MESA, Ariz. -- The staff of CSPedia, Winsight's online encyclopedia of convenience-store chains, gathers news and insights 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.
People on the Move
- American GO. Jeff Turpin has been named CEO of the American GO stores operated by American Gas & Oil Co. and Lemmen Oil Co. The company was acquired by Sun Capital Partners Inc., which selected Turpin to lead the store operations. Turpin previously headed the VPS stores, which now are owned by GPM Investments.
- ampm/BP America. Benjamin Lucky has joined ampm as manager of research and development in foodservice. The California-based retailer oversees nearly 1,000 stores, all franchised. Lucky previously was with Maverik.
- Coborn's. Tom Belin has left the company; the CFO position is open. Rick Nestegard has replaced Jim Bennewitz, who left the chain, as category manager for general merchandise. Scott Morris is no longer a category manager but still is with the company. Coborn's operates grocery stores as well as more than 35 c-stores under the brands Little Dukes and Holiday Stationstores. The company is based in St. Cloud, Minn.
- Craddock Oil. Steven Romano is marketing manager and buyer contact for the chain. Mark Nitzsky is operations manager. Abby Turner serves as the contact for the company's sister operation, What a Combo foodservices. The company operates more than 40 stores in Mississippi under the brands The C-Store, Blue Sky and On the Run.
- Dandy Mini Mart. Robin Easterbrook has been named applied technology (IT) manager for Dandy Mini Marts, a chain of 63 stores based in Pennsylvania. Easterbrook has been with the company for more than 20 years. Jack Felt, former assistant general manager, has retired. Craig Gardner has joined the company as manager of human resources.
- Double Quick. Cyndi Saia has joined the company as director of marketing. The chain operates more than 50 stores and is based in Mississippi. Saia had worked for Viking Range since 2000.
- GetGo/Giant Eagle. Polly Flinn has been hired by Giant Eagle as senior vice president and general manager of the GetGo Cafe + Market stores. She previously was a senior vice president for Wal-Mart Corp. Giant Eagle has 207 GetGo stores.
- Kwik Chek/McCraw Oil. Rosie Manzanarez has joined the Austin, Texas, chain as category manager for tobacco, lottery and dispensed beverages. She previously was with Stripes/Sunoco LP. Kwik Chek operates 39 stores in Texas and Oklahoma.
- Maverik. Jessica Pierce has been promoted at Maverik and is managing the chain's Cinnabon offerings and build-to-order foods. The Utah chain has more than 275 stores.
- Millers. Tim Storey has been named director of marketing for Millers, operators of Millers stores and the company's 7-Eleven-branded stores. He replaces Greg Tate, who is no longer with the company. The Virginia company operates more than two dozen stores.
- Navy Exchange/NEX Mini-Marts. Richard Honiball has been named chief merchandising officer for all NEX retail and online operations. The Navy operates more than 100 stores for active and retired Navy personnel.
- Parker's. Portia Keene has joined Parker's of Savannah, Georgia, as fuel administrator. The chain operates 44 stores in Georgia and South Carolina.
- Plaid Pantry. Jonathan Polonsky has been promoted to president and chief operating officer. He previously was executive vice president and COO. The Oregon chain operates more than 100 stores in Oregon and Washington.
- Shipley Energy. Dave Gruno formally takes over the position of CEO effective July 1. This finalizes the planned transition of leadership from William Shipley III, who assumes the role of chairman. Gruno previously was president of Shipley Stores. The York, Pa.-based energy company supplies commercial and residential electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil and heating and cooling service throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland. It also operates Tom's convenience stores and travel centers.
- Shop Rite/Tobacco Plus. Mike Donahue, CEO, is handling the tobacco category after the departure of Thomas Quoyseyer. The Louisiana company operates 62 stores.
- SuperAmerica/Northern Tier Energy. Jack Helmick (pictured above) has left the company. He previously was vice president of retail operations for the SuperAmerica stores and SuperMom bakery.
In the News
- Casey’s General Stores Inc. has announced it will expand into new territory: western Ohio. The expansion follows the successful launch of its new distribution center in Indiana. The chain operates nearly 2,000 stores.
- Coborn's is on track to open a new Coborn’s Express in Isanti, Minn., this summer. The store is 1,300 square feet and will be added to the company's portfolio of c-stores and grocery stores.
- Ohio chain Hy-Miler and parent District Petroleumhave been acquired by Dunne Manning Stores. Dunne Manning will continue to operate the stores under the Hy-Miler brand, adding that brand to its portfolio of about 200 stores, most operated by independent dealers. Dunne Manning is based in Allentown, Pa.
- Readers of The York Daily Record and The York Sunday News voted Rutter's first in three categories for Best of York 2016. For the 14th year in a row, the chain was voted Best Milk. This is the first year it also won Best Convenience Store. It also won first for Best Coffee. Rutter's operates 62 stores in Pennsylvania.
- Ohio-based Speedway is holding job fairs in seven states in June to fill positions at new and soon-to-open stores. The hiring initiative follows similar pushes earlier this year by Wawa and Sheetz to add thousands of new people to their employee rosters.
- TravelCenters of America continues to expand its c-store operations, closing on the acquisition of five high-volume stores in central Illinois from Illico. All will be rebranded Minit Mart. The sale marks the exit from the industry for Illico, which at one time operated nearly 50 stores in Illinois.
- Weigel's Farm Stores was recognized at the 12th annual Pinnacle Business Awards Gala hosted by the Knoxville (Tenn.) Chamber of Commerce. Weigel's received the Large Business Excellence Award, edging out two other nominees. CEO Bill Weigel accepted the award.
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