convenience retailer july/august

ConvenienceRETAILERFEATURES SEE PAGES 10--20

n Kerusso Proves Consumer Demand for Christian-Themed Products

n Hoffco Brands Faces Everyday Challengesof Electronics Evolution

www.convenienceretailer.net

PRODUCT FEATURES SEE PAGE 29

n Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Barsn Heineken Indion Arma Energy SNX

TOP TECH SEE PAGE 28

n Acumera Provides Valuable IT Tools for Multi-Site Retailers

n MICROS myCreations Software Ensures Foodservices Quality, Safety

INDUSTRYCALENDAR

OPERATIONS: Gas Stations Prepare to Offer E15,the New Ethanol BlendSEE PAGE 21SEE PAGE 30

Volume 5, Number 4 July/August 2012

BY LUCAS WITMANFor those who remember a time whenbeverages served merely to quench one’sthirst, today’s beverage market may seema strange and exotic landscape of prod-ucts designed to accomplish an ever-expanding laundry list of personal bene-fits. Drinks sold today are purported to doeverything from replace meals to preventhangovers to help imbibers lose weight.Even water, once the most basic of bev-erage choices, has now been elevated and

transformed. Today there are waters re-plete with vitamins, energizing ingredi-ents and added electrolytes, serving toinvigorate and nourish the consumer andmaximize hydration.

The functional beverage market is tradi-tionally broken down into four separate cat-egories: Hydration beverages are made witha panoply of vitamins, minerals and botan-ical extracts designed for keeping active

Mobile POS TechnologyChanging Retail Shopping Experience

C-Store Grab and GoFoods Becoming MoreDiverse, Profitable

BY LUCAS WITMANPerhaps as recently as a year ago, seeingsomeone pay for their groceries or drycleaning by simply tapping their phone atthe register would have elicited a surprisedreaction. However, there has recently beenan explosion of interest among credit cardcompanies, technology companies, retail-ers and consumers in developing and pro-moting this type of mobile paymenttechnology. Today, Google Wallet, IsisMobile Wallet, Mastercard Paypass Walletand a growing panoply of additional mo-bile payment services are taking the retailindustry by storm.

Despite the growing ubiquity of thistechnology, however, many retailers in this

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Within the convenience store industry,grab and go foods are becoming an increasingly invaluable revenue source,compelling retailers to diversify and inno-vate their food offerings in order to bettermeet consumer demand.

According to data released by the Na-tional Association of Convenience Stores,

BUYERS GUIDE:CAR CARE PRODUCTSSEE PAGE 23

BY LUCAS WITMANGas prices may possibly have alreadyreached their peak for 2012, but the dam-age is done. As consumers throughout thecountry have sought to alter their lifestylesin response to the recent explosion in fuelprices, many convenience stores are re-porting that they are seeing a marked dropin total overall revenue as a result. And, itis becoming increasingly apparent to manyconvenience retailers that they must alterthe way they do business if they are goingto successfully adapt to a new retail land-scape, where fuel is not necessarily the sin-gular driver of consumer traffic.

Summer has always been a vital time tothe overall success of the conveniencestore industry, as the summer road trip sea-son brings a stream of travelers into stores.Fuel customers, stopping to fill up theirtanks, typically go into stores to fill up onsnacks, drinks and souvenirs. However, ina recent survey, 54 percent of those ques-tioned reported that they are planning totravel less this summer due to an increasein fuel prices. In addition, for those whodo choose to go on road trips in 2012, high

High Gas Prices Force C-Store Retailers to Adapt

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT:Buc-ee’s Opens World’s Largest C-Store in New Braunfels, TexasSEE PAGE 4

Thirsty Consumers Embracing BeveragesThat Offer Added Benefits to the Body

MARKETWATCH SEE PAGE 24-26

n SVM Cards Launches FuelCircle Gasoline Rewards Program

n CITGO Introduces Loyalty Bucks Program

NEXT ISSUE: NACS Show Coverage

BUYERS GUIDE: Cigars and Cigarettes3La Palina El Diario KB

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http://www.activatedrinks.com

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4 ConvenienceRETAILER July/August 2012

Lil’ Drug Store Products continues to bethe leading health and beauty care productsupplier to the convenience channel, ac-cording to data recently released by health-care research and consulting companySymphony IRI. With a diverse portfolio ofover-the-counter drugs, personal careitems and exclusive brands, Lil’ DrugStore Products takes pride in providing in-dustry leadership, innovative products, im-peccable service and data-driven solutionsto the challenges of this complex category.

“HBC represents less than two percentof total in-store sales, but high margin po-tential creates a significant opportunity. Asindustry leaders, we are committed to pro-viding data-driven tools and expertise tohelp retailers manage their HBC set effec-tively and efficiently,” said Paul Ross-berger, Vice President of Sales andMarketing at Lil’ Drug Store Products.“Lil’ Drug Store Products’ unique ap-proach to HBC is backed by 37 years ofexperience, research and analysis to ensurethat the right products are on the shelvesat the right prices for consumers, distribu-tors and convenience retailers. We arethrilled that our customers consistently

validate our recommendations and are ex-periencing increases in total sales andprofits for their entire HBC category.”

Lil’ Drug Store Products attributes muchof its success to offering dependable prod-ucts, including a successful line of privatelabel over-the-counter drug items. Manufac-turer-based product outages and a long-struggling economy have amplified thedemand for conveniently available, qualityprivate labels. This is evidenced by an un-precedented 11 percent growth in conven-ience store HBC private label sales in 2011.This surge was driven by the Lil’ Drug Brandin particular, which doubled its sales volumefrom the previous year. Lil’ Drug Store con-tinues to expand its selection of like-item na-tional brand equivalents to providealternatives for consumers seeking relief.

“Our retailers count on us to anticipatethe unanticipated, make convenience con-venient and enhance their customers’shopping experience with speed and easeat the time of need, “said Rossberger.“With the expansion of our sales team andunwavering commitment to innovation,Lil’ Drug Store Products continues to leadthe industry in sales and service.” n

Lil’ Drug Store Leads as Top Personal Care ProductProvider to C-Stores

ConvenienceRETAILERLee M. Oser

CEO and Editor-in-Chief

Lyle SappSenior Associate Publisher

Director of Sales

Kate SeymourSenior Associate Publisher

Kim ForresterPaul Harris

Associate Publisher

Lorrie BaumannEditorial Director

Lucas WitmanEditor

Rocelle AragonAssociate Editor

JoEllen LowryContributing Editor

Monica BolandArt Director

Yasmine BrownGraphic Designer

Ruth HaltiwangerSelene PinuelasTraffic Manager

Clarissa AlvarezAngela BossoLynn Hilton

Adriana InzunzaAccount Managers

Enrico CecchiEuropean Sales

Convenience Retailer is published byOser Communications Group ©2012.

BPA Worldwide Member since June 22, 2009.All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at:

1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300

www.oser.comwww.convenienceretailer.netEuropean offices located atLungarno Benvenuto

Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy.

A burgeoning and distinctive brand,Texas-based Buc-ee’s has developed astrong reputation within the conveniencestore industry for its fiercely loyal clien-tele. Enthusiastic shoppers flock to theretail chain to get their hands on thestore’s renowned private label jerky andsnacks. And the chain may be the onlyone in the industry to house what havebecome “destination” restrooms tosome, famously clean andwell-appointed. Many ofBuc-ee’s customers evenexpress their loyalty tothe brand by wearing t-shirts and other items ofapparel festooned withthe chain’s immediatelyrecognizable buck-toothed beaver logo.

Fans of Buc-ee’snow have the oppor-tunity to experiencethe brand in an en-tirely new and exciting way, as the chainrecently opened what it is calling theworld’s largest convenience store in NewBraunfels, Texas.

The New Braunfels Buc-ee’s is trulyremarkable in size. Described by someas similar to shopping at a Target-sizedconvenience store, the new retail loca-

tion occupies a 68,000 square-footbuilding off Interstate 35, just Northeastof San Antonio.

Upon approaching Buc-ee’s NewBraunfels location, customers immedi-ately know they are in for something spe-cial. This is because, when driving up tothe movie-theater-sized building, cus-tomers make their way past an astonish-

ing 60 gas pumps. In addition to typical con-venience store offerings,Buc-ee’s offers its cus-tomers a variety of prod-ucts unique to the chain,including everything fromdeer feeders to fudge. TheNew Braunfel’s Buc-ee’s

even includes afarmer’s market, asection for huntingequipment and anoriginal selection ofavailable art.

The New Braunfel’s Buc-ee’s is the26th location in the growing conven-ience store chain. Buc-ee’s opened itsfirst location in Lake Jackson, Texas in1982. The chain’s newest location is cer-tainly a feather in the cap of a conven-ience store company AAA once referredto as “the theme park of gas stations.” n

Buc-ee’s Opens World’s Largest C-Store in New Braunfels, Texas

Pringles recently teamed up with theUnited Service Organizations to honor themen and women of the U.S. ArmedForces with a “Taste of Home.”Pringles delivered more than43,000 free cans of Pringles toUSO Centers to be distributedto troops deployed around theworld in appreciation of theirservice. The Pringles were pro-duced in the USA at the Jack-son, Tenn. plant, whereemployees have many familymembers and friends serving inthe military.

“Providing a ‘Taste of Home’…is our way of letting the troops know thatwe are thinking about them and appreciateall they do for us every day,” said RobHite, Pringles Shopper Marketing Man-ager on Proctor & Gamble’s Walmart Cus-tomer Team.

Specially wrapped Pringles cans arenow available at retail stores across thecountry. The company’s large displays willhighlight how customers can participate insupporting the troops by going to the USOwebsite at www.uso.org.

“This campaign is especially importantto the USO for two reasons,” said USOSVP and Chief Development Officer KelliSeely. “Not only does it provide our troops

far from home and their loved ones with ataste of home, but also these Pringles have

been made by people with apersonal connection to ourservice men and women. It’sa true gift from the heart andthere’s no better way to letour heroes know just howgrateful we are for theirservice and sacrifice.”

Pringles acknowledgesthe sacrifices and commit-ment required to ensure ourfreedom and the companyappreciates the dedication of

the men and women who serve, and thefamilies and communities which supportthem Thanks to the USO, they will have a“Taste of Home” this summer.

The USO lifts the spirits of America’stroops and their families millions oftimes each year at hundreds of placesworldwide. It is a private, nonprofit or-ganization, not a government agency, andthus it relies on the generosity of its vol-unteers and donors. In addition to indi-vidual donors, the USO is supported bya wide number of corporate sponsors, in-cluding convenience retail chains Kanga-roo Express, 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy,Southwest Convenience Stores, Wawaand others. n

Pringles Supports USO with Free Cans for U.S. Troops

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s u r e b e t s


Vienna Beef Cooks Up Mobile Marketing InitiativeVibes, a mobile marketing and technologycompany, recently announced it has beefedup the mobile marketing campaigns for na-tionally recognized Vienna Beef, maker ofChicago's classic hot dog. The campaign,which began in April 2010, has successfullyenabled Vienna Beef food service vendorsto participate at no cost to them in the Vi-enna Beef mobile marketing program,which provides vendor-specific offers to agrowing and active mobile database of sub-scribers. Vibes’ mobile marketing platform,Catapult, powers the initiative, deliveringtargeted promotions and mobile couponsdirectly into the hands of opted-in cus-tomers in an effort to drive sales and foottraffic for both Vienna Beef and participat-ing food service providers. To date, Vienna

Beef has sent out more than 600,000coupons on behalf of their vendors.

“We are always looking for new and in-novative ways to help our loyal ViennaBeef vendors be successful, and mobileprovides a unique opportunity to engageconsumers in a way other channels simplycannot. It’s more personal,” said CarrieBodman, Marketing Coordinator for Vi-enna Beef. “Mobile is the perfect way forus to help our vendors reach out to theircustomers with exclusive and personalizedoffers that drive traffic to their establish-ments. For us, it is a great way to buildbrand loyalty while we promote ViennaBeef on a broad but highly targeted level.”

Promoted via in-store signage, the mo-bile campaign allows users to text in to a

short code and receive a discount that’s re-deemable at a specific restaurant or ven-dor. Users are also prompted to opt-in to aVienna Beef mobile database where theycan receive exclusive news and updatesfrom the company.

“Mobile has proven to be one of themost powerful marketing channels avail-able because it allows marketers to con-nect brands with customers at just the righttime and at just the right place,” said JackPhilbin, Co-Founder and President ofVibes. “What Vienna Beef is doing isunique because they are providing the ven-dors that sell their products with an inno-vative marketing channel they may nothave otherwise considered or had accessto on their own.” n

Frito-Lay Expands Smartfood Brand of Healthy SnacksPepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America di-vision recently announced the expan-sion of its Smartfood brand to includepopped chips, popcorn and puffed corn,each to be marketed under the Smart-food Selects name.

Smartfood Selects snacks are madewith all-natural ingredients and includeno artificial flavors, artificial preserva-tives or monosodium glutamate. To helpbusy consumers make informed choices,the front of each package features nutri-tion icons highlighting calories per serv-ing, saturated fat, sodium and sugar.Select items carry a whole grain stamphelping customers to clearly identify

which products offer at least eightgrams of whole grains.

“Consumers have come to expect addedvalue from the products they buy, andsnacks are no exception. Great taste is amust, but consumers also demand smartoptions,” said Daniel Naor, Senior VicePresident of Growth Ventures for Frito-Lay North America. “Smartfood Selectsoffer a variety of light-textured and airysnacks with smart combinations of herbsand spices, and all-natural ingredients.”

The new line of Smartfood Selectssnacks features a smart combination ofselect ingredients and delicious flavors.New products include Parmesan Herb,

Buffalo Cheddar and Cinnamon BrownSugar Popcorn, Sour Cream OnionPuffed Corn, and Italian Herb Multi-grain, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Multi-grain, Feta Herb Hummus and GarlicTomato Basil Hummus Popped Chips.

Smartfood Selects Popcorn is availablein 6-oz. bags, Smartfood Selects PuffedCorn is available in 4-oz. bags and Smart-food Selects Popped Chips are available in3.25-oz. bags. All varieties have a sug-gested retail price of $3.29. The new prod-uct line will be sold at retail locationsnationwide. For more information on thenew, great-tasting Smartfood Selects prod-ucts, visit www.smartfood.com. n

Crunch Pak Introduces New SlicedApple SnacksThe founders of Crunch Pak, the leadingmaker of cleaned, ready-to-eat freshapple slices, began their business withthe belief that people would enjoy ap-ples more often if they were easier toeat. This belief has made Crunch Pakthe largest producer of sliced apples inthe country today.

Crunch Pak recently introduced a newline of low-calorie single-serve producesnack items called Dipperz. Crunch PakDipperz are available in four combina-tions: sweet or tart apples with carameldip, sweet apples with chocolate dip andbaby peeled carrots with ranch dip.Each Dipperz snack item is just 80 calo-ries or less.

In addition, Crunch Pak is preparingto debut an exciting new line of slicedapple products called Flavorz. Througha proprietary method, Flavorz sliced ap-ples are infused with the flavor of otherfruits. The texture and eating qualities ofthe apple are not changed. However,Crunch Pak Flavorz sliced apples featurethe flavors of peach and mango, straw-berry vanilla and grape. In addition, Fla-vorz will be sold in packages featuringDisney characters, including Phineas &Ferb, Mickey Mouse and friends, andDisney princesses. The Flavorz line wascreated in conjunction with Disney Con-sumer Products and meets the strict nu-tritional guidelines created by Disney,ensuring that they are nutritionally bal-anced for kids.

Located in the heart of Washingtonstate apple country, Crunch Pak utilizesthe perfect recipe of vitamin C and cal-cium to prevent spoilage and maintainthe crispness of an apple after it’s sliced.In addition, Crunch Pak’s breathablebags allow the sliced apples to receivethe right mixture of oxygen while con-tinuously emitting carbon dioxide. Thiscombination ensures that the applesmaintain optimum quality during theirtransportation to market.

Crunch Pak continues to innovate toassure stable shelf life for maximumfreshness and selling opportunity. Thecompany’s research and developmentdepartment is constantly working onnew product and package innovationthat will meet the needs of health con-scious consumers. In addition to itssliced apple products, Crunch Pak alsosells a variety of other healthy producesnacks, including Just Grapes, CrunchPak carrots, and Snackerz fruit snack trays. n

With the aim of being the leading e-cigaretteon the market, Metro®Electronic Ciga-rette just announced that they have addedfive new products to their already extensive line of product accessories, allof which deliver a very customizable vaping experience. Stores were enthusi-astic about the new products and beganpre-ordering them as early as March, wellahead of their official mid-May release,which only shows their confidence in thesuccess of these new products.

