63 minute read
Industry Perspective: How to Plan for the Pending Cookie Apocalypse
NTI STORE DEVELOPMENT
PROGNOSTICATIONS FOR 2022
As headwinds blow, savvy c-store operators are planning new-to-industry (NTI) development to shore up their 2022 expansion plans.
Mark Radosevich • PetroActive Services
Last month, I predicted that potential tax increases by the Biden administration could alter the structure of mergers and acquisitions by increasing store leasing at the expense of real estate ownership transfers. In this follow-up article, I’ll look into my crystal ball and offer some thoughts on what the future might hold for newto-industry (NTI) store development next year.
Chain store operators with no foreseeable plans to exit the industry generally take a balanced approach to growth, with a mix of acquisitions and new-builds. Depending on the size and sophistication of the operation, NTI expansion could be strategic, guided by preferred market analysis and planning, or opportunistic, in which individual NTI projects are unsystematically decided based upon availability of appropriate real estate.
NTI real estate may include vacant land, alternate-use conversions, and raze-and-rebuilds of owned or competitive sites that fit predetermined criteria, including property size, traffic counts and demographic profiles.
With headwinds on the horizon, pragmatic c-store operators should have some level of NTI development in their plans. Modern, high-quality NTI sites not only deliver incremental sales and profits, but add some flagships to the store portfolio. This improves overall motorist perception and brand image across the rest of the chain, which also helps enhance business value.
HEADWINDS ON THE HORIZON
At the time of this writing, the proposed $3.5 trillion spending package accompanied by massive tax increases is being debated, and various pundits believe that there is a 50/50 chance this economic disaster will pass. If so, one result could be a higher degree of NTI development, for these reasons: • Marketer reluctance to convey real estate title to avoid onerous tax consequences will result in a higher degree of store leasing. Buyers who wish to own their real estate must factor in a higher level of NTI development to achieve that goal. • The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) increased scrutiny of c-store deals involving the largest retail consolidators will likely dampen mid- to large-scale acquisition activity, prompting these big, well-funded companies to look more toward NTI development. Growth may slow, but their funds can be redirected toward NTI stores without the worry of FTC interference.
On the downside, heightened competition from greater numbers of NTI stores will further erode the economic relevance of older, conventional c-stores within the trade-area of these new-builds. This resulting domino effect will require savvy petroleum marketers that own and operate or own and lease older sites to conduct network studies to identify vulnerable locations and to develop divestiture plans to be implemented once they learn an NTI is planned.
Tactical divestiture could include the sale of the property to a dealer, while maintaining the fuel supply, or a sale to an alternate-use buyer.
However, care must be taken with any outright sale due to the above-mentioned tax consequences from real estate title transfer. The optimal approach may be to lease the property to an alternate-use tenant.
Short of a meteorite strike, I hope that some semblance of rationality will rule the day in Washington D.C., and that the proposed cataclysmic tax-and-spend plan will not come to fruition, rendering my 2022 prognostications moot.
Finally, as I’ve recommended in the past, if you’re in the retail petroleum business, I highly encourage you to become a member of your state’s petroleum marketer and convenience store association, to proactively support our industry and help preserve an important part of the fabric of America.
Mark Radosevich is a strong industry advocate, recognized petroleum veteran and president of PetroActive Services (www.petroactive.net). He can be reached by email at mark@petroactive.net and by phone at (423) 442-1327.
What makes Yesway special is that it continues to cement its presence as a retail leader by evolving to meet and exceed customers’ expectations, all while being one of the fastest growing chains in the convenience store industry. Over the past two years, Yesway has transformed its retail image with a new store design, a thriving proprietary foodservice program and a growing private label food and beverage brand. Combined with vibrant community outreach programs, Yesway boasts the exceptional leadership and customer service to which many other convenience store chains aspire.
The Chain of the Year Award showcases the best of the best in convenience retailing, and Yesway is certainly deserving of a place in this rich tradition. As many industry marketers are struggling to reinvent themselves and to identify a strategy that will lead them into the future, in six short years Yesway has been able to make itself a force in the competitive convenience store industry and blaze its own trail. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company operates 402 stores across nine states: Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
nd CONGRATULATIONS!
THANK YOU TO OUR
2021 CHAIN OF THE YEAR SPONSORS!
HOW A CONVENIENCE DIRECTIONS
IDEA EXCHANGE CAN BENEFIT YOUR CHAIN
Consider an interactive study group meeting with top supplier and vendor companies for insights on current market forces and ideas on how convenience store owners can improve their business. Best of all, these exclusive think tank events are free of charge for retailers.
A CStore Decisions Staff Report
Are you a convenience store chain
concerned about emerging trends and how to connect with customers during these uncertain times?
How would you like to get valuable input on new products and category insights that relate exclusively to your market? How would you like this all free of charge?
If this piques your interest, it’s time to partner with Convenience Directions.
Convenience Directions offers exclusive study groups centered around Idea Exchange meetings that are designed to identify the latest industry trends, best-in-class standards and recommendations to drive bottom-line profits.
The real benefit for the retailer is that they get to have senior management from 20-plus diverse supplier companies bring them their industry experience and make specific recommendations custom-fitted to the needs of the chain. Most meetings discuss general information, which is helpful, but Convenience Directions Idea Exchange meetings are constructed to leave retailers with bottom-line-improving ideas and recommendations.
Moreover, these Idea Exchanges result in sponsor companies getting to know the entire senior management team of a company, understanding what their goals and objectives are and presenting category information to the retailer. Ongoing productive relationships are established in this setting that are difficult to replicate in any other venue.
For nearly 20 years, these Idea Exchanges have attracted the leading convenience store chains in the industry.
CStore Decisions, which acquired Convenience Directions from Joe Leonardo and Randy Fulkerson in 2013, has conducted meetings for Yesway, Maverik, High’s of Baltimore, Nouria Energy, TravelCenters of America, MFA Oil, truenorth, Country Fair, Kent Kwik, Gate Petroleum and many others over the past five years.
The Convenience Directions program, led by John Lofstock, editor-in-chief of CStore Decisions, capitalizes on the experience of the supplier partners to bring together a valuable discourse for both retailers and suppliers.
INFO EXCHANGE
What Convenience Directions does is unique to the marketplace in that we combine the Convenience Directions newsletter, which is mailed quarterly to over 10,000 c-store executives, with three Idea Exchange meetings annually. The newsletters give sponsor companies a forum to communicate category information, new product introductions and best practices to the industry. Retailers get great information on a variety of categories and services in a quick-read format. Suppliers that participate are guaranteed category exclusivity.
These suppliers represent many of the key product and service categories being employed by today’s convenience stores and provide unequaled knowledge about their respective category. These industry specialists convene as a group to meet with the management personnel of leading convenience store chains, on a proprietary basis, one chain at a time.
These two-day sessions are conducted and financed entirely by Convenience Directions. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a forum for the productive exchange of ideas and information. The open and relaxed surroundings created by having all supplier representatives present during the entire meeting is not designed as a sales forum, but rather as a learning opportunity in a “think tank” climate.
Past events have proven to be very productive and well worth the time invested for every c-store retailer who has participated. Every retail participant has reported improved profitability as a direct result of their involvement.
If your chain is interested in hosting an Idea Exchange, contact John Lofstock at jlofstock@wtwhmedia.com.
THIRD QUARTER 2021 A CStore Decisions Publication www.cstoredecisions.com
Swisher Focuses Approach With Realignment of Smokeless Portfolio
Swisher has consolidated its broad smokeless tobacco portfolio under Fat Lip Brands, a new overarching identity for its smokeless division. With a mix of classic brands and modern-day favorites in moist snuff, chewing tobacco and dry snuff, the creation of Fat Lip Brands represents an ongoing evolution within Swisher to align its businesses and brands to better serve its wholesale and retail customers as well as its adult consumers. Through this alignment, Fat Lip Brands will enhance its focus within the smokeless category and allow for more effective allocation of resources and customer service efforts.
