MESA, Ariz. -- The staff of CSPedia, CSP Business Media's online encyclopedia of convenience chains, gathers new insights and news and updates the listings for the more than 470 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 HR updates from March 2014.
People on the Move
- Crawford Oil/Green Valley Grocery. Controller Jessica Zoanni and general manager Mark Miller have left the company. David Grimes is CFO and Yadira Schultz joined the company in human resources.
- Dairy Barn Stores Inc. Mike Cosgrove, former vice president and general manager, is no longer with the company; the chain sold all stores and ceased operations.
- High's of Baltimore (Carroll Independent Fuel Co.) dba High's Dairy Stores. Johnny Phelps is the new vendor contact.
- Jacksons Food Stores. Katrina Lemmon handles advertising and marketing. Dave Evans handles prepaid and financial services for the chain. Matt Jantz is no longer there.
- Kwik Shop/Kroger Convenience. Brian McElgunn is joining Kwik Shop as senior category manager, handling tobacco and OTP for the chain of stores, which is part of the Kroger Co. Convenience Division.
- Landmark Industries. Martha Flint left Landmark to join Impact Marketing, a c-store broker.
- RaceTrac. Personnel changes include the departures of Marie Stockton and Trina Potts-Stroud.
- Sunoco Inc. Ruth Ann Lilly has expanded her role as tobacco category manager at Sunoco, as well as for Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores, after Sunoco acquired MACS.
- Tower Energy Group dba: Tower Mart, Tower Market. John Hendrick has replaced Cesar Aviles as the manager of the technology department.
In the News
- New Mexico's Allsup's Convenience Stores Inc. is planning one to three new stores in 2014, adding to the current total of 319.
- Big River Food & Fuel is concentrating this year on foodservice, especially fast food, for its 12 locations. The chain is based in Louisiana.
- The coffee supplier for Big Apple Food Stores operated by C.N. Brown Co. is Baronet Coffee, replacing the Eight O'Clock brand. The chain operates 80 store in the Northeast.
- Coles Energy Inc. (Mickey Mart Foodstores) has added Dunkin' Donuts to two stores. Quick-service restaurants, including Subway and Taco Bell, provide foodservice at most of the chain's 32 Ohio locations.
- After building a new store and acquiring three more, Crawford Oil/Green Valley Grocery has 50 stores. The Nevada chain plans to acquire two more stores this year and recently launched a new website at www.gvgrocery.com.
- New York-based Dairy Barn Stores Inc. has only three locations remaining, called The Barn and are owned by Oak Tree Farm Dairy, which also is rumored to be for sale.
- Double Quick Inc. completed a raze-and-rebuild and is focused on creating a loyalty program in 2014. The chain has 43 stores and is based in Mississippi.
- Hammer Williams Co. (Jiffy Trip) has added a Sonic Burger QSR and uses Sysco as its wholesale supplier. The chain operates 27 stores in Oklahoma.
- High's of Baltimore (Carroll Independent Fuel Co.) dba High's Dairy Stores has moved its headquarters from Hanover to Baltimore, and launched a loyalty program for all 52 stores in June 2013.
- Holmes Oil Co. dba Cruizers has changed to Core-Mark as its primary wholesale supplier. The North Carolina company operates 24 stores.
- J&H Oil Co. dba J&H Family Stores, with 35 stores in Michigan, switched to U.S. Foodservice as its primary wholesale supplier. S. Abraham & Sons is the secondary supplier.
- Kocolene Marketing dba Smokers Host, Fast Max has engaged Royal Cup as the coffee supplier for its 28 stores in Indiana and Kentucky.
- North Carolina-based Li'l Thrift Food Marts Inc. (Short Stop) is reducing space allotted to groceries in its 49 stores.
- Tejano Marts was sold to Texasn-based SDI Petroleum, which continues to operate stores under the Tejano Mart name, as well as Dash Express and Dash Neighborhood Stores. SDI is evaluating all departments, products and services for c-stores. Twelve units that do not fit the company's brand were put up for sale, while new units are being built to the specifications of the new owners. McLane is the wholesaler on contract through the end of 2014.
- U.S. Venture--Express Convenience Centers (U.S. Oil) has switched to Core-Mark from Eby-Brown as its primary wholesaler. The Wisconsin chain operates 15 of its 705 total locations.
CSPedia--a product of CSP Business Media LLC--offers unparalleled intelligence and insight into more than 470 convenience retail chains in the U.S. and Canada. It was developed 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. Contact information for key managers and buyers is included, along with bios and photographs of many.
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