First, Metro is proud to introduce theirRe-Charge Pack. The Re-Charge Packcomes fully equipped with two recharge-able batteries, and, unlike other cases outthere, this one has built-in foldawayprongs. The built-in foldaway prongsmake for hassle-free charging, requiringno additional cables or parts to charge. Justplug it directly into the wall. The Re-Charge Pack is also capable of holding upto three cartridges, one battery and one fullsize e-cig, at the same time. The recharge-able internal battery of this personal powercase allows you to charge while pluggedin or on-the-go.

Metro has also introduced an even moreaffordable version of this new ppc calledthe Charge Pack. The Charge Pack alsocomes equipped with built-in foldawayprongs, but only one battery and does notcome with an internal battery for on-the-go charging.

Other recently introduced products cre-ating a buzz are the new Designer Packs,offered in three popular themes. The ChickStick Designer Pack includes one pink andwhite themed, plastic secure-clasp case,one pink swirl rechargeable e-cigarettebattery and one USB charger/adapter. TheCamo Designer Pack includes one camou-flage-themed, plastic secure-clasp case,one camo rechargeable battery and oneUSB charger/adapter. And lastly, the Mid-night Designer Pack includes one mid-night blue and black themed, plasticsecure-clasp case, one glossy blackrechargeable battery and one USBcharger/adapter.

All of these packs offer a new way to en-hance the vaping experience. With car-tridges sold separately, each pack iscompletely customizable. The user is able to

choose a flavor and strength of cartridge anddoes not have to choose from predeterminedpackaged options. This is very beneficial forthe retailer as well, since it ensures themovement of product on the shelves. Withevery pack sold, at least one package of car-tridges will be sold in conjunction.

“We have experienced an extremely en-thusiastic response to the Designer Packsand Re-Charge Pack. Since we first an-nounced they were soon coming, in Januaryat the Consumer Electronics Show, cus-tomers had been asking on a weekly basiswhen they would be arriving,” said JessicaMiltier, Internet Marketing Specialist forMETRO Electronic Cigarette. “Since therelease, they have been generating muchmore attention than we had anticipated. Butthat is definitely an added bonus.”

All the new METRO products are avail-able in stores across the nation as well asavailable online a www.metroecigs.com. n

Metro® Electronic Cigarette Launches Five New Products

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According to the second annual HarrisPoll EquiTrend Brand of the Year rank-ings, Midwest-based retail chain Speed-way is the nation’s number oneconvenience store brand of 2012. Thechain beat out six other convenience storechains for the honor, including runners upArco, am/pm and 7-Eleven. Club storechain Costco was ranked as the numberone gasoline retailer of the year, followedby Hess Gasoline, Shell and Sam’s Club.

Consumer research company Harris Inter-active employs an academically vettedpolling process in determining its annual

rankings of the top brands in more than 125different categories. Winners are chosenbased on documented consumer familiaritywith the brand, as well as the quality withwhich the brand is perceived and the strengthof consumers’ connections to the company.

Headquartered in Enon, Ohio, Speed-way currently operates more than 1,350stores in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky,Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.In terms of number of locations, the com-pany ranks as the fourth largest conven-ience store chain in the nation. Accordingto Harris Interactive, it was Speedway’s

top scores for quality and customer pur-chase consideration that landed the com-pany in the number one spot. This isdespite the fact that 7-Eleven received thehighest score for brand familiarity.

Speedway is no stranger to the HarrisPoll Brand of the Year rankings. Last yearthe company was named the number onegasoline retailer in the nation. This yearmarks the first time that Costco was in-cluded in the rankings. Speedway contin-ues to sit among the top rated fuelpurveyors of 2012 as well, this year takingthe number six spot. n

Speedway Ranked Number One Convenience Store Chain of 2012

Activate, the innovative, nutrient-enhancedwater beverage that makes it easy and con-venient for consumers to live a healthy, ac-tive lifestyle, recently announced thelaunch of a new portfolio of products.

Activate has reformulated its full line ofbeverages for a naturally enhanced flavorthat includes electrolytes and a commonblend of Vitamins A, B5, B12, C and E,along with other functional ingredients.Activate drinks will continue to use all-natural Stevia as their sweetener, with zerograms of sugar and zero calories. Throughthese innovations, Activate is working toenhance its flavor profile to further posi-tion the product as a satisfying water op-tion that combines great performance withgreat taste.

The company’s new product portfolioincludes Activate Balance (promotingoverall health), Defend (boosting immu-nity), Rebound (promoting rehydration),Beauty, (providing skin cell support), Deft(supporting overall cell health) andCharged (an energizing drink).

“After revolutionizing the beveragelandscape with our proprietary cap design,we continue to invest in product innovationin order to better serve our active cus-tomers, who are looking for simple, con-venient solutions to help them getactivated,” said Activate co-founder Anders Eisner.

In addition to these product changes,Activate has also teamed up with designhouse Pearlfisher New York to create new

packaging that helps consumers easilyidentify the brand’s point of difference anddetermine which variety meets their activelifestyle. The updated packaging also fea-tures enhanced cap instructions, a clear in-

gredient panel, high-impact graphics anda dynamic design that pops on shelves.

To learn more about Activate, for a storelocator or to purchase online, please visitwww.activatedrinks.com. n

Activate Unveils Updated Beverage Product Line, New Packaging Design

Upstate Niagara Cooperative has an-nounced that their innovative new brandof chocolate milk called Crave will now beavailable at 7-Eleven stores in select mar-kets across the Untied States.

The ultra-cold, ultra-bold and incrediblyrich chocolate flavor of Crave was createdby Upstate Niagara Cooperative, a familyof dairy farmers in Western New YorkState. Since its inception, Crave chocolatemilk has been hooking consumers with itsflavor and convenience. And with its inno-vative aluminum Frost Flow bottle, Cravechills incredibly fast and stays colder,longer, creating a frosty taste experiencelike no other.

It is this innovative bottle that hasbeen especially appealing to 7-Elevenretailers, due to its unusual ability tostore the product at room tempera-ture. Because of the Frost Flow bot-tle as well as Upstate Niagara’sunique pasteurization process,Crave is a shelf-stable dairy productthat is economical to ship, easy tostore and more effective to mer-chandise than any other dairy prod-uct on the market. Making theproduct even harder to refuse, Upstate

Niagara Cooperative is enticing storemanagers with a free six unit fill withtheir first order through McLane.

Crave will soon be available in morethan 7,000 7-Eleven stores in the UnitedStates, sold in single serve 12-oz. bottlesin both Original Chocolate and StrawberryChocolate flavors. For more informationabout Crave, visit www.icravemilk.com. n

Get What You ‘Crave’ at 7-ElevenPepperidge Farm Inc., a division ofCampbell Soup Company, was recentlyhonored with two of the packaging indus-try’s most prestigious awards: the DuPontAwards for Packaging Innovation and anAmeristar award from the Institute ofPackaging Professionals.

Both awards recognize the company’sDeli Flats thin rolls and Goldfish breadsfor innovative packaging design, sustain-ability and waste reduction. The new pack-aging for these products reduced the useof materials by 65 percent. In addition, themore compact package has the added ben-efit that 25 percent more product can beshipped in the same shipping unit, result-ing in reduced transportation costs and anoverall smaller carbon footprint.

“When we first created this packaging,our goal was to differentiate our productsand create a unique consumer shoppingexperience in the bread aisle, and we didjust that,” said Eva Peters, Director ofPackaging Development at PepperidgeFarm. “We continued to innovate our orig-inal design, with a goal to make it moresustainable, reduce costs and increasemanufacturing automation. These awards

recognize how our latest designs deliveron all of those objectives and then some.”

The new package designs are made offlexible film lamination that feature im-proved graphics and are unique to the bak-ery aisle. They provide excellent sealstrength, resist tears and the tear tape pro-vides the benefit of tamper evidence. Theyalso have a re-sealable pressure-sensitiveseal instead of a zipper, providing con-sumers with a package that is easy to openand easy to reclose.

According to the DuPont Awards panel,who recognized Pepperidge Farm with agold level honor, “This is an outstandingexample of how innovation can be simpleand affordable for consumers, while mak-ing a splash on store shelves.”

Now in its 24th year, the DuPont Awardsfor Packaging Innovation is the industry’slongest-running, global, independentlyjudged celebration of innovation and col-laboration throughout the value chain.Each year, an esteemed panel awards dia-mond, gold or silver honors based on “ex-cellence” ratings in one or all of threecategories: Innovation, Sustainability andCost/Waste Reduction. n

Pepperidge Farm Packaging Recognized for Innovation and Sustainability

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Kerusso ProvesConsumer Demandfor Christian-Themed ProductsScott Robins, Vice Presi-

dent of Hoffco Brandsrecently spoke to Conven-ience Retailer about recentdevelopments with the com-pany and Hoffco’s plans forthe future.

CR: Can you tell our readers a little bitabout your company?

SR: Hoffco is an aggressive, and verymuch a ‘take care of our customer’ com-pany. We put great focus on product qual-ity, display, point of purchase design,innovation and of course, customer service.Without customers, we don’t have a busi-ness, so they are always on our mind whenmaking decisions on how to move forward.

CR: What was the most significant event that affected your company over the past year?

SR: A significant event would be the con-solidation of products. As technologyevolves, more and more products becomeobsolete, meaning we have to refresh ouractive programs to meet the present andfuture demands. By anticipating those de-mands, we were able to adjust our existingprograms and migrate to a more consoli-dated program that eliminates future obso-

lescence and keeps our customers happy.We feel that our partnerships formed overthe last year with companies like MercuryRetail Services and Sunshine Marketinghave poised us to be on top in 2012.

CR: What do you anticipate to be yourgreatest challenge in the year ahead?

SR: An ongoing challenge that we faceevery day is the evolution of electronics.We have to make sure we are ahead of theflow and waiting for those changes beforethey show up. One major challenge isbeing ready for power-hungry devices.Smartphone and tablet sales are growingrapidly, and we need to be ready to providesmart, convenient and affordable solutionsto those users.

CR: Are you planning on introducing anynew products in the near future?

SR: Yes. We recently unveiled a new pro-gram of cell phone accessories we like toconsider ‘game-changing’ to the industry.We call it LadyPower™. We found thatthere is a vast untouched demographic outthere that no one is reaching: the femalemarket. Women love to shop and love avariety of choices. Hence, we molded ourprogram to cover the necessities of the cellphone category and presented them in

pastel colors. Some of the accessories weoffer are rapid glowing car chargers, 3-way car/wall/USB combo chargers,Apple® data cables and mini-purse cellphone cases, with many more to come.

CR: To what do you attribute your company’s success?

SR: The acquiring of the Amp Energy™license has brought us great success inconvenient stores over the past few years.We also believe 100 percent that our cus-tomers are the key component to our suc-cess. We hope to continue to grow ourcustomer base, having them as our part-ners to increase everyone’s overall busi-ness. We also attribute much of thissuccess to our sales, marketing and ware-house team. Without them, there is no waywe would look as good as we do out in thefield. With the resources we have, we canbring any ideas to the table.

CR: How can readers find out more aboutyour company?

SR: They can visit www.hoffcobrands.comfor images and information about all our product lines. They can also Like’ us on Facebook to get the latest updates onnew products at www.facebook.com/hoffcobrands. n

Hoffco Brands Facing Everyday Challenges ofElectronics Evolution, Attracting New Customers

Already the leading supplier of Christian-themed apparel, jewelry and accessories, Kerusso® has recently addedto its success with the addition of Tru Witness™ to its family of brands.

Market research and public surveys,such as one recently conducted byNewsweek, indicate that eight out of everyten Americans say they are Christian. This has helped drive consumer interest in the Tru Witness line of productsas Kerusso continues to expand it into themainstream conven-ience store market.

Addressing theunique needs of theconvenience storemarket, the suc-cess of Tru Wit-ness has beenrepresentative ofKerusso’s overalltrack record mar-keting Christianmessaging andlifestyle products.Since the com-pany’s launch in1987, Kerusso hasshipped more than14 million t-shirts.Kerusso first en-tered the jewelryand gift market withFaith Gear in the1990s. Shipping more than one millionpieces, Faith Gear sales are comparable toKerusso’s “Top 20” t-shirt volume.

Building on their early successes,Kerusso created the Tru Witness 10, aleading-edge merchandising program. Theunique Tru Witness display serves to max-imize retail sales, while occupying lessthan three square feet of space. It allowsretailers to offer fresh products and addnew dollars to the bottom line withoutdoing any store renovations.

Evidence shows that a guaranteed prod-uct exchange program with in-store mer-chandising and inventory service helps acompany ensure success in the retail field.Barry S. Olken, a representative of PetroShopping Centers, said, “(Kerusso prod-ucts have) been a success from day one.Our public loves the Christian theme andquality. The display is a great way to showthe product without a lot of actual handlingof the shirts.”

Learn more about Kerusso at the company’s website at www.kerusso.comor call 800.424.0943 for more informationon adding Kerusso products to your retail space. n

Retailers Increasingly Realizing Benefits of Reaching Out to Booming Hispanic Consumer MarketThe Association of Hispanic AdvertisingAgencies recently released a compre-hensive study revealing a positive con-nection between corporate marketing tothe Hispanic population and revenuegrowth for consumer packaged goodsand CPG-based retail companies. Datacollected for the study reveals a signifi-cant difference in the revenue growthrate attained by CPG companies that de-vote more attention to the Hispanic mar-ket compared to those corporations thatfocus less on this population.

“This new information is compellingbecause the data indicates that the His-panic market can be a big determinantin corporate success,” said RobertoOrci, AHAA Chair and CEO of AcentoAdvertising. “CPG companies not onlywant to gain market share among theircompetitors, but they also want to pro-vide growth and stability for their in-vestors. Investing in Hispanic marketingis a clear strategy in achieving that two-fold objective.”

The VHM study analyzed the top 500overall U.S. advertisers between 2006

and 2010. It found, with a 95 percentconfidence level, that among CPGbrands, dedicating marketing resourcesto the booming Hispanic consumer seg-ment has resulted in as much as a thirdof these brands’ overall revenue growth.

“The connection is clear and very sig-nificant,” said Cristina Garcia, Profes-sor of Statistics at the University ofSouthern California and the developerof the study’s methodology. “The studyfound evidence that the proportion ofresources a company, irrelevant of mar-ket category, puts behind Hispanic con-sumers is an essential driver forsustainable growth performance.”

Accounting for 17 percent of the U.S.population and boasting $1.2 trillion inbuying power, Hispanics are an undeni-ably important consumer population. Notonly do they represent 56 percent of theU.S. population growth between 2000and 2010, but research shows that thisgroup spends more time and money pertrip to the grocery store than the nationalaverage. They bring more family mem-bers with them to shop, and they also

tend to be more loyal to specific brands,with a lesser emphasis on price point.

Boasting much larger households (3.8persons per household compared to 2.5for non-Hispanic households), Hispan-ics also have an annual household for-mation rate six times faster than that ofnon-Hispanic households (2.5 percentcompared to 0.4 percent). In fact, ac-cording to a recent study by Credit Su-isse, over the next 10 years, thefood-at-home expenditure of Hispanichouseholds is expected to grow at a 5.7percent average annual rate compared tojust 2.5 percent for non-Hispanic house-holds. This makes Hispanic marketing astrategic imperative for CPG companiesand their retail counterparts.

What the AHAA study concluded is thateffective growth leaders consistently puthigher focus on creating solid relationshipswith the valuable Hispanic consumer base.Conversely, CPG underperformers tend tooverlook Hispanic growth opportunities,typically resulting in sluggish growth, andby consequence, slower value creation totheir shareholders. n

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7-Eleven Innovating Fight Against Illegal Underage Alcohol, Tobacco Sales7-Eleven Inc. is taking a new and ag-gressive approach to enhance its socialand corporate responsibility regardingthe illegal underage sales of age-re-stricted products. Recently the companylaunched a new technology in each ofthe 26 Washington 7-Eleven® stores, inwhich store personnel are able to scanthe 2-D code on the back of a cus-tomer’s driver license or identificationcard whenever age-restricted products

are being purchased. This scan will ver-ify the birth date stored on the card, butwill not store any other informationabout the customer. The retail chain isunderwriting the cost to upgrade allfranchise registers, at no cost to any ofits franchisees.

