Volume 28Volume • Number 1919 •• NumberNumber12 • DECEMBER 66 •• JUNEJUNE 201720082008 BusinessBusiness SolutionsSolutions forfor RetailRetail DecisionDecision MakersMakers ®® A HARBOR COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATION A HARBOR COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATION ® Recognizing this Year’s Industry Frontrunners Figuring Out the Future of Tobacco .....45 Dazzling Customers Across Dayparts ....48 C-Stores Power Through Storms ........52 Faces WS.indd 2 11/20/17 10:59 AM COVER STORY EGULARLY WHEN PUNDITS EVALU- every day for a cup of joe or a break- ATE athletes they often compile fast sandwich or to fill up their gas 2017 Rcareer statistics, crunching the tanks. And because many on this numbers to determine the best quar- year’s list belong to family-owned terback, most talented goalie, elite companies, these young professionals point guard or top outfielder. are that much more in tune to ensuring Numbers come into play in every- their customers are receiving the high- day business as well when evaluating est quality service, each and every day. staff. Often the best employees, man- Those who work in this business are agers, directors or executives who members of an evolving and diverse demonstrate intangibles such as cre- industry, which is not surprising given ativity, leadership, originality and the diversity of U.S. consumers who loyalty are harder to quantify. frequent today's c-stores. As the face of The individuals in the following the channel’s customer base becomes pages represent big corporations and even more diverse, companies willing small retail chains—but all demonstrate to embrace social media, technology the type of qualities that most employ- and even meal kits are becoming more ers seek. Each member of this year’s 40 successful. Under 40 class plays an important role The challenges in 2018 will be in determining the future course of his numerous: local laws that stifle busi- or her respective company. ness growth, rising healthcare costs, a Included are category managers, booming ecommerce movement and financial officers, marketing directors, the ongoing search for capable work- vice presidents and CEOs. If you look ers loom large. However, the young This year’s 40 Under 40 class closely, you’ll find that all of the indi- professionals that make up this year’s represents a wide range of viduals in the 2017 class likely share group seem up to facing any obstacles. individuals who boast innova- many of the same qualities—qualities CSD and the National Advisory that go above and beyond the regu- Group's (NAG) Young Executives tive thinking, business smarts, lar stat line of a good employee or a Organization (YEO) tallied the votes, community engagement and responsible manager. crunched the numbers and came up professionalism. It’s also what with 2017’s 40 Under 40 class. keeps the c-store industry ON THE BALL For those interested in nominating There are few industries that bet- your future leaders for the class of 2018 sprinting forward. ter connect to the people within a local or to join YEO, contact CSD Editor and A CSD Staff Report community than c-stores. They are NAG Executive Director John Lofstock there for the customers that come in at [email protected]. Blair Alderson, 25 where we are headed in the future,” she said. “Our mission Human Resources Manager is to be a guest-driven, quality power retailer, and the only way to achieve that goal is to first make sure we are taking care of our own people and empowering our team members Company: The Kent Cos. with excellent training and future career goals.” Alderson began her tenure at the Texas c-store chain in Headquarters: Midland, Texas the corporate communications and brand development Number of Stores: 44 department, where she focused on company events, vol- Years with the Company: 2 unteer/community outreach and advertising promotions. A graduate of Arizona State University, Alderson met LAIR ALDERSON TRANSITIONED INTO a new role as owner Bill Kent, another Arizona State graduate. Afterward, human resources manager for The Kent Cos., earlier she decided the retailer was the place for her, said Alderson, Bthis year, overseeing the company’s in-house recruit- who also played on the Sun Devil women’s soccer team. ing and benefits departments. “I love the opportunity of taking on a good challenge So far, she has left her mark. and look forward to growing with the company,” she said. “I really enjoy being involved in the recruiting process. “Looking ahead at 2018, The Kent Cos. will continue to grow It’s crucial to our company, both who we are today and and expand.” 