Fat Lip Brands is well positioned among Swisher’s five strategic businesses that also include Swisher Sweets Cigar Company (Large & Little/Filtered Cigars), Drew Estate (Premium Cigars), Hempire (Hemp Accessories) and Rogue Holdings (Modern Oral Nicotine). Each business provides focused category expertise and product knowledge under a renewed purpose for the broader company. Through Swisher’s strategic businesses, trade partners will have access to the growth strategies and product innovations that drive expanded success. Based in Wheeling, West Virginia, Fat Lip Brands brings a strong 141-year tradition in smokeless tobacco together under one portfolio covering all customers’ needs in the moist snuff, chew and dry snuff categories. With classic brands like Mail Pouch, Chattanooga Chew, Bowie, Navy and Railroad Mills offered alongside everyday best sellers like Kayak, Creek and Starr, Fat Lip Brands serves the modern lifestyle of adult consumers while staying grounded in a tradition of quality and affordability.
About Swisher Sweets Cigar Co.
Swisher is a leading lifestyle brand for adult consumers. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Swisher also has a global manufacturing presence in Santiago, Dominican Republic; Esteli, Nicaragua and Wheeling, West Virginia. Swisher’s superior customer relationships, matched with an unwavering commitment to innovative thinking and action, have driven the company to grow and adapt to the evolving preferences of adult consumers for nearly 160 years.
Wine overall has been a strong growth category in convenience stores. Why? Consumers are discovering the versatility of wine and how it fits into their casual lifestyle. Fun, practical and convenient packaging has been the catalyst for this trend.
Here is what convenience store operators can do to capitalize on this growing trend:
1) Expand Assortment
Expand your selection of 187ml, tetra, pouch, zip lids and cans. Whether it be concerns about waste, portability, “non-wine” occasions or convenience, alternative packages can be the answer.
2) Promote the Category
Like other products, location and communication are key when it comes to promoting the wine category. Feature the alternative packages in a perimeter position since these products answer the concerns of so many infrequent or non-purchasers of wine.
Visit www.swisher.com to learn more. To learn more about Fat Lip Brands, visit https://swisher.com/businesses/fat-lip-brands.
Prairie City Bakery Birthday Cake Ooey Gooey
Prairie City Bakery is thrilled to announce an addition to our incredibly delicious Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes by adding Birthday Cake to our lineup of indulgent flavors. This decadent treat features our classic layered butter cake flavored with vanilla and white chocolate and is packed with colorful confetti sprinkles throughout. An on-trend flavor, Birthday Cake is sure to remind consumers of happy times and celebrations. Featuring bright, eye-popping packaging, the Birthday Cake Ooey Gooey Butter Cake is sure to stand out on any shelf and has the amazing flavor to keep customers coming back for more. Packed in convenient 10-count merchandisers, while boasting a long 60-day ambient shelf life, these cakes are the perfect addition to your indulgent snack set. Available immediately, the Birthday Cake Ooey Gooey Butter Cake can be ordered through your local distributor or by contacting Prairie City
Bakery at 1-800-338-5122 or customerservice@pcbakery.com.
Founded in 1994, Prairie City Bakery is headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill. Providing premium, fully baked, thaw-and-sell bakery solutions to the convenience store, foodservice, and in-store bakery channels nationwide. With a full line of award-winning products and a variety of individually wrapped and foodservice solutions, Prairie City Bakery is the total package. Plus, Prairie City Bakery offers you our expertise and proven merchandising solutions to help you design a winning pastry program for your store. www.cstoredecisions.com cstoredecisions.com
Boosting Wine Sales
Gallo Family Vineyards is excited to offer delicious, slightly fizzy, wines with natural fruit flavors. Available in Sweet Peach, Sweet Pineapple and Sweet Berry, Gallo Family Vineyards Sweets Pineapple and Sweet Berry, Gallo Family Vineyards Sweets is the perfect addition to any gathering. * Sweet Pineapple: Tropical fruit (pineapple) layered with sweet aromatics (honey) and hints of white flower (honeysuckle). * Sweet Peach: Tree/stone fruit (peach) layered with sweet aromatics (honey) and hints of tropical fruit (pineapple) and white flower (peach blossom). hints of tropical fruit (pineapple) and white flower (peach blossom). * Sweet Berry: Jammy red fruit (strawberry, watermelon) layered with sweet aromatics (cooked sugar) and hints of tropical (tutti fruitti).
Four New Forth™ Vape Pens Brings Flavor to CBD
Forth™ CBD is expanding its Vape Pen flavor options to meet growing consumer demand. Four new flavors, Grape, Mixed Berry, Original Hemp and Menthol, join the original lineup of Mango and Mint. C-Stores can now offer their adult consumer more flavors in the emerging category of CBD vapor.
Featuring a modern and sleek design, the device offers a smooth, easy draw with every puff. Forth CBD Vape Pens come prefilled with 1.25 ml of e-liquid formulated with 150mg of high-quality, hemp-derived CBD Isolate. There is no THC in Forth CBD Vape Pens. The e-liquid has a vegetable glycerin and C propylene glycol base, giving adult C consumers smooth, satisfying puffs. M M Y
Research shows taste is the No. 1 CM Y CM MY purchase factor amongst disposable vaMY pers*. By expanding the flavor options, CY Forth CBD Vape Pens are appealing to current adult consumers. With the same CY CMY flavors as many disposable nicotine vapes, this product provides an easy introduction from nicotine to CBD for adult consumers. CMY K
K The vapor space within CBD is small and often expensive for adult consumers with many brands charging over $20 for a single vape pen. There are very few options in terms of brands and flavors in convenience stores. Since its inception, Forth CBD has worked to bring affordable CBD options to adult consumers, working to keep prices low at the counter, even in high tax states. Forth CBD Vape Pens are part of a consumer-focused product lineup that contains CBD + CBG Tincture Drops and CBD-Infused Juice Drinks. The expanding products of Forth show the brand’s commitment to offering accessible CBD product options for adult consumers.
With Forth CBD, adult consumers may experience better recovery times from physical activities and improved focus. Forth products may also provide a sense of relaxation and relieve unwanted tension. Forth CBD products are third-party lab tested for quality and purity. The future of CBD is here— grow your category with Forth. Speak to your EAS Representative to get Forth products in your stores.
*Data displayed as projections for Convenience & Gas channels only. All data sourced from Brightfield Group
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
New
Since the onset of the pandemic, customers expect over Since the onset of the pandemic, customers expect over the top clean fuel dispensers. Combine this with a the top clean fuel dispensers. Combine this with a limited labor environment and you have store managers limited labor environment and you have store managers facing a real problem. Make the best of this tough facing a real problem. Make the best of this tough situation by plugging in Gorilla Pump Shine now situation by plugging in Gorilla Pump Shine now with Micro-Spray Shield. with Micro-Spray Shield. The application is simple. After removing surface dirt, The application is simple. After removing surface dirt, spray or wipe Gorilla Pump Shine on composite spray or wipe Gorilla Pump Shine on composite pump faces, front panels, stainless steel or composite pump faces, front panels, stainless steel or composite sides, hose and pump handles. The application takes sides, hose and pump handles. The application takes less than five minutes, will last three to four weeks, and less than five minutes, will last three to four weeks, and can also refurbish trash receptacles and other gas can also refurbish trash receptacles and other gas island accessories. island accessories. TO SUMMARIZE YOU GET: TO SUMMARIZE YOU GET: 1) A dirt resistant shine that lasts 3 to 4 weeks. 1) A dirt resistant shine that lasts 3 to 4 weeks. 2) The Micro Spray Shield long lasting barrier 2) The Micro Spray Shield long lasting barrier against micro-organisms to protect customers. against micro-organisms to protect customers. 3) Protection from the elements to keep your 3) Protection from the elements to keep your fuel dispenser looking like new. fuel dispenser looking like new. 4) A huge labor savings by eliminating frequent 4) A huge labor savings by eliminating frequent heavy duty pump cleaning sessions. heavy duty pump cleaning sessions.
TO GET STARTED:
Try the Gorilla Pump Shine 2 quart pack for $19 (includes free shipping). (includes free shipping). Simply go to www.apterindustries.com or
Simply go to www.apterindustries.com or contact Joe DeLuca at jdeluca@apterindustries.com. contact Joe DeLuca at jdeluca@apterindustries.com.
NOTE: If you currently buy Garage Gorilla Pump Shine NOTE: If you currently buy Garage Gorilla Pump Shine through your grocery wholesaler, you will automatically through your grocery wholesaler, you will automatically receive the new fortified product at the same price. receive the new fortified product at the same price.