“We believe that this new system takescompliance at 7-Eleven to the next level,”said Keith Jones, 7-Eleven’s Senior Direc-tor of Government Affairs.

“7-Eleven responded to the needs ofits franchisees,” said franchise OwnerIris Yost. “We are passionate about notselling age-restricted items to minors.Because laws often place the burden onthe store operator, franchisee or sellingcashier, we need every protection avail-able. The ID Scan technology we nowhave will go a long way in stemmingwrongful age-restricted sales.”

7-Eleven has been a pioneer in the

fight against illegal underage sales fornearly 30 years. In 1984, the companydeveloped its “Come of Age” trainingand awareness program that specificallytargeted the illegal sale of alcohol to minors, after-hours sales, sales made onbehalf of a minor and consuming alcoholon store premises. The program expanded in 1994 to include all age-restricted products, including tobacco,lottery tickets and potential inhalants. n

NACS Show Ranked Among 2011’s Largest U.S. Trade ShowsAccording to the Trade Show News Net-work, an online resource for those in thetrade show industry, the 2011 annual Na-tional Association of Convenience StoresShow in Chicago was among the top 50largest trade shows of the year. TSNN re-cently unveiled its list of the Top 250 U.S.Trade Shows of 2011, and the OctoberNACS Show sits in position number 47.According to the TSNN listing, “The an-nual NACS Show continues to be the mostcomprehensive event for convenience andfuel retailing professionals.”

The TSNN listing states that last year’sNACS Show brought 1,333 exhibitors and9,953 show attendees to McCormick Placein Chicago. However, it is the physical sizeof the NACS Show at 387,600 square feetthat ultimately earned the show its highranking on the TSNN list. In terms of the

number of exhibitors present, the NACSshow ranks even higher, as the 27th largestshow in the country.

The annual NACS Show made itsdebut on the trade show scene more than50 years ago in 1961. The show hasgained a national reputation as the pre-mier location for people in the conven-ience store industry to discover newproducts and services available to themas well as to share strategies for increas-ing their sales, building their customerbase and building their brand.

This year’s NACS Show is scheduled totake place from October 7-10 in LasVegas. More information about the showcan be found at www.nacsonline.com/nac-sshow. The entire TSNN listing of the Top250 U.S. Trade Shows can be read atwww.tsnn.com/datasite-us. n

C-Stores Leading Channel for Off-Premise Beer Sales in 2011The Washington D.C.-based Beer Insti-tute recently released new data showingthat beer sales in convenience stores roseby 1.3 percent in 2011, accounting forover $16.7 billion in sales. In fact, con-venience stores were responsible fornearly 17 percent of total 2011 beersales, comprising the largest share ofoff-premise sales last year.

“Convenience stores offer beer con-sumers accessible, speedy service,” saidJoe McClain, President of the Beer In-stitute. “Convenience stores are growingin numbers, opening for longer hours,and offering a wide variety of brand op-tions to our consumers. Growing con-venience store beer sales show thatconsumers appreciate the ease of servicethis channel provides. ”

“Our strong performance in 2011, in-

cluding beer sales, shows that our indus-try’s core convenience offer—especiallyone-stop shopping and speed of service forrefreshments, food and fuel—continues toresonate with our customers and attractshoppers to our stores,” said Tom Robin-son, Chairman of the National Associationof Convenience Stores.

Overall, the Beer Institute data indicatethat beer sales rose more than two percentin 2011 across all retail sectors, surpass-ing $98 billion in total sales. These num-bers highlight beer’s continued strengthwithin the alcoholic beverage sector. Ac-cording to market research companyNielsen, the increase in sales revenue canbe largely attributed to the high-end beerbusiness. The sale of imports, crafts andabove-premium beers sold off-premisewas up nearly three percent. n

country have been hesitant to implementit into their own businesses. And manyconsumers seem equally skeptical whenit comes to using their smartphones andtablets as mobile wallets.

The story is somewhat different in Eu-rope. In many European countries, NearField Communication payment technol-ogy has already become somewhat mun-dane. For example, anyone who travels onthe London Underground likely pays forthe trip by tapping a NFC “Oyster Card.”And customers of the London bank Bar-clays now carry bank cards that are NFC-enabled. City officials are hard at workmaking mobile payment technology anintegral part of this summer’s LondonOlympics as well.

Why then if this technology has be-come so popular in Europe has it beensomewhat slower to catch on in theUnited States?

Feather Hickox, Senior Principal, Re-tail Practice for FICO, a company thatworks to gather and analyze business-re-lated data, argues that the reason for therelatively slow adoption of NFC payment

technology by retailers and consumers inthe United States lies partly in the fact thatthere are simply too many different partiesattempting to position themselves in theindustry. “There is so much diversity interms of…the number of payment tech-nologies,” said Hickox. “There has to bea bunch of consolidation. So many peopleare trying to own this space right now.”

In addition, Hickox said that many re-tailers are busy right now weighing thecosts and benefits of this new technology.In terms of cost, the largest one for mostretailers is the actual monetary cost ofbringing new equipment and software intotheir businesses. “Thousands of retail lo-cations need to put in something new,”said Hickox. “That alone is the biggest op-erational hurdle.” However, despite thepotential immensity of this cost, the poten-tial benefits are huge as well.

For convenience retailers in particularthe benefits of implementing a new, moreconvenient way for customers to paycould be a game changer.

First of all, by introducing mobilepayment technology into their opera-tions, convenience retailers could muchmore effectively gather informationabout their customer base and use this

knowledge to develop more effectivemarketing campaigns. “The benefit isthat you get the data. Right now conven-ience stores don’t get a lot of data ontheir customers,” said Hickox.

In addition, mobile payment technologycould also make it possible for conven-ience retailers to engage in direct, on-the-spot marketing through providingcustomers with unique in store promotionsand rewards. For example, a repeat cus-tomer who taps his or her smartphone atcheckout could be given special couponsor other rewards for in store merchandise.

However, despite these benefits, as wellas the more obvious benefits of increasedefficiency and shorter wait times for cus-tomers, convenience retailers are also fac-ing some considerable costs if they are tofully implement mobile payment technol-ogy into their operations. “In the conven-ience space, the sheer number of stores isan obstacle,” said Hickox, speaking of themonetary cost of bringing this technologyinto convenience stores. In addition, shepoints out another ever-present concernamong convenience retailers: “You’d belooking at changing cash transactions todebit card transactions, and that meansswipe fees.”

Hickox points out one additional con-cern present among retailers looking toprovide NFC payment options to theircustomers. “Consumer readiness in U.S.is lagging a little bit,” she said. If retailersare to maximize the potential benefits ofthese technologies, they will first need todrive up consumer demand. “You have todesign your program so that there’s a ben-efit in it for the consumer,” said Hickox.

Also, as many smartphone and tabletusers today are wary of using their mobiledevices as means of payment, it is up to re-tailers to show consumers that this is a safe,secure and effective use of technology.

Today, as we are likely observing onlythe inception of what Hickox calls “thee-commerce of this decade,” it is clearthat mobile payment technology is goingto be an important tool in the future of retail sales. A younger, more tech-savvygeneration of consumers entering themarketplace will surely accelerate thepace at which retailers are compelled toenter this new era in payment technology.“It’s in the consumer's hand what kind ofpayment technology they use,” saidHickox. “It’s going to be the expectationof the consumer that they can use theirmobile devices for payment.” n

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RILA Report Highlights Retail Industry’s Commitment to Long-TermSocial, Environmental SustainabilityThe Retail Industry Leaders Associationrecently released the first ever industry-wide Retail Sustainability Report. The re-port highlights sustainability leadership inthe retail industry as well as the environ-mental, social and community impacts ofretail companies and the products they sell.

“As one of the leading industries to em-brace sustainability, it is becoming a coreconsideration for the retail industry,” saidAdam Siegel, RILA Vice President ofSustainability and Retail Operations.“Retailers are working to incorporate sus-tainability into their strategy, operations,workforce engagement and connection toconsumers and communities.”

The RILA report employs countlesscompany examples to highlight the in-novative work of the industry and illus-trate what the public can anticipate fromit over the coming years. The report alsoexamines the important role of otherstakeholders in the sustainability jour-ney, including landlords, municipalities,product manufacturers, transportationproviders and customers. In examiningthese various stakeholders, the reportserves to show how various groups canwork together to achieve common goals.

In addition, the report identifies sev-eral emerging trends in retail sustain-ability. It shows that industry leaders aretoday working across sectors to achievetheir sustainability goals. In addition,they are increasingly turning away fromsustainability as a cost and risk reduc-tion measure and moving toward em-bracing it as an opportunity for businessgrowth. Finally, the report illustrates theways in which the retail industry is de-veloping systems for continuous im-provement and fostering transparency inoperations and in the supply chain.

“RILA’s first sustainability report isan important step forward for the retailindustry,” said Ted Howes, Director ofAdvisory Services for Business for So-cial Responsibility. “Our hope is thatRILA’s efforts will inspire retailersaround the globe to take action and en-gage in sustainability more deeply andstrategically, to ensure a healthier bot-tom line as well as a healthier planet.”

“This report is a first look at thebroader industry’s accomplishments,challenges and future directions. It laysa foundation to determine where we cango from here,” added Siegel.

For the past several years, RILA hasprovided resources to empower, enhanceand accelerate sustainability activities inthe retail industry, and this report is thefirst comprehensive look at the currentsustainability landscape. It seeks tohighlight sustainability trends in the re-tail industry, shedding light on retail’sevolving business practices, and thechallenges still facing the industry today.RILA states that its broader objective isto provide the retail industry and thoseit serves with a way to act on and engagein sustainability through framing criticalissues, anticipating future trends, recog-nizing challenges and sharing examplesof how retailers are responding.

Data for the report was collected fromthe 2011 sustainability reports of thirtyRILA member companies. Companies in-cluded are representative of the industry’sdiversity, from food to general merchan-dise to specialty stores, and from large tosmall format. Information was also com-piled through multiple industry surveys,industry meetings and company inter-views, across all segments of retail. Moreinformation about the RILA report isavailable at www.rila.org/sustainability. n

According to the Merchants PaymentsCoalition, the U.S. Department of Justiceis investigating Visa, the nation’s largestcredit card company, for unfairly attempt-ing to stifle competition in the nation’scredit and debit card markets and thus vi-olating federal antitrust laws.

In a recent call with company investors,where he discussed the company’s fiscal andsecond-quarter earnings, Visa Chairman andCEO Joseph Saunders said that DOJ an-titrust investigators are looking at how thecompany runs the part of its debit card busi-ness that routes transactions to banks.

Investigators are also looking into a newcard fee the company is now charging.Critics argue that the fee charged by Visaunfairly makes merchants pay for bothcredit and debit cards, and it could finan-cially coerce merchants into acceptingcards they do not want. The fee could alsoundercut merchants’ competitive choice ofwhich network to use for their transac-tions, a violation of financial reform law.

Under the recently passed DurbinAmendment, banks now have to allowmore than one company, such as Visa, tocarry debit card transactions, and mer-chants are supposed to be able to make thatchoice, enabling competition and keepingnetwork fees down. Critics of Visa arguethat the company may be violating an-titrust laws and trying to avoid the compe-tition required by financial reform law.

“The Department of Justice has madeprogress policing the payments market,and the new investigation of Visa is an-other step in the right direction,” saidDoug Kantor, Counsel to the MerchantsPayments Coalition. “Visa should not beable to muscle retailers into paying up-front costs for both credit and debit trans-actions before they happen.”

In related news, the European Union’s topantitrust regulator Joaquin Almunia, EUCompetition Commissioner, is also conduct-ing a study into how Visa and Mastercard de-termine the interchange fees paid byretailers, and whether these fees are too high.

“The fees are still too high and too un-equal,” said Almunia at a recent financialconference in Brussels. “We are now con-ducting a study which will give us a betterpicture of the merchants’ actual costs andbenefits of accepting cards as compared toother means of payment.”

In particular, European retailers are fum-ing at the high costs of cross-border creditand debit card transactions, which, accord-ing to them, can cost them as much as twopercent of the total transaction cost, butwhich are supposed to be limited to 0.3percent of the transaction cost for creditcard purchases and 0.2 percent for debitcard purchases. n

U.S., European Authorities Investigating MajorCredit Card Companies

Shoppers Indicate Desire for More EcologicallyFriendly, Recycled Product Packaging OptionsIn research recently conducted by Percep-tion Research Services, shoppers demon-strated that they are interested in choosingenvironmentally friendly packaging. Over-all, 36 percent of shoppers said that theywould like to choose environmentallyfriendly packaging, a significant increasefrom 2010, when only 28 percent of thosesurveyed indicated a desire to do so. Andmore than half of those desirous of ecolog-ically healthy packaging indicated thatthey would be willing to pay more for theoption. In addition, 59 percent of thosesurveyed said that seeing environmentalclaims on packaging positively impactstheir behavior and influences them to ei-ther buy more of the brands they usuallydo, or switch to others.

Of the various claims companies arecurrently making regarding the eco-friendly quality of their packaging, thetwo that have been proven to be most in-fluential to consumers include the state-ments that the package is eitherrecyclable or that it is manufactured fromrecycled materials. Two-thirds of shop-pers indicate that they recycle on a regu-lar basis. And the study indicated that the

number of shoppers checking packagingprior to purchase to to see if it is recycledor can be recycled is on the rise. In short,it is growing increasingly important forcompanies to clearly convey this featureon their packaging.

Ironically, however, although shoppersstate that they observe stores increas-ingly offering claims that their productsand packaging are environmentallyfriendly, these same individuals are in-creasingly frustrated by the content,quality and reliability of the informationprovided. In total, 26 percent of thosesurveyed said that companies are not giv-ing them sufficient information about theenvironmental benefits of their products.Twenty percent said that they are con-fused by the variety of environmentalclaims companies are making today. And22 percent said that despite the myriadclaims being made, they still do notknow which types of packages are thebest for the environment.

Perhaps most importantly, fewer shop-pers today (57 percent in 2012 vs. 61 per-cent in 2010) feel that manufacturers’motives are primarily honorable when of-

fering eco-friendly packaging options.Shoppers are becoming more skeptical ofmanufacturers’ behaviors and motives inthis area, as more say that companies areincreasingly self-serving, seeking to en-hance their own reputation and increaseprofits, rather than to truly protect the en-vironment.

“We’re seeing a great opportunity formanufacturers to provide truly value-added packaging to their target shoppersby making it more environmentallyfriendly—primarily in the form of recy-clability and recycled content—andclearly communicating these aspects,”said Jonathan Asher, Executive VicePresident at Perception Research Serv-ices. “We have seen that it is vital to getboth the message right (what is said) aswell as the delivery (how it is executedon pack), because one without the otherwill create a missed opportunity.

“In addition, it is becoming apparentthat the days of disguising cost reductions(e.g., smaller, thinner packages) as beingdriven by environmental concerns may becoming to an end, and continuing to do somay test shoppers’ good will.” n

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people fully hydrated. Energy drinks makeup one of the most burgeoning segments ofthe overall beverage industry, concoctedfrom a number of ingredients known fortheir stimulating qualities, including caf-feine, guarana, taurine, ginseng and ginkgobiloba. Health and wellness beveragesmake up a diverse category of products de-signed to benefit the body in a number ofways, including replacing needed vitaminsand preventing disease. And weight man-agement beverages serve to help con-sumers burn calories, stifle hunger andboost metabolism.

The growing consumer demand forfunctional beverages can be in part attrib-uted to a larger social movement towardhealthy living. “People are becomingmore health conscious. The trend goingon right now is people are becoming moreaware of the things they are putting intheir bodies,” said Marty Brown, ChiefOperating Officer of functional beveragecompany Mr. Pink. “People are asking,should I just be drinking things that tastegood, or should I drink something that’shealthy?”

Mr. Pink is capitalizing on this grow-ing demand for healthy beverages bymarketing a line of vitamin-infused gin-seng drinks. Each one of Mr. Pink’s bev-erages contains 1,000 mg. of ginseng, aningredient revered for thousands of yearsfor its health benefits. For ages, ginsenghas been known to increase mental clar-ity and memory and boost the immunesystem. Some even believe it serves asan aphrodisiac.

“We’re not trying to say this is modernmedicine,” Brown said. He acknowl-edges that it is important to make surethe claims Mr. Pink makes about itsproducts’ health benefits are clear anddefensible. “I don’t have to claim thatthis product cures this or cures that. Iwant it to make you feel good.”

