com

Cuban Rounds Fresh Packs Rank #1 in sticks sold in US Convenience.* Resealable Fresh Packs in a carton designed to fit your OTP shelf. Available in Churchill, Robusto, Petite Corona and Toro at all major national distributors.

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Smoking cigars causes lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.

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Tobacco Vape Category Micro Disposable MYLE Vape

MYLE’s Micro Disposable is micro small, yet mighty. This device features a three-milliliter tank that will deliver approximately 1,000 puffs. The cotton coil adds incredible stability to the flavor experience by improving the device performance and increasing the longevity of the coil. Customers will never experience a burnt taste with the stability of this cotton coil. Available in 20 vibrant colors and with 20 popular 2% and 5% tobacco-free salt nicotine fruit flavors, the Micro combines convenience, flavor and superior performance in a Micro tiny device.

VIO Pulse Electronic Cigarettes Inter-Continental Trading USA

VIO Pulse electronic cigarettes feature a sleek, custom-designed body and American-made e-liquids for adults seeking an alternative to traditional tobacco products. All 12 varieties — Mango Berry, Strawberry Banana, Apple Ice, Berry Blast, Watermelon, Grape Ice, Guava Mango, Cool Mint, Menthol, Classic Tobacco, Virginia Tobacco and Turkish Tobacco — contain a 5% tobacco-free nicotine level and top-grade ingredients for a smooth draw; lush, satisfying ﬂavor; and dense vapor production. Since its inception in 2004, InterContinental Trading USA Inc., has made it a priority to deliver only the best quality tobacco products and rollyour-own accessories.

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November 2022

Myle Drip MYLE Vape

The bottle-shaped Drip device features a double injection mold that has a bright, glossy, colorful, smooth and sleek feel and is meant to be seen as it’s not considered compact or pocket friendly. The Drip device has a large six-milliliter tank, which will deliver 2,000 puffs, a 1.75-ohm coil for large vapor production and an 850-mAH battery — so it will last. The device is disposable, not rechargeable with every pull, providing a satisfying cloud of flavor-saturated goodness — something customers have come to love in MYLE devices. It is available in 12 flavors: six new flavors such as White Gummy and Aloe Grape, and six popular best-selling flavors like Iced Mint and Los Ice. The Drip has something for everyone.

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Category Management | Cigars

Cigar Category Braces Against Proposed Flavor Bans As c-stores await news on FDA’s proposed flavor ban in cigars, more local and state proposals prohibiting flavored tobacco are appearing. Howard Riell • Contributing Editor

When it comes to the cigar category, c-store retailers are watching regulatory headwinds at the local, state and federal levels as legislatures increasingly target flavored tobacco. A ban on flavored cigars would clearly change the dynamic of the tobacco category at convenience stores. The good news is, despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) releasing proposed product standards to ban characterizing flavors in cigars earlier this year, it will likely be several years before any such ban would go into effect. The 86

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bad news is some states and local municipalities are moving forward with bans of their own. 2022 has seen proposed bans pop up across all 50 states, according to Thomas Briant, executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). They included outlawing everything from flavored cigars to menthol cigarettes, flavored smokeless tobacco, flavored electronic cigarettes, flavored hookah tobacco and/or electronic cigarette/vapor flavors. Eleven states — Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington — introduced bills to ban all flavored tobacco products, according to Briant.

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Category Management | Cigars

fast facts: While the convenience store industry remains resilient, the tobacco category would definitely be different without flavored cigars. Cigar sales in the convenience store channel totaled $4.02 billion, a gain of 0.4% for the 52-week period ending Sept. 4, 2022, according to Chicagobased market research firm IRI. Much of the new volume in the category comes from flavor launches. C-stores are the biggest sector that the cigar companies use to launch new flavors and limited-time offers (LTOs). Swisher Sweets, Backwoods, Dutch and Game remain leading brands at c-stores, and LTOs and two-fers continue to be the most successful promotions. Indeed, retailers continue to report strong results with LTO launches: Swisher’s Banana Smash and Coastal Cocktail and Swedish Match’s White Owl in Dragon Fruit, Pairs and Swirls are good examples. The natural-leaf segment has also been performing well, as evidenced by the launches of Swisher’s Leaf Peach Brandy and Swedish Match’s Game Leaf Dark. Backwoods is also said to be performing well. A flavor ban will unquestionably hurt sales in c-stores. In fact, some have suggested that the future of c-store cigars very much depends on the outcome of the flavor ban efforts. That said, this is an industry that adapts well, and executives remain confident that however the legislative assault plays out, retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers will ultimately figure out how to reach their consumers. One key will be operators sticking to retailing basics: product placement and features and cleanlooking cigar sets. IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM

David Ozgo, president of the Cigar Association of America Inc. (CAA), explained that after the FDA issued its proposed product standard to prohibit characterizing flavors in cigars earlier this year, CAA was among those that commented. “CAA believes the proposal was a solution in search of a problem and filed comments and expert reports detailing the scientific and legal deficiencies in FDA’s proposal,” Ozgo pointed out. More than 70,000 comments were submitted. By law, the FDA must go through and address the issues raised by the submitted comments, make any revisions, and then publish final product standards 88

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November 2022

• L ocal flavor bans pose a threat to cigar sales. • The FDA must review more than 70,000 comments on its proposed product standards to ban characterizing flavors in cigars and address the issues raised before submitting final product standards.

that (according to FDA) would become effective 12 months later. “We believe, therefore, that any FDA flavored cigar ban is quite a ways off,” Orzo suggested. “While the proposed ban is understandably a concern to c-stores, because of both the process that FDA has to go through and potential legal challenges, any actual ban is not likely to occur for several years,” he added. If and when it does happen, most agree, a ban would certainly be challenged in court, which would delay implementation for even longer. LOCAL LEGISLATION

Some c-store operators may not realize that bans on flavored cigars have already happened at the local level. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF), 241 municipalities in the U.S. have laws restricting flavored tobacco sales as of Oct. 1, 2022. Some 89 of those municipalities — 71 of which are in California — ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol. David Tooley, president of family-owned Tooley Oil Co. in Sacramento, Calif., which operates 16 Shell- and Circle K-branded convenience stores in Northern California and one in Reno, Nev., pointed out that he and his company have already been confronted with the reality of a flavored cigar ban. “We are California-based and have a complete flavor ban, including menthol, at most sites,” he noted. “California is voting in November to complete the whole state. Thus, the (current proposals) really mean very little to us, as we are already living with bans.” The response in California and elsewhere can only be to double down on retailing basics: having the products and promotions that resonate with consumers and pricing, promoting and merchandising them effectively. CSD

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Category Management | Meat Snacks

Meat Snacks Appeal Despite Inflation

Even with prices rising, meat snack sales are expected to increase into 2023 as retailers beef up their selection to keep pace with trends. Zhane Isom • Associate Editor

Meat snacks have been a hot seller in convenience stores this year. In fact, according to NielsenIQ, the category increased 7.7% in the 52 weeks ending Aug. 27, 2022, while jerky was up 4.6%. Mike Jackson, category manager for High’s headquartered in Baltimore, Md., with 59 stores in Maryland and Pennsylvania, has seen a rise in meat snack sales, especially meat sticks. “Sales are trending 6.5% in units, with sticks making up the volume of units and jerky about even with sticks in overall sales dollars generated,” said Jackson. 90

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Category Management | Meat Snacks

The four new ﬂavors of TXB jerky include Mildly Seasoned, Sweet ‘n Spicy, Peppered and Zero Sugar Peppered.

SMALL PACKS ARE BACK

Today’s customers are demanding a variety of options when shopping for meat snacks. Some of those options include healthier, more convenient and cheaper meat snacks. TXB is big on providing its customers with better-for-you options, so the store has seen more of its healthier meat snacks ﬂy off the shelves recently. “Customers are wanting better-for-you, protein-packed, non-GMO options, and meat 92

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“

Customers are wanting better-for-you, proteinpacked, non-GMO options, and meat snacks provide a quick and easy way to refuel on the go. Locally sourced, fresh ingredients are also preferred by our customers.

“

At Spicewood, Texas-based TXB convenience stores, meat snack sales are also looking up. “We will be up even more in sales by end of year with the (recent) launch of our new privatelabel flavor TXB Teriyaki Jerky, as well as a line of four flavors of meat snacks in the coming weeks,” said Kevin Smartt, CEO of TXB with 47 stores in Texas and Oklahoma. “With heavy promotion and merchandising, we should see substantial growth in this category.” The four new flavors of TXB jerky include Mildly Seasoned, Sweet ‘n Spicy, Peppered and Zero Sugar Peppered.

