Issue Date: CSP Daily News, August 16, 2011

Kroger convenience chain named “Best C-Store” in Sunflower State capital region

TOPEKA, Kansas — Kwik Shop has been named the “Best Convenience Store” in the Topeka, Kansas, area again this year by The Topeka Capital-Journal. The company–which said it is looking to expand–attributed the win to customer service.

“We’re all about serving the customer. Having what they want when they want to have it,” Brian Fisher, vice president of operations for the Kroger-owned convenience store chain with 10 locations in the Topeka region, told the newspaper. [Read more...]

Issue Date: CSP Daily News, August 16, 2011
Fikes Wholesale, parent of CEFCO, grows in East Texas with 69-store acquisition

TEMPLE, Texas — In a deal that will add to its East Texas presence, Fikes Wholesale Inc., parent company of the CEFCO Convenience Stores chain, said that it has completed the acquisition of the 69-store Food Fast chain based in Tyler, Texas. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As reported late yesterday in a Morgan Keegan/CSP Daily News Flash, Food Fast Corp. began operations in May 2003 upon the merger of several entities into FFC. It operates retail motor fuel and convenience stores throughout East Texas, as well as in Louisiana and Arkansas. [Read more...]

Issue Date: CSP Daily News, August 12, 2011

Retailer’s new design debuts in Harker Heights, Texas; features enhanced hot beverage program

TEMPLE, Texas — CEFCO Convenience Stores on Thursday celebrated the opening of the chain’s newest store, located in Harker Heights, Texas. The store is the third in the city and will serve as the chain’s prototype store.

A crowning achievement of the CEFCO organization, the new store is the next generation of store design and guest experience, the company said. It incorporates a number of innovative operational enhancements made possible by an open, fresh design with modern treatments and upgraded finishes. [Read more...]

Issue Date: CSP Daily News, August 11, 2011

“Well positioned to ramp up new store construction” for 2012, 2013, company says

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Susser Holdings Corp. has reported record financial and operating results for the second quarter ended July 3, 2011. “We achieved record results in the second quarter in total revenues, EBITDA and net earnings, as well as in merchandise revenues and gross profit and in retail fuel gallons sold and fuel gross profit,” said Sam L. Susser, president and CEO. “These strong results were driven in large part by contributions from [Read more...]

By Christine Lavelle CSP Daily News, August 11, 2011

Bucking trend, oil company intends “to remain integrated,” execs say

SAN RAMON, Calif. — While other major oil companies are leaving retail in their rearview mirrors, that’s not the case for Chevron Corp. “We intend to remain an integrated company,” Dave Reeves, president of strategy, technology and commercial integration, told members of the trade media in a gathering at Chevron headquarters this week. [Read more...]

Posted by Marissa Duswalt, R.D., USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, on August 4, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Cross posted from the Let’s Move! blog:

Since First Lady Michelle Obama’s recent announcement of a private sector commitment to build or expand 1,500 food stores, Americans across the country have been inspired to increase their communities’ access to healthy, affordable food. Ample Harvest has risen to the First Lady’s challenge to faith and community leaders to make fresh produce available for at least 10,000 locations in America through Let’s Move!, her initiative to reverse childhood obesity. Since it began partnering with Let’s Move Faith and Communities, Ample Harvest has brought fresh produce to more than 4,000 food pantries across the country. In July, 100 new food pantries joined the movement. [Read more...]

SANTA FE, N.M. — A vote that was expected Wednesday on controversial amendments to convenience store safety regulations in New Mexico has been postponed, reported the Albuquerque Journal.

The Environmental Improvement Board voted to table action until October, said the report. That decision came after two full days of testimony.

Wednesdays statements were often painful, the newspaper said, coming from survivors of c-store violence, families of victims and crime experts. Owners of small, rural c-stores also testified, it said. [Read more...]