When asked what category Mr. Pinkfits into within the larger functional bev-erage market, Brown runs into some dif-ficulty. “To some degree what we’retrying to do is create our own category, aginseng drink category.” Not content tobe labeled simply as an energy drink or ahealth and wellness drink, Mr. Pinkshows how these category boundaries areunraveling in today’s market. “We’re notan energy drink,” Brown said. “We’re anenergy alternative drink.”

Mr. Pink is not the only beverage brandworking to break down traditional cate-gory barriers within the industry. MyBody Shots is another company whoseproducts are not easily classified. Accord-ing to Kevin Szakacs, Vice President ofthe company, My Body Shots is workingto create an entirely new category of func-tional beverages, combining hydrationand heath and wellness elements.

My Body Shots markets 2.5-ouncedrink shots designed to meet a number of

different consumer needs. The company’sproducts contain a very high concentrationof healthy, hydrating electrolytes, and noartificial preservatives, sweeteners or col-ors. “The best way to describe (My BodyShots) is that it concentrates sport drinksand vitamin waters,” said Szakacs. “Whydrink the whole can?”

In an industry that has recently becomeoverrun with new product offerings, MyBody Shots has achieved success byreaching out to new consumer markets,not usually targeted by functional bever-age companies. For example, My BodyShots Electro Nyte is a popular drink de-signed to help people avoid the negative

after-effects of drinking alcohol. However,the company has aimed the product notnecessarily at the binge drinking collegecrowd, but rather at everyday people whomay enjoy a couple drinks after work or abottle of wine with friends. “We startedputting a positive lifestyle focus on thebrand,” said Szakacs. “It’s about beinghealthy while you’re drinking.”

Another consumer niche not normallymarketed to by functional beverage com-panies is children, and My Body Shots hascreated a product for this market as well.“Electro Kids Sport is a kids’ version of asport drink,” said Szakacs. For childrenplaying outside all day and not necessarily

staying hydrated and for those in schoolnot necessarily eating the healthiestlunches, Electro Kid Sport contains vitalelectrolytes, vitamins and minerals, allconcentrated in a tasty, nourishing shot.

Launched just last November, My BodyShots products are already sold at CVSPharmacy locations nationwide. And thecompany is in talks to launch its productsat a number of other major national retail-ers. My Body Shots proves that there isstill room for growth within the functionalbeverages market if a company is willingto stretch the traditional categories andreach out to consumer niches that are oftenoverlooked by the industry. n

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Do you own or operate an establishmentwith a restroom that gives guests morethan one good reason to “go?” Are youthe creative mind behind a public rest-room designed or customized to integratefunction with fashion or to bring person-ality into a space where you least expectto see it? Maybe you’re the client or cus-tomer who appreciates a particularlyclean, well-maintained and tastefully de-signed washroom?

This year marks the 11th anniversary ofCintas’ America’s Best Restroom® Con-test. The national cleaning supply com-pany launched the contest more than adecade ago to recognize establishmentsthat place high value on hygiene and stylein their public restrooms.

“The condition of the restrooms in a restaurant, hotel or other public facility undoubtedly influences a customer’s overall experience,” saidJohn Engel, Cintas Senior MarketingManager. “Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest salutes business own-ers who invest in the upkeep of their facilities because they know it makessmart business sense.”

Interested parties can nominate a de-serving washroom online today atwww.bestrestroom.com. Ten finalists

will be announced in August, at whichtime an online vote to determine anoverall winner will begin. The winnerand runner-up will be revealed this fall,with top vote-getters securing a place inCintas’ America’s Best Restroom Con-test Hall of Fame.

Past winners and finalists, along withexisting Cintas customers, recognize thecorrelation between clean restrooms andcustomer satisfaction and retention.Chicago’s famous Field Museum gainednational media attention for its spaciousand family-friendly restroom design,taking first place in the 2011 contest.“It's certainly had a positive effect onour staff, which in the end affects busi-ness,” said Emily Waldren, who man-ages public relations for the FieldMuseum. “Our housekeeping and facil-ities staff are certainly the unsung he-roes of the museum, and thisrecognition was exciting for them, in-creasing morale. I believe that shows intheir continued work.”

The contest is open to any non-resi-dential restroom in the United States thatis accessible to the general public. En-tries will be judged on cleanliness, visualappeal, innovation, functionality andunique design elements. n

Cintas Accepting Nominations for 11th Edition of its PopularAmerica's Best Restroom Contest

Research Shows Retail Sector SufferingWorldwide from Lack of Employee EngagementEmployee engagement in the U.S. retailsector has sunk to its lowest levels since2009, according to a new study released bythe Kenexa High Performance Institute.

Kenexa, a global provider of businesssolutions for human resources, has con-ducted evidence-based research intoemployee engagement for more than 25years. Its latest report, “The World ofRetail: How Employee Engagement CanHelp the Registers Ring,” examines em-ployee engagement trends since 2007 inthe retail sector in six nations: theUnited States, Brazil, China, Germany,India and the United Kingdom. The re-sults show a marked drop in employeeengagement in all six nations in 2011.

“The economic downturn has hit re-tailers everywhere hard, as costs havebeen cut, plans have been put on holdand brands have gone out of business,”said Rena Rasch, Research Manager forKenexa. “The sector has also seen an in-crease in employee theft and shoplift-ing, which has been attributed to lowpay, poor benefits and a perception

among employees that their companiesdon’t care about them.”

The new study also reveals that em-ployee engagement has a direct correla-tion to customer satisfaction andorganizational performance.

“The simple truth is that engaged em-ployees make a difference, particularlythose in customer-facing positions,”Rasch said. “When engagement is low,customer satisfaction and organizationalperformance tend to be low. But whenengagement levels rise, these factorsalso improve, because employees aremore motivated to contribute to the or-ganization’s success and are more will-ing to put in extra effort to accomplishtasks that are central to the goals of theorganization.” Rasch added, “In otherwords, by improving employee engage-ment, retailers can enhance customersatisfaction and increase sales volume.”

According to the study, a low level ofemployee engagement also results inhigher staff turnover. More than 50 per-cent of unengaged retail employees plan

to leave their employer in the comingyear, compared to only about 10 percentof highly engaged workers.

“Employees who are not engaged aremuch more likely to consider leavingtheir organization,” Rasch said. “As theglobal economy slowly emerges fromthe recession, opportunities for employ-ees will open up elsewhere and retailerscould find themselves competing for tal-ent. This could prove costly for thosewith a less engaged workforce.”

Finally, the Kenexa study also revealsthat, out of six industry sectors surveyedglobally, including high tech manufac-turing, heavy/light manufacturing,healthcare, banking and financial serv-ices and the public sector, retail has thelowest level of employee engagement.

“The retail sector has faced a peren-nial struggle with employee engage-ment, partly because it employs manypart-time, low skilled and seasonalworkers,” said Rasch. “However, retail-ers are at risk if leaders and HR practi-tioners don’t act to bolster employee

engagement in their organizations.”The Kenexa report makes several rec-

ommendations to retailers interested inimproving employee engagement. First,develop effective, trustworthy, honestand caring leaders who can inspire con-fidence in their employees through their exemplary actions and demeanor.Second, help employees to balance their work and life priorities, throughproviding practical support, such asflexible work schedules. Third, ensurecompensation levels are fair, explain toemployees how their pay is determined,and demonstrate a link between incomeand performance. And finally, foster aclimate of innovation. Employees wantexciting work. They like to try newthings, share their ideas and be listenedto. The chance to be innovative chal-lenges and motivates employees to per-form at their best.

More information on the Kenexa HighPerformance Institute and its report onemployee engagement can be found atwww.khpi.com. n

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The ongoing back-and-forth battle overthe Food and Drug Administration’s pro-posed requirement that tobacco manufac-turers include graphic warning labels ontheir packaging is not expected to reach itsconclusion any time soon.

Last year, the FDA first introduced a seriesof extremely gruesome images, depicting au-topsied corpses, individuals with tra-cheotomies and other negative effects ofsmoking. The agency intended to require cig-arette companies to cover 50 percent of thefront and back of their packaging with theseimages. However, the tobacco industry pre-dictably balked at this requirement, claimingthat such a requirement clearly violated theirFirst Amendment right to free speech.

In February, it seemed that the tobaccocompanies were likely to get their wish, asU.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled toblock the FDA mandate, arguing that therequirement does indeed violate the com-panies’ right to free speech. The ruling wasissued in response to a lawsuit filed by R.J.Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco and Com-monwealth Brands.

Just one month later, Leon’s ruling wasoverturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals forthe Sixth Circuit. The appeals court foundthat the FDA does in fact have the right to re-quire the tobacco companies to include thegraphic warning labels, arguing that they “arereasonably related to the government's inter-est in preventing consumer deception and aretherefore constitutional.” The court also ruledthat the warnings “do not impose any restric-tion on Plaintiff's dissemination of speech,nor do they touch on Plaintiffs' core speech.Instead, the labels serve as disclaimers to thepublic regarding the incontestable health con-sequences of using tobacco.”

This ruling did not end the battle; how-ever, on April 10, a Washington-basedFederal Appeals Court heard the tobaccocompanies’ case. The judges present on thethree-member panel alluded during thehearing that they are perhaps inclined toside with the FDA on this issue. However,as Convenience Retailer went to press,they have yet to issue a ruling.

Regardless of how the federal appealscourt rules on this issue, it is almost certainnot to end here. The case will likely ad-vance to the U.S. Supreme Court, wherethe justices there will ultimately make thefinal decision as to the constitutionality ofthe graphic warning labels.

Right now, cigarette companies are re-quired to begin including the FDA’s im-ages on their packaging starting inSeptember. However, as long as the caseis still on appeal, this requirement is onhold for the moment. Should the case ad-vance to the Supreme Court, it could takeyears before a ruling is made, permittingtobacco companies to eschew the ads forthe foreseeable future. n

Federal Appeals CourtWeighs in on GraphicCigarette Warnings

Those with Retailer-Branded Smartphone App Visit Stores More Often

gas prices are likely to affect how muchmoney they are willing to spend on in-store luxuries. Despite the fact that gaso-line may be a critical component of theconvenience store industry in bringingcustomers into retail locations, it is not themost profitable one. According to the As-sociated Food and Petroleum Dealers, 75percent of all convenience store profitcomes from in-store sales. But as gasprices go up, retailers throughout thecountry are reporting a decrease in in-store traffic, resulting in serious negativeimpacts to their bottom lines.

According to Mae Nutley, Director ofAnalytics for Corporate Research Inter-national, traditionally, the two main driv-ers of retail traffic for the conveniencestore industry are location and the priceof gas. Today, high gas prices are deter-ring rather than drawing consumers tothese stores. And retailers can not readilychange their locations. Therefore, theyneed to find a new way to bring con-sumers into their establishments.

The answer, according to Nutley, in-

Gas PricesContinued from Page 1

volves heightening the overall customerexperience through improved service.“The biggest driver goes back to cus-tomer service,” said Nutley. “How wellare they treated by the retail employee?How knowledgeable is the employee?How clean is the employee? That was abig driver.”

CRI research shows that improvingemployee professionalism has the po-tential to help retailers gain back someof the customer traffic they have lostdue to rising fuel prices. “You reallyneed to have people who have an out-ward appearance that shows that theycan be trusted,” Nutley said.

“In any retail environment, when you’renegatively impacted by something outsideyour control, you’re going to need to reactin a way to counteract that,” said DanDenston, Executive Director of the Mys-tery Shopping Providers Association. Ac-cording to him, it is vital in today’s marketthat retailers devote necessary attention toproper employee training. “Having an ed-ucated and trained workforce is really im-portant…What you need is someone thatunderstands the job and how to do it in thebest way possible.”

Denston points to mystery shoppers asan important tool convenience retailerscan employ to better gauge how success-ful employees are at their jobs as well aswhat kind of experiences real customersare having at these stores. “All retailersare going to get some benefit from usingmystery shoppers,” said Denston. “Theycan change what they do based on whatthe business is looking for…This is per-sonal. This is someone that’s actually acustomer, a consumer.” By using mys-tery shoppers, retailer can get a clearmeasurement of the quality of servicetheir customers are receiving and workto better educate employees in order toimprove this service.

The good news for convenience retail-ers is that despite the rise in fuel prices,the overall consumer demand for gasolinedoes not appear to be falling in the shortterm. As consumers continue to flock togas stations to fill up their vehicles, con-venience store owners can still bring theminside their stores. However, these retail-ers will need to do some work if they areto successfully adapt to a changing mar-ketplace and attract the customers theyhave lost thus far. n

Are smartphone apps the magic bullet ofmarketing for retailers? According to aDecember 2011 ABI Research survey ofU.S. consumers, it may be so. More than45 percent of survey respondents whosaid they had downloaded a retailer-branded app said the app causes them tovisit the store more frequently. Morethan 40 percent said that the app influ-ences them to buy more of the store’sproducts and services. And about a thirdsaid that the app makes them morelikely to tell a friend about their shop-ping experience and encourage friendsto visit the store.

“These are overwhelmingly positivenumbers,” said API Research Senior Ana-lyst Mark Beccue. “They are so com-pelling that if retailers do not have asmartphone app strategy in place rightnow, they are in danger of being left be-hind by their competitors.”

Still, of those who responded to the sur-vey, only 25 percent said that they actuallyhad in fact downloaded a retailer-brandedapp. Thus, it is possible that the high levelof positive response to the apps reflects thefact that the respondents were already en-thusiastic fans of the store prior to down-loading them. As the number of consumers

who download retailer-branded apps con-tinues to go up, the level of positive re-sponse could decrease.

Even taking this into account, however,the survey results are still compelling.“Clearly consumers are using retailer-branded apps as an engagement tool. Oncea retailer can capture a consumer with one,there is a real opportunity to leveragesmartphone apps to enhance customerservice, deliver richer, more relevant prod-uct information in real time, shortencheckout lines, and more,” said Beccue.“We are at the dawn of a very dynamic andcreative time for retail.” n

Study Highlights Clean Diesel Technology’s Role in Promoting Public HealthA study recently released by the HealthEffects Institute provides important newinsights on the advancements in cleandiesel technology and ultra-low sulfurdiesel fuel.

The goal of the study was to test theemissions and health effects of the newtechnology diesel engines, to documentthe improvements that have been madeand to ensure that there are no unintendedemissions from this new technology. Thestudy evaluated impacts from exposure todiesel exhaust emissions on laboratory an-imals over various time intervals.

In their commentary, the study’s reviewpanel concluded, “Overall, these resultsshowed few biologic effects related to

diesel exhaust exposure.”“As this new study illustrates, the 2007

compliant diesel technology provided his-toric improvements in reducing particulateand nitrogen oxide emissions,” said AllenSchaeffer, Executive Director of the DieselTechnology Forum. “And the 2010 andnewer diesel technology is even cleanerwith near zero emissions.

“In the past decade, emissions fromheavy-duty diesel trucks and buses havebeen reduced by 99 percent for nitrogenoxides, an ozone precursor, and 98 percentfor particulate emissions, which includeblack carbon.”

While this study was limited to highwaydiesel engines like those used in commercial

trucks and buses, virtually the same tech-nologies, including cleaner diesel fuel andadvanced engine and emissions controls, arebeing introduced for all non-road enginesand equipment used in construction, agricul-ture, mining and other industries.

“Getting to these near-zero levels ofemissions is a result of the highly inte-grated clean diesel system—cleaner ultralow sulfur diesel fuel, advanced enginetechnologies and emissions control sys-tems,” said Schaeffer. “Not only are the en-gines near zero emissions, they are alsoachieving important gains in fuel efficiencyof anywhere from two to 10 percent, bring-ing valuable savings to owners and opera-tors of new clean diesel engines.” n

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19ConvenienceRETAILERJuly/August 2012

A new poll conducted by Harris Interac-tive reveals that, although wine drinkingmay not be as important to American cul-ture as it is in Europe, 62 percent of adultsin this country at least occasionally buy abottle of wine. Almost half of those sur-veyed drink wine several times a month.And 22 percent purchase four or more bot-tles each month.

Whether it's for convenience, cost, pa-triotism, personal preference or somethingelse, a large majority of adults who buy ordrink wine primarily purchase wine pro-duced in the United States (89 percent).However, many Americans are still buyingwine produced elsewhere including winesfrom Italy (37 percent), Australia (34 per-cent), France (33 percent), Chile (21 per-cent), Spain (21 percent), Germany (20percent) and Argentina (19 percent).