— Kevin Smartt, CEO of TXB

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Category Management | Meat Snacks

significant increase in retail (prices) over the past 12 months.” “A difference about meat snacks compared to last year is the pack sizes,” agreed Smartt. TXB is even considering creating more affordable smaller bag sizes to meet customer demand. “We will look to tighten up on larger options for a more economical take rate,” said Smartt. “With Q4 and next year inflation woes, we believe creating cheaper and smaller bag-size options is best for our guests.” LOOKING AHEAD

snacks provide a quick and easy way to refuel on the go,” said Smartt. “Locally sourced, fresh ingredients are also preferred by our customers.” Along with healthy options, TXB has realized customers want to emotionally invest in their meat snack purchase, especially with inflation increasing prices and affecting consumer spending habits. “We not only provide healthy meat snacks for our guests, but we make sure our ingredients are sourced locally to support the community we serve,” said Smartt. Another meat snack option that is making a comeback is smaller bag sizes. During the pandemic a lot of convenience stores saw customers buying meat snacks in bulk or bigger bags to cut down on trips to the store. Now that the world is getting back to normal and inflation is causing prices to increase, customers are returning to smaller bag sizes. High’s is watching this trend play out across its stores. “Larger bags of jerky saw a large growth in 2021, perhaps due to less store visits and customers stacking up between visits,” said Jackson. “Customers now seem to be getting back to a more normal visit frequency and are switching to smaller packages due to the 94

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Convenience stores are always looking for new ideas and flavors to add for meat snacks. High’s believes adding new brands and flavors of meat snacks will continue to ensure meat snacks’ place as a customer favorite and keep sales trending upward. “I expect to continue to be up in unit sales for meat snacks at the end of 2022 and going into 2023,” said Jackson. “We have a strong variety of meat snack brands, and we continue to do promotions on these items to help increase basket rings. We also know meat snacks are a staple for customers, so we include that category in promotions throughout the year.” Overall, as convenience stores continue to bring new, fun and tasty meat snacks options to customers, meat snacks can count on a bright future. CSD

fast facts: • Big pack sizes are out and smaller bags of meat snacks are in as inflation continues. • TXB is launching a private-label brand of meat snacks. Its Teriyaki Jerky hit store shelves in September and four additional flavors are launching soon.

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Category Management | Adult Frozen Beverages

Spiked Slushies Offer Opportunity for C-Stores Some retailers are adding frozen cocktails to their dispensed beverage offering, appealing to customer demand for boozy treats. Carol Brzozowski • Contributing Editor

A trend toward an increased demand for spiked or alcoholic slushies started to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic amid lockdowns when customers turned to convenience stores for ready-to-drink cocktails for home consumption. “Frozen alcoholic blended beverages continue to be a consumer favorite,” noted Mike Kostyo, associate director and trendologist for Datassential. “America’s favorite cocktail is the margarita, which of course is often served frozen. According to our most recent data on to-go cocktails fielded this summer, 90% of consumers who drink alcohol would order cocktails to go, with or without food, so there is still a clear demand.” The numbers have only increased since 2021, Kostyo said. “When it comes to frozen cocktails specifically, 67% of consumers who drink alcohol would order them to go, a 3% increase from 2021. The numbers are even higher for millennials, with 70% of that generation saying they would order them,” he added. It’s no wonder convenience stores are seeing an opportunity to add alcoholic beverages to their frozen dispensed offering. York, Pa.-based Rutter’s, which has 82 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, offers spiked slushies at select locations in a 20-ounce cup, 64-ounce spiked Frosé party bag and a 128-ounce spiked slushie party bag. Customers of legal drinking age can order the spiked slushies at the counter. GetGo Café + Market, which operates more than 260 sites in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana, introduced spiked slushies at a number of stores back in 2019. Today it offers spiked slushies at more than 45 locations across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Each store features two to six flavor options, including those offered every day and limited-time-only flavors available in 20-ounce and 32-ounce cups and a 64-ounce party bag. Like 96

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Category Management | Adult Frozen Beverages

Rutter’s, GetGo keeps the spiked slushies behind the service counter, where employees pour the beverages to ensure underaged guests can’t access the product. Country Fair, with more than 70 c-stores in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, offers adult slushies in 20-ounce, 32-ounce and 64-ounce options, with flavors including Seagram’s Spiked Jamaican Me Happy and Steel Reserve Spiked Blue Razz. Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven has noted the consumer desire for alcoholic slushies, and on its website offers customers “Hard Slurpee” recipes. Other chains, including The PRIDE Stores with 15 locations in Chicagoland and one in Indiana, are evaluating the offering for its future potential. “We are considering selling frozen adult beverages, but at this time we have other projects we are focusing on,” noted Nicolette Jaeger, The PRIDE Stores’ director of merchandising and loyalty. Of course, before jumping on the spiked slushie trend, c-stores must first consider the alcohol laws in the areas in which they operate to see if frozen cocktails would be an option for their stores. OPPORTUNITY FOR C-STORES

Consumers’ biggest pain point when it comes to frozen adult beverages to go is that they are afraid they’ll be melted or watered down by the time they get them home or wherever they are drinking them, noted Kostyo. “C-stores should look for opportunities to solve for that issue, whether that’s through packaging or the simple fact that a c-store may be a lot closer and more convenient for the consumer, so there is less time between purchase and consumption for the drink to melt,” he added. C-stores should also consider the wide range of flavors consumers favor in frozen drinks, Kostyo said. “If you are going to have a frozen cocktail available, you have to have a margarita — possibly in a variety of flavors or with add-ins — because consumers love them so much,” he added. “But also look to trending options like a boozy mangonada or a frozen take on ranch water, which are two of the fastest-growing drinks on menus.” Another option for c98

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stores that restaurants can’t typically offer is cocktail kits that include a small “airplane” bottle of alcohol with the ingredients for a drink, which could be made with the non-alcoholic frozen beverages and slushies a c-store already has on hand, said Kostyo. Margaritas are key when it comes to frozen blended beverages, Kostyo pointed out. “That includes both the traditional lime margarita, which 56% of consumers love or like, and the strawberry margarita, which 50% of consumers love or like,” he said. “After that, daiquiris are also key, both in lime and strawberry varieties.” “Frozen takes on other consumer favorites — sangrias and mojitos are also great options. Frozen blended beverages are obviously often associated with summer and hot weather, so using summery fruit flavors like berries and citrus is key,” Kostyo said. That doesn’t mean c-stores should shy away from those favorites later in the year, particularly as fall flavors tend to be launched when it’s still hot out, Kostyo said. “Crafting creamy or unique frozen beverages using flavors like pumpkin spice, s’more, apple, cranberry, chai, maple and cinnamon can resonate with consumers who increasingly prefer cold beverages over hot,” he added. According to the Datassential “2022 SIP Report: Alcohol To Go,” more consumers than ever are interested in ordering iced or frozen cocktails to go, as shown on the chart below. Also, Datassential’s “2022 Future of Drink Report” indicates 71% of consumers who drink alcohol are interested in boozy frozen desserts, 67% are interested in frozen wine slushies and 64% are interested in boozy milkshakes, pointing to a big opportunity for c-store retailers. CSD

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Category Management | Packaged Beverages

PACKAGED BEVERAGE SALES CONTINUE TO FLOW Despite inflation and unpredictable economic conditions, the cold vault keeps pouring out profits for c-stores. Anne Baye Ericksen • Contributing Editor

Walking the floor at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual conference last month in Las Vegas, a few offerings from beverage manufacturers caught the attention of the Goldman Sachs representatives in attendance.

100

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Category Management | Packaged Beverages

In the company’s “America’s Consumer Staples: Quick Takeaways from NACS Show in Vegas,” released Oct. 4, Managing Director Bonnie Herzog wrote: “Overall, we came away most impressed with Coca-Cola, Constellation Brands and Monster, all three of which are clearly leaning into innovation and focused on building out their presence in c-stores.” She specifically highlighted Coca-Cola’s introduction of Costa Smart ready-to-drink (RTD) canned coffee. Produced in three flavors, signature blend, mocha and caramel, the new caffeinated drink will be sold in 11-ounce slim cans and will first appear in Sprouts Farmers Market grocers early next year. “A huge focus (was) on Monster Zero Sugar, with the majority of our group unable to distinguish the difference between OG Green and Zero Sugar variants,” Herzog added. “Innovation is a key to driving excitement and satisfaction. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is excited about the introduction of new flavors and items. New items from top energy brands lead the category, driving traffic and brand awareness,” said Melissa Kitchen, a buyer for AAFES that exclusively serves U.S. military personnel and their families on bases around the world and operates 10 distribution centers.