24 Convenience Store Decisions l December 2017 COVER STORY Sonya Amill, 28 Jared Bartle, 34 Foodservice Specialist Director of Operations Company: FriendShip Food Stores Company: Blueox Corp. Headquarters: Fremont, Ohio Headquarters: Oxford N.Y. Number of Stores: 24 Number of Stores: 11 Years with the Company: 1 Years with the Company: 20 INCE JOINING FRIENDSHIP FOOD Stores, Sonya Amill has made an impact on the chain’s foodservice pro- ARED BARTLE HAS BEEN around the convenience store Sgram in a short time. She brought years of hands-on industry since the young age of 14. experience in the foodservice industry. J “Much of my experience comes from working the Most recently, Amill worked in the quick-service restau- front lines of the business. Aside from c-stores, we operate rant industry, serving as a general manager. She became a home heating fuel distribution and HVAC business,” said accomplished in staff development and training and leader- Bartle, referring to the diversified Blueox Corp. in New York ship. These skills will come in handy, with the task of elevating State. “This is where I spent most of time, but in the last few FriendShip Kitchen’s foodservice program. years, I’ve started to get much more involved in the store side “The expectations of our guests are increasing, and serv- of the business. I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by ing high-quality products at our stores each and every day is people who have helped to teach, nurture, guide and chal- our goal,” said Amill. “Building the business does not happen lenge me to be a better and more effective leader.” overnight. We want to grow our food offer as a destination for Like any effective leader, Bartle is looking to the future. breakfast, lunch and dinner.” In 2018, he and company executives plan on reinvesting in Improving the product mix through new product devel- store locations. opment, leading selection and rollouts as well as the “We would like to do a lot of remodeling/rebuilding of implementation of new items at 24 locations keeps Amill some of our older stores, with the intention of then being busy at FriendShip Food Stores, which is the retail division of able to offer new products/services that will hopefully Fremont, Ohio-based Beck Suppliers. increase foot traffic, revenue, margins, etc.” Amill’s commitment to growth extends beyond the work- Management will also be focusing on rebranding all of place. In addition to the hectic work schedule, Amill returned the company’s locations over the next few months, includ- to college to earn a degree in applied sciences. Balancing her ing exteriors, interiors and the foodservice program. life and work is still clear cut. “For many years we flew under the Nice N Easy fran- “I know that everything cannot be done at once,” she said. chise flag,” said Bartle. “However, after the franchise was “Prioritizing and understanding the needs of our staff in intro- sold, following the passing of Nice N Easy founder John ducing change is one of the keys to success.” MacDougall, we decided to launch our own brand.” Jaquilyn Bohn, 30 the chain's construction and planning coordinator. Construction and Planning Coordinator "Over the next year our goal is to raze and rebuild 16 stores, add 17 new-to-industry sites and build seven new Company: Cumberland Farms Inc. offsets across New England, New York and Florida," Bohn Headquarters: Westboro, Mass. said. "This fall we started rolling out our newest prototype, which we are calling the AIM 3.0 stores." Number of Stores: 558 With the new store design is a renewed focus on foodser- Years with the Company: 5 vice and providing outstanding service, in which Bohn has played an integral role. ITH NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW vision, new store designs, "As seen in our new AIM 3.0 stores, we are focusing on a new products and even a new logo, Cumberland more food and customer service based environment to grow WFarms, over the past decade, has evolved. Since our footprint in the c-store industry," Bohn said. "We now 1939, Cumberland Farms is still family owned and operated, have self-service terminals, an expansive menu and added continuing to reflect the values it was built upon. a second floor for storage, all while maintaining the classic Building on its legacy, the third-generation retailer based feel of the neighborhood Cumby’s. We have appealed to the in Westboro, Mass., is adding new convenience stores and needs of our customers and we will continue to evolve to updating the design on its existing units, said Jaquilyn Bohn, keep up with the times." December 2017 l Convenience Store Decisions 25 COVER STORY Jessica Boyd, 27 Courtney Buckley, 32 General Manager, Manager of Training and Development Express Petro Transportation Company: VERC Enterprises Company: The Kent Cos. Headquarters: Duxbury, Mass. Headquarters: Midland, Texas Number of Stores: 28 Number of Stores: 44 Years with the Company: 6 Years with the Company: 1 FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS WITH LOCATIONS in ESSICA BOYD MOVED FROM Alabama to Midland, Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, VERC Texas to help The Kent Cos.