The Harris poll also reveals that, regard-less of changing national tastes, when itcomes to purchasing wine, old habits areslow to change. The overwhelming major-ity of those surveyed, 78 percent, indicatedthat they sometimes purchase and drink

bottles of wine that they have previouslyenjoyed. This is true especially amongolder Americans. Over half of adults over67 stated that they frequently purchase

bottles of wine that they have already had.In contrast, just 32 percent of adults under35 stated that they do the same.

In regards to how much they are will-ing to spend, 61 percent of those sur-veyed reported that the last bottle of winethey purchased cost $14 or less. Twenty-

six percent stated that their most recentwine purchase cost them less than $10.Most wine drinkers stated that they do

not regularly spend over $30 on a bottleof wine, although 34 percent stated thatthey have at least occasionally done so.

Regionally speaking, adults in the Mid-west buy wine the least frequently, withjust 13 percent reporting that they pur-chase four or more bottles per month. Incontrast, adults in the West purchase themost wine, with 29 percent buying at leastthis amount and 10 percent reporting thatthey buy at least 11 bottles each month.

What this poll reveals is that mostAmericans at least purchase some wine,and many show an interest in broadeningtheir horizons in terms of what kinds ofwine they buy. Retailers would do wellto reach out to these consumers, as manyseem to buy the same bottle out of habitrather than lack of interest in tryingsomething new. It also seems that whileAmericans generally spend on the lowerend of the spectrum in terms of winepricing, many purchasers buy severalbottles per month and return to labelsthat are familiar, making them very valu-able retail consumers. n

Poll Shows Americans Thirsty forVariety when Purchasing Wine

http://www.spraymastertech.com

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fuel sales continued to make up the vastbulk of overall convenience store revenuein 2011, accounting for more than $486billion in sales. In fact, overall fuel rev-enue was up 27 percent over the previous

Grab and GoContinued from Page 1

year. However, despite this increase insales, the number of gallons of fuel sold ison the decline, nationally. As gasolineprices continue to rise and vehicles aremade increasingly fuel efficient, in-storepurchases are sure to make up a growingpercentage of overall industry revenue.And in particular, this means that conven-ience retailers will need to focus more en-ergy on their foodservices business if theyare to maximize their profits.

A recent study by foodservices industryresearch and consulting firm Technomicfound that the sale of prepared foods atconvenience stores totals roughly $10 bil-lion annually, making up an increasinglysignificant percentage of the overall salesof prepared foods nationwide. The Tech-nomic study reveals that over the past sev-eral years, many convenience stores havebeen transforming themselves into quick-service style restaurants with restaurant-quality food offerings.

Of course the sale of prepared foods atconvenience stores is not a new concept,and these establishments have long beenselling hot dogs, donuts and similar grab-and-go items to their patrons. However,what has changed recently is the qualityand diversity of the foods being offered,as well as the importance of the revenueearned from the sale of prepared foods,relative to the industry’s overall profits.

Gourmet quality grab-and-go preparedsandwiches are one important item many

convenience retailers are offering theirpatrons today. Whereas someone mightspend $7 or $8 on a deli sandwich from aquick-service restaurant, conveniencestore customers are being drawn to thesandwich case primarily because of lowcost. In addition, some retailers are usingadd-ons like condiment bars and“combo” meal bundles to help fuel sand-wich sales. Customers are also being en-ticed by increasingly gourmet sandwichoptions. Today, one can find a diversearray of high quality sandwich offeringsat convenience stores, including every-thing from Wawa’s Spicy Fiesta TurkeyWrap to Sheetz’ Smokehouse ChickenBreast Sandwich.

Pre-prepared salads have also recentlybegun making their debut in cold foodscases at many convenience stores nation-wide. Midwestern chain Turkey HillMinit Markets, for example, today servesboth a classic chef salad and a chickenCaesar at many of is 270 locations. Infact, many of the largest conveniencestore chains in the United States todayserve fresh salads, including 7-Eleven,Speedway, Quiktrip and Wawa.

The growing prominence of fresh sand-wiches and salads at convenience storesis indicative of a larger move within theindustry toward satisfying the consumerdemand for healthier grab-and-go foodoptions. Fresh cut produce is another op-tion many retailers are incorporating into

their food services operations. Many 7-Eleven stores, for example, offer shoppers the option of a fresh cut fruitbowl. Other companies are sellinghealthy yogurt and granola, cups of sea-soned brown rice and fresh cut vegeta-bles, all pre-packaged and ready to eat.

One additional market that convenienceretailers are attempting to tap into throughtheir grab-and-go food business is thebreakfast market. According to Tech-nomic, 46 percent of consumers report thatthey at least occasionally purchase break-fast on the go, and the number one factordriving these purchases is quickness andconvenience. For this reason, companieslike Michael Foods, which supplies pre-cooked egg products to conveniencestores, are becoming increasingly influen-tial in driving morning consumer traffic tothese establishments.

As the convenience store industry looksto the future, it is clear that foodservice isset to be a crucial element to the indus-try’s continued success. However, retail-ers cannot expect to maximize theirprofits if they are not offering quality, in-demand, yet still convenient options. Re-tailers will have to carefully select theright prepared foods to offer, as well asthe ideal distributors. They will have towisely and competitively price their offer-ings. And they will have to devote consid-erable effort toward effectively marketingtheir foodservices programs. n

PayPal Sets Out to Explode as Retail PaymentOption, Partnering With Mobile POS CompaniesThe popularity of PayPal as a retail pay-ment option seems poised to explode inthe coming months, as the company isteaming up with two major technologycompanies to provide retailers nation-wide with the option to accept PayPal asa means of payment.

First, PayPal has established a comprehensive licensing, marketing andimplementation agreement with mobile payment company Verifone that will allow retailers to accept PayPal payments.

With VeriFone’s customer base en-compassing 80 percent of the top 200 largest retailers in the United States, the agreement provides PayPalwith unprecedented access to more than one million high volume points of sale. Together, VeriFone and PayPal offer retailers the opportunity toconverge e-commerce and retail pay-ments into a new shopping experiencefor consumers.

As participating retailers take advan-tage of VeriFone’s software upgrade andservices, shoppers will be able to utilizethe existing spectrum of PayPal pay-ment methods at checkout, including

using a PayPal Access card and PIN orentering a phone number and PIN.

“VeriFone’s extensive customer baseand strong technology make it a naturalally for PayPal, as we continue to de-liver on our strategy to bring intelligentelectronic payments and value-addedoffers to brick-and-mortar stores,” saidDon Kingsborough, Vice President ofRetail and Pre-Paid Services for PayPal.

Initially VeriFone will layer PayPal’s“digital wallet” interfaces and user ex-perience at select merchant locations inthe United States alongside traditionalpayment forms, spurring consumer de-mand for this unique payment experi-ence. In the long-term, VeriFone willenable PayPal acceptance nationwide aspart of new services and solution pack-ages offered to its expansive global retail customer base.

“Retailers who take advantage of theextensions to VeriFone’s platforms willbe able to offer their customers a richenvironment that integrates the virtualand physical retail worlds,” said Jennifer Miles, VeriFone Executive VicePresident. “By working to extend PayPal’s reach into traditional retail,

VeriFone is providing retailers with animmediate and simple way to adopt andmanage new payment experiences thatconsumers are demanding.”

In addition to this recently announcedpact between PayPal and Verifone, Pay-Pal also recently announced a new part-nership with Equinox Payments LLC, aleading payment terminal and secure ap-plications provider. The partnership be-tween PayPal and Equinox will enableconsumers to pay with PayPal at largeretailers by using Equinox’s next-gener-ation PCI 3x Certified L5300 and L5200consumer-facing payment terminals.PayPal users will benefit from the con-venience of paying with the service atthousands of Equinox-equipped retailstores across the United States.

“Three of the top 10 U.S. retailers useEquinox terminals due in part to ourability to enable the latest technologiesat checkout,” said Clint Jones, Presidentof Equinox Payments. “Our partnershipwith PayPal will give Equinox cus-tomers—processors, independent salesorganizations, acquirers and retailers—even more choice among value-addedservices that they choose to run on their

Equinox terminals.““As PayPal continues to expand into

the brick-and-mortar retail world, weare pleased to join forces with industryleaders such as Equinox. Together, wewill bring national retailers innovativenew payment experiences that are easyto install and use,” said Kingsborough.“The retailer’s customers also benefitfrom using PayPal in stores as they se-curely breeze through the checkoutprocess paying with their payment cardsor mobile phone numbers and PINs.”

Equinox has already integrated thePayPal Card and Card-Free payment so-lution into the code base platform for allL5300 terminals. Those retailers thathave already deployed the L5300 cantake advantage of the Equinox RemoteKey Injection System to update theirterminal software and activate the PayPal solutions. Unlike competitorproducts, Equinox’s industry-leadingtechnology can securely update terminalsoftware that requires new symmetrickeys without the costly and time con-suming headache of taking the terminalout of the checkout lane and shipping itto a secure key injection facility. n

http://www.ajantunes.com

new productso p e r a t i o n s


Agilence Inc., the leader in point-of-salevideo auditing solutions, recently intro-duced a technological service aimed athelping retailers address the challenges ofproving and ensuring ongoing legal com-pliance with the Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program, the Special Supple-mental Nutrition Program for Women, In-fants and Children, and other welfareprograms. Utilizing POS video auditingtechnology, this new service enables retail-ers to prove that they are in compliancethrough collecting daily video evidence.

Food stamp fraud has become increas-ingly complex over the years as the SNAPprogram has grown from serving roughlyone in 50 Americans in the 1970s to nearlyone in seven Americans today. The sameis true for the WIC program, which hasgrown from serving 88,000 Americans in

1974 to more than 8.9 million Americanstoday. Because of this, managing compli-ance with these programs is expected to in-crease as a major concern for retailers.

Kevin Concannon, USDA Undersecre-tary for Food, Nutrition and ConsumerServices, recently promised stricter retailoversight and enforcement related to theSNAP program. Among the promisedchanges are more stringent documentationrequirements and background checks forretailers who participate or hope to partic-ipate in the program, as well as blacklist-ing of retailers who violate establishedfederal policies.

By continuously monitoring specificallyfor SNAP and WIC compliance, Agilence’scentralized monitoring team will be able toidentify fraud as it happens, either on thepart of employees or customers. In addi-

tion, in the event that they are audited, re-tailers utilizing Agilence technology canquickly receive detailed accounts andvideo footage of each transaction wherefood stamps were provided as tender.

“Increases in government oversight andregulation will result in considerable efforton the part of retailers to prove compliancewith SNAP and WIC program laws,” saidDerek Rodner, Agilence Vice President ofProduct Strategy and Marketing. “Further-more, daily fraud prevention presents a se-rious challenge for today’s retailers, whoseemployees may be breaking the law with-out their knowledge. As the only companycapable of synching transaction data at thepoint-of-sale with corresponding video,we are uniquely positioned to eliminatethese burdens, allowing retailers to focuson their core business.” n

BY ROBERT WHITE, DIRECTOR OF MARKETDEVELOPMENT, RFA

The talk for more than a year has beenabout the approval of E15 by the U.S. En-vironmental Protection Agency. This ap-proval came with vehicle restrictions,however. The EPA only made the use ofthis fuel legal in light duty cars, trucks andSUVs model year 2001 and newer, alongwith all flex-fuel vehicles. All other vehi-cles and engines should not use E15. Infact, it will be illegal to do so.

E15 has now made it through the federalprocess, which included many steps. It re-quired the approval of a Misfueling Miti-gation Plan, which refiners and blenderswill have to adapt to the letter in order tooffer the product. It also required the ap-proval of a national fuel survey, which hasnow happened. The focus now moves tothe petroleum marketers, station ownersand their individual states.

The Blend Your Own Ethanol Cam-paign is here to guide retailers on the leastexpensive path for adding E15 both safely

and legally. Many have stated the cost ofadding E15 can be a six-figure endeavor,and while that may be true for some, it willnot be true for most. In fact, some stationsare gearing up for their E15 debut withonly minor adjustments.

If tank infrastructure allows, E15 cansimply replace an existing product and bea low-cost alternative to another low vol-ume product. Another option, and perhapswhat will be most popular, is to install oneor more blender pumps. A blender pumpis a multi-product dispenser that can de-liver various blends of fuel, now mostlycontaining some level of ethanol. Theblender pump can offer more productchoices for consumers on the same footprint, and typically use the same tanksand pipes you have today. Depending onyour location, you may have the opportu-nity to buy directly from an ethanol plant, avoiding terminals and potentiallysaving money.

Blender pumps will also prepare you forthe future, enabling you to do more thansimply meeting current standards. And un-like the stand-alone E85 dispensers of the

past, the blender pump is paid for by all ofthe products it dispenses, not just a singleone. If you have looked at E85, in the pastand been concerned about inventoryturnover, you will see a much faster inven-tory turnover with a blender pump. In mostcases E85 is being diluted for a variety ofother blends. Last, but definitely not least,blender pumps can enable you to sell E15when the timing is right for you.

More information on blender pumps andE15 is available at www.byoethanol.com.You can register for one of the campaign’supcoming webinars, view an old webinaror simply ask questions. To get answersimmediately, you can reach representa-tives of the Renewable Fuels Associationat 402.391.1930 or those at AmericanCoalition for Ethanol at 805.334.3381.

The BYO Ethanol Campaign is a joint effort of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the AmericanCoalition for Ethanol (ACE), to promotethe benefits of blender pumps andethanol-blended fuel. This effort is predominately funded by more than 12 corn grower organizations. n

Gas Stations Prepare to Offer E15,the New Ethanol Blend

Agilence Announces Food Stamp and Voucher Compliance Service

SnapRetail, a technology company thatprovides the only software solution forsmall retailers to plan, promote, sell andstock their stores online, recently uppedtheir product offerings with the launch ofthe company’s new Calendar and Idea Bar.

The Calendar is a Web-based feature thathelps retailers plan, create, schedule and sendmarketing campaigns to customers via e-mail or social media. In about 10 percent ofthe time it takes to use other email marketingsystems, retailers using the SnapRetail cal-endar can already be in touch with their cus-tomer base. In addition, the Calendar offersideas, inspiration and tools to help retailersdevelop innovative marketing campaigns,driving store traffic and increasing sales.

“Local retailers are busier than ever.They simply don’t have the time to marketand often struggle to come up with creativeideas to promote their stores,” said TedTeele, CEO of SnapRetail. “They knowthey need to use Facebook, but are not surewhat to say. And they have told us that ittakes four to five hours to create and testan e-mail campaign using other systems.Our planning Calendar is a unique servicethat sparks ideas and makes it fast and easyto share them with their customers.”

The Calendar’s accompanying Idea Barsupplies users with a constant supply of in-spiration for campaigns, posts and events.The Idea Bar provides fun ideas aroundevents like April Fool’s Day, Earth Day and

Mother’s Day, serving to grow store andonline sales and keep customers engaged.The Calendar also provides a clear view offuture ideas, and it tracks successes fromprevious months with real-time summaries.

Free to subscribers of SnapRetail’s Traf-ficBuilder, the Calendar offers an easydrag-and-drop format, as well as a collec-tion of tens of thousands of professionalimages, templates and ideas for use by re-tailers seeking to build their campaignsand plan their marketing schedules. SinceSnapRetail works with more than 170 ven-dors, TrafficBuilder offers access to thehighest quality images and customizableemail templates, along with ideas tailoredto each individual store. n

SnapRetail Calendar Makes Online Store Marketing Fast and Easy

DeltaTRAK Revolutionizes Cold Chain SolutionTechnologyDeltaTRAK®, a leader in cold chainmanagement solutions recently unveiledits newest technological innovation.DeltaTRAK’s ColdTRAK ThermoTraceTTI labels and service provide immedi-ate product quality information to any-one that scans the TTI label with asmartphone-based reader.

The free smartphone application willdisplay on screen a customizable pre-defined product quality message as de-fined by the ColdTRAK ThermoTraceTTI Service customer. For example, the message displayed could say “Good” or“Fresh,” indicating the product has notexperienced any temperature excursions,or it might say “sell immediately” or “80percent shelf life remaining.” If the prod-uct has experienced extreme exposure toabusive temperatures, the message mightread “do not sell.”

The TTI label is a low cost single-usebarcode label that supports a variety ofpreset time and temperature events. Thelabel is activated by pulling a tab. Onexposure to temperatures exceeding athreshold temperature, it then recordsthe event and the barcode is changed.This enables fast and accurate readings.The system can be integrated into any existing cold chain program withminimal integration and implementa-tion difficulty.