Still, it could be some time before new beverage brands or flavors will reach convenience store shelves. In the meantime, c-stores must shore up the category that is responsible for an average of more than $33,600 per store, per the most recent NACS State of the Industry Report. Indeed, 2021 turned out to be a comeback year for beverage sales. In spring, Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC) released a report that stated approximately 39 billion gallons of liquid refreshment were purchased in 2021, partially due to restaurants reopening to indoor dining. Of more significance, carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) posted the first gain in 17 years, and both RTD coffee and energy drinks climbed by double digits. SUPPLY & INFLATION

Lingering supply chain delays on top of rapidly changing economic conditions, however, continue to test some retailers. “The Exchange continues to be affected by challenges related to the pandemic, including delays and disruption,” said Kitchen. “We have updated our inventory policies and planning parameters to combat these challenges.” “Many companies have taken up pricing due to higher input costs,” said Gary Hemphill, BMC managing director.

Carbonated vs. Non-Carbonated Carbonated beverages may still top sales charts, but non-carbonated beverages keep the category competitive.

Y/Y Dollar Sales Change for two weeks ending Sept. 24, 2022

Y/Y Volume Change for two weeks ending Sept. 24, 2022

Carbonated Beverages

14.8%

-2.4%

Energy Drinks

14.1%

4.1%

Description

Bottled Water

15.4%

2.2%

Sports Drinks

9.0%

-2.6%

Tea — Liquid

9.2%

-0.7%

Sparkling Flavored Water

3.8%

-6.3%

Coffee — Liquid

17.5%

15.1%

Still Flavored Water

4.9%

-16.0%

Source: NielsenIQ xAOC including convenience store data compiled by Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research; America’s Beverages: NielsenIQ data through Sept. 24, obtained Oct. 4, 2022

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Category Management | Packaged Beverages

A service member looks for a beverage in the cold vault section of his local convenience store. Still flavored water and CSDs incurred the greatest price jumps over this time last year, approximately 24% and 17%, respectively, per NielsenIQ statistics ending Sept. 24, that were reported by Goldman Sachs. The least affected was RTD coffee, which rose a mere 2.1%. The price adjustments compensated for flattening volume sales for most segments. All carbonated beverages lost 2.4% for the same two weeks. Sports drinks, sparkling flavored water and tea also slipped in volume. Coffee from the cold vault was the only product segment to post doubledigit gains. Dollar sales, however, continue to pour out profits. NielsenIQ data shows all tracked packaged beverage categories improved. Low-calorie CSDs led the category with a positive 18% and sparkling flavored water wrapped it up with 3.8%. • But even with those encouraging statistics, economic circumstances compel category managers to look at how they can • further stabilize cold vault activity. Marybeth Benjamin, a category manager for Dandy • stores, a Sayre, Pa.-based chain with 67 sites, including in New York, hopes to redefine customers’ perceptions of values versus cost.

“Due to the increased frequency of price changes and inflated costs, I have shifted many of our monthly and everyday value promos to a ‘savings focused’ strategy as opposed to a specific price point (i.e., buy two/save $1, buy two get one, etc.),” she explained. “This approach has increased our take rate and also reduced changes in point-of-sale marketing when there is a price change.” Although price points could continue to climb, convenience store owners and operators hope packaged beverage inventory variety, including new brands and flavors, will keep quenching customers’ thirst. CSD

fast facts:

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Carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) cost approximately 17% more than they did before Labor Day. Low-calorie CSDs led the category with a positive 18% in dollar sales. Coca-Cola will begin distributing Costa Smart ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee next year.

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Foodservice | Lunchtime Solutions

DRIVING C-STORE

LUNCH SALES

By offering a wide array of food options and promotions, retailers are continually growing their lunch business. Marilyn Odesser-Torpey • Associate Editor

C-store chains are doubling down on their lunch offerings as customer demand for foodservice options grows. Tried-andtrue c-store fare like chicken, pizza and roller grill remain customer favorites, while limited-time offers (LTOs) keep the menu fresh. Lunch sales are strong and continuing to steadily grow at Beck Suppliers Inc.’s FriendShip Food Stores, which operates 29 locations in Ohio. The company’s “famous” chicken accounts for well over half of the midday foodservice business with pizza following close behind, reported Kirk Matthews, the chain’s vice president of foodservice and marketing. Both core items are proprietary and made fresh in the stores, giving FriendShip an edge over many of the competitors in its market areas. The chicken is coated with 106

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Foodservice | Lunchtime Solutions

Left: Clark’s Pump-N-Shop customers can purchase whole pizzas, available on 14-inch original and 10-inch gluten-friendly crusts. Below: Freshly breaded, fried chicken is the main mid-day attraction at Clark’s.

HOT DOGS & GRAB AND GO

In response to customer requests, FriendShip is also ramping up its roller grill program. “Roller grill is the crux of c-store foodservice,” Matthews remarked. “Customers are asking for hot dogs.” Besides the ubiquitous hot dogs, FriendShip’s 108

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“

a distinctive savory crust, while the pizza is made from an original recipe sauce and special blend of herbs and spices. At lunchtime, the best seller from the chicken case is a snack pack of two-to-three tenders with jojo potatoes, a roll and a drink, he pointed out. The stores also “sell the heck out of” a two-slices-for-$5 deal on pizza. “While most pizzas at other stores and restaurants are usually 12 inches or 14 inches, ours is 16 inches, which we cut into six slices,” Matthews explained. One way that FriendShip stores promote the chain’s lunchtime fare is by bundling the chicken or pizza with complementary items. For a recent NFL weekend promotion, for example, the company partnered with a soft drink producer to offer a large pie with a two-liter bottle for $7.99. With chicken and pizza doing so well as lunchtime drivers, FriendShip stores are looking to broaden their appeal as a mid-day destination by offering and promoting other options such as Philly steak and pork rib sandwiches, both of which have been well received by customers during their recent menu appearances, Matthews noted. Other LTOs are on the schedule.

Roller grill is the crux of c-store foodservice. Customers are asking for hot dogs. — Kirk Matthews, vice president of foodservice and marketing, FriendShip Food Stores

roller grill offers cheddar wurst, Polish sausage and a seasonal LTO such as a hot and spicy dog. The grills are behind the counter for full service, but visible to customers. Cold sandwiches are grab and go. To spice up that offering, the company is planning to give customers the option to order toppings such as lettuce, tomato and onion added to their sandwiches. “Those toppings will be added behind the counter,” he said. “We’re not comfortable with selfserve bars yet.” Matthews pointed out that a growing number of customers are looking for “better-for-you” options at

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Foodservice | Lunchtime Solutions

Honey butter biscuits are just one of the many offerings at Clark’s Pump-N-Shop.

lunchtime. Every day, the stores stock fresh fruit, fruit cups and at least three different types of salads — chef, Caesar and Cobb. FriendShip is currently working to streamline its menu. “We’re emphasizing value meals instead of constantly adding new items,” he noted. “Instead of having a lengthy and convoluted menu board, we would have customers purchasing tenders to pick a side and a drink to create their own value package.” WINGS, HUNKS & WHOLE PIES

Hunt Brothers Pizza accounts for about 80% of lunch foodservice sales at Bob Costello’s Cozz Corner store in Oregon, Mo. The other 20% is from chicken wings, and homestyle and Buffalo wing bites also

available from Hunt Brothers. While whole pies sell well during the 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. lunchtime hours, “hunks” (one-quarter of a pizza) sold for grab and go from hot boxes are the most popular option. Costello offers discount pricing when customers buy a pair of hunks or a double order of chicken. NEW PIZZA CONCEPT

Clark’s Pump-N-Shop does a “sizeable” lunch business at its 66 locations in Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida and Ohio, according to Jessica Russell, the chain’s food service director. “I would safely say that lunch accounts for 30% of our foodservice sales,” she added. Freshly breaded, fried chicken is the main mid-day attraction at Clark’s. To expand the business during the lunch and dinner dayparts, the company recently introduced a pizza concept called Hangar 54. Hangar 54 is a franchise program that Clark’s runs with its own employees. “We spent two years working on providing our consumers with a great pizza,” Russell explained. “It was a long process and well worth the patience.” Clark’s puts out fresh slices for grab and go every 45 minutes, or sooner if required. Whole pizzas, available on 14-inch original and 10-inch gluten-friendly crusts, are out the door in less than 10 minutes. CSD

Fast Facts: • Distinctive offerings can provide a competitive edge for c-store lunch programs. • Foodservice customers respond to value offers. At Clark’s Pump-N-Shop lunch accounts for 30% of foodservice sales and customers can select from a range of options from pizza and chicken to sandwiches. 110

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• Limited-time-only items can help broaden menu appeal.

