MESA, Ariz. -- The staff of CSPedia, CSP Business Media's online encyclopedia of convenience store chains, gathers new insights and news and updates the listings for the nearly 500 retailers in its database on a daily basis. CSPedia delivers a monthly summary of these reports, often news not yet announced publicly, to its subscribers.
Here is a collection of some of the news and people updates from June 2014.
People on the Move
- Casey's General Stores Inc. The board elected Terry W. Handley as president. He also continues as COO of the Iowa chain of more than 1,700 stores.
- CHS Inc. (Cenex). Darin Tweten has joined the Minnesota-based company as a retail specialist for sites in northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.
- E-Z Stop Food Marts Inc. CEO Tommy Hunt has taken over buying duties. Former general manager David Green is no longer with the company and there is no replacement in the GM position.
- Giant Eagle Inc. (GetGo, Market District Express). John Notte, former category manager for dispensed beverages, left the chain and has joined Insight Beverages as senior sales manager.
- Meijer. Deb Lehman, former mass marketing contact for the chain, has retired.
- Mills Gas Mart, owned by Mills Fleet Farm. Sherry Szadziewicz is marketing and advertising manager. Hamid Rezaeepour, former merchandising and operations manager, and Paul Gilbert, former marketing manager, are no longer with the company.
- Pacific Convenience & Fuels (My Goods Market). Kevin Smith and Justin Jackson have left the company. Justin Decker is handling foodservice for the stores.
- The Pantry (Kangaroo Express, Petro Express, Presto Convenience, Li'l Champ). Ross Pillari, a former chairman and CEO of BP America Inc., joined the company's board, effective May 21.
- Roach Energy Inc. (R.M. Roach & Sons; ROCS Convenience Stores). Former vendor manager Kevin Knowles is no longer with the company and co-owner Scott Roach retired. CEO and president Steve Roach is the general buyer for the 15 company-operated stores in Maryland and West Virginia.
- CHR Corp. (Rutter's Farm Stores). Jerry Weiner, vice president of foodservice, has announced he is planning to retire in 2015.
- Stinker Stores Inc. Tobie Dille is director of retail operations and marketing, joining Stinker earlier this year.
- Northern Tier Retail (SuperAmerica, SuperMom's). David L. Lamp is president and CEO after the retirement of co-founder Hank Kutcha, and Steve Boomershine, former director of marketing, has departed and will fill a merchandising position at Giant Eagle.
In the News
- Michigan chain Atlas Oil Co. (Earth Market) has closed the sale of its BP-branded stations in the Chicago market to Lehigh Gas Partners LP. Atlas now has 400 locations.
- E-Z Mart Stores has stepped up store renovations this year, more aggressively upgrading buildings, as well as in-store offerings. The Texarkana, Texas, chain operates 300 stores.
- Garvin Oil Co. (Kent's Korner) has sold all but six stores, with the fate of the remaining sites unclear. The company website has been shut down. All stores are in South Carolina.
- GasMart USA of Kansas has converted 15 of its stations to the CITGO brand. GasMart operates 107 stations in the Midwest.
- Giant Eagle Inc. (GetGo) will open its first store with beer in Pennsylvania in June, bringing the store count to 191.
- Iowa-based Git-n-Go Convenience Stores, with 42 sites in Iowa and Illinois, plans to add one new store this year.
- GoMart Inc., with headquarters in Gassaway, W.Va., has purchased two Cool Spot gas stations and convenience stores in Ohio. One in Coolville includes a restaurant, which will continue to operate. Employees were asked to stay.
- The discount tobacco program for JFM Inc. (Jr. Food Mart) is generating growth, with four stores being converted to the program since 2013. The Mississippi chain has 25 stores.
- Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores reopened a travel stop destroyed by a tornado in 2010, and will open two more fast-fill CNG sites. The chain of more than 300 sites is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014, with plans to open up to 30 new stores. It will enter Maryland, its 40th state.
- Meijer plans to add nine new gas station/convenience stores in 2015, with expansion into Wisconsin. The grocery chain is based in Michigan, with nearly 200 supercenters, most with a fuel and c-store on the property.
- Denver-based Pester Marketing Co. has launched revamped websites for five brands: Alta Convenience, Alta Fuels, Alta Transportation, Alta Lubricants and Pester Marketing. The company operates 57 stores and distributes fuels and lubricants in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and New Mexico.
- Pennsylvania chain Rutter's (CHR Corp.) continues to expand its foodservice offerings, adding brisket and corned beef sandwich options to the menu.
- Speedway LLC (Marathon Petroleum Corp.) has agreed to acquire Hess Retail Holdings LLC, with more than 1,200 stores in the East Coast. Hess locations will be rebranded Speedway over the next three years. The Ohio chain currently has nearly 1,500 locations.
CSPedia--a product of CSP Business Media LLC--offers unparalleled intelligence and insight into more than 470 convenience retail chains in the United States and Canada. CSP developed it in response to requests from suppliers and retailers for more efficient sales calls. Because it's online, it is available 24/7, and information is updated every day. CSPedia represents chains with 20 or more locations or a total of more than 110,000 stores.
Company profiles include background and history on each chain, as well as information on their buying needs and marketing practices. Information is gathered directly from the operators in one-on-one interviews with buyers. It includes contact information for key managers and buyers, along with bios and photographs.
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