For questions call For questions call 1-800-441-7146 1-800-441-7146 www.apterindustries.com www.apterindustries.comCopyright © 2021. APTER INDUSTRIES, INC. All rights reserved. All trademarks and service marks used are owned by Apter Industries, Inc. Copyright © 2021. APTER INDUSTRIES, INC. All rights reserved. All trademarks and service marks used are owned by Apter Industries, Inc.
Capture Healthy Snackers
Detour is expanding its award-winning product line to include Detour Overnight Oat bars. This innovation brings bold flavors to the traditional protein bar category and the growing popularity of overnight oats on social media platforms.
Detour Overnight Oats are sure to catch the attention of younger and health conscious consumers looking to indulge in a trendy morning breakfast while on the run.
Detour Overnight Oat bars have real recognizable ingredients starting with Gluten-Free Organic Rolled Oats. This is perfect for a quick breakfast, a midday snack or an after-dinner treat.
• 10 grams of whey protein is the core and first ingredient. • 4 grams of sugar helps provide a low sugar diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle. • 3 grams of fiber is a healthy dose that will keep you full while nourishing your body. • 150 calories are a perfect meal replacement or post-workout snack.
For more information on PURELL Foodservice Surface Sanitizer and a complete solution of products to more holistically fight the spread of germs, visit gojo.com/c-stores. An average convenience store selling fuel has more than 1,100 customers per day—that’s 1,100 customers bringing germs into your location.1 How will you combat the excess of germs entering your store and reduce the risk of cross contamination? You need to use the right surface disinfectant and sanitizing spray to keep your store’s surfaces clean while showing your commitment to employees and guests. You have plenty of surface disinfectant products to choose from, but be sure you’re getting one that fits the needs of your store.
Look for products with the ability to quickly kill foodborne illness-causing germs, that can be used on both soft and hard food-contact surfaces without irritants, and have sustainable ingredients. One such product is PURELL® Foodservice Surface Sanitizer. This one-step sanitizer and cleaner is powerful enough to kill norovirus in 30 seconds—but is formulated for foodcontact surfaces with no rinse required.
• Fast and effective - Eliminates norovirus, Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria in 30 seconds - Eliminates hepatitis A in 60 seconds • Multi-surface formulation - Proven effective across most hard and soft surfaces • No harsh chemicals - Eliminates the need for handwashing, gloving or health hazard precautionary statements.
You have the ability to provide health and cleanliness to your customers with a product that is as convenient as your store locations.
1 https://www.convenience.org/Research/FactSheets/ScopeofIndustry/Convenience
Republic Brands Launches the First & Only Bamboo Cone
OCB® Brand Rolls Out OCB® Bamboo in Cones
It all started across the pond, where OCB has been the best-selling rolling paper brand in Europe for generations. After making a substantial impact in the U.S.A. with a variety styles and sizes, OCB introduced the Bamboo Rolling Paper line which has had tremendous success in its eco-conscious efforts for today’s consumers. It became evident that the OCB bamboo paper should be converted into a currently popular format…the Cone. With that, OCB introduces the world’s first and only Bamboo Cones.
Pre-rolled and equipped with a tip, cones provide an easier way to pack, fill and enjoy. The paper is vegan, GMO free, unbleached and made from the world’s most sustainable fiber: Bamboo. No harsh fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used in the growing process. Bamboo is a renewable resource, responsibly harvested leaving the roots in the ground to regrow. The plant’s long, durable fibers ensure the papers and cones don’t “run” to produce a slow, even-burning smoke. The ultra-thin weight and always sticks acacia gum make a smooth tasting smoke. OCB Bamboo Cones are available in 4 sizes to address the consumer’s preference. The 1-1/4 size contains 6 cones per pack; king size contains 3 cones per pack; small 78mm contains 8 cones per pack and the mini 70mm contains 10 cones per pack. They all come in a 32-count counter display ready to sell constructed to protect the product inside from being crushed.
Modular displays are also available for merchandising. A wide variety of pointof-purchase materials for all of these products are available to support sales efforts.
For Further Information, Call Republic Brands Customer Service: 800-288-8888, email info@rpbtob.com
ConvenienceWorks by Hussmann has been serving the convenience store industry for many years with equipment, services and solutions that meet the everyday needs of the retailers. We are dedicated to providing you with the essential benefits that: • ATTRACT more shoppers to your stores • GROW your fresh and prepared food sales • LOWER your operating costs • IMPROVE your overall operating performance ConvenienceWorks is built on the legacy and expertise of Hussmann Corporation, which is recognized as a leader in refrigeration and merchandising solutions for retailers selling fresh foods. We are part of the Panasonic Corporation and can bring more innovation and technology to our total solution offering for the convenience store industry. From store planning and equipment selection to turnkey project management and after sale support, ConvenienceWorks by Hussmann is your total solution provider Your Total Solution Provider Grow your fresh and prepared food sales. Attract more shoppers to your store. to maximize your sales and profits. 877.543.6034 Lower your operating www.convenience-works.com costs.
Call ConvenienceWorks by Hussmann at 877.543.6034. www.convenience-works.com
Improve
your overall operating performance.
Deliver on the flavor, variety, and convenience today’s consumers are looking for with premium brands from Home Market Foods. Let’s Power Up your business!
RollerBites®
Bold! Different! Better! Bursting with flavor and packed with protein, RollerBites offer the perfect on-the-go meal or snack. Team up tender, juicy chicken with kickin’ spices and you have one epic-flavored grab-and-go snack for on-the-go customers: seasoned all-white Chicken RollerBites®. Available in a variety of ontrend flavors including Buffalo Ranch. Monterey Jack, Nashville Hot, and the NEW! Bourbon BBQ Chicken! Our savory breakfast varieties combine hearty eggs, sausage and cheese. Fire Grilled Cheeseburger RollerBites® lock in that juicy, home-grilled flavor and are available in craveable Original and Ghost Pepper varieties. Our Eisenberg® Beef Frankfurters have a long tradition of quality since 1929. Our family recipe uses the finest cuts of U.S.D.A. beef, fresh seasonings and spices to deliver irresistible flavor to your valued customers. Minimally processed products with an authentic, natural taste – that’s the Eisenberg way.
Bahama Mama® German-Recipe Sausage
features U.S.D.A. quality cuts of beef and pork and are seasoned with bold spices for an awesomely delicious experience. Our authentic sausages let you menu a variety of in-demand flavors including Jalapeño ‘N Cheddar, Chorizo Con Queso, Smoked Cheddar and Ham ‘N Cheese. Elevate your foodservice program with premium
Cooked Perfect® Gourmet Italian Style
Meatballs – the #1 best-selling retail brand of meatballs in the country. Fully cooked and made with select cuts of meat and cheese and seasoned just right with our Foodservice proprietary spices. Cooked Perfect meatballs will surprise and delight your customers with amazingly great taste and quality.
For more information, visit www.homemarketfoods.com. Contact us at info@homemarkefoods.com or (800) 367-8325, ext. 529.
CSC ServiceWorks Brings Best-in-Class Air Technology to Convenience Stores!
CSC ServiceWorks, the leading provider of air vending services across the United States, Canada, and Europe, is committed to continuously advancing air machine technology to bring payment flexibility to the C-store marketplace. With investments in the design of a state-of-the-art cashless payment system, smart machines, and transparent reporting capabilities, CSC offers the most advanced air solution experience for you and your customers. Our air machines with cashless card readers provide your customers with a safe and secure solution to pay the way they want, offering a contact and contactless format. Our machines accept all major credit/ debit cards, mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), and NFC payment types with EMV payment technology, which significantly reduces credit and debit card fraud while securing consumer financial data. Your on-the-go customers will be able to use any machine at any time with the payment method they choose, creating a more convenient experience that will keep them coming back. In addition to seamless payments, our upgraded platform makes your life easier through remote machine monitoring and smart service response. Machine alerts enable us to supervise payment acceptance and overall machine health, minimizing downtime so that your customers can always access an air machine when they need it. Accessibility extends to our reporting capabilities as well. Through a reporting portal that provides greater transparency with real-time sales data that’s accessible anywhere, at any time, you can easily oversee sales trends and overall machine level performance across your portfolio. From each client touchpoint to back-end support, our technology provides effortless transactions for a customized solution at your locations. CSC ServiceWorks is pioneering industry innovation through better payment experiences and streamlined endto-end operations. We continuously focus on expanding our industry leadership by leveraging technology that attracts consumers with safe, convenient payment options and increased revenues, machine uptime, and real-time reporting for clients. For more information, visit www. cscsw.com.