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Technology | POS / Back Office

Transaction Technology

Transformed As c-stores focus on creating a frictionless experience, they’re integrating contactless payment, self-checkout kiosks and autonomous checkout technology. Anne Baye Ericksen • Contributing Editor

Prior to the debut of debit cards in 1996, customers primarily proffered cash for their convenience store purchases, or maybe a personal check. Since then, there’s been a steady migration toward card-only payments. More than 40% of Americans exclusively use an alternative form of payment other than cash for all their purchases, per recent research from the Pew Research Center. This transition has spurred on several technology updates in the retail channel. For example, the magnetic strip on debit cards has been replaced with EMV chips; and tap-enabled smart cards, contactless apps and scannable QR codes are becoming more prominent. What’s next in this evolution? Point-of-sale (POS) innovation currently being deployed is less about payment technology — although that continues to play a role — and more about the checkout experience. “When you are buying two or three items, imagine how frustrating it is to be stuck in line behind six people. The convenience store is no longer convenient,” said Art 112

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Sebastian, vice president of digital experiences for Casey’s, headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa. FRICTIONLESS CHECKOUT

To mitigate that inconvenience, a growing number of c-store chains are testing self-checkout kiosks. But in addition to traditional self-checkout scanners, some retailers are incorporating systems that use artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors to make the experience even more frictionless. In 2020 Couche-Tard began introducing smart checkout stations at 500 Circle K sites using the Mashgin Touchless Checkout System. Customers place all their items on the checkout system, which uses cameras to recognize items from any angle and tallies them instantly in a single transaction — no need to scan barcodes. In June, Circle K announced it intends to expand the program to 7,000 stores over the next three years. Circle K is also implementing frictionless checkout. Last fall, Circle K partnered with Grabango, rolling out its checkout-free solution at six stores in the Tucson, Ariz., area. The solution uses computer vision technology to track customer purchases. Then, as customers exit the store, they scan the QR code in their app and their payment is automatically processed. The receipt arrives in the app. Also last fall, Circle K announced it had retrofitted a store in Arizona to feature Standard AI’s checkout-free experience, which uses AI-powered cameras throughout the c-store to track the items shoppers select, automatically recording purchases on the Circle K mobile app and delivering a receipt as shoppers walk out. This summer, Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip, which operates more than 900 stores in 14 states, opened its first checkout-free store using Amazon’s Just Walk Out system. People scan a smart app to enter the retail site located in Tulsa, Okla. As they grab their snacks, beverages and other items from main aisles, AI, sensors and machine learning programs track each item and charge the bank account or credit card registered with the app accountholder. Individuals walk out without ever queuing up at a traditional register or self-checkout station. The principle is that autonomous technology empowers individuals to streamline their shopping and frees up staff. cstoredecisions.com

November 2022 • CSTORE DECISIONS

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Technology | POS / Back Office

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

the store to support it,” said Sebastian. “It requires “In the past, a major self-checkout driver was to Wi-Fi connectivity and software, which leads to try and reduce store payroll,” noted Perry Kramer, cybersecurity and that leads to how you deploy managing partner with Retail Consulting Partners. software to stores.” “This has recently shifted to a focus on keeping the There’s also training and maintenance. Although doors open, keeping the lines short and reducing staff may not have to ring up baskets with frictionovertime as most retailers are struggling to find and less programs, employees should be available to hire team members. We have seen retailers in some help educate customers on the technology and store formats that have been understaffed due to troubleshoot when kinks crop up. an inability to find team members see a 150-200% “You will always need to have a cashier to man the increase in sales almost immediately after implefront, not only for customer service, but to handle menting self-checkout.” the age-restricted items like alcohol, tobacco and “Of equal importance to the success of retailer lottery sales. However, one person can manage the initiatives in these areas are consumers’ willingness register and monitor two or three self-checkouts,” to use contactless payments and broader accepsaid Sebastian. tance of self-checkout technology,” he added. These are all factors he has been contemplating Some of that willingness revolves around payment as he leads the business toward a self-checkout pilot options. Not all customers will perceive cashless program next year. systems as convenient. Although data reveals more “We want to find out what it does to the process than half of adults under the age of 50 don’t considand how customers respond to it. With 2,400-plus er it necessary to carry cash, that leaves a substantial stores in 16 states, scaling a program to every store portion that still likes to pay with cash. demands we first know if it will be successful. The In fact, the Pew study stated 26% of Black and next several months will be spent doing a lot of 21% of Hispanic adults use physical currency to pay learning,” Sebastian said. CSD for weekly goods. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) also reported that more than 5% of households, approximately 7.1 million citizens, are unbanked and rely on cash. However, incorporating cash-abled self-checkout options can increase upfront costs for stores. • The majority of adults under the age of 50 don’t “Solutions that accept cash generally require consider it necessary to carry cash. a hardware investment that is four to five times • More than 5% of households are unbanked and more expensive than a credit and contactless rely on cash. payment-only solution,” said Kramer. Nor can you forget the associated back-office • More than 40% of Americans exclusively use an investments. alternative form of payment other than cash for “Anything happening in the front of the store all purchases. needs to have the infrastructure in the back of

fast facts:

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Technology | Forecourt Marketing

Digitalization T Forecourt M Technological advancements are changing the way convenience store operators market to customers in the forecourt. Erin Del Conte • Executive Editor

Driving fuel customers from the gas pump into the convenience store remains a core challenge for c-store retailers, but evolving technology is helping retailers to better market to potential shoppers at the fuel island, in some cases even bringing the items to them. “As fuel pump technology improves and costs for touchscreens and interactive technology come down, we are seeing more chains moving to interactive audio and video at the pump, and some are even beginning to use that functionality for ordering at the pump,” said Ryan Lindsley, vice president of marketing and digital technology, Kum & Go, which operates more than 400 stores across 11 states. The chain is also set to expand into Utah and Michigan by the end of the year. Kum & Go is investing in new pump and screen technology. It has also introduced ordering-to-pump capability within its mobile app as well as embedded in its mobile fuel pay feature, which it launched in April of this year. “We have mobile ordering for most of our stores. 116

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(Items) can be purchased for curbside and BOPIS (buy online, pickup in-store),” Lindsley said. The mobile fuel pay feature allows customers to purchase fuel and activate their pump from their phone without leaving their car. “We upsell customers with an interrupt during mobile fuel pay,” Lindsley said. “When a customer activates the pump from their phone, we present them with a screen with a selection of products, which can be purchased and brought out to their vehicle. We also do audio advertising of our key offerings inside,” he added. DISPENSER INTERFACE

Key Oil Co. relies on its fuel dispensers to market to customers in the forecourt at its two company

cstoredecisions.com

n Transforms t Marketing

owned and -operated locations, which include a Keystop Express convenience store and a Keystop Travel Center in Franklin, Ky. It also distributes fuel to nearly 200 branded sites and supplies wholesale (unbranded) fuel to a large network of c-stores throughout Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee. The Keystop Express site features BP-branded gas. BP does not allow for BP-branded sites to feature third-party signage on their pumps, making digital screens crucial for interacting with customers and driving them into the store. “Pumptoppers aren’t the most reliable form of marketing in the forecourt. These pumptoppers break, blow off of the dispenser, and in some areas end up empty from high winds,” said Keelye Gaither, brand and marketing coordinator for Key Oil Co. “This move towards digitalization for c-stores not only makes the cstoredecisions.com

customer experience more interactive but also brings a sense of security for the retailer who is trying to target certain loyalty advertisements.” The Keystop locations grab customer attention through the digital interface at the gas pump. The sites employ Dover Fueling Solutions’ Anthem UX User Experience Platform, which features a 27-inch touchscreen. Its Keystop Express added the Anthem dispensers three to four years ago, and the Keystop Travel Center, which features 20 fueling positions, rolled them out this summer. “The 27-inch touchscreen is a great feature,” Gaither said. “Going out there and teaching our customers how to use this touchscreen has been one of the most critical parts of this adaption (to) technology because it can be intimidating if you don’t know how to use it. But it is so user-friendly. I can’t say enough good things about it from that standpoint.” Infomercials as well as commercials play while customers are fueling. The pump interface allows customers to check the traffic and the weather. The stores began by running advertisements at the pump highlighting products inside the store as well as menu options and expanded into more store-specific ads. “Mostly what we wanted to do was connect with our customers and show them, ‘You’re getting a really good price on this fuel right now, but we’ve also got some really good stuff inside this store too,’” Gaither said. Keystop has also reached out to some of its vendors and had them supply ads to play on the dispensers. “Nothing grabs someone’s attention like an actual video playing and calling out to them,” Gaither said. She also adds elements to the pump interface, including happy music, calls to action and audible clips to capture customer attention. The stores saw a big uptick in breakfast sales after advertising its breakfast offering in a video at the pump that features pricing and available menu items. “Even in the months of January when sales are supposed to be lower, we still saw a growth in our November 2022 • CSTORE DECISIONS

117

Keystop’s Travel Center location added the Anthem UX User Experience Platform at all 20 fueling stations this summer.