With the ColdTRAK ThermoTrace TTIService, the user receives an immediateemail or text message every time the TTIlabel is scanned anywhere in the coldchain. This enables quality assurance andfood safety personnel to take corrective ac-tion whenever necessary.

“With our TTI solution, anyone can getproduct quality information instantly.And, because the labels are low cost, it isnow practical to track shelf life impactdown to the carton level,” said FrederickWu, President and CEO of DeltaTRAK.“DeltaTRAK Cold Chain Solutions giveany user along the cold chain instantproduct quality information by simplyscanning the barcode label at any point intime through the cold chain. They areeasy to use, extremely accurate and givecustomers the exact data they need tomaintain product integrity and increasesafety and shelf life.”

DeltaTRAK is a leading innovator ofcold chain management, environmentmonitoring and food safety solutionsfor the food, pharmaceutical, life sci-ences and chemical industries. Visitwww.deltatrak.com for more informa-tion on the company and the technologysolutions it offers. n

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To help foodservices operations preventinjuries and reduce liability, Cintas Corpo-ration recently issued a list of best prac-tices for reducing slip and fall accidents.These practices are also intended to assistfoodservices operators as they prepare tomeet the new standards that are expectedto be released by the American NationalStandards Institute later this year.

“CNA research shows that the singlemost important factor in determining theslip resistance of a floor is how it’s cleanedand maintained, not the floor’s type, finishor cleaner,” said Dave Ludwin, Generaland Products Liability Risk Control Direc-tor at commercial insurance companyCNA. “Consequently, foodservices opera-tors need to make sure they have the rightprogram in place to protect their employ-ees and reduce their exposure to potential

liability claims.”According to data compiled by CNA,

slip and fall accidents account for morethan 21 percent of Worker’s CompensationClaims and 59 percent of general liabilityclaim costs. ANSI is currently vetting sev-eral standards to help measure the effec-tiveness of floor care maintenanceprograms with the goal of improving floortraction and reducing these injuries. Theupcoming standards will outline floorsafety procedures ranging from walkwayauditing to floor safety management pro-grams. Foodservice operators can antici-pate these new standards to take effectwithin the next few months.

To prepare for the standards and to assistin the development of a safe floor pro-gram, Cintas recommends that foodser-vices operators follow the following steps:

Make sure to select the best floor mate-rial for the area. Consider high tractionfloor surfaces for areas where water orgrease might gather, such as around dish-washers or grill areas.

When cleaning floors, identify the rightproduct for the job. Cleaners effective incleaning up grease might not be as effec-tive in cleaning up soils with fatty acids,which could result in a slippery surface.Use the proper cleaner for the type of soiltargeted. Also, make sure to employ propercleaning tools and supplies. Tools such asmicrofiber mops utilize less water, reduc-ing the amount of water required to cleanup spills, and thus further eliminating op-portunities for slip and fall hazards.

Develop a written protocol for floormaintenance. For consistency in the floorcleaning program, outline the program in

writing so everyone knows exactly howthe floor should be cleaned throughout dif-ferent parts of the restaurant. In addition,establish a floor cleaning schedule. Iden-tify frequencies for all levels of floorcleaning, from daily maintenance proce-dures to deep cleaning.

Finally, train staff on floor cleaningprotocol. Demonstrate procedures forplacing and cleaning matting, cleaningfloors and maintaining the cleaningequipment. If an automated chemical dis-pensing system is not available, be sureto include training on the proper dilutionand handling of chemicals. And followup to ensure protocol is followed. Holdstaff accountable. Conduct scheduledand surprise audits to inspect floor clean-liness, and identify if staff are followingthe proper procedures. n

Cintas Identifies Best Ways to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents in Foodservices

Ecolab, a global leader in providing water,hygiene and energy technologies andservices to the food, hospitality andhealthcare industries, among others, re-cently unveiled a slate of new products atthe National Restaurant Association Showin Chicago that have quickly caught theattention of foodservices professionals.

First, Ecolab is launching PartsXpressOnline, an enterprise-level e-commercesolution designed for customers whoorder kitchen equipment replacementparts. Through PartsXpress Online, cus-tomers will have access to more than40,000 stocked parts representing theindustry’s top 400 equipment brands.

The PartsXpress website is built on anindustry-leading enterprise resourceplanning system, ensuring customershave a secure and convenient shoppingexperience. With a few simple clicks,customers can search PartsXpress On-line for parts, manuals and diagramsspecific to their kitchen equipment.

With a combined robust knowledgemanagement system and nationwideEcolab Parts Specialist team, PartsXpress Online customers can order atany time and have their order shippedthe same day, Monday through Friday,7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

“We are committed to developing in-novative solutions that help keep ourcustomers’ kitchen equipment operatingproperly while reducing costs,” saidGaetan Lambiase, Vice President andGeneral Manager of Ecolab EquipmentCare. “Our PartsXpress Online solution,which is built on advanced IT technolo-gies, deep industry knowledge and ourautomated supply chain, enables us toquickly and efficiently get customers theright parts, when they are needed most.”

Ecolab also debuted at the NRA Showthe new Stealth® Fly Station. This pro-prietary addition to Ecolab’s industry-leading Large Fly Program attracts andeliminates flies before they enter a facil-

ity. The Stealth Fly Station has shownthe ability to reduce flies in full- andquick-service restaurants and other foodindustry facilities by up to 50 percent.

The Stealth Fly Station is a dark, re-flective device that uses multiple stim-ulating characteristics to attract andeliminate flies around the exterior of afacility before they can become a prob-lem inside. The device can be placednear common fly areas, such as dump-ster corrals, to discreetly keep flies frominterrupting daily operations. In addi-tion, the Stealth Fly Station also helpsreduce pesticide use, resulting in alower impact and more sustainable ap-proach for the environment.

In addition, Ecolab also introduced aninnovative new generation of its indus-try-leading Apex™ warewashing pro-gram. With automatic tracking of keyperformance metrics, an intuitive newdishmachine monitor and actionable re-porting and alarms, Apex2 offers food-

service operators maximum control overtheir warewashing program results andtotal costs.

“To develop Apex2, we gatheredthousands of data points by workingwith customers to understand their day-to-day warewashing challenges and howwe can make the process better,” saidNicolas Granucci, Vice President for In-stitutional Foodservice Marketing. “Theresult is a program that offers dramati-cally improved simplicity, efficiencyand ultimately, superior results.”

The innovative features of Apex2 allowoperators to easily gain greater visibilityinto their dishwashing performance. Keymetrics including wash and rinse temper-atures, detergent levels and wash-tankchange-outs are tracked automatically,making it simple to pinpoint where andwhen issues occur. Actionable alarms onthe high-definition monitor show dishroom staff exactly what needs to occur tomaintain peak performance. n

Ecolab Keeping Kitchens Working and Hygienicwith New Innovative Foodservices Technologies

KSS Fuels recently announced the releaseof PriceNet Cloud, the latest addition tothe company’s suite of pricing intelligencesolutions. PriceNet Cloud is well-suited tofuel retailers who want to benefit from anenterprise-scale fuels pricing solutionwithout the associated capital investmentand need for IT maintenance resources.

PriceNet Cloud offers all of the capabil-ity of the on-premise PriceNet solution im-plemented within 30 days and fullyintegrated with existing retail site systems.Using the latest cloud technology and de-signed with sufficient scale to support hun-

dreds of users and thousands of sites,PriceNet Cloud is delivered with the high-est levels of security, data protection andavailability, meeting acknowledged globalindustry standards to reassure clients theirinformation is easily and quickly availablewithin a secure environment. The solutionis competitively priced and availablethrough a monthly subscription model.

“With PriceNet Cloud we’re addressingclient demand for automated and intelli-gent fuels pricing solutions which can bequickly implemented, via a monthly sub-scription that avoids up-front investment

and internal IT resources and lowers thecost of ownership,” said Bob Stein, Pres-ident and CEO of KSS Fuels. “The newdeployment model offers the samePriceNet promise of fast response to mar-ket conditions, better control over vol-umes and improved margins for an all-inmonthly fee. PriceNet Cloud enables usto extend our pricing and industry expert-ise and a very efficient pricing platformto fuel retailers.”

PriceNet Cloud is ideal for fuel retail-ers who want to enhance their fuel pric-ing capabilities without significant up

front cost or IT effort. It can be deployedin a short time-frame, does not require asophisticated IT infrastructure and is ac-cessible from anywhere through a wire-less interface. Its key functionalitiesinclude integration with leading point ofsale and signage vendors, business dis-covery analytics, alerts and messagingfunctionality, pricing science, standardand customizable pricing rules, compli-ancy module and price optimization ca-pability. Uniquely, the product also offersthe ability for site operators to updatecompetitive information locally. n

KSS Fuels Launches New Cloud-Based Retail Fuels Pricing Solution

Little Trees Air FreshenersLittle Trees, producer of the iconic tree-shaped car air freshener, has recentlyintroduced two new items to its product portfolio. Woven Whites are a cleancotton fragrance composed of citrus and floral notes, with a hint of vanilla. Thislight fragrance still has the longevity that consumers have come to expect fromLittle Trees. In addition, Strength Little Trees are the newest addition to thecompany’s popular Sentiment line of mood-enhancing air fresheners. TheStrength design features the bamboo plant, which symbolizes strength in manycultures, and a specially chosen fragrance designed to help create an en-hanced mood. The color, fragrance and design of these products, combinedwith the proven selling power of the Little Tree company name ensure thatthese new air fresheners will fly off retail shelves.

Little Trees800.545.5454www.little-trees.com

BUYERS GUIDEThis listing is compiled from a survey of products conducted by Convenience Retailer.

CAR CARE PRODUCTS

b u y e r s g u i d e


Eagle One EnviroShine ProductsIn response to a growing number of auto enthusiasts who wantenvironmentally friendly alternatives to traditional car-careproducts, Eagle One™ recently rolled out a new line of appear-ance products under the EnviroShine™ brand. The four newproducts, already on shelves at several major nationwide re-tailers are the first line of “green” automotive appearance prod-ucts to be launched nationally by a major automotive brand. Thefour new products include EnviroShine Wheel & Tire Cleaner,Tire Shine, Car Wash and Glass Cleaner. “Research shows thatnearly 80 percent of auto enthusiasts want eco-friendly car-care products, but they won’t sacrifice per-formance to get them,” said Rob McCarter, Eagle One brand manager. “We saw that as an opportunityto develop a product line that delivers the same great Eagle One performance that consumers knowand trust, while also helping the environment.” Eagle One Enviroshine products are free of harsh acids,solvents, phosphates and other chemicals that can be harmful to humans and animals.

Eagle One800.432.4531www.eagleone.com

Bar’s Leaks Liquid AluminumHeater core leaks are becoming more common and increasingly expensive torepair. Bar’s Leaks® Liquid Aluminum™ Radiator & Heater Core Stop Leak™cansave your customers money by chemically repairing many heater core leakswithout the time-consuming and costly process of removing the vehicle dash.Bar’s Leaks Liquid Aluminum is specially formulated to fix heater core leaks,as well as other cooling system leaks, including those in plastic, aluminum andmetal (copper/steel) radiators, gaskets and freeze plugs. The product containsthe proprietary wetting agent Xtreme Cool™, which stops overheating, im-proves heat transfer and reduces coolant temperature to protect against futureleaks. Bar’s Leaks Liquid Aluminum is effective in cars, trucks, vans, SUVs andRVs, and it is compatible with all types of coolants. It will not harm the coolingsystem when properly installed, nor will it clog the heater core.

Bar’s Leaks810.603.1321www.barsleaks.com

Autoglym Valet KitThe Autoglym Valet Kit includes everything neededfor proper vehicle detailing inside and out, all con-tained in a smartly designed package that allowsfor easy storage and transportation. The kit in-cludes six 500 ml bottles of Autoglym products(Bodyworks Shampoo Conditioner, Super ResinPolish, Fast Glass, Instant Tire Dressing, Vinyl &Rubber Care and Custom Wheel Cleaner), a Per-fect Polish Cloth, Sponge and carrying case. Es-tablished in 1965, Autoglym has developed anunrivalled reputation for producing high-qualityautomotive care and detailing products. Acrossthe globe, car care enthusiasts, vehicle manufac-turers and distributors, bodyshops, valeting/detailing companies and transport operators trust Autoglymabove all others. Autoglym's retail range is acknowledged by many of the world's most prestigious ve-hicle manufacturers, including Aston Martin Lagonda, Bentley, Jaguar and Land Rover.

Autoglymwww.autoglym.com

3M Paint Restoration SystemFor those whose vehicles are beginning to showtheir age, the Paint Restoration System from 3Mcontains everything needed to bring a vehicle’spaint back to “like-new” condition. Each systemincludes 3M Scratch Remover Plus, 3M Shine Re-storer and 3M Synthetic Wax Protectant. It also in-cludes a patented scratch eraser pad and threelevels of foam pads needed to deliver a great fin-ish. The only tool a consumer needs for the job is a six-inch polisher, available at automotive and homeimprovement stores. The system is designed in simple 1-2-3 steps that take the guess work out of theproject, even if the car owner has never done automotive repair previously. “Many car owners have ex-tended the ownership of their cars due to the economy,” said Todd Mathes, automotive expert for 3MCar Care. “While a car still runs well, it can show its age with fading paint and scratches. Hand-appliedwaxes can only do so much. We applied our expertise in automotive paint restoration and developed athree-step process that allows consumers to restore their car’s finish inexpensively and deliver incredibleresults.” The Paint Restoration System is available at many retail locations for a suggested price of $59.99.

3M888.364.3577www.3m.com

Wearever Platinum Premium Brake PadsAdvance Auto Parts recently introduced Wearever Platinum™,an exclusive line of premium ceramic brake pads, proven in in-dependent third-party tests to deliver a quieter stop and betterstopping power than other leading brands. Wearever Platinumfeatures SoundLock Plus™ technology, which employs a four-layer shim, designed specifically for silent braking. SoundLock Plus’ diamond-patterned outer rubberlayer locks in sound while a premium-grade inner steel adds rigidity, a second inner rubber layer furthersuppresses noise and an acrylic adhesive layer absorbs vibration. “We know that noise and stoppingpower are the key causes for customer comebacks,” said Advance Senior Vice President of Merchan-dising and Marketing Charles Tyson. “Wearever Platinum is specifically engineered to address those is-sues.” Sold exclusively through Advance Auto Parts, Wearever Platinum Premium Brake Pads areavailable both to consumers and automotive professionals.

Advance Auto Parts877.238.2623www.advancepro2pro.com

Pennzoil Ultra 0W-40Pennzoil Ultra™ 0W-40 synthetic motor oil is specifically designed to keepSRT engines running clean. The advanced, co-engineered formulation is theresult of months of collaboration between Pennzoil scientists and ChryslerGroup engineers to develop a motor oil that provides the performance thatSRT owners have come to expect from their high-tech engines. “SRT ownersunderstand the importance of performance and craftsmanship like few oth-ers,” said Ralph V. Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer of SRT Brandand Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “They know clean engines are moreefficient, better protected and perform at the demanding levels we’ve de-signed our SRT engines to operate.” The proprietary synthetic formula ofPennzoil Ultra motor oil is designed to exceed the toughest industry stan-dards, so it will run through the engine of all new SRT vehicles when theyroll off the factory line.

Pennzoil800.237.8645www.pennzoil.com

Goodyear DurasealGoodyear DuraSeal is a yellow, gel-like rubber compound that in-stantly seals punctures of up to 1/4-inch in diameter in the treadarea of the tire. As a nail enters the tire and reaches the tire’s innerliner, DuraSeal immediately surrounds the puncture to seal the leak.Goodyear’s DuraSeal Technology is available in drive and trailertires for over-the-road applications, as well as in all-position tiresfor mixed service and waste-haul applications. “DuraSeal Technol-ogy is the industry’s first and only built-in tire sealant, and is de-signed for multiple punctures while maintaining tire pressure,” saidTim Miller, Marketing Communications Manager for Goodyear Com-mercial Tire Systems. “If a nail is pulled out, DuraSeal can instantlyfill the hole and keep air from escaping. People are amazed that atruck tire can seal itself.”

Goodyear800.321.2136www.goodyeartrucktires.com

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MARKETWATCHGIFT CARDS AND LOYALTY PROGRAMS


CITGO Petroleum Corp. knows that whenit comes to its network of approximately6,000 locally owned locations, a one-size-fits-all approach is not always the most ef-fective option for its brand programs. Forthis reason, the company’s new CITGOLoyalty Bucks features the flexibilityneeded to adapt to the preferences of indi-vidual marketers and retailers.