About CSC ServiceWorks
CSC ServiceWorks, with over 1.4 million machines in service, is the leading provider of commercial laundry solutions to the multi-family housing and education markets as well as an industry leader in air and vacuum vending services at convenience stores and gas stations. CSC ServiceWorks has a workforce of over 3,000 dedicated professionals throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For more information, visit www.cscsw.com
Jack Link’s Continues Innovation Domination
Jack Link’s Protein Snacks continues to transform the protein snacking game by developing products that bring new consumers to the category and create new protein snacking occasions. Innovation, portability and on-the-go snacking continue to be key platforms for the company as it extends its presence outside the main meat snack set. The new products include Jack Link’s Smoked Beef Sausages, Jack Link’s Steak Bites and Cold Crafted Linkwich.
“We are on a mission to make protein snacking accessible to everyone,” said TD Dixon, chief marketing officer at Jack Link’s Protein Snacks. “Consumers continue to seek more protein in their diet, so we’ve focused our innovation efforts, whether that be form, packaging or flavors, to provide consumers new opportunities to engage in the category. These efforts are creating incredible growth for our customers and the entire category.” Jack Link’s new products include: • Jack Link’s Steak Bites: Eating America’s #1 meat snack brand on the go just got easier, thanks to Jack
Link’s Steak Bites. In a category that is dominated by sugar, fat, and calories found in sweets and nuts,
Jack Link’s takes out the competition with new Steak Bites, offered in a one-handed, tear-and- eat snack pack. Jack Link’s Steak Bites give consumers exactly what they want – a high-protein, low-fat, handheld snack at an awesome value. Made with 100% beef, the steak bites are an excellent source of protein with 17g of protein in one single pack and only 110 calories. Launch includes two flavor varieties,
Original and Teriyaki. • Cold Crafted Linkwich: In 2018, Jack Link’s launched Cold Crafted, a new line of fresh and convenient snacking in a refrigerated format. After incredible in-market success, Cold Crafted is introducing the ultimate breadless sandwich, Cold Crafted Linkwich. The Linkwich line includes a grab-and-go combo offering 15g of protein in one serving and only 1g of carbs and sugar. Launch includes three varieties:
Colby Jack & Hard Salami, Pepper Jack & Genoa Salami and Cheddar & Hard Salami. • Jack Link’s Smokehouse Beef Sausages: In what promises to be the company’s most craveable eating experience yet, Jack Link’s new Smokehouse line brings true craft-style products to the meat snack category. Smokehouse Beef Sausages will be the first product launched under the new line. Sausages continue to be the fastest growing meat segment, and Jack Link’s is taking it one step further, introducing a 100% beef smoked sausage snack option. The launch includes two flavor varieties,
Original and Hot & Spicy.
Ever since FDA enacted the ban on flavored pod ENDS products in February 2020, retailers and consumers have felt a void at the backbar. Now, many states and FDA have set their sights on menthol flavored products. With a potential ban of menthol on the horizon, it has never been more important for retailers to have a full range of tobacco flavors for their adult consumers to pick from. Luckily, Leap® has four tobacco blends that will be the perfect fit in retailer sets for years to come.
Leap knows the importance of having a product for every adult consumer. The four tobacco blends, Carolina Tobacco, Georgia Tobacco, Kentucky Tobacco and Rough-Cut Tobacco were created with adult consumers in mind. These blends are fine-tuned to give the authentic taste of tobacco in an e-liquid formula. There is a Leap pod blend for every adult consumer. Those looking for something classic will gravitate towards Carolina Tobacco while those looking for something more robust may enjoy Rough-Cut Tobacco. Available in both 2.4 and 4.8% nicotine levels, adult consumers and retailers can find the right fit with Leap tobacco blends. Leap pods are only compatible with the Leap Device.
For adult consumers who prefer disposable products over pod systems, there is Leap Go® Smooth Tobacco. Leap Go is a cig-a-like nicotine device prefilled with 1.25mL of premium e-liquid. Like the flavor name, Leap Go Smooth Tobacco offers a smooth vaping experience, giving satisfaction with every puff. The simple device gives adult consumers the freedom to take a puff and go. Leap Go Smooth Tobacco is available in a 5% nicotine level.
With so many different tobacco blends, Leap has positioned itself to be a leader in the vapor space going forward. Leap products are available to retailers through all major distributors.
Potential Menthol Bans Leave Door Open for Tobacco
Speak to your E-Alternative Solutions Representative or visit EalternativeSolutions.com/Leap to get Leap in your stores today.
This quarterly publication is made available to convenience store and petroleum marketing executives on a complimentary basis, thanks to the sponsorships of a select group of interested and involved industry suppliers.
Apter Industries BIC CBE, Inc. CSC ServiceWorks Detour/Forward Foods E-Alternative Solutions (EAS) E & J Gallo Winery Forth CBD GOJO Industries, Inc. Home Market Foods
Hussmann Jack Link’s Kellogg’s Convenience Store Team Prairie City Bakery Procter & Gamble Co. Republic Brands Swisher International Teazzers U.S. Tobacco Vivid Impact
John Petersen
Publisher
John Lofstock
Editor InfoMarketing is published quarterly for convenience store and petroleum company executives, operators and marketers.
ADDRESS CHANGES:
Send address changes to: Convenience Directions® 1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44114 or via e-mail to info@conveniencedirections.com Phone: 888-543-2447
TEAZZERS® is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of fresh brewed teas and other specialty dispensed beverages. What makes TEAZZERS the best is our obsession to detail – from sourcing premium global ingredients to expert blending and brewing for consistent flavor. For more than 20 years, TEAZZERS has been the iced tea innovator, refining processes to provide the most amazing fresh brewed tea products on the market. Today, TEAZZERS is in more than 7,500 stores nationwide. TEAZZERS specializes in every facet of the tea process, and we partner with you to design a program that will turn your store into a tea destination. Our iced teas are made with high-quality tea leaves sourced from multiple points of origin and blended to optimize consistency throughout growing seasons. Our R&D team works with experienced flavorists who specialize in developing flavors for different consumer demographics, food pairings and flavor trends. To brew those teas, we innovated the TEAZZERS SmartBrew™ machine which makes brewing fresh iced tea even easier for restaurants and convenience stores. This revolutionary brewer is equipped with BIB sweetener storage under the urns, remote recipe management, and freshness timers, all for enhanced category management. The three urn positions and sleek design offer enhanced and customizable merchandising opportunities, with plenty of room for different tea flavors and sweetness levels. If you’re not carrying TEAZZERS fresh-brewed tea, you’re missing out on providing your custom ers an on-trend, healthier and oh-so-satisfying alternative to other beverages. Not to mention more profits for you. After all, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. Let us help you determine the best tea and equip ment program for you, and transform your location into a tea destination, with TEAZZERS.
For more information, visit www.teazzers.com or contact our sales team at sales@teazzers.com.
Winning With Consumables in Convenience
Procter & Gamble conducted shopper research to understand how to win with consumables in the Convenience Industry. The findings were enlightening and we received direct quotes from shoppers in key focus areas. Here are four important takeaways: four important takeaways:
1) In order to transform consumers into c-store purchasers, prices 1) In order to transform consumers into c-store purchasers, prices need to be competitive.
* Consumers expect to pay more at c-stores, but often the high markup is just too much and can drive them to their local grocery store instead. * “I am NOT willing to pay more than 15% more for the convenience.” * “I think buying products there would be helpful but only if the prices are competitive. You can often find good deals on household products elsewhere so if the prices aren’t competitive I probably wouldn’t change my shopping habits.”
2) Consumers want to see the brands they love.
* Consumers would be more inclined to shop at c-stores if they knew they’d find quality brands, brands that match their values, or more brand selection. * “I can’t see buying any of these there unless brands were the same as my regular ones and the prices were as low.” * “I would like to see more health conscious items at convenience stores.”
3) Keep items people need in a pinch.
* Consumers may only need one item in an emergency or they need to pick up a few things late at night when their regular stores are closed. These could also be items that families may need while traveling. * “Smaller sized cleaners and toiletries would be great. If I’m shopping at a convenience store for these items it’s because I have no other option available and need something quickly.” * “I would only buy household products at a convenience store if it were an emergency and I don’t have other options.”