sales, so it’s been awesome,” Gaither said. The Anthem UX User Experience Platform is set to roll out the ability to place an order for food directly on the pump’s touchscreen. “We are definitely considering adding that,” Gaither said. Keystop is also looking into the possibility of selling ad space to local businesses, allowing them to feature ad videos at the pump. Updating ads is convenient too. Gaither can switch out advertisements quickly on her mobile phone. “I’m able to do it wherever I’m at,” she said. Currently, both Keystop locations also each feature a spirit pump, where a percentage of sales from that dispenser benefits a local cause. The Keystop Express’ spirit pump is fitted with a design featuring a local school’s mascot and benefits the school, while the Keystop Travel Center spirit pump benefits the Boys and Girls Club. At participating high schools, the students are designing advertisements for the dispenser about school events in the local community, while the middle and elementary schools are sending artwork that will be displayed on the pump screen via video or static images. TRENDS TO WATCH

There are so many different ways to get convenience items today,” Kum & Go’s Lindsley said. “You can order online, through subscriptions, have convenience delivered to you; and many other formats are also coming into this space, so differentiation is the name of the game. Customers want to achieve multiple objectives in a single trip, so the providers that can do that on top of fuel consistently are going to get the customer into the store and also get them back.” When it comes to trends in forecourt marketing, Lindsley is watching technological advancements. “A more nascent technology that is exciting to watch is the vehicle-tracking technologies and location-based payment capabilities that are tied to a vehicle identiﬁcation,” he said. “This sort of fully integrated experience 118

CSTORE DECISIONS •

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creates a new opportunity for in-the-moment offers, ordering and loyalty capabilities.” The holy grail in forecourt marketing is to create a check-in strategy to drive door swings and a platform for promotions, according to Richard Crone, CEO of Crone Consulting. Like Lindsley he pointed to vehicle-tracking technology. “The real forward-thinking (solution) is allowing the customer to register their license plate number and their vehicle, so c-stores can recognize the car as it enters the property. It’s the same technology that Amazon Go uses to identify customers when they enter the store,” he said. Such technology is already being tested by some gas stations in China. “Most of it is used to avoid shrinkage, where somebody fuels and leaves … but the big upside is really connecting with that customer and making them known and contactable once they enter,” Crone suggested. Another future tech solution would be using biometrics to identify customers in the forecourt. Amazon Fresh technology known as Amazon One allows customers to register their tender type and connect it with the palm of their hand. “You simply put your palm over the palm reader at Amazon Fresh and it opens the gate,” he said. “At that point, it knows who you are, and you’ve already registered your card.” But as c-stores wait for future technology options to arrive in the forecourt, they can still market to customers as they arrive on the lot by sending an alert via a mobile app. That app would ideally be the c-store’s own proprietary app, but it could also be done through a partnership with their petroleum brand’s mobile app or through a standalone mobile payment app like Google Wallet, Crone noted. Stores with a loyalty partnership in tandem with a grocery store might be able to reach customers via that app as well. A text message could also work, Crone noted, but an in-app message works best. “The key there is you’ve got to get the customer to opt-in … ﬁrst to be identiﬁed and then to be cstoredecisions.com

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Technology | Forecourt Marketing

At Kum & Go, when a customer activates the fuel pump from their phone, they then see a screen that offers them a selection of products that can be purchased via the app and brought out to their vehicle.

communicated with,” Crone said. “And that’s your promotional platform for motivating them to come into the store.” Geotargeting is another forecourt marketing trend that can help attract customers by sending a promotion when they are within a specific range of the store, such as a mile away. But the best time to reach customers and attract them into the store is when they arrive on the property. “The typical pump is about 180-540 inches from the door swing, and so you need a way to talk to them to get them into the store,” Crone said. Such promotional messages don’t need to cost c-stores a thing. Crone recommended partnering with consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies that sell products at your stores to help fund the promotions. “They will pay for them … if they can prove that their alert in the app drove (the customer) into the store to buy something,” Crone said. “The CPG company pays (the salesperson) a spiff for that. It’s known as a slotting fee or a pay-to-place promotion. … The c-stores, at least the bigger ones, actually make more money from the slotting and trade promotions than they do in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization),” Crone said. “This could be very profitable to them if they have an enrolled base of customers that they can reach through a text, through an app or through someone else’s app.” Order-ahead and delivery continue to grow as trends, and that brings new opportunities in forecourt marketing as well. “We’ve moved, especially post-pandemic, to a delivery model,” Crone said. “If somebody can order ahead or order through the app and the delivery point is only 180540 inches from the store, then apply the Grubhub model to the pump.” In other words, deliver the order right to the fuel island. 120

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Options abound in how to implement this. Crone recommended that c-stores should provide pump delivery at the very least for beverage orders or for orders over a certain dollar amount. Another option is to offer an autonomous refrigerated cabinet at the fuel island that features beverages and that fuel customers can access using their app. Offering the ability to order right on the pump interface is another great way of converting the touch point into a promotional platform, Crone noted. He added the option might be cost prohibitive for some small operators, who might have an easier time reaching customers through a smartphone. “Look at how many people are holding a cell phone and looking at it while they’re fueling. The numbers are astounding,” he said. Offering an electronic receipt is another way to build an enrolled customer base. Today modern payment platforms from Toast to Square offer this option. “To get an electronic receipt, you have to register your email address, your cell phone or both,” he said. This requires the customer to “check in” and allows you to know who they are — and market to them — before they check out. “All fueling requires is that you insert your card before you fuel,” Crone said. “And so the fueling station has an opportunity to … offer an e-receipt sent via text with a tiny URL link to open that up or through an email.” This could help retailers build a database of known users one payment at a time, Crone said. “What we’re talking about are pathways to purchase inside the store based on knowing the customer is now on the property, who they are and that they’ve preauthenticated a payment credential,” Crone said. “That’s the key.” CSD

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Operations | Restroom Awards

Restroom Sanitation Rises in Significance CStore Decisions is recognizing High’s of Baltimore and Wally’s for their dedication to restroom maintenance and cleanliness. Emily Boes • Associate Editor

WINNER: High’s of Baltimore

High’s continues to upgrade its restroom features and value the importance of sanitation as an influence on in-store sales.

Although restroom cleanliness has always been a well-regarded aspect of convenience store operations, its importance has never been quite so touted as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, post-pandemic and with foodservice implementations expanding rapidly throughout the industry, restroom sanitation remains vital for c-store success. CStore Decisions recognizes High’s of Baltimore for its priority in keeping employees and customers safe in terms of hygiene. High’s, which has 59 locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, offers restroom availability to customers in over 90% of its locations. The c-store chain has both unisex restrooms and gender-specific restrooms. “Our legacy locations have single-use bathrooms, most with two that are gender specific. In our new builds and remodels, we offer multi-use restrooms with two or more stalls,” said Michele Truelove, vice president of operations at High’s. 122

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NEW BUILD AND REMODEL UPGRADES

Many of High’s restrooms boast converted or added touch-free sink and soap options, along with air hand dryers in all restrooms. The remodeled stores have undergone wall tile upgrades, floor upgrades and new fixture and dispenser installations. New restroom builds also include high-efficiency water-flow toilets. Remodels offer baby changing stations in both men’s and women’s restrooms and hooks on the doors for personal belongings. Air fresheners and toilet bowl clips to provide a pleasant smell are equipped in all restrooms. UNDERSTANDING SANITATION STANDARDS

“Restrooms are checked hourly to ensure they meet our restroom standards. Every four hours the restroom is cleaned ceiling to floor (including) all fixtures. This is supported with a cleaning checklist

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High’s recognizes the value of restroom maintenance when it comes to in-store sales, and its employees clean them regularly throughout the day. Its restrooms offer touch-free sinks and air dryers.

that details the correct cleaning product to use for each fixture in the restroom,” said Truelove. A high-kill-rate sanitizer was used hourly in all restrooms during the pandemic. “We already (had a) high-frequency cleaning program in place, and this just helped us assure we were keeping our customers and employees safe,” Truelove continued. As important as it is to maintain restrooms, informing employees about proper restroom procedures is just as necessary. At High’s, the new hire process includes restroom cleaning training via computer-based training and on-the-job training. Additionally, the High’s company bulletin is a weekly release that the chain uses to heighten awareness. High’s uses a bathroom cleaning checklist to highlight these responsibilities, which is included in the shift duties checklist. At the managerial level, district managers and store managers check and report on the restroom status during store walks, and store managers do a “ready for business” assessment at all locations daily. Feedback is also reported during restroom evaluations during bi-monthly mystery shops. “We are partnered with Safe Shop Assured, and one of the protocols for that certification is consistent restroom standards. We mainly do this by ensuring our customers know they will always find a clean restroom during their visit,” said Truelove. RESTROOMS IMPACT FOODSERVICE SUCCESS

The condition of a restroom may determine whether a customer plans to purchase a meal from a c-store, as a

poorly maintained washroom can equate to overall poor hygiene in a customer’s mind. Truelove noted that several nationwide studies have shown customers to use restroom conditions as a gauge in the overall food safety of an establishment. “Restroom conditions and employee hygiene are the top two factors that a customer evaluates when considering a foodservice purchase from a c-store. The core c-store customer spends a lot of time in the car, and they look to c-stores for clean restrooms and a fast meal,” she said. She elaborated that a store that cares about restroom appearance and cleaning protocols is likely also concerned with having the freshest food offering and first-rate food safety practices. “On the other hand, a poorly kept restroom could deter a hungry customer from making a foodservice purchase or any purchase at all,” Truelove said. High’s keeps the importance of restroom sanitation top of mind when it comes to its store sales. “Though (restroom cleanliness) may not bring a customer into our stores like a promotion does, it keeps our customers coming back,” Truelove said. Restroom appearance and cleanliness have a large impact on overall in-store sales. It is an indicator of the quality of the store and High’s ability to safely deliver food, according to Truelove. “Keeping the restroom clean for our customers is just another way we ensure they enjoy their shopping trip and feel safe within our stores. In addition, our customers continue to tell us the importance of clean restrooms; it is an expectation that they have,” said Truelove.

