The new tortilla chips are all-natural and contain no artificial colors, sweeteners [image-nocss] or preservatives. The chips are also made from premium white corn instead of yellow corn and formed in a traditional "bell" shape.
Although individual franchisees are free to set their own prices, the chips will continue to carry suggested retail prices of $1.99 for a 3-oz. package and $2.99 for a 5.5-oz. package.
"We wanted a chip that would be clearly different from other tortilla chips a consumer could find at a convenience store," Baird said. "Although the chips are great on their own, it's ampm's condiment bar that transforms the chips into a personally customized nacho platter. Customers can smother the chips in hot, cheesy nacho sauce, cover them in chili or top them with jalapenoswhatever a consumer on the go wants."
Meanwhile, drivers in Los Angeles will soon be sharing the road with giant hamburgers and enormous fountain drinks when two newly decorated ARCO gasoline tankers hit the highway to deliver fuel to ARCO-branded ampm c-stores.
Since May 18, the two tankers have been on the road clad in fire-engine red from tip to tail. The 30-foot-long tankers will feature a truck-sized decalcalled a truck wrapdepicting the food and drinks available at ampm stores. Like moving billboards, the ampm tanker trucks will be on the road seven days a week, 22 hours a day, stopping only for refueling and maintenance.
The makeover marks the first time that BP has used its ARCO tankers to market the ampm brand, according Baird.
"Our customers are on the go and on the road," he said. "These bright red trucks splashed with bigger-than-life burgers, hot dogs and fountain drinks are a great way to remind them of what ampm has to offer. As a marketing message, it's immediate and couldn't be more direct."
The overall look of the truck wrap was designed to convey the ampm brand. "The food looks appealing," Baird added, "and coupled with the lively design it really captures the fun, edgy feel that is ampm. Seeing these tankers, people will be reminded that ampm really does deliver too much good stuff around-the-clock."
The ampm brand was founded in 1978 in Southern California by ARCO, which was acquired by BP in 2000. ARCO-branded ampm stores are currently found in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Arizona; BP-branded ampm stores are located in Chicago, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Atlanta.
BP supplies more than 15 billion gallons of gasoline every year to U.S. consumers through 12,000 retail outlets. BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former British Petroleum, Amoco Corp., Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), ARAL and Burmah Castrol.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.