4) Paper products are the most essential to carry at c-stores.
* Consumers agree the most important item c-stores need to carry are paper products. These include toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, paper plates, etc. * Paper products tend to be an item often forgotten about but needed quickly. * “If it isn’t a necessity, don’t waste space stocking it. Like fabric softener. I wouldn’t rush out to a convenience store to buy this. I’d either wait a day on the laundry, or do it just this once without a fabric softener. Paper products, yes.”
Bold New Look for Wildhorse®
Wildhorse® has a new look for this classic brand. It still is known for its bold, rich taste and smooth smoking experience one would expect from a higher-priced premium cigarette. Wildhorse provides a fine flavor and aroma at an attractive price. The Wildhorse® product family features premium quality cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and cigarette tubes. Wildhorse is American-owned, American-grown and American manufactured. We proudly state “A Product of US Farmers®” on our packaging. We believe so strongly in our products that we back them with a 100% guarantee. Experience The Freedom® .
About U.S. Tobacco
U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC) is a grower-owned marketing cooperative based in Raleigh, North Carolina. USTC produces U.S. flue-cured tobacco grown by 500-plus member growers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Membergrown tobacco is processed and sold as raw materials to cigarette manufacturers worldwide. USTC processes over 35 million pounds of flue-cured tobacco, the finest, most compliant and most sustainable flue-cured tobacco in the world.
Reducing Total Retail Loss by Integrating Video With Exception-Based Reporting
CBE The advancement in security, transaction and tracking technologies has led to retailers continuously needing/wanting to explore effective solutions for loss prevention and video surveillance systems that will capture events in real time. Many opportunities are available to harness crucial data with the potential to enhance the customer experience and decrease operating expenses. Understanding a common equation to find out a business’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can help determine whether or not a retailer is achieving its goals. However, because losses are often calculated based on an individual company’s formula, it’s difficult to create a universal baseline. Now, there are software and technologies available to help retailers stay ahead of their losses, and, most importantly, understand the differences of losses, shrinkage and costs.
Exception-based Reporting and ROI
Exception-based reporting is a method of data analysis that compares an incoming stream of data to a pre-established set of data at the point-ofsale (POS) and flags items that don’t match up. A specific retailer can define and customize any number of ‘normal’ conditions for the incoming data to compare against and, then, these abnormalities will be flagged as suspicious activity. The goal of exception-based reporting is to enable these data streams to identify areas of loss more readily and efficiently than time-consuming inventory audits or in-store security personnel. Many times,single malicious users at the register can have a greater impact on shrinkage; thus, waiting for an inventory audit to be completed can allow for more malicious losses than readily available data streams.
Video-Enhanced Exception-Based Reporting
Although data analytics alone are beneficial, the combination of exception-based reporting with the integration of video recording adds unparalleled benefits to retail stores. Without video, there is no proof of where a malicious error or theft occurred. There are multiple pain points that can be relieved by these featured benefits when adding video to a traditional POS system.
Video Supports Better Decision Making for Leadership Executives
Corporate retail executives want to see transparency across their companies. With the video feature, dashboards provide clear and easy-tounderstand reporting values. This can lead to real-time investigations via daily operations of process and inputs, as well as traffic, transaction and conversion rates examined over a 30-day period. In addition, it provides a snapshot of the entire company with the ability to drill down into regional or location-based reporting. This helps decision makers see multiple districts at the same time and make decisions on store behaviors.
Video Can Help Catch Untrustworthy Employees Who Steal
Data can uncover broken processes that can reduce unknown theft where thieves often abuse retailers. Adding video surveillance to an exception-based reporting system helps your leadership team understand when and where employees look to steal during the day. When you combine exception-based reporting and video surveillance, reporting can proactively help notify your staff of questionable employees. The benefit includes supporting corporate loss prevention with documentation for criminal conviction and potential recoveries.
CBE & 3xLOGIC Partner to Integrate Video & Exception- Based Reporting
CBE and 3xLOGIC have been working together for over 15 years to design systems that integrate POS,cameras, audio, analytics, time and attendance, and more while utilizing the 3xLOGIC VIGIL TRENDS software engine to pull all data into an easy-to-use dashboard accessible anywhere the user has an Internet connection, including mobile devices.
TRENDS combine Point of Sale and video data to provide a clean, simple visual snapshot of your business:
• Easily identify the cashiers doing who are not • Location-by-location performance comparison, Conversion Rates, Loss Prevention KPI’s • Revenue vs. Employee Scheduling Reporting • 30-day Snapshot, propped doors, safe openings, open/close times, and event reporting • Tag videos with meaningful labels you define • Drive case management workflows in your external applications
Is TRENDS Right for You? Contact CBE to discuss how TRENDS can help you provide actionable intelligence on what would otherwise be dark or ambient data. To learn more about TRENDS by 3xLOGIC visit: www.3xlogic.com Contact CBE for more information at: info@cbe-inc.com
Todd Rosen | SVP | CBE, Inc 645 S. McDonough Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 Mobile: 334-782-3630 | Email: todd.rosen@cbe-inc.com
We’ve Got You Covered! www.cbe-inc.com
Kellogg Drives Innovation
Each year, Kellogg® strives to bring innovative products to shelves at convenience stores across the country. 2021 will provide a great lineup of exciting, new offerings across the snacking categories your consumers love. Pringles® introduces the Scorchin’ product line. With the spicy hot trend spreading, the Scorchin’ BBQ and Scorchin’ Cheddar flavors will help you meet consumer demand for those extra spicy snacks. Available in both standard can and large Grab n Go sizes to meet every snacking occasion. Cheez-It® brings new products through both Grooves™ Scorchin’ Hot Cheddar and Snap’d™ Jalapeño Jack. Consumers are looking for extreme heat snacking experiences – the hotter, the better! These two product line additions are sure to heat up snack time! Bite-sized snacks will be available from two favorite brands: Nutri-Grain® and Pop-Tarts®. Deliciously sweet, soft-baked Nutri-Grain® Bites give consumers the energy to fuel their morning with no mess. Available in Apple and Strawberry flavors. And Pop-Tarts® Bites bring the same Pop-Tarts® crust and filling everyone loves – now in a bite-sized snack! Available in Chocolatey Fudge and Frosted Strawberry flavors. Last year, Rice Krispies Treats® introduced you to Dunk’d™ – an indulgent, fully-enrobed Rice Krispies Treats® big bar. The new year brings a new flavor to that lineup: Dunk’d Chocolatey Covered Strawberry. Rice Krispies Treats® Big Bars will also be available in a new carton size that frees up three inches of shelf space per SKU, making room for additional varieties as well as for innovation.
Pop-Tarts® – the #1 toaster pastry brand – brings you two iconic brands and flavors in one amazing snack: Pop-Tarts® Froot Loops®! Featuring six unique Froot Loops® designs printed on the frosting. Kellogg’s® Jumbo Snax bring a combination of the nostalgic brands and fun-to-eat flavors consumers love in a larger size, perfect for snacking anytime, anywhere. Available in Tiger Paws and Froot Loops flavors and shapes. These product innovations will be available in December 2020. To learn more, visit KelloggsAwayFromHome.com. ®, TM, © 2018 Kellogg NA Co.
Grow Store Sales & Drive Down Marketing Costs!
We use custom store profiling that combines brand organization tools and business intelligence to streamline all of your operations!
What Makes Vivid Impact Different?
Business Intelligence - We help to improve implementation at the store level and increase speed-to-market. Our proximity to the UPS World Port in Louisville, KY allows us to ship to 70% of the country within 3 days. Powerful Technology - Save time and money with data-driven distribution and real time analytics to streamline operations. Creative Design Team - Our dedicated design team will provide art and engineering, industry expertise, branding and strategy. We serve large and small brands across the country, including: Circle K, Thorntons, Enmarket, GoMart and TrueNorth. Scan the QR code on the left using your camera phone to receive a FREE custom demo kit. The QR code will bring you to our contact page; just fill out your information and a member of our team will contact you about your FREE kit! Or reach out to one of the Vivid Impact team members below.
Justin Prather, (502) 939-1720 justin.prather@vividimpact.com. Sam Campitella, (502) 715-2105 sam.campitella@vividimpact.com.
1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44114What do leading convenience store chains have in common?
