SHERMAN, Texas -- Douglass Distributing has announced a business relationship with Convenience Store Alliance (CSA), a national buying program designed to help independent convenience store operators compete with large chains.
For the month of October, Douglass will cover CSA's $300-per-site enrollment fee for all customers who elect to join the alliance.
"In today's market, we know our success rests in the ability to provide valued products and services that support a c-store operator's entire business," said Douglass president Brad Douglass. "Through CSA, we are able to offer our current and future customers a robust buying program that has the look and feel of Douglass Distributing. It truly is a difference maker for Douglass and our dealers."
Once enrolled as CSA members, Douglass customers gain access to national account pricing on more than 20 vendor programs, including grocery, tobacco, fountain, ATM, human resources, workers compensation, insurance, cleaning, uniforms and more. Members can also earn hefty rebates on CSA's grocery, tobacco and fountain programs.
"It's important to us that our dealers aren't obligated to buy through certain vendors or pay any extra annual dues or fees," said Douglass vice president of wholesale fuels Madalyne Lange. "With CSA, our customers can sign up, do nothing and nothing's lost. But if they're as business-savvy as we think they are, they'll start taking advantage of all the vendor programs and savings we're making available to them. It's really a no-risk opportunity."
Douglass operates the 17-store Lone Star Food Stores chain in Texas, all of which became members of CSA's buying alliance last month.
"If our deals are good for the Lone Star chain, you can bet they're great for an independent owner/operator," said CSA president and founder Mike Lawson. "We're excited to bring value to Douglass' wholesale fuel business,and we look forward to the tremendous savings and success stories."
Bill Douglass, who served as chairman for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) in 2005, founded Douglass Distributing in 1981. Based in Sherman, Texas, Douglass distributes 130 million gallons of fuel annually.
CSA helps independent convenience store operators nationwide to compete with large chain stores. CSA gives storeowners access to reduced costs on products, resources and solutions. Its new marketer package allows fuel distributors to co-brand CSA as their own buying program. The package includes a custom website and a full co-branded marketing and sales campaign. For the western half of the United States, Convenience Store Alliance is the Phillips 66 Branded Retailer Buying Program and is available to more than 7,000 branded sites that currently sell Phillips 66, Conoco or 76 branded gasoline. Dealers and fuel distributors outside the exclusive territories are also eligible to participate, regardless of brand affiliation.
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