Cspdigital Magazine
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Reference to Innovation Strategies and Addendum to CSP magazine’ s March 2009 cover story Overview In an effort to explore how convenience‐store operators keep relevant with consumers, CSP editors lkdlooked bkback at its magazine and online news stories dating to January 2008 and reviewed all efforts meant to engage customers and keep “the romance” alive. Retailers’ efforts fell into nine distinct categories, each fulfilling a role in generating interest and energy at the site. Note: Archived CSP Daily News issues and CSP magazine articles can be found on www.cspnet.com . Categories of Relevance Nine categories of activity surfaced in CSP’s examination of ways c‐store retailers remained relevant with their consumers. The category in bold below is the focus of this presentation. y Architecture, Design, Graphics and Layout y Community Outreach y Customer Service y Foodservice y Inventory Logistics (Speed to Market) y Loyalty y Marketing y Pricing at the Pump and Inside the Store y Product Assortment and Profit Centers Retailers consider their product offer as central to their success. So the issue becomes one of finding what products will move in their particular stores. For many retailers, the trick is to stocking the right mix of single‐serve drinks, snacks and household goods typically expected at c‐stores. Popular categories for new products included energy drinks, healthier snacks and ethanol‐blended fuel, with private‐label lines being of interest. Product Assortment and Profit Centers Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline 2-2-2009The Pantry Stocks Iceland Glacial Retailer now selling CarbonNeutral bottled spring water 1-26-2009Locali Grown A new eco-friendly, healthy food c-store opens in Los Angeles Chain continues focus on gas, convenience, food through "scrape 11-20-2009QT Caps the Car Wash and build" efforts 1-15-2009ampm Teams up with Fusion Energy Retailer will distribute energy shot, join racing sponsorship Gulf Oil to introduce new retail store design, secondary gasoline 1-12-2009A ‘Wave’ of Innovation brand 1-12-2009E85 Hits 1,900 Virginia Stop In location most easily accessible altfuel site in state 1-6-2009Redbox Rollout Ramp Up 7-Eleven accelerating DVD rental kiosk deployment this year N.H. "congreenience" store and biofuels station celebrates its grand 12-12-2008Easy Being Green opening Eco-sustainable city teams up with Mid-State Energy to unveil "E- 11-21-2008The Gas Station of Destiny (Fla.) Station" in 2009 Grocery/c-store chain reaches first birthday as it is about to hit triple- 11-11-2008Fresh & Easy's 1st, 100th digit store count 10-24-2008Gulf Opens First E85 Store Logan Airport site brings alternative fuel to Boston, New England Newest supermarket site includes car wash, gasoline pumps and a 10-23-2008Ingles Fights for Farragut convenience store Product Assortment and Profit Centers (continued) Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline New market named for Marketside; Fresh & Easy adding 200 9-15-2008Wal-Mart, Tesco Up the Ante private-label products Private-label helping Japanese c-stores thrive in tough economy; 8-20-2008'Conbini' Nation wallet phone push 8-20-2008AGs in Action Iowa, Neb. retailers allegedly sold E85 as regular unleaded, E10 8-19-2008Atlas 'Greens' Anew Retailer, distributor seeks suggestions to grow eco-friendly initiatives 7-31-20087-Eleven to Carry Sensible Portions Snacks Retailer will put three varieties on shelves in September 7-29-2008Ethanol Edge? Report: E85 gives stations competitive advantage "Earth-friendly" station drawing national attention; will serve as 7-14-2008Zarco: Green Energy Gateway retail model 7-11-2008TA to Sell TASER C2 Devices Travel center network to offer personal protection devices 7-10-2008Minit Mart Mixes Up Minit Mix Retailer launches fountain drink line 7-9-2008MAPCO Picks Up Mamajuana Energy Retailer will sell Layfield's "energy and virility" beverage 7-9-2008Prepaid Hybrid Retailer finds profit in long-distance cards with a sweepstakes twist 6-19-2008Kroger Inks Fleet One Deal Accepting fuel cards at all of its grocery, c-store banners Product Assortment and Profit Centers (continued) Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline 6-18-2008 Circle K Launches New Talon Energy Shot Seventh SKU in Fluid Motion-produced beverage line Growth plans extend beyond West Coast; Wal-Mart aiming high with 6-17-2008 Tesco Tweaks Fresh & Easy Marketside 6-16-2008 'Under Attack' Tighter consumer purchases, margin pressures in retailers' future 6-12-2008 Cheerwine Hitting Atlanta Shelves Cherry soda in grocery now, c-stores soon Patriotism, market volatility drive Spirit brand arrival in Empire 6-12-2008 New York State of Mind State 6-11-2008 Shooters at Circle K Company launches proprietary energy shots West Coast chain opening new stores; adding, broadening product 6-10-2008 The