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Capitalizing on the experience of industry partners to bring retailers and suppliers together to identify emerging trends and boost sales www.conveniencedirections.com
BIC® Introduces New EZ Reach™ Lighter for All Lighting Occasions
New BIC® EZ Reach™ is the Ultimate Lighter, Combining Convenience, Reliability and Performance While Helping to Keep Your Fingers Away from the Flame
BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, today introduced the BIC EZ Reach lighter, hailing it as the ultimate lighter for all lighting occasions. It is designed for lighting hard-to-reach places while helping to keep fingers away from the flame. The new innovative design is a perfect combination of the iconic BIC Pocket Lighter and the longer-reaching BIC® Multi-purpose Lighter.
The EZ Reach lighter features a 1.45-inch extended wand that helps keep fingers further from the flame. Its body is the size of a pocket lighter, so it fits comfortably in users’ hands, bags and pockets, making it perfect for lighting candles, grilling and everything in between. The new design directly meets consumers’ requests for a lighter that lights at any angle.
“As the lighter category leader, BIC continues to innovate with our new BIC EZ Reach Lighter, the ultimate lighter for all lighting occasions,” said Mary Fox, General Manager of BIC North America. “Consumers give this lighter rave reviews for all lighting occasions, including hardto-reach places like candle jars and grills while keeping their fingers away from the flame. We are excited to launch this into the market and believe it will quickly become a must-have item in every home!”
BIC applied its same commitment to safety and quality in designing the BIC EZ Reach Lighter that it uses for all of its lighters. Each BIC lighter produced worldwide undergoes more than 50 quality and safety checks during the manufacturing process to ensure it meets or exceeds all safety standards to keep consumers safe.
The new EZ Reach lighters will come in four different designs: classic BIC colors, home décor, Bohemian, which is exclusively sold at Walmart, and a line of officially licensed Bob Marley lighters. The lighters are available at Walmart locations nationwide and will be available at Sam’s Club and additional retail locations through the Fall. The lighters have an MSRP of $2.99 for the 1-pack Classic, $3.49 for the 1-pack Home Décor and $4.00 for the Bob Marley lighters. For more information, go to BICLighters.com.
ABOUT BIC
BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world.
Turtle Dessert Bar
Ethel’s Baking Co. has released its new, individually wrapped Turtle Dandy Dessert Bar. With crushed pecans and rich chocolate layered over toasted pecans, pure caramel and a signature shortbread crust, the Turtle Dandy joins a line of single-serve dessert bars Ethel’s released earlier this year, including its Pecan Dandy, Cinnamon Crumble, Raspberry Crumble and Blondie Bars.
Ethel’s Baking Co.
www.ethels.com
White Cheddar Chex Mix
General Mills Convenience announced a new fl avor in its popular line of Chex Mix. Chex Mix White Cheddar features a savory blend of Chex cereal pieces, pretzels, mini breadsticks and crispy crackers seasoned with white cheddar. As Cheesy Crunch fl avors continue to grow in popularity, new Chex Mix White Cheddar gives c-store retailers a new and exciting option to meet consumer cravings in the salty snack aisle.
General Mills Convenience & Foodservice
www.generalmillscf.com
Seasonal Lagers
Leinenkugel is debuting two new lagers: a collaboration beer made with German brewing pioneer Hofbräu München and a new winter seasonal, Chocolate Dunkel. Using four types of hops — Mt. Hood, Centennial, Steiner Experimental Hop and Mosaic — Collaboration Lager blends an American trend with imported German malt. The Chocolate Dunkel has a blend of eight malts, including dark chocolate malt and chocolate wheat, combined with cocoa nibs and Willamette hops.
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
www.leinie.com
Fruit-Flavored Halloween Popping Candy
Hilco has joined with Kraft Heinz to create Kool-Aid brand treats for Halloween. Kool-Aid Ghoul-Aid brand three-pack Popping Candy peg bags and Kool-Aid brand 40-count Popping Candy laydown bags with triangular pouches. Each Kool-Aid Ghoul-Aid brand peg bag contains three pouches of popping candy in a ‘Scary Berry’ fl avor for Halloween. The candy is 0.72 ounces with a suggested retail price (SRP) of $1.29-$1.49. The Kool-Aid brand snack-size popping candy triangle packs are tamper-resistant and have a stayfresh airtight seal. They’re available in Tropical Punch, Cherry and Grape fl avors — 4.23 ounces with a $2.79-$2.99 SRP.
Hilco
www.hilcousa.com
CStoreDecisions .com
Making Connections that Drive Business
CStoreDecisions.com is geared toward C-Store retailers, convenience store suppliers, and distributors looking to stay abreast of industry trends, new product offerings and category management best practices.
We use the latest media technology, delivering content the way you want it: print issues, digital issues, enewsletters, and videos.
Use CStoreDecisions.com to help you strengthen your peer network with social engagement through Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Google+.
Browse, bookmark, share and interact with the most relevant industry content and people in the market.
Aloe Vera Drinks
Goya is releasing a new product in the world of plantbased beverages. Goya Aloe Vera Drinks can be enjoyed on their own or as an ingredient to create a variety of flavorful drinks. Along with the original flavor, Aloe Vera Drinks also come in pineapple, mango and coconut flavors. The suggested retail price is $1.49.
Goya Foods Inc.
www.goya.com
Retro Lighters
BIC Special Edition Nostalgia Series Lighters celebrate the most well-known technological extinctions of our time with these ironically trendy designs. The lighters in this series have a suggested retail price of $2.09 per lighter. BIC Maxi Lighters are longlasting, reliable and 100% quality inspected.
BIC USA Inc.
us.bic.com/en_us/lighters-new-inquiry
Aerated Gummies Innovation
Starburst announced its latest innovation, Starburst Airs — a next generation aerated gummi candy that will begin hitting certain shelves this fall, with nationwide availability beginning in 2022. Starburst Airs feature a new, inflated texture resulting in a bouncy gummy with all the flavor of the typical Starburst. Starburst Airs are available in Original and Sour Tropical packs featuring Starburst flavors, including strawberry, lemon, orange and cherry in Original packs, and sour kiwi, strawberry, pineapple, passion fruit and mango in Sour Tropical packs. These new light and airy gummies will be available in 4.3-ounce PEG bags.
Mars Inc.
www.mars.com
Birthday Cake-Flavored Butter Cake
Prairie City Bakery announced an addition to its Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes line with the addition of the new Birthday Cake flavor. This treat features its classic layered butter cake flavored with vanilla and white chocolate and is packed with colorful confetti sprinkles throughout. Available now, the Birthday Cake Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes feature bright, eye-popping packaging and are packed in convenient 10-count merchandisers, with a 60-day ambient shelf life.
Prairie City Bakery
www.pcbakery.com
Terpene-Infused Pouches
Boldt Runners Corp. is launching a new lineup of Cannadips products nationwide called Cannadips Terpenes — terpene-infused pouches that are THC- and CBD-free as well as tobacco- and nicotine-free. The Cannadips Terpenes line is available in Cannadips’ signature, core fl avors, enhanced with individual terpenes (Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Pinene and Limonene), each married to a single fl avor profi le and without CBD. This combination provides a unique and exciting experience that is both familiar to Cannadips and specifi c to the Cannadips Terpenes line.
Boldt Runners Corp.
marketing@boldtrunners.com • www.cannadipscbd.com
Chili Mango Ready-to-Drink Cocktail
BuzzBallz/Southern Champion added a new cocktail to its ready-to-drink line: BuzzBallz Cocktails Chili Mango. The cocktail tastes like mango with a hint of jalapeño to give it spice without being too hot. BuzzBallz Cocktails’ core fl avors include Tequila ‘Rita, Choc Tease and Horchata. The cocktail pairs well with citrus, as well as savory and smoky foods. It’s a match made for grilled vegetables, sweet relishes and savory tacos, to name a few. The fl avor is currently being tested in the California and Texas markets, and expectations are high for national distribution.
BuzzBallz
www.buzzballz.com
Superfood Snacks
Available in six fl avors — Banana Nut Crunch, Dark Chocolate Nut Crunch, Dragon Fruit Lemon Zest, Honey Sweet Goji, Triple Berry Vanilla and Pineapple Ginger Fusion — Supernola’s chewy clusters are made with superfoods, fruits, tree nuts and seeds and are certifi ed organic, certifi ed paleo, certifi ed keto, grain-free, plant-based, dairy-free and non-GMO.