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Operations | Restroom Awards

WINNER: W ally’s

Wally’s offers a touchless restroom experience and retains restroom attendants on staff to maintain its first-rate cleaning standards. Creating a seamless, comfortable and all-around pleasant customer experience is key for convenience store chains, and Wally’s is no exception, doing so by paying particular attention to its restrooms. CStore Decisions is recognizing Wally’s as a Restroom Award recipient for its dedication to its customers with the design of its restrooms, offering a spacious area and immediate cleaning services. Wally’s, which operates two locations in Pontiac, Ill., and Fenton, Mo., offers its customers both men’s and women’s restrooms, as well as a family restroom. Within the women’s restroom, there are 17 stalls. One of these stalls has a fullsized commode as well as a child-sized commode, added at the request of Wally’s Chairman Chad Wallace. “Our guests really love that touch, as well,” said Andy Strom, chief experience officer, Wally’s, referring to the child seat. The men’s restroom has 13 urinals and 12 stalls. “I really think you could fit a traditional c-store in our restrooms, so they’re very large and oversized. Obviously, our stores are oversized, so that makes sense,” said Strom.

Indeed, Wally’s locations are large. The Pontiac, Ill., site measures 30,000 square feet, while the Fenton, Mo., store is 36,000 square feet. Wally’s designed the restrooms to have a colorful wall display in the back of the room to give a playful and fun vibe. The restrooms also have a light tile and a bright and clean atmosphere. At the entrance to the restrooms, Wally’s added murals in a collaboration with Winnebago. “One of the features in our store is, we have this old Winnebago Brave in a retail area that we converted to retail,” said Strom. “So we reached out to Winnebago, and we put these large murals, these big photo murals on your way into the restroom as a really nice immersive experience.” The murals showcase camping scenes reminiscent of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s eras. A TOUCHLESS EXPERIENCE

Customers who use Wally’s restrooms will find the experience to be 100% touch-free. The stalls and urinals in Wally’s restrooms outline the perimeter of the space. In the 124

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Operations | Restroom Awards

Wally’s collaborated with Winnebago to add large murals at the entrance to the restrooms featuring camping scenes.

center of the restrooms are two stations, for a total of 12 handwashing and drying areas. Each station has a divider in the middle with three mirrors and a long trough-like sink containing three faucets on either side of the divider. Each soap dispenser, water dispenser and hand dryer are all located in the same fixture at each handwashing spot. For those who prefer paper towels, that option is also available, as well as hand sanitizer. “People are kind of blown away by the whole sink. You know, soap dispenser, hand dryer, all happening in one spot. So that’s definitely a key feature,” said Strom. Additionally, each stall door has a light that changes color based on whether the stall is occupied. If the door is closed, the light turns red; if open and available, the light is green. The changing light is triggered by the door lock.

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A CLEAN M.O.

Wally’s hires employees specifically for the position of restroom attendant. From around 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restrooms are always staffed, and an overnight crew tends to the washrooms, as well. “We don’t use any harsh chemicals, so no bleach or anything like that, so you’re not going to get any kind of odors from those cleaning materials,” said Tim Good, director of store operations, Wally’s. Instead, Wally’s uses an acid-free peroxide cleaner. Wally’s goal is to clean a stall as soon as a customer exits — to clean every single stall between uses. The floors are cleaned at a minimum of once per hour. The importance of restroom maintenance is covered in Wally’s orientation materials, no matter the employee’s position. Private team member restrooms are located in the back, as “nobody really wants to see a chef go in and use the restroom and come out and serve the food that they’re getting ready to eat,” said Good. Wally’s understands the importance of restroom cleanliness in relation to customer satisfaction. “I think clean restrooms are just sort of our M.O. I think it’s part of this new roadside travel experience that we’re creating,” said Strom. “We want our guests to feel welcomed, and obviously, that’s one of the key items on everyone’s checklist when they’re taking a long road trip or when they’re traveling by.” CSD

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Operations | Succession Planning

HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSION PLAN FOR YOUR C-STORE Formulating a succession roadmap is a key element of estate planning, but c-store retailers have various strategies they can use as they prepare to transition the business. Mark Battersby • Contributing Editor

Estate planning involves all of the assets in an individual’s estate including an ownership interest in a convenience store business. Thus, succession planning should be part of an estate plan — or undertaken before that estate plan. Even more importantly, a succession plan for the business can help ensure that a closely held or family business, however big or small, will continue to operate successfully when the owner or owners exit, retire, pass away or are suddenly incapacitated. As with estate planning, succession planning should start with a review of current transfer taxes — otherwise known as federal or state inheritance, gift or generation-skipping transfer taxes. The federal estate tax applies to a decedent’s gross estate, which usually includes the person’s financial and real assets. 128

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The amount of an estate that can be excluded in 2022 is $12.06 million or $24.12 million for a married couple. The gift tax applies to transfers of money or property made while someone is living. The federal gift tax ranges between 18-40% and applies to the giver, not the recipient, for amounts above $16,000 in 2022. TRANSITION STRATEGIES

Keeping in mind the estate and gift taxes, planning for succession is not a one-size-fits-all or one-time event. Generally, there are a number of transition strategies including: The ESOP Option: An Employee Stock Ownership Plan or ESOP is an employee benefit plan that gives workers ownership interest in the convenience store business, in the form of shares of stock. ESOPs give the business — the selling shareholder — and participants a number of tax benefits, making them qualified plans in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

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FLPs: By controlling the business through a “family limited partnership” (FLP), owners get the added benefit of gifting shares at considerable discounts. An FLP can also assist in transferring a business interest to family members. Gifts: Some succession plans involve outright gifts, rather than selling or transferring an interest in the business. An outright gift is the least complex, but most inefficient way to transfer wealth. A small annual gift under the limits can, as mentioned, be made to multiple parties without affecting lifetime exclusions necessary to avoid paying estate taxes. Obviously, for any business with significant value it would require years to give it away. Fortunately, many convenience store owners can use their lifetime exclusions to transfer shares with no gift tax bill. An Option of Trust: An increasingly common question that comes up in both estate tax and succession planning is, “Should the business be owned in a trust?” A trust can provide for the benefit of one or more children. If the cash flow from the convenience store business flows into

the trust, the trustees can use their discretion, providing the flexibility needed to address the goals of the family. Other Options: Obviously, there are many other options that the owners or shareholders in a convenience store or other business might consider, including a merger. A merger is one such option since joining with a competitor or related business ensures the business’ survival and growth. Being acquired, on the other hand, might mean continued involvement with the operation with severance occurring down the road. However, because a convenience store business that is acquired by another may not produce the results desired, there is always the option of a sale. An outright sale of the business usually results in the seller cutting all ties to his or her business. Succession planning is critical in estate planning as well as for ensuring the continuation of any family-owned convenience store business. However, given the number and complexity of transition and succession options available, effective succession planning requires time and the assistance of outside advisers. CSD

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PRODUCTShowcase

Colorful Kombucha Cans With New Recipe Stratus Group introduced a refreshed recipe and new eye-catching, timeless can designs for Koe Kombucha, a fruit-forward, probiotic-packed kombucha. This fresh look embraces evolving trends in fashion, art and pop culture, with a colorful background and distinctive retro “sunset stripes” that nod to the brand’s California roots. Koe’s USDA Organic recipe now has 200% or more of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, only 25 calories per serving, 15 milligrams of caffeine and just five to six grams of sugar (and no artificial sweeteners, flavors or stabilizers) per can. Koe Kombucha is available in six juicy flavors.