Americanization of Famima lines Beveraggpyge company also targets S. Fla. c-stores through new 5-30-2008 Tom Thumb to Carry DNA Energy Drink distribution subsidiary Turnkey solution offers prepaid wireless, long distance, gift cards, 5-29-2008 TA Adopts Coinstar Pay As You Go more 5-27-2008 Hess Unveils 2008 Toy Truck RV with dune buggy rolls into stations 5-16-2008 Zip Trips Begin Offering Cenex Fuels Conversion of units acquired by CHS to be completed soon 5-15-2008 7-Eleven to stock SunPill Dietary supplement designed to protect skin Product Assortment and Profit Centers (continued) Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline 5-12-2008 Energizing the Store Newly opened Power Mart sends upscale jolt to conventional format When considering new products, health benefits are drawing in 5-8-2008 Nutrition Wins the Day consumers 5-2-2008 ClSCamel Snus Test Grows Product now ava ila ble i n 16 mark ets 4-24-2008 Healthy Gains Healthier snacks, candy making strides with c-store shoppers 4-18-2008 Keyes Adding C-Store Touches to Blockbuster Movie renter testing ideas at prototype stores in Dallas 4-15-2008 Clash of the Beverage Titans McDonald's takes aim at c-stores hoping to capture soda sales 4-4-2008 MAPCO Takes Advantage of Fleet One Deal upgrades fleet program 4-1-2008 MooeOuesre Outlets fo r Tanka Bars C-sto res, oth er r etail er s t o st ock buffal o cran berr y sna ck s IRI's Blischok predicts, suggests changes to convenience store 3-30-2008 How Will Business Be? industry 3-20-2008 'Go Green' Goal IPO expected to fund 1,000 E-85 c-stores on East Coast 3-19-2008 The 'Private-Brand Police' Walgreens fine tunes proprietary offerings, adds clothing line 3-19-2008 W.Va. C-Store Can't Rent U-Hauls Suit says retailer violating zoning ordinance Product Assortment and Profit Centers (continued) Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline 3-12-2008 Fame in a Bottle Celebrity labels boosting wine, spirits sales 3-12-2008 What's New… …is what's boosting CPG business 3-12-2008 Signed, 7-Eleven Retailer unveils new store-brand snacks, drinks, sandwiches, more Point of differentiation, unique marketing paramount in new-product 3-11-2008 Not Just New, Different launches 3-11-2008 Hess Puts Chase in Place Retailer installing 107 ATMs Retailers grow sales of ever-changing prepaid, financial-services 3-7-2008 The Evolution Continues categories 3-6-2008 Circle K Powers El Paso Electric Bill Pay Offers automated service to utility customers through TIO 3-5-2008 WlWalgreens Ramps Up re dbox Ro llout Will p lace DVD rent al ki osk s i n it s st ores nati onwid e 3-3-2008 Mr. Zippy's Opens in Alabama First kiosk for Jim Coleman distributor Pesco 2-29-2008 Quality Gap Closing IRI survey finds more consumers positive on private-label products 2-27-2008 Private-Label Delights Delek Reimage of house label figures prominently in year-end earnings report 2-27-2008 Kroger Expands VE85 to Texas Offering VeraSun brand at 20 c-stores in Dallas, Houston areas Product Assortment and Profit Centers (continued) Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline 2-27-2008 TA Forges Deal With 4 State Trucks ChromeShopMafia accessories, apparel to be sold at TA locations 2-26-2008 Wilson Farms Lands Shark Retailer offering energy drink from Thailand 2-26-2008 Chasing Ethanol An update on recent developments in the sale of retail altfuels 2-25-2008 Flash Market to Stock Kronik Energy Follows deals with Royal Farms, Fas Mart, NOCO, more 2-21-2008 The Future of Convenience IRI Summit focuses on shifting CPG trends, c-store success 2-19-2008 Staten Island Microcosm More SI stations opening ancillary profit centers to offset margin squeeze 2-18-2008 Shop 'n Save 'n Gas Supermarket chain adds gas; mulling more Fuel Express stations 2-11-2008 Kum & Go Honored for E85 Efforts Cobb Oil recognized for biodiesel 2-11-2008 Changing Channels Wal-Mart, Family Dollar tinker with food, beverage mix Upscale Japanese retailer to tinker with U.S. strategy; shifting focus to 2-1-2008 Famima: Tokyo Drifts middle class 1-28-2008 Royal Farms to Carry Kronik NE retailer deal follows Fas Mart, NOCO Express renewals 1-28-2008 7-Eleven Picks Up Picks for Test Designer guitar picks collectible, designer says Product Assortment and Profit Centers (continued) Issue Date CSP Daily News Headline Sub-headline 1-25-2008Crescent Oil to Supply Heartland Station Companies forge E85 distribution deal 1-25-2008Kum & Go Debuts Private-Label Wines Retailer taps Charles Shaw to offer Napa Creek, Sea Ridge 1-24-2008 Hess in Fleet One Deal Cards now accepted at 880 Hess locations 1-23-2008More 'Sensible' Snacks at 7-Eleven Weight Watchers, LÄRABAR, MEGA protein lines coming 1-23-2008Quick Chek Debuts Rare Brew Hard-to-find Huehuetenango joins retailer's gourmet coffee offering 1-16-2008 DC Brands Adds Kum & Go Farner-Bocken to distribute energy drink to major retailer Issue Date CSP Magazine Headline/Subject Feb.