Supernola
www.eatsupernola.com
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Iced Coffee
For its latest iced coffee fl avor, International Delight partnered with an iconic candy brand to bring Reese’s Iced Coffee, a permanent addition to International Delight’s iced coffee lineup, available on shelves nationwide as of Oct. 1. Reese’s Iced Coffee delivers a peanut buttery and chocolaty mashup. Each 64-ounce carton has a suggested retail price of $3.99.
International Delight
www.internationaldelight.com
Limited-Edition Dungeons & Dragons-Inspired Packaging Dragons-Inspired Packaging
Nerds and Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) launched the new limitededition Nerds Gummy Clusters and Rainbow Nerds Theater Box edition Nerds Gummy Clusters and Rainbow Nerds Theater Box packaging nationwide. They feature a team of six new D&Dpackaging nationwide. They feature a team of six new D&Dinspired Nerds characters, each representing a different type of inspired Nerds characters, each representing a different type of Nerds personality. From Sept. 1 through December 2021, customers who purchase the candy with this packaging can join an exclusive D&D campaign called Restoring Harmony.
Ferrara Candy Co. www.ferrarausa.com
Sparkling Citrus and Berry Refreshers
The Boston Beer Co. launched Bevy Long Drink, a new beverage inspired by the national cocktail of Finland, the “Long Drink.” Bevy Long Drink will hit shelves in early November in two fl avors: Sparkling Citrus Refresher and Sparkling Berry Refresher. Bevy’s new sparkling citrus refresher is made from an easy-drinking blend of citrus fl avors and wild juniper berries. Bevy Long Drink’s styles are sweet, tart and 5.8% ABV. It comes in six-packs and 12-packs with 12-ounce cans and single-serve 24-ounce cans.
Boston Beer Co
www.bostonbeer.com
Birthday Cake and Cookie Dough Bites
Along with other new easy-to-make snacks, Pillsbury debuted its Birthday Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Poppins. These poppable, bize-sized treats are made to keep refrigerated and are safe to eat raw. They can be eaten as dessert toppers or as an anytime snack. They come packaged in convenient, resealable bags, with a suggested retail price of $5.20.
Pillsbury
www.pillsbury.com
Multicannabinoid Oil and Softgels
NuLeaf Naturals has launched its new Multicannabinoid oil and softgels. NuLeaf Naturals Multicannabinoid is a comprehensive formula designed to elevate consumers’ health and well-being. This daily blend contains several key cannabinoids including CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC and Delta-8 THC in a balanced profi le to supercharge the endocannabinoid system.
NuLeaf Naturals
www.nuleafnaturals.com
Soft-Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies can be paired with any fall drink or on its own. These moist, soft cookies are made with real pumpkin, cheesecake-fl avored drops, brown sugar and spices to create an ultimate fall cookie. Available for a suggested retail price of $3.89.
Pepperidge Farm
www.pepperidgefarm.com
Recyclable, Paper-Based Yogurt Packaging
Chobani announced that it’s launching a paper cup. Chobani’s new product innovations — oatmilk, cold brew coffee and coffee creamers — already come in paper-based packaging that is recyclable. After two years of development, it has now moved oat yogurt into a paper-based cup. Chobani’s paper cup is 80% paperboard, made from responsibly sourced and renewable material. The cup has a thin plastic lining to maintain the quality of the product. Chobani’s paper cup will be in stores at the end of this year. It will begin with single-serve Chobani Oat Blend.
Chobani
www.chobani.com
Doritos Dinamita Flamin’ Hot Queso Flavored Tortilla Chips are now available at retailers nationwide for a limited time. The Dinamita shape meets Flamin’ Hot fl avors. The new fl avor introduces a bold-tasting experience of queso with the Flamin’ Hot kick. The suggested retail price is $4.29 per 10.75-ounce bag, $2.99 per 9.25-ounce bag and $1.99 per four-ounce bag.
Doritos
www.doritos.com
Limited-Edition Fall Seltzers
Bud Light Seltzer is introducing its new, limited-edition Bud Light Seltzer Fall Flannel variety pack. The fl avors include Bud Light Seltzer Pumpkin Spice, Bud Light Seltzer Toasted Marshmallow, Bud Light Seltzer Maple Pear and Bud Light Seltzer Apple Crisp. The new Bud Light Seltzer Fall Flannel seasonal pack features a fall-inspired plaid design and are available in 12-ounce slim-can variety 12-packs nationwide through the end of October.
Anheuser-Busch
www.anheuser-busch.com
Six New Hemp Wraps
Swisher is expanding its successful Hempire product line to include a selection of Wraps, offering two terpene-infused wraps along with four fl avored wraps. Hempire’s terpene wraps will be among the few smokable hemp products on the market that are infused with terpenes, a constituent of essential oils responsible for the smell and fl avor in all plants and fruit. Hempire’s wraps do not use synthetic dyes or colors, and its fl avors are plant-based.
Swisher
www.swisher.com
New Packaging for Degreasing, Multi-Surface Wipes
Sani Professional, the food safety division of PDI, announced the launch of a new Softpack format for its Degreasing Multi-Surface Wipes. The wipes are specifi cally formulated for the removal of grease and grime typically found in back-of-house foodservice operations. The new Softpack provides a convenient and portable format containing 75 extra-large, heavy-duty disposable wipes that are pre-moistened and ready to use. Through careful design, the Softpack format has reduced plastic packaging by more than 85% while also requiring less storage space than a pail format.
Sani Professional
www.saniprofessional.com
New Keto Protein Bar Flavors
In response to demand for its fi rst Keto Protein Bar, think! expanded its keto offering with the introduction of two new fl avors: Chocolate Mousse Pie and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. think! Keto Protein Bars offer 10 grams of protein, one gram of sugar, are gluten free, ketocertifi ed and 180 calories or less.
think!
www.thinkproducts.com
Hazy and Juicy Pale Ale
Blue Moon Brewing Co. announced the launch of Moon Haze, its award-winning hazy and juicy pale ale. Brewed with dried, whole oranges, Moon Haze brings a bold, juicy fl avor and Blue Moon’s signature orange color together. Moon Haze has a juicy orange, tropical and coconut taste; an aroma of heavy citrus tropical with notes of orange, pineapple, mango and a whisper of coconut; and a smooth taste with a touch of bitterness to fi nish. The beer has a 5.7% ABV and is available in six-pack and 12-pack offerings of 12-ounce cans.
Blue Moon Brewing Co.
www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com
Cocktail-Inspired Seltzers for the Holidays
Available nationally on Nov. 1, Truly’s Holiday Party Pack features four cocktail-inspired fl avors, including: Cran Orange Sparkler, Pom Ginger Fizz, Holiday Sangria Style and Spiked Apple Spice. Just like the rest of the Truly lineup, each style in the Holiday Party Pack will be 5% ABV, 100 calories, one gram of sugar and gluten free.
Truly Hard Seltzer
www.trulyhardseltzer.com
Delta-8 Product Line
Global Widget announced its newest brand, Mystic Labs, which features premium hemp-derived Delta-8 THC products, including gummies, vapes, tincture oils and the trifecta series (shot and gummies). The brand is available to retailers, distributors and consumers nationwide. All Mystic Labs products are crafted and manufactured inhouse at Global Widget’s 100,000-square-foot manufacturing space.
Global Widget
www.globalwidget.com
Hard Mountain Dew With Zero Sugar
Mango Habanero Seasoned Macadamia Nuts
Royal Hawaiian Orchards announced its new product, Mango Habanero. The 40-ounce bag is packed with sweet heat from the combination of natural mango and habanero fl avors. Seven weeks after launching a virtual poll featuring three potential new products in July, Mango Habanero beat out the competing seasonings.
MacFarms
www.macfarms.com
The Boston Beer Co. and PepsiCo announced plans to enter a business collaboration to produce HARD MTN DEW alcoholic beverage. HARD MTN DEW comes in bold fl avors and distinctive branding, all with an ABV of 5%. This new fl avored malt beverage will be marketed to adults of legal age. As part of the business arrangement, Boston Beer will develop and produce new HARD MTN DEW, and PepsiCo has set up a new entity to sell, deliver and merchandise the product. Consumers should anticipate fi nding HARD MTN DEW on shelves in early 2022.
