SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- With a focus on foodservice and an upgrade in technology, Nice N Easy opened its newest store this month near a busy intersection in Syracuse, N.Y. Inspired by the large number of other businesses in the area, Nice N Easy felt it was necessary to introduce itself with a bit of a flair.
Before we opened the store, we delivered gift baskets to all of these businesses, said Fran Duskiewicz, senior executive vice president of the Canastota, N.Y.-based company. The baskets contained the usual food products, but also coupons and applications [image-nocss] for our brand new NNE Fleet Card (carried by Fleet One). We want those vehicles filling up at our place and those drivers buying our stuff.
As a result, Duskiewicz said he expects tremendous food sales at the store, which offers fresh fruit and vegetables, the chain's Easy Street Eatery pizza, subs, wraps and salads and a seven-table eat-in area. Catering services [are] already being provided and growing rapidly by the day, he said.Produce sales have taken off like a rocket, especially the fruit salads.
The store itself, which was designed by company president John McDougall, is 4,500 square feet with wide aisles, a cashier counter that runs the width of the store (providing lots of counter-area product placement) and brightly painted walls that feature slogans such as Proud of our people and our products, Satisfy your hunger and Quench your thirst.
The site includes a high-profile fresh-fruit area that includes seasonal products, such as strawberries, apples, bananas, tomatoes, onions and potatoes. Additionally, an open-front cooler makes for an inviting display of juices, teas, bottled water and isotonic drinks.
There are entrances on two sides of the building, providing access from two separate pump areas, one with 12 fueling stations for gasoline and the other with six fueling areas for diesel. Many of our new stores have separate, large diesel islands, Duskiewicz told CSP Daily News. We find that to be necessary.Because of the shape of this property (long and rather narrow), we put the islands on opposite sides of the building, along with separate entrances.
On the technology side, the store includes a VeriFone Topaz touchscreen point-of-sale (POS) system, a first for Nice N Easy.We installed three of them, and they are working very well, Duskiewicz said.We are investigating trying Verifone's touchscreen kiosk in the foodservice areafor our foodservice make-line professionals to track ingredients and to create and suspend a food sale that will be reactivated at the actual checkout.
To see a PowerPoint presentation featuring images of the new store, click on the Download Now button below.
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