Stratus Group

www.drinkkoe.com

Fresh Food To-Go Packaging Oreo Cookies and Cream Milkshake Retailers can get the Oreo Cookies and Cream milkshake in their store. A true match made in milkshake heaven, Oreo sandwich cookie crumbles and real ice cream come together for a delicious delight. Customers will fall head over heels in one fell sip, guaranteed. Retailers shouldn’t delay to get the f’real program for their store today.

ProAmpac introduced a full portfolio of sustainable, fiber-based packaging designed specifically for the on-the-go convenience retailer to North America. It specializes in the design and manufacture of fresh sandwich packs, trays, wraps and soft packs for hot and cold food applications. The modern format keeps food fresh and offers an elevated appearance in either a hot cabinet or chiller. Also, by weight, the largest components of ProAmpac’s fresh food to-go packaging are paperboard and paper, renewable resources from certified well-managed forests. In many formats, the paperboard can be recycled after being easily separated from the film by the consumer.

Pritzker Private Capital

f’real

www.ppcpartners.com

www.freal.com

Feedback Platform FeedbackNow is looking to expand in the c-store market, some of its early adopters being Love’s and HyVee in the U.S. and Shell in Europe. “Smiley Box” is a simple and effective way to get real-time information on customer reactions to business segments — restroom cleanliness, foodservice, customer service reactions, forecourt, etc. Behind the simple in-store technology are data and analytics services that provide real-time alerts and performance trending for both marketing and operations. The FeedbackNow platform can help retailers allocate labor where needed.

FeedbackNow

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PRODUCTShowcase

Espresso Martini RTD Cocktail BuzzBallz LLC/Southern Champion released a new and innovative addition to its brand portfolio — BuzzBallz Cocktails and Chillers Espresso Martini. This aromatic cocktail is smooth with rich coffee notes and a hint of sweetness, recreating the boldness of a good cup of espresso with the cooling BuzzBallz taste. BuzzBallz Espresso Martini is currently sold in 15 states. National rollout will be taking place in spring 2023. The Espresso Martini ﬂavor joins the BuzzBallz portfolio of over a dozen different ready-to-drink cocktail ﬂavors.

BuzzBallz LLC/Southern Champion

www.buzzballz.com

Kitchen Automation Platform One of DayMark Safety Systems' newest innovations, the MenuPilot kitchen automation platform, reduces dependence on hardware. Coupled with the MenuCommand web portal, it facilitates the centralized management and communication of critical menu data and training materials to foodservice operations. Shelf life, nutritional facts, allergen information and prep data can be organized, monitored and modiﬁed virtually anytime and anywhere with MenuPilot, and updates are securely and efﬁciently pulled in via the cloud. Data changes can be communicated immediately to staff at all locations, and video and recipe data can be uploaded at a central location and automatically shared with all connected store locations.

DayMark Safety Systems

www.daymarksafety.com

All-In-One DC Fast EV Charger BTC POWER introduced its 180kW All-In-One (AiO) DC Fast Charger, providing an 80% electric vehicle (EV) battery charge in as little as 12.5 minutes. The 180-kilowatt AiO has two touchscreen options of 15 inches or 32 inches, ADA-compliant retractable cables and simultaneous charging, and up to 500A. BTC POWER focused its unit on charging at 150 kilowatts (or eight miles per minute) and more, ensuring that customers can charge between 12.5-30 minutes to receive 200-250 miles of range. This makes the new 180-kilowatt AiO ideal for ﬂeet operators, charge point operators, fueling stations, convenience stores, retail centers, heavy duty transit shuttles, school buses and other specialty vehicles.

BTC POWER

www.btcpower.com

Caffeinated Energy Drink From the makers of Gatorade, Fast Twitch is the brand’s ﬁrst caffeinated energy drink, designed for athletes to help prepare for physical activity by focusing their minds and powering their bodies to ignite performance. Each bottle contains 200 milligrams caffeine, electrolytes and B vitamins in the same ﬂavors as Gatorade. Fast Twitch comes in a single-serve resealable plastic bottle and will be available at retailers nationwide in early 2023.

PepsiCo

www.pepsico.com cstoredecisions.com

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PRODUCTShowcase

Disinfectant Spray SC Johnson Professional is now offering its Scrubbing Bubbles Multi-Purpose Disinfectant for use in professional settings. Formulated for use on hard, non-porous surfaces, the aerosol kills 99.9% of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria including Staph and E. coli, on top of sanitizing surfaces in just 30 seconds. Scrubbing Bubbles Multi-Purpose Disinfectant is a powerful, easy-to-use solution that quickly disinfects and sanitizes common touch points and surfaces in the workplace. It is ideal for use on non-porous surfaces including doorknobs, faucets and garbage cans. In addition, Scrubbing Bubbles Multi-Purpose Disinfectant is formulated to temporarily minimize the growth of odor-causing airborne bacteria and neutralizes their odors.

Fuel Treatment Unit Dover Fueling Solutions’ (DFS) LIQAL LNG dispenser and LIQAL BTU Boil-off Gas (BOG) Treatment Unit offer an intuitive fueling experience for truck drivers, with outstanding uptime, and provide advanced liquefaction technology to ensure reliable performance. This allows business owners to upgrade their fuel sites, against low total cost of ownership (TCO), while investing in the latest clean fuel technology. Guaranteeing a perfectly conditioned environment for the storage of LNG, the proven LIQAL BTU Boil-off Gas Treatment Unit can store LNG fuel safely for an unlimited amount of time. This modular unit removes the need for any active management of storage pressure, eliminating the need for LIN consumption and logistics, while maximizing the LNG storage capacity for optimal delivery of LNG fuel to the station.

Dover Fueling Solutions

www.doverfuelingsolutions.com

SC Johnson

www.scjohnson.com

Better-For-You Hard Candy Morinaga America presents a new brand founded on the principles of creating better-for-you candy options — Fi-Being. Fi-Being comes in the form of a hard candy that maintains the flavor experience of Morinaga products. Each serving of Fi-Being provides 39% of the daily recommended dietary fiber intake. Each serving of Fi-Being delivers 11 grams of dietary fiber, four grams of sugar and contains zero grams of sugar alcohol. It’s now available in two flavors: Passionfruit and Elderberry. Fi-Being is offered in a 1.76-ounce bag for a suggested retail price of $3.29.

Morinaga America

www.morinaga-america.com

Fruit-Flavored Sour Candy WARHEADS Super Sour bubblegum starts with a powerful sour hit and then transforms to a sweettasting chewing experience. Each tube has five flavors — Sour Apple, Sour Lemon, Sour Orange, Sour Watermelon and Sour Blue Raspberry. It is available in five-ball and 10-ball tubes. WARHEADS Sour Watermelon Squeeze candy is one of the fastest-selling WARHEADS items in the market. It has a unique texture and is loaded with sour gel and pieces of dextrose that deliver an amazing flavor experience. It is available in easyto-merchandise, 12-count Pretty-Darn-Quick (PDQ) trays. Both items are available from Ford Gum.

Ford Gum

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PRODUCTShowcase

RTD Iced Coffee Flavors To build on the success of Coca-Cola’s Girl Scouts collaboration with Dunkin’, it will launch three new flavors of ready-to-drink iced coffee next year. The new Bakery Series lineup will include indulgent flavors inspired by fan-favorite Dunkin’ bakery items: Brownie Batter Donut, Cake Batter Donut and Coffee Cake Muffin. The new Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Bakery Series varieties will be available nationwide in 11-ounce can singles. The Coca-Cola Co. and its bottling partners have been manufacturing and distributing Dunkin’-branded bottled beverages since 2017. The bottled Dunkin’ Iced Coffee beverages are made according to Dunkin’ specifications using high-quality Arabica coffee blends with real milk and sugar, delivering the quality and great taste that millions of Dunkin’ fans have come to know and love. Other flavors of Dunkin’-branded bottled Iced Coffee beverages include French Vanilla, Mocha and Original.

The Coca-Cola Co.

www.coca-colacompany.com

ICEE-Infused Novelty Ice Cream Dippin’ Dots and ICEE partnered to create ICEE Cherry ‘n Blue Razz ﬂavored ice. The product combines ICEE ﬂavors — Cherry and Blue Raspberry — in the form of Dippin’ Dots’ frozen beads. Developed to look and taste like the frozen beverage, Dippin’ Dots ICEE Cherry ‘n Blue Razz consists of two vividly colored dots — bright red cherry and brilliant blue raspberry. Dippin’ Dots ICEE Cherry ‘n Blue Razz will be available for customer purchase beginning in January 2023 and will enter the market for consumers to experience in Spring 2023. The new frozen beaded treat will be available in scoopable bulk and individual serving pre-packs.

J&J Snack Foods Corp.