“We know that loyalty programs cangenerate an increase of up to 15 percent oninside sales volume and up to 10 percentin gallons at the pump, and we wanted tooffer those kinds of advantages to our mar-keters and retailers,” said Alan Flagg, Gen-

eral Manager of Light Oils Marketing forCITGO. “However, we also know that onetemplate wouldn’t work across the diverseCITGO network, so we built a platformwith lots of options from which each busi-ness owner can choose what will workbest for his or her market.”

CITGO has partnered with three technol-ogy providers, Centego, Outsite NetworksLoyalty Solutions and FIS Loyalty, to en-sure that its marketers and retailers can se-lect the best solution for their specificbusiness goals. Each technology partnerhas certain strengths, such as growing in-side sales or tying into grocery store pro-

motions. The flexible design of the CITGOLoyalty Bucks program provides marketersand retailers access to the provider that bestmatches their unique needs.

To assist marketers in implementing theLoyalty Bucks program, CITGO has alsoteamed up with Exclusive Connection$, anexpert in convenience store marketing pro-grams. The Loyalty Accelerator Programthat CITGO has developed with ExclusiveConnection$ was built to provide mar-keters and retailers guidance through everystep of the design and implementation oftheir loyalty program. Exclusive Connec-tion$ will work with CITGO Marketersand Retailers to help them choose the righttechnology partner and create a loyalty

program that is unique to them and alignswith their business processes and goals. Inaddition, the company will assist mar-keters and retailers in managing projectimplementation plans and also provide on-going marketing support.

“We know that our marketers and retail-ers will see measurable value from theCITGO Loyalty Bucks program,” saidFlagg. “By partnering with Exclusive Con-nection$, we can make the whole experi-ence streamlined and easy. The reason somany loyalty programs fail is that they arebuilt from a static template. Our programoffers options at every step of the way andsupport to help marketers and retailersmake the best choices for them.” n

CITGO Introduces Loyalty Bucks Program

As gift card sales continue to grow in im-portance within the retail industry, con-sumer research shows that one of thebiggest opportunities retailers have to cap-italize on the gift card craze is through in-serting themselves into the growingmarket for e-gift cards. In fact, accordingto one survey conducted earlier this year,an impressive 75 percent of retailers statedthat they plan to devote more of their mar-keting budgets to the promotion of digitalgifting and e-gift cards in 2012.

“The digital age is booming. Smart-phone adoption by consumers is over-whelming, and retailers are meeting thesetrends by investing in mobile capabilitiesand digital gifting,” said David Stone,

CEO of industry-leading digital giftingcompany CashStar. “Gift cards havereached more than $100 billion in annualsales in the United States, and this marketis going digital.”

CashStar provides the necessary re-sources to retailers, enabling them to offerelectronic gift cards to their customers.Some of the biggest brands in retail havetaken advantage of CashStar’s services.And if CashStar’s recent successes are anyindication of the potential dominance ofthe growing digital gifting market, one canexpect more and more retailers to jump onthe e-gift card bandwagon. In the pastyear, CashStar grew more than 400 per-cent and more than doubled its number of

retail brand partners. Today the companynow drives the majority of retail digitalgift card programs in the country.

“Reaching record growth numbers in2011, CashStar continues to pave the wayfor innovative brands that are looking toreinvent gifting as they embrace the digitalage,” said Stone. “Our market growth isskyrocketing as the retail industry contin-ues its massive shift to digital gifting.”

E-gift cards have become so popular insuch a relatively short life span, in partbecause they enable customers to over-come what is perhaps the biggest draw-back of giving traditional gift cards toloved ones: their impersonality. Now,leading retailers are leveraging Cash-

Star’s new digital gifting platform, en-abling customers to personalize their dig-ital gift cards with a custom message,video and photo, select the card denomi-nation, and send it immediately or selecta future day, up to a year in advance.

“CashStar has not only recreated the per-sonal gift giving experience online, we haveimproved the entire process evoking anemotional connection via video and otherchannels,” said Stone. “Online consumersexpect usability and easy customization.CashStar brings an unmatched dynamic todigital gifting by providing the most fea-tures and personalization available in the in-dustry, exceeding consumer demand andhelping our retailers drive sales.” n

Growing E-gift Card Market Taking Retail Industry by Storm

John Cullen, Vice President and GeneralManager of SVM Cards recently spoke toConvenience Retailer about the company’snew gasoline rewards business FuelCircle.

CR: The timing of the FuelCircle launchseems perfect, as gas prices continue toskyrocket. How do consumers become apart of FuelCircle?

JC: Consumers become members of theFuelCircle program via a simple registra-tion process that occurs in the lane at aparticipating FuelCircle retailer. FuelCir-cle does not require the issuance of a sep-arate loyalty card as we have a databasesolution that will cross link the con-sumer’s existing retailer loyalty card in-formation to a unique FuelCircle IDnumber. For retailers that do not have aloyalty card, we provide one or allow theconsumer the option of registering withan alternate ID, like a phone number or

email address. These registration optionsare supported by the FuelCircle technol-ogy solution that is easily integrated intothe retailer’s POS system.

CR: What benefits does FuelCircle offerenrolled consumers?

JC: The benefit to consumers is free gaso-line. Once registered, they simply shopparticipating FuelCircle retailers wherethey earn and accumulate FuelCirclepoints and then redeem those points forgasoline at one of the 40,000 brandedgasoline stations in our network, includingChevron, Texaco, BP, ARCO, Exxon,Mobil and Sunoco stations.

CR: As a retailer, what are the benefits forme to participate?

JC: Recent research by Colloquy indi-cates that the average U.S. household is a

member in 18 loyalty programs and activein eight. And our own research indicatesthey are avid participants in only two orthree. Why the consumer apathy? We be-lieve that the main culprit in the loyaltylandscape today is anemic rewards. Thecoalition addresses this problem, as con-sumers can go about their everyday pur-chasing at FuelCircle merchants andaccumulate rewards across the network.FuelCircle allows the retailer to fund re-wards at a level that they can afford,which increases retailer ROI and im-proves promotion efficiency. Further, Fu-elCircle retailers of all types and sizesshare in the positive halo-effect created asconsumers redeem earned rewards forsomething they want and need—gasoline.

CR: What sets FuelCircle apart from otherfuel-based offerings?

JC: A number of things. First and fore-

most, the nationwide network of trusted,branded gasoline partners. It is this net-work that has allowed us the opportunityto have a real dialogue with retailers thatalso have a national footprint and want toleverage the power of gasoline as an incen-tive. Second, we have built a low cost, roy-alty-free and technologically stablesolution on both the issuance and redemp-tion side of the equation. Lastly, FuelCir-cle has in its network, non-competingmulti-channel retail participants that allowthe retailers to stop sharing their customerswith their competitors by leveraging thehigh value consumers place on fuel.

CR: How can interested retailers and con-sumers learn more about SVM’s FuelCir-cle rewards program?

JC: Those interested in the program canfind out more about it at our websitewww.svmcards.net. n

SVM Cards Launches FuelCircle Gasoline Rewards Program

http://www.krispykrunchy.com

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Punchcard Mobile Loyalty Program NowAvailable to Smartphone Users NationwidePunchcard, a mobile engagement and loy-alty network, announced that the com-pany’s new mobile loyalty program,available through a mobile app, is nowavailable nationwide, giving consumers asimple way to get rewards from the busi-nesses they frequent most. Punchcardgives smartphone users access to rewardsfrom millions of businesses of all types,including specialty retailers, restaurants,grocery stores, coffee shops and many oth-ers. The company has already revolution-ized the retail landscape in SouthernCalifornia where it debuted earlier thisyear, and it is now expecting to expand itsimpact to merchants and restaurants acrossthe United States.

Punchcard enables users to earn rewardsin a simple and straightforward way. Retailcustomers first download the Punchcardapp, “Punchcard—Official,” from the AppStore or Android Market. After visiting abusiness, app users are invited to take aphoto of the receipt at the point of pur-chase. Punchcard then verifies the pur-

chase, and the customer earns “punches”at his or her favorite shopping and diningspots. Each time a customer completes apunchcard at any business, he or she thenearns a reward. In most cases, this rewardis cash back towards a future purchase, butit can also be a free meal, piece of cloth-ing, haircut or gift card.

In essence, the Punchcard app has thepotential to replace the stacks of individ-ual loyalty cards many people carry withthem in their wallets and are expected tohave with them each time they make aretail purchase.

“We’re thrilled to make the Punchcardapp available to benefit both consumersand merchants throughout the UnitedStates,” said Punchcard CEO AndySteuer. “Consumers get rewarded withcash back for shopping at the places theylove. Loyal customers are the lifebloodto a local business, and Punchcard pro-vides a way for those businesses to in-crease the revenue generated from thesecustomers while shortening the con-

sumer re-purchase cycle. The result ismore revenue in a shorter period of timeat lower costs. It's a win-win for both theconsumer and merchant.”

The lines between online and offline areblurring and Punchcard is at an inflectionpoint in the market where consumers usetheir mobile phones several times an hour,including when they are shopping or eat-ing at their favorite restaurants. Punchcardprovides a way for consumers to get re-warded for being loyal customers, and formerchants to be able to re-acquire thosecustomers on a more cost effective basis.

“I think Punchcard is spot-on with the di-rection of the marketplace with regard towhere loyalty programs are headed,” saidGordon Borrell, CEO of Borrell AssociatesInc., a leading research and consulting firmthat tracks local advertising. “Punchcardincorporates the basic elements of socialmarketing with frequent customer rewardsto broaden the opportunities for local busi-nesses, and to grow revenues from theirmost important customer base.” n

QuikTrip Fuel Rewards ProgramTarget of LawsuitExcentus Corporation has filed a patentand trademark infringement lawsuitagainst QuikTrip Corporation, Midax Inc.and several companies operating PriceChopper grocery stores.

The suit, filed in the United States DistrictCourt for the Western District of Missourifor unspecified damages, alleges amongother things that the Chopper Shopper FuelRewards program infringes on patentsowned by Excentus as well as its federally-registered “Fuel Rewards” trademark.

Currently, Price Chopper operates apartnership with QuikTrip, providing fuelrewards to the grocery store’s customers.Members of the companies’ Fuel RewardsProgram earn a discount of five cents pergallon at QuikTrip locations with every 50dollars spent on qualifying items at PriceChopper stores.

In 2008, Excentus acquired its initialpatent from Autogas for the “Fuel Re-wards” trademark. It has since beenawarded additional patents and has numer-ous patent applications pending at theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office.In 2009, Excentus filed a similar patent in-fringement suit against Safeway for itsPower Pump Rewards program. That suitwas settled in 2010, and the program hasbeen discontinued. Soon afterward, Excen-tus filed a lawsuit against Kroger that al-leges among other things patentinfringement and theft of trade secrets re-garding Kroger’s own fuel loyalty program.This lawsuit remains pending in Ohio.

“QuikTrip contacted us regarding ob-taining technology and services for thefuel discount loyalty programs they weredeveloping for Price Chopper [KansasCity] and others, and we did our best towork with them to avoid this situation,”said Dickson Perry, Founder and CEO ofExcentus. “Since they have chosen tocontinue without a license for our patentsor our ‘Fuel Rewards’ trademark, theyleft us no choice but to file this suit as weare very serious about protecting our intellectual property.” n

TravelCenters of America is introducing aseries of ways for professional drivers tosave, both when shopping in the com-pany’s stores and also while on the road.

First, the company is creating two majorsavings programs for professional driversavailable at both TA stores and Petro Stop-ping Centers. As of March, professionaldrivers who are members of the UltraONEDriver Rewards program receive specialMember Pricing discounts on many travelstore items. Drivers enrolled in the pro-gram will receive up to 40 percent off onas many as 100 popular items each month.These discounts are not available to cus-tomers who are not UltraOne members.

Additionally, coming this May, TA andPetro customers will soon be able to saveon bulk-package purchases with the “BuyBig & Save” program. Several select TAand Petro locations will now offer special-ized supplies and bulk packaged products

to help professional drivers save on theitems they need and buy most often.

TA is also holding a promotion specifi-cally aimed towards helping professionaldrivers keep on top of their vehicle main-tenance. Through the new “Your Oil Re-wards” promotion, available at TA andPetro truck service centers, with each full-price oil change purchased, UltraOnemembers earn an “Oil Visit” credit, whichcan be redeemed on their next visit orsaved up. One “Oil Visit” translates to $25off the next oil change. However, by accu-mulating multiple “Oil Visits,” one can getas much as $200 off.

“The ‘Your Oil Rewards’ promotion isa way of encouraging good preventativemaintenance practices and saving our cus-tomers money,” said Tom O’Brien, Presi-dent and CEO of TravelCenters. “Ourtruck service bays are open 24 hours a day,365 days a year, and we have more than

2,500 technicians across the country.”Finally, TA is also launching an ex-

panded roadside breakdown recoveryservice called RoadSquad Connect. Road-Squad Connect provides professional driv-ers nationwide coverage for emergencyroadside services, 24 hours a day, 365 daysa year. The new RoadSquad Connect pro-gram will now include access to thousandsof additional qualified service providersand service trucks.

“RoadSquad Connect is a unique offeringin the emergency roadside assistance cate-gory of services,” said O’Brien. “Backed byTA and Petro know-how and experience,RoadSquad Connect is more than just a callcenter. Since it’s built around the Road-Squad fleet of trucks and technicians, Road-Squad Connect gives drivers a combinationof speed, convenience, and low cost that simply cannot be found with otheremergency breakdown services.” n

TravelCenters of America Unveils Slate of LoyaltyPrograms, Rewards for Professional Drivers

Managing reward liability and its spiralingcosts has become the single largest chal-lenge for the customer loyalty program in-dustry, making the need for collaborationbetween reward providers and merchantsgreater than ever. This is according to anew survey from Swift Exchange, an inno-vative leader in the loyalty programs field.

When asked how they would rate thechallenge of managing liability and program costs in today’s environment, virtually half of survey respondents

(49 percent) said that managing costs hasbecome “very challenging,” while 38 per-cent believe managing costs has definitelybecome “more challenging.” When askedto assess the current state of collaborationbetween reward providers and merchants,58 percent of respondents said they saw a “much greater” need for collaboration.

Among the subset of respondents whoidentified themselves as rewardproviders, when asked what they wouldmost like to change about their loyalty

programs, two-thirds of respondentsidentified the need for expanding strate-gic relationships, followed by better dif-ferentiation (24 percent) and expandedredemption capabilities (19 percent).

Asked to rate the typical loyalty pro-gram’s effectiveness at customer reten-tion, a combined 67 percent respondedwith either an “acceptable” or “low” rat-ing. When asked to rank the industry onits success at customer acquisition, acombined 73 percent responded with

either an “acceptable” or “low” rating.“Modern-day loyalty programs have

reached the limits of their current technol-ogy and methodology,” said RichardPostrel, Chief Executive Officer andFounder of Swift Exchange. “Fundamen-tal macro-economic issues must be ad-dressed in order to advance this industryinto the next generation. What we are see-ing is an industry that is ripe for transfor-mation. This is a wake-up call for theentire reward and loyalty industry.” n

Survey Reveals Growing Concern Over Costs of Loyalty Programs

http://www.metroecigs.com/seven

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Acumera Provides Valuable IT Tools for Multi-Site RetailersDespite the fact that the company has beenproviding valuable Internet technologytools to convenience retailers for a decade,Texas-based Acumera may still be an un-known brand name to many, includingeven some who are intimately involved inthe convenience store industry. This has infact been a part of the company’s design,as it has been vital to Acumera’s continuedgrowth to protect the cutting-edge technol-ogy it has pioneered from being co-optedby the company’s competitors. However,this is about the change in the comingmonths, as Acumera’s confirmed intellec-tual property rights over its technology hasfinally put the company in a position tomake a more concerted push towards pub-licizing itself on a grander scale, bothwithin and outside of the conveniencestore industry.

“Right now we are laser-focused on theconvenience store space,” said Tom Yem-ington, Vice President of Business Develop-ment for Acumera. “I hope that we willbecome more well known in the…industry.”

What Acumera offers multi-site mer-chants is the opportunity to collectivelymonitor a variety of different systems at aseries of retail locations, all integrated intoa single network. The company’s TrustedConnection Service serves as a secure,cloud-based method for retailers to con-

nect to all the machines that they need tomonitor on a daily basis in order to makeinformed decisions regarding their busi-ness operations.

