Sign of the times: Maverik Inc. completed the acquisition of the Kum & Go convenience-store chain from fellow c-store retailer Krause Group, Des Moines, Iowa, in August 2023. With that deal, Maverik doubled its footprint to approximately 800 stores in 20 states. It also decided to retire the Kum & Go brand. The move prompted “Ask Axios” to pose a timely question: “What’s going to happen to all of the Kum & Go signs?” Souvenir hunters and fans of the double entendre-prone brand name have expressed high interest in acquiring the signage, including the giant ampersand signs. “Our priority is ensuring signage remains safe and functional and at this time there are no plans to make signage or individual elements available for purchase,” Michelle Monson, spokesperson for Salt Lake City-based Maverik, told the news outlet. “The ampersand signs will remain in place at rebranded locations as long as they are structurally sound and safe,” she added. —Greg Lindenberg
Beverage battleground: The competition is growing for convenience stores’ beverage business. Quick-service restaurant Chick-fil-A this fall plans to open Daybright, a beverage-focused concept that will feature hot and cold coffee, smoothies, cold-pressed juices and food, CSP sister publication Restaurant Business reported. The concept will open in an Atlanta suburb. This is the latest in a string of efforts by fast-food chains to break into the beverage business—just look at McDonald’s, Taco Bell and KFC. With coffee and dispensed beverages being a huge part of c-stores’ business, they’ll need to stay one step ahead of their ever-growing list of competitors to own the beverage space. —Hannah Hammond
Time for a treat: Almost all consumers (94%) plan to buy Halloween candy this year, and that’s good news for supermarket operators: Grocery retail is the top destination for such purchases, according to a report from Kroger’s 84.51° data analytics division. The report shows that 54% of consumers said they plan to buy Halloween candy at grocery stores, edging out mass retailers at 53%. Club stores came in third at 24%. When it comes to what types of candy shoppers plan to buy, chocolate-based treats are the clear winner at 91%, with chewy or fruity candies a distant second at 55%. Although 18% of consumers said they plan to spend more overall this year than last year for Halloween, 19% said they plan to spend less. That’s a little scary. —Mark Hamstra
One unbearable customer: A New Jersey Dollar General store had an unlikely shopper last week—a 175-pound black bear that wandered in and began to browse the aisles. Sean Clarkin, a realtor who went to get supplies for a listing nearby, encountered the bear by the coffee and soft drink section before it peeled off toward the ice cream. He tried to guide the bear out of the store, shouting out and asking if there was a different exit in the back to lead the bear toward. “This bear was sick in some manner,” Clarkin told The New York Times. “That’s kind of why he wasn’t waving his arms and knocking things over. He was just like a really hung-over bear, trying to make it through the day.” Unfortunately, after it tackled a dog and swiped at an elderly woman, the Vernon Township police had to put down the bear. Officials are now testing it for rabies. —Ally MacConchie
Mountain Dew gets gummy, Trolli gets fizzy: Ferrara’s Trolli and PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew are teaming up for a flavor crossover, blending their tastes into each other’s products. I had the sugary pleasure of trying both at Supermarket News’ Grocery NEXT event, where brand leaders shared how the collab came to life. The gummies actually taste like Mountain Dew—and honestly, I didn’t hate it. The drink, a zero-sugar Dew with a Trolli twist, was a full-on sweetness explosion. The new Trolli x Mountain Dew Sour Brite Crawlers come in three citrusy flavor combos: Original Citrus, Original Citrus x Cherry and Original Citrus x Blue Raspberry, in 4.25-, 6.3-, and 12.3-ounce bags. The drink collab—Mountain Dew Zero Sugar x Trolli Cherry Lemon—is hitting shelves in 20-ounce bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans. —Rachel Gignac
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