PepsiCo
www.pepsico.com
5-Hour Energy 111
www.5hourEnergyRetailer.com
Abbott 17
linnea.solbrook@abbott.com
Advanced Solutions 32 Communications Corp.
724.772.2722 / www.asccinc.com
Altria Group Distribution Company 2
877.968.5323
Apter Industries 133
800.441.7146 / www.apterindustries.com
Bidi Vapor, LLC 60-61
www.bidivapor.com
Black Buffalo 67
www.blackbuffalo.com
Brakebrush Brothers, Inc. 97
www.ChickenChampions.com
Broaster Chicken 101
800.365.8278 www.genuinebroasterchicken.com
Brothers Mobile Solutions 115
www.MobileSolutions.Brother.com/Shell
Calico Brands, LLC 54
800.544.4837 / www.calicobrands.com
CB Distributors 6-7
888.824.3256 www.cbprices.com www.hempbombs.com www.naturesscript.com
CForce Bottling Company 47
www.cforce.com
Chester's Chicken 89
800.646.9403 / www.chesterschicken.com
Cheyenne International, LLC 53
866.254.6975 / www.cheyenneintl.com
Click It Inc. 117
www.clickitinc.com
The Coca-Cola Company 37
www.coca-cola.com
Core-Mark International 41 Curtis 125
www.wilburcurtis.com
Dover Fueling Solutions 107
E&G Gallo Winery 83
E-Alternative Solutions 24-25
www.EalternativeSolutions.com/Forth
EDGE Petrol 119
856.441.0894 / www.edgepetrol.com
Envysion 123
877.258.9441 / info@envysion.com Ford Gum & Machine Company 71 847.955-0003 / www.fordgum.com
GSK C-Store 23, 135
Scott.F.Breisinger@gsk.com
Gulfcoast 3
727.449.2296 / www.gulfcoast.com
Helix Innovations LLC 31 The Hershey Company 5
www.HersheySolutions.com
Home Market Foods 15
800.367.8325 info@HMFfoodservice.com www.HMFfoodservice.com
Hoshizaki America 19
www.hoshizakiamerica.com
Hunt Brothers Pizza 87
www.huntbrotherspizza.com/csd
Hussmann 105
800.592.2060 www.Hussmann.com
Invenco 167
877.515.0939 / www.invenco.com/s/csd
Johnsonville C-Store 99
www.CStoreJohnsonville.com
Kraft Heinz 49
www.kraftheinz-foodservice.com
Krispy Krunchy Chicken 93
800.290.6097 / www.krispykrunchy.com
Lancer Worldwide 79
www.lancerworldwide.com/CSD
Legal Lean 82
321.236.2619 / www.legalleanstore.com
Liggett Vector Brands 51
877.415.4100
LK Food Packaging 85
800.809.8393 / www.LKpkg.com
Loomis Armored US, LLC 127
www.loomis.us/SafePoint
March Networks 65
www.searchlight.marchnetworks.com
Mars Wrigley 73
www.mars.com/made-by-mars/mars-wrigley
MasonWays Indestructible Plastics, LLC
165
800.837.2881 / www.masonways.com
McLane Company, Inc. 29
www.mclanegrocery.com
Modern Store Equipment 35
877.532.8433 sales@modernstoreequipment.com modernstoreonline.com/cstore
NCS Profitable Solutions 129
www.ncswash.com
Newly Weds Foods 91
www.newlywedsfoods.com
North American Bancard 164
866.481.4604 / www.nynab.com
Perfetti Van Melle 75 Prairie City Bakery 90
www.pcbakery.com
Premier Manufacturing, Inc. 69
www.gopremier.com Proctor & Gamble 45 www.PGConvenience.com
Republic Tobacco 59
800.288.8888 / www.republicbrands.com
Ruiz Foods 9
www.RuizFoodservice.com/Sweeten Sales
SPC Retail 126
800.523.6899 / www.spc-retail.com
Southern Champion 77
www.UptownCocktails.com
Success Systems 121
800.653.3345 / www.success-systems.com
Swedish Match
800.367.3677 www.zyn.com 21 www.gamecigars.com 33 www.whiteowlcigar.com 55, 113 www.generalsnus.com 81
Swisher International Cover, 11, 168
800.874.9720 / www.swisher.com
Transact 109
877.748.4222 / www.transact-tech.com/cd
Trion Industries, Inc. 27
800.444.4665 info@triononline.com / TrionOnline.com
Twang Partners, Ltd. 95
800.950.8095 / shale@twang.com
Tyson Convenience 103
www.Tysonconvenience.com
USA CBD Expo 139
www.usacbdexpo.com/tickets
Vaporlax 63
800.775.8970 / mipodwholesale.com
Vehicle Wash Systems, Inc. 131
800.344.8700 / www.washngo.com
VP Racing 42-43
866.530.3028 / www.vpracingfuels.com
Vitamin Energy 12-13
800.420.3106 Sales@VitaminEnergyLLC.com
Xcalibur International, Ltd. 57
How to Plan for the Pending Cookie Apocalypse Using Autonomous Check-in, Checkout
Committing to autonomous check-in, checkout and owning the data gives c-stores the ability to preserve their trade promotion, placement and slotting fees, and increase them by brokering the attribution data to advertisers.
Richard Crone • Crone Consulting, LLC
As the unanticipated impact of the pandemic magnified the need for online to offline (O2O) solutions and order ahead for convenience stores, so too will the pending cookie apocalypse by Google drive the business case for autonomous check-in and checkout.
Verifiable O2O attribution from known users commands the highest trade promotion, placement and slotting fees, which for most retailers and convenience stores exceeds EBITA. Of the $254 billion spent annually on advertising and promotions, 95% is derived from consumer packaged goods (CPGs), brands, product makers and service providers vs. 5% from merchants themselves.
The highest trade promotion, placement and slotting fees go to those that can provide a proven SKU-level audit trail of net new sales from registered customers that opt in to select offers in advance or anonymously aggregated through cookies using O2O tracking to measure purchase intent. Grubhub, Instacart, Amazon, PayPal Honey, Venmo, petroleum-brands and other order-ahead mobile apps possess this data and are using it now to increase their proportion of the O2O promotional spend by those stocking the shelves of convenience stores.
DATA OWNERSHIP
An early commitment to autonomous check-in and checkout will give convenience stores a chance to not only preserve their trade promotion, placement and slotting fees but increase them by brokering the attribution data to advertisers. To be fairly compensated for the O2O infrastructure they enable, convenience stores will need a check-in strategy centered on preserving and negotiating their data rights from the platform providers installing autonomous check-in and checkout platforms. This is especially important for c-stores that lack a customer data platform (CDP) integrated with their own branded, proprietary mobile app and end up relying on the check-in and checkout credentials of third parties.
If the c-store is not the system of record (SoR) for the customer data, either opt in at the individual app user level or O2O through anonymized cohorts using cookies, (or a likely successor, Google’s Federated Learning of Cohorts, FLoC), they are not in the pole position for negotiating promotional rates based on attribution. FloC will raise the advertiser preference for and promotional premiums paid for opt-in, known user profiles (vs. anonymized FLoC cohorts) derived from a retailer’s own branded apps.
All of Google’s primary services (e.g., search, maps, email, etc.) are provided at no cost to consumers and are funded by attribution derived from “in-context search” O2O tracking of customer purchase intent with cookies. AI-superpowers, with or without c-stores and other retailers, will aggregate O2O proprietary and third-party data sources with the information gained from autonomous check-in and checkout such as door swings, footfalls, journey tracking, eye-gaze, dwell time, shopping lists, SKUlevel basket data using predictive analytics to continuously enhance the customer experience based on intent, as do Amazon, Google, et. al. when you log in to their sites.
You get what you measure, and most c-stores don’t possess the infrastructure or the technical talent to measure these things today. So committing blindly to autonomous check-in through disintermediating thirdparty or mobile wallets may seem like the only solution, but it’s not without the data risk.
Look no further than the restaurant industry, which savvy convenience stores consider a fierce competitor, which was largely forced to commit to third parties for their order-ahead platforms such as Grubhub, Uber Eats, etc., which ultimately cost them up to 30% of every order.
Richard Crone leads Crone Consulting LLC, an independent advisory specializing in mobile strategy, autonomous check-in/checkout and personalized payments. Reach him at Linkedin.com/in/richardcrone/.
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