Acumera works with convenience retail-ers to create and manage comprehensive net-works, built to help maximize operationaleffectiveness, at the same time that it reducescost to the retailer. Through Acumera’s Mer-chant Gateway, clients are able on a singlescreen to view a vast amount of valuable in-formation, including everything from fuelprices to petroleum inventories to the tem-peratures of prepared foods.

In fact, the Acumera AcuVigil Dash-board not only allows merchants to viewoperational data, but it also alerts the clientwhen inventories reach critically low lev-els or when equipment fails or is out ofcompliance, thus minimizing downtimeand maximizing profits.

Although largely aimed at multi-siteconvenience retailers operating anywherefrom 50 to 500 stores, Acumera technol-ogy can be useful even for merchants op-erating only a fraction of this number ofretail locations. For example, a retailerwho operates just fifteen stores, but underthree separate brand names may have nochoice but to operate with three separateand incompatible IT systems. “Each of themajor brands says buy our market

software. Acumera provides a single net-work that meets the requirements of thesebig stores,” said Yemington.

In addition to making the company andits products more visible in the market-place, Acumera is also moving into a newphase for the company through a recentlyannounced partnership with fellow ITcompany Liquid Networx. Liquid Net-worx is set to begin marketing privatelabel versions of Acumera products as partof a bundle of IT lifecycle managementservices and security products.

With all these changes already afoot forthe company, Yemington promises evenmore major announcements fromAcumera over the coming months. “Al-most everything has a network connectionor a way to become connected,” said Yem-ington. “One of our biggest challenges isfinding what’s the next thing we can con-nect.” Clients can anticipate that asAcumera grows as a company, a varietyof new machines will be integrated intothe company’s network. n

Workstream HRSoftware LaunchesNew Brand Identity, WebsiteHuman capital software and servicesprovider Workstream Inc. recently an-nounced the launch of its new corporatebrand identity, HRsoft, including a contem-porary logo, tagline and updated website.

“HRsoft is a new brand to better definethe value we deliver to employers. Our tal-ent management solutions are gainingtraction among employers who seek totackle significant human capital issues,such as managing performance and com-pensation programs,” said John Long,CEO of HRsoft. “HRsoft gives employersthe capability to improve business resultsthrough innovative cloud-based applica-tions to manage human capital. What’smore, solutions are easy to use by man-agers and employees. Our ‘Talent Man-agement Simplified’ tagline reflects this todifferentiate HRsoft in the market.”

Cloud-based solutions to manage criticalhuman capital issues help employers to bemore successful and yield a strong return oninvestment. In addition, HRsoft’s integratedtalent management suite, TalentCenter, in-cludes Performance Management, Compen-sation Management and Total Rewardsstatements. As one of the few software com-panies today totally focused on human cap-ital, HRsoft seems poised for future growth.

HRsoft’s strategy is to equip employerswith the advanced capabilities needed tothrive and achieve more from human capital.Such capabilities include cloud-based, easilyconfigurable solutions to meet an employer’schanging talent management needs. In addi-tion, the company’s expandable applicationsseamlessly integrate with other HR systems.

HRsoft’s solutions and expertise positionthe company to help employers improve theway they manage performance reviews,compensation planning and communicationof total rewards to employees. Using thecompany’s Web-based tools to better alignindividual goals with company-wide strate-gic goals leads to improved business results.HRsoft’s compensation management solu-tion enables employers to effectively basemerit increases and bonuses on employeeperformance. Clients may choose individualmodules or a suite of solutions to meet theircurrent needs and expand them in the future.

In addition, HRsoft’s solutions are char-acterized by their ease-of-use for managersand end-user employees. In fact, so simpleto use, HRsoft’s Performance Manage-ment, Compensation Management andTotal Rewards statements can typically beimplemented in less than 60 days.

Above all, HRsoft’s core strategy is tohelp managers use automation and technol-ogy to make better and faster HR-relatedbusiness decisions. Learn more about thecompany at www.hrsoft.com. n

Food retailers, food manufacturers andquick-service restaurants across NorthAmerica can bring their products to marketmore safely, quickly and efficiently, throughemploying innovative software solutionsfrom MICROS Retail and Supply Chain.

The company, a leading provider of prod-uct lifecycle management and food-safetycompliance software, recently launched itsmyCreations portfolio in North America. Acomplete suite of integrated applications,myCreations enables food-industry clientsto ensure that consumers get safe, high-quality food products, bringing products tomarket faster, through better collaborationand innovation within the supply chain. Inaddition, myCreations helps foodservicesproviders protect their brands and achievegreater profitability through greatly im-proved efficiencies.

Employing myCreations, food-industryclients can immediately access reliabledata on product ingredients, ingredientsources and manufacturing processes to en-sure a high level of product quality and tomeet all regulatory compliance and qualitystandards. This serves to protect consumersand vastly reduce potential risk to theirbrands. In the event of a product recall, my-Creations users can respond quickly and

reliably, with incident response time im-proved by as much as 90 percent.

Based on the experiences of currentclients around the world, myCreations hasproven to deliver efficiency gains of up to40 percent. Users of the software applica-tions can overcome existing challenges totheir businesses, such as inconsistent datainput. For example, clients currently obtainproduct information from their suppliersthrough a variety of often slow methods.The data then has to be meticulously re-en-tered into their systems. Workflow toolsemployed within myCreations improvedata entry speed by about 70 percent.

MyCreations also delivers better dataaccuracy over fragmented and legacy in-ternal systems, potentially automatingprocesses that are currently done manu-ally. Multiple processes are handledthrough a single portal, eliminating theneed for multiple systems and address-ing the issue of time-consuming accessto limited, uncontrolled data. Approxi-mately 60 percent of administration timeis eliminated from the entire supply-chain process.

Both standard and tailored configura-tions are cloud-based to integrate intoclients’ existing operations seamlessly and

easily, without the need to invest in addi-tional IT resources and infrastructure. Anyuser can access myCreations via a secureWeb connection, from any PC with Internetaccess and applicable security privileges.Clients can customize their home screen’slayout and content to meet their individualpreferences, and the user interface is com-patible with 27 different languages.

“MICROS Retail and Supply Chain hasbeen a global-leading provider of productlifecycle management and food-safetysoftware since we introduced the first-everPLM solution for private-label goods in1995,” said Paul Woodward, CEO for MI-CROS Retail and Supply Chain. “Now,clients across North America can ensuregreater food safety and higher quality forconsumers utilizing our complete solu-tions that are specifically designed and de-veloped for the food industry.”

MICROS Retail and Supply Chainhelps clients achieve desired resultsthroughout the product lifecycle by pro-viding ongoing education and trainingprograms through its MICROS Academy.Courses are offered both in-person andonline, and ongoing client support isavailable at any time, through a multi-lin-gual client call center. n

Micros myCreations Retail and Supply Chain Software Ensures Foodservices Quality, Safety

Tums FreshersMarking the biggest innovation for Tums inmore than 80 years, GlaxoSmithKline Con-sumer Healthcare North America recentlyannounced the launch of TUMS Freshers,a new product which works to provide fastheartburn relief as well as fresh breath. Afirst for the product line, Tums Freshers in-cludes a unique high impact cooling flavordesigned to freshen breath. In addition, theproduct’s new tablet size, 40 percentsmaller than regular Tums, makes it conve-niently portable. Ninety-four percent ofheartburn sufferers experience heartburnand bad breath at the same time, which maynegatively impact them during significantsocial situations where food is involved.Tums Freshers is designed to help con-sumers through these tricky situations, aswell as to ensure personal comfort.

GlaxoSmithKlinewww.gsk.com

Heineken Indio Heineken Indio, a uniquedark beer brewed andsold in Mexico since1893, will now be avail-able in the United States,beginning in eight keymarkets in Calif., Texasand Ill. The 12-oz. bot-tled dark Mexican beer iswell known for its maltcharacter and lightcaramel aroma. “Notonly does the launch ofIndio in the United Statesstrengthen HeinekenUSA’s portfolio andstrategic innovation plat-form, but it supports ourambition of becoming the leading beercompany in the United States,” said FelixPalau, Vice President of Marketing forIndio. “Market segmentation continues tohave a major impact on the industry, andIndio will use this trend to create a veryspecific campaign that speaks directly tothe niche audiences’ interests and pas-sions in life.” Indio’s marketing strategywill focus on Hispanic men 21-26 yearsold who are constantly in search forbrands that understand their need to ex-press their identity by creatively fusingurban and Latino cultures.

Heineken USA914.681.4100www.heinekenusa.com

new productsp r o d u c t f e a t u r e s


Blueberry Acai Bare Balance Bars Balance Bar Company, one of America’stop five leading nutrition/energy barmakers is introducing Balance Bar BareBlueberry Acai. The new flavor joinstwo other great-tasting Bare bars alreadyon the market: Sweet & Salty ChocolateAlmond and Sweet & Salty Peanut But-ter. Bare Blueberry Acai is made with acrisp high-protein core, simple sweeten-ers, dried wild blueberries, sunflowerseeds and acai juice powder. A yogurtcoating along the bottom adds a hint ofsweetness, and the rolled oats on topbring an extra crunch to this great tastingvitamin- and mineral-rich nutritionalbar. As with all Bare flavors, BlueberryAcai is the perfect balanced nutritionsnack for active, outdoor or on-the-gooccasions. Each bar has 200 calories, 19vitamins and minerals, and is an excel-lent source of antioxidants. The subtlysweet and crunchy taste will appeal tokids, teens and adults, while keepingthem balanced and energized throughouttheir busy days.

Balance Bar Companywww.balance.com

Minute Maid Light Lemonade Minute Maid Light Lemonade and newLight Pink Lemonade are making their re-tail debut in redesigned clear 59-oz. recy-clable bottles that allow people to see thegoodness inside. With fewer calories thanMinute Maid’s regular juice drinks, theseproducts are sure to please anyone, but es-pecially those looking for lighter options.“Minute Maid Light Lemonade and newMinute Maid Light Pink Lemonade offerpeople a lighter way to enjoy the refresh-ing and delicious taste of lemonade,” saidCharles Torrey, Vice President of Market-ing for Minute Maid. “And they’re packedwith great Minute Maid flavor, so yourtongue will never know they have only 15calories per serving.” Minute Maid LightLemonades are now available in thechilled juice sections of retail stores acrossthe country. Both flavors are perfect toshare while spending time with friends andfamily or to enjoy when stealing a momentfor yourself.

The Coca Cola Company800.438.2653www.minutemaid.com

Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy BarsAmerica, your dreams have come true.After months of speculation and mouth-watering rumors, Nestlé® Crunch® re-cently began marketing three new flavorsof its iconic candy bar, inspired by threefamous varieties of Girl Scout Cookies.The new candy bars, produced under license from Girl Scouts of the USA, come in three varieties: Thin Mints, whichfeature dark chocolate cookie wafers and mint chocolate cream, Caramel & Coconut, featuring cookie wafers layeredwith coconut caramel crème, chewycaramel and toasted coconut, and PeanutButter Crème, featuring cookie wafers lay-ered with smooth peanut butter crème.Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars willbe available through September as a lim-ited edition product. They will be sold atparticipating retail stores nationwide.

Nestlé Crunchwww.nestlecrunch.com

Pepto-Bismol To-GoThe days of racing home for relief after anevening at the all-you-can eat BBQ jointare now over. With Pepto-Bismol To-Go,a new Procter & Gamble product, peoplecan get five-symptom relief from the long-standing, reliable brand wherever lifetakes them. Pepto-Bismol To-Go is the ul-timate travel sidekick, with its discreetportability. It can fit comfortably in apocket, clutch, gym bag, carry-on or beachbag, as well as in the glove box of your car.Pepto-Bismol To-Go will help users cele-brate life without unfortunate disruptions,rescuing them if they happen to overdo itwith food and drink. “For more than 100years people have relied on Pepto as an at-home rescue brand for those times whenthey overdo it. However, many of our con-sumers aren’t at home when they experi-ence the first signs of a stomach upset,”said Phil McWaters, brand manager forPepto-Bismol. “Pepto-Bismol To-Go cansave users from their stomach troubles,wherever the road happens to take them.”

Proctor & Gamblewww.pepto-bismol.com

Arma Energy SNXARMA Energy SNX offers a line of snackfoods with energy dosages on par with lead-ing energy drinks. The company recentlyreleased two new products—Cobra KettleCooked BBQ Chips and Hellfire Hot &Spicy Tortilla Mix—both sure to give yoursnack time a boost. Cobra Smoked BBQPotato chips are cut from the freshest pota-toes, kettle cooked in sunflower oil and sea-soned with chili pepper and maple sugar,delivering both a sweet and spicy flavor.Hellfire Hot & Spicy Tortilla Mix is a care-fully selected assortment of almonds,peanuts, pepitas and corn sticks mixed withchipotle and paprika, topped off with ched-dar and romano. It’s a hot and spicy partymix with a zesty Tex-Mex flavor. One bagof Cobra Kettle Cooked BBQ Potato Chipsdelivers more energy than a regular bag ofkettle style potato chips. Infused with caf-feine (70 milligrams), taurine (1000 mil-ligrams) and a host of B-vitamins (70milligrams), it is comparable to the leadingenergy drink. Whether you’re snacking atwork or barbecuing with friends this sum-mer, Arma Energy delivers the charge youneed to wage the war on fatigue and hunger.

Arma Energy Snx877.851.ARMAwww.armaenergysnx.com

SVM Gasoline Promotional CardsSVM, the global leader in gift cards forbusinesses, continues its market-leadingtradition in developing innovative productsfor use in reward and promotional pro-grams. Gasoline promotional cards offerbusinesses unique features to incentivizeand reward customer behavior, while alsocontrolling their marketing and promotionalcampaigns and budgets. Gasoline promo-tional cards combine the attractiveness ofgasoline as a reward currency, the conven-ience of being able to pay for gasoline at thepump and the flexibility of expiration datesto create an attractive reward solution. Busi-nesses can now create compelling market-ing campaigns using gasoline cards withdefined durations, controlled costs and na-tionwide coverage for their promotionaland incentive programs. The applicationsfor gasoline promotional cards apply acrossall businesses and industries, including gro-cery, retail, services, manufacturing andmore. Co-branding and card customizationoptions are also available. For additionalpromotional products, SVM provides gaso-line gift cards from all the major oil com-panies in the United States, along withAward Codes and e-Gift Cards.

SVM, LP 847.553.9105www.svmcards.net

c a l e n d a r


UPCOMINGEVENTSWHEN WHAT WHERE WEBSITE

JULY

June 29-July 2 NACS Global Forum Various locationsSão Paulo, Brazil

www.nacsonline.com

July 17-18 SIGMA Summer Legislative Meeting Westin GeorgetownWashington, D.C.

www.sigma.org/summer-legislative-meeting/2.1.fs

July 29-Aug. 2 NACS Leadership Executive Program Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY

www.nacsonline.com

AUGUST

August 19-22 NACS CAFÉ Georgia World Congress CenterAtlanta, GA

www.nacsonline.com

August 25-28 NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference Colorado Convention CenterDenver, CO

www.rxconference.org

SEPTEMBER

September 9-11 Philadelphia National Candy Gift & Gourmet Show Atlantic City Convention CenterAtlantic City, NJ

www.phillycandyshow.com

September 12-15 ANWA Summit & Business Exchange Ritz CarltonAmelia Island, FL

www.awmanet.org

September 17-20 Pacific Oil Conference and Trade Show Grand Sierra Resort & CasinoReno, NV

www.petroshow.com

September 24-28 Insight NACS Future of Convenience 2012 British LibraryLondon, England

www.insightreport.co.uk/conferences/foc2012/index.html

OCTOBER

October 1-3 LEAD Marketing Conference Westin O’Hare Chicago, IL

www.leadmarketingconference.com

October 7-10 NACS Show Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NV

www.nacsonline.com

October 16-18 Inter Bev 2012 Sands Expo CenterLas Vegas, NV

www.interbev.com

October 23-24 The Convenience U CARWACS Show Calgary2012 The BMO Centre Calgary, AB

http://calgary.convenienceu.ca

October 24-25 Southern Convenience Store & Petroleum Show Macon Marriott CentreplexMacon, GA

www.gacs.com

DECEMBER

December 2-5 NACS CAFÉ Georgia World Congress CenterAtlanta, GA

www.nacsonline.com

http://www.powercrunch.com

http://www.crunchiesfood.com

convenience retailer july/august

Documents

new ethanol blendsee

car care productssee

consumer demand

n acumera

n kerusso

convenience store industry

lucas witmanfor

manyconvenience retailers