Taffy Fruit Combos Laffy Taffy launched Laffy Taffy Fruit Combos, which reimagines the candy with trending combinations of fruit flavors. Fruit Combos leverage never-before-seen Laffy Taffy flavors that have climbed into ubiquity among candy consumers. The new individually wrapped treat-sized mini bars come in an assorted pack of four flavor combinations. Flavors include: • Strawberry Kiwi • Wildberry Banana • Mango Passionfruit • Strawberry Orange The candy comes in 3.5-ounce peg bags for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $1.09, six-ounce peg bags at an SRP of $2.19, and 12-ounce Laydown bags at an SRP of $3.29.

Ferrara

www.ferrarausa.com cstoredecisions.com

www.jjsnack.com

Dippin’ Dots L.L.C.

www.dippindots.com

Pumpkin Latte Bundt Cake Café Valley expanded its line of 16-ounce Decadent Swirled Bundt Cakes with more flavor varieties including Pumpkin Latte. The flavor was available nationwide beginning in September. The Pumpkin Latte Swirl Bundt Cake includes pumpkin spice espresso and milk latte batters with a toffee mocha glaze and caramel accent icing. The flavor joins existing flavors Triple Citrus Swirl, Chocolate Espresso Swirl and Raspberry White Chocolate Swirl, as well as additional new flavors Tiramisu and Salted Caramel.

Café Valley Bakery

www.cafevalley.com

November 2022 • CSTORE DECISIONS

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Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation of CStore Decisions Publication Title: CStore Decisions Publication Number: 1054-7797 Date of filing: September 29, 2022 Frequency of issue: Monthly Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 Annual Subscription Price: $80 per year Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Contact Person: Bruce Sprague Telephone: (888) 543-2447 Complete Mailing Address of Headquartersor General Business Office of Publisher: WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave., Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Publisher: John Petersen WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave., Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Editor: John Lofstock WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave., Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Executive Editor: Erin Del Conte WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave., Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Owner: WTWH Media, LLC 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Scott McCafferty, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Mike Emich, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Marshall Matheson, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None Tax Status: Not applicable

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Classifieds/Ad Index 360 Fuel

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Abbott

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Ac+ion

Krispy Krunchy Chicken

ADD Systems

Marmon Foodservice Technologies

Altria Group Distribution Company

Mars Wrigley

American Business Brokers

McLane Company, Inc.

American Snuff Company, LLC

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Bandy Works

115

Mondelo

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125

Modern Store Equipment

Mondelez International

Monster Energy

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https://www.barefootwine.com

BIC

www.BIC.com

Black Buffalo

www.wholesale@blackbuffalo.com

www.mondelousa.com

877.532.8433 / info@modernstoreonline.com / modernstoreonline.com/cstore www.mondelezinternational.com www.monsterenergy.com

Brakebush

111

Candy Dynamics

NRS Petro

Clearly Canadian

Old Wisconsin

Core-Mark International

Pepsi

The Coca-Cola Company

Perfetti van Melle

Commercial Zone

Polar Seltzer

800.933.2121 / www.brakebushchicken.com 888.400.7606 / www.ToxicWasteCandy.com www.clearlycanadian.com/convenience www.core-mark.com

800.241.COKE / www.coca-colacomPany.com

800.782.7273 / cpservice@commericalzone.com / www.commercialzone.com

Copenhagen

877.968.5323

North American Bancard

135

866.481.4604 / www.nynab.com 888.260.0112 / www.nrspetro.com 800.621.0868 / www.OldWisconsin.com www.pepsi.com www.perfettivanmelle.com www.polarseltzer.com

Premier Manufacturing, Inc.

121

www.gopremier.com

E. A. Sween / San Luis Burritos

Reynolds

E-Alternative Solutions

Ruiz Foods

Edge Petrol

Swedish Match

www.sanluisburriots.com

www.EalternativeSolutions.com/Forth

https://rjrt.com www.ruizfoodservice.com

Essentia Water

101

Fintech

800.367.3677 www.zyn.com www.swedishmatch.com www.gamecigars.com

Swisher International

917.689.6444 / hello@edgepetrol.com / www. edgepetrol.com 877.293.2239 / sales@essentiawater.com / essentiawater.com 813.452.3599 / www.fintech.com

800.874.9720 / www.swisher.com

Grecian Delight

https://gdkfoods.com

Haleon

5, 127

The Hershey Company

www.thehersheycompany.com

High Noon Spirits

www.highnoonspirits.com

23 97

109

www.invenco.com/s/greengrass

ITG Brands

www.itgbrands.com

Twisted Tea Brewing Company

VLN

Cover

Warren Rodgers Precision Fuel Systems Diagnostics

Welbilt / Multiplex

Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com

Wenzels Farm, LLC

Xcalibur International

Zippo

800.972.7472 / 401-846-4747 / info@warrenrogers.com / warrenrogers.com

Hunt Brothers Pizza

800.367.8325 / info@HMFfoodservice.com / www.HMFfoodservice.com

Invenco

TryVLN.com

105

800.592.2060 / www.Hussmann.com

Trion Industries, Inc. www.twistedtea.com

Highway Partners Home Market Foods

Hussmann

139, 140

800.444.4665 / info@triononline.com / TrionOnline.com

Chapstick: L.Hankins@haleon.com / Nicorette: Scott.F.Breisinger@haleon.com

800-453-3675 / www.huntbrotherspizza.com/csd

13 31 87

99 9 89

cstoredecisions.com

800.367.4233 / www.multiplexbeverage.com

800.336.6328 / sales@wenzelsfarm.com https://xcaliberinternational.com www.zippo.com November 2022 • CSTORE DECISIONS

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IndustryPerspective

Weigel’s Rolls Out On Demand Pay for Employees Weigel’s new On Demand Pay feature gives c-store workers early access to earned wages and aids recruiting and retention efforts for the chain. Erin Del Conte • Executive Editor

Attracting and retaining quality employees are bigger challenges than ever before for c store operators. Meanwhile many workers are struggling to make ends meet in today’s inflationary environment. Powell, Tenn.-based Weigel’s, which operates 72 c-stores in east Tennessee, introduced a creative solution that aids recruiting and retention, while benefitting employees. On Oct. 1, 2021, the chain introduced On Demand Pay through Paylocity, allowing employees to access up to 50% of their earned wages early. CStore Decisions spoke with Weigel’s Director of Human Resources Melanie Disney to learn more about the program and how it’s working for the chain.

CSD: What has been the employee response since Weigel’s rolled out the program? MD: The On Demand Pay option has been well received by both team members and store leaders at Weigel’s. Some store leaders have said that it has been a great retention tool for them because team members know they will have access to a portion of their pay in real time, and that is not something every employer provides. It has also increased team members picking up shifts when they need money for emergencies or just for fun since they can get paid the same day. Currently, we have approximately 12% of our employee population using On Demand Pay.

CStore Decisions (CSD): Why did Weigel’s decide to introduce On Demand Pay through Paylocity? Melanie Disney (MD): With rising inflation and an already strained workforce, we made the decision to offer On Demand Pay to all hourly team members in order for them to access the money they already earned, so that they could use it when they needed it the most.

CSD: What does Weigel’s see as the benefits of the program? MD: Weigel’s has used it as a recruiting and retention tool. Modern technology puts so many experiences at our fingertips. It’s an instant gratification world where the expectation is to get what we want, how we want it and when we want it. On Demand Pay meets the needs of the current workforce. We have many team members that use it every week, and others only access the feature for emergencies. It is available whatever the need.

CSD: How does the program work? MD: On Demand Pay is available to all hourly team members. They may use it in real time to gain access to 50% of the money they have already earned that day. 138

CSD: I understand more employees used the feature to access their

CSTORE DECISIONS • November 2022

Melanie Disney

daily pay when fuel prices spiked. Has usage leveled out since then or are you seeing it go back up? MD: Usage was slow to take off with only a few team members using it initially. However, we saw the most drastic increases in usage with the rise in gas prices and inflation. Since then, the number of team members using On Demand Pay continues to increase. CSD: What advice do you have for other chains considering this option? MD: We made the decision to only allow access to 50% of pay so that team members would have money left at the end of the week on their paycheck. Employers should give thoughtful consideration to the amount of pay they wish to make available to their teams. It is also helpful to provide education around managing money for those team members that may be employed and earning a paycheck for the first time.

cstoredecisions.com

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CStore Decisions November 2022

Articles inside

Industry Perspective: Weigel’s Rolls Out On Demand Pay For Employees

How to Create a Succession Plan for Your C-Store

Product Showcase

Restroom Sanitation Rises in Signifi cance

Meat Snacks Appeal Despite Infl ation

Nouria Honored With CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year Award

Cigar Category Braces Against Proposed Flavor Bans

Transaction Technology Transformed

Packaged Beverage Sales Continue To Flow

Quick Bites: Consumers Are Considering Healthier Food Options

Digitalization Transforms Forecourt Marketing