LEXINGTON, Ky. — Impact 21 Group, a consulting, analytics and services company since 1998, has officially shortened its name to Impact 21. The company’s offerings include strategy, alignment, deployment and analytics for the petroleum, convenience-store, retailing, refining and foodservice industries.

“Our company strives to lead in business best practices, simplified processes and current technologies. Just as we advise our clients, we’ve positioned our company for more streamlined and effective service,” said CEO Lesley Saitta.

To follow the name change, the company has unveiled its new logo and new website at www.impact21.com. There, visitors can view the company’s core services and see how the strategies it develops can transform business for greater profitability.

“These are more than surface changes,” said Lisa Stewart, president. “They better reflect the strategic changes we’ve made within our company. We’ve refined our process to bring transformation more quickly to our clients’ businesses.”

Investments in collaboration and project management solutions as well as analytics are several of the key changes for clients.

Professional consultants comprise the Impact 21 team. Each person has proven success and expertise in their respective fields. As a solution-neutral company, Impact 21 evaluates each client’s requirements to find the most effective systems and processes and offers customized strategies and services to drive profitability.

The company encourages convenience stores, retailers and foodservice chains to download an overview of Impact 21’s 13-Step Merchandise Management Process, a complimentary resource to help retailers plan, manage and control products through the retail cycle, from authorization through evaluation for re-stocking.

Industry experts and former retailers Saitta and Stewart founded Lexington, Ky.-based Impact 21 in 1998.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – Convenience-store, gas-station and travel-center retailers of all sizes are touting their coffees, and many are offering free or discounted coffee for National Coffee Day on September 29.

Just a few of the major chains that have announced deals include:

Cumberland Farms

Framingham, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms is offering a free coffee, hot or iced, in any size via a text coupon. To receive the coupon, customers can text the word FREECOFFEE to 33733 using their smartphone. It is valid only on National Coffee Day. Also, beginning October 9 and for every Friday throughout October, the chain is holding “Free Coffee Fridays.” On those days, customers can enjoy a free cup of any Cumberland Farms coffee (no coupon required), hot or iced, any size, including its signature Farmhouse Blend or Farmhouse Bold.

Pilot Flying J

Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Flying J will celebrate National Coffee Day with free 16-oz. cups of coffee when customers show an online coupon available on the company’s Facebook page. To engage in the conversation on social media, follow #RoastedfortheRoad.

Sheetz

Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz, which recently rolled out a new line of premium Sheetz Bros. Coffez with the tagline “quality just got a kick in the beanz,” will provide the new coffee to customers free of charge in conjunction with National Coffee Day.

Stewart’s Shops

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Stewart’s Shops free coffee after 3 p.m. on September 29 to celebrate National Coffee Day. The deal includes any size Stewart’s hot coffee or iced coffee in any flavor, including seasonal pumpkin coffee.

SuperAmerica

Woodbury, Minn.-based SuperAmerica is offering free coffee until noon on Spetmeber 29 for National Coffee Day.

Wawa

Based in Wawa, Pa., Wawa is offering free coffee of any size all day. Throughout the day, Wawa expects to give away more than 1 million free cups of coffee to customers across all of its stores. This is the first time Wawa has taken part in International Coffee Day, and in addition to free coffee at all locations, the company will be celebrating with a variety of t-shirt giveaways and in-store signage.

Corner Store
Meanwhile, San Antonio-based CST Brands’ Corner Stores are offering a complimentary breakfast sausage with the purchase of any size Cibolo Mountain Premium Blend Coffee on September 29 for Natioanl Coffee Day..   
 

GENEVA & WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – While both companies said that they do not comment on rumors and speculation, sources say Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI) is in talks to buy cigarette assets from Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) as the company seeks to expand outside of its shrinking home market, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

As reported in a 21st Century Smoke/CSP Daily News Flash, Geneva-based JTI may acquire assets worth about $5 billion, possibly including RAI’s Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc., which makes the Natural American Spirit tobacco brands, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. While discussions are advanced, talks could still fall apart and the size of the deal and the makeup of the assets could still change, they said.

JTI president Mitsuomi Koizumi said in February that 2015 would be the company’s “year of investments,” including increased stakes in other types of tobacco products such as e-cigarettes.

The company recently entered into an agreement to acquire Logic Technology Development LLC, Pompano Beach, Fla., one of the leading U.S. electronic cigarette brands. It said it expects to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of fiscal-year 2015 following regulatory clearance.

The company has sped up acquisitions of brands and products abroad in the face of a shrinking population and a stagnating smoking rate at home, the news agency said. Japan Tobacco has said its priority is investing to boost the competitiveness of its tobacco businesses, which led to its withdrawal from drinks and vending machines.

Santa Fe could be worth as much as $7.6 billion, according to Wells Fargo Securities LLC analyst Bonnie Herzog.

“We believe this is a win-win scenario for RAI shareholders,” she wrote. “We believe if the speculation proves true, any transaction would monetize an asset that we have long believed to be underappreciated and undervalued by the market.”

Japan Tobacco Inc. is a leading international tobacco company. Its sells its products in more than 120 countries, and its brands include Winston, Camel, Mevius and LD.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American Inc. is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc.; American Snuff Co. LLC; Niconovum USA Inc.; Niconovum AB; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco’s brands include Newport, Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes; American Snuff’s brands include Grizzly and Kodiak smokeless tobacco products; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco manufactures and markets Natural American Spirit 100% additive-free natural tobacco products, including styles made with organic tobacco; Niconovum USA and Niconovum AB market nicotine replacement therapy products in the United States and Sweden, respectively, under the Zonnic brand name; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor manufactures and markets Vuse electronic cigarettes.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the Use of Investigational Tobacco Products Draft Guidance.

When finalized, this guidance will reflect the FDA’s detailed recommendations on the use of investigational tobacco products.

For the purpose of the draft guidance, an “investigational tobacco product” is a tobacco product that is a new or modified-risk tobacco product that is not legally marketed, or a tobacco product that is required to comply with a tobacco product standard that does not conform in all respects to the standard and is intended for investigational use.

The Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) gives the FDA the authority to issue regulations to exempt tobacco products intended for investigational use from the requirements the FD&C Act.

The FDA said it intends to propose regulations establishing conditions for exempting investigational tobacco products from certain FD&C Act requirements. Until then, investigational tobacco products are not exempt from applicable FD&C Act requirements, including premarket submission requirements and tobacco product standards.

This draft guidance describes the FDA’s current thinking regarding the definition of an investigational tobacco product and discusses the kind of information the FDA intends to consider when making enforcement decisions regarding the use of investigational tobacco products until regulations are issued and become effective or the FDA provides written notice of its intent to change its enforcement policy, it said.

The agency will accept public comments on the draft guidance until Nov. 23, 2015.

Also, the FDA has announced a final rule, National Environmental Policy Act: Environmental Assessments for Tobacco Products; Categorical Exclusions, in the Federal Register.

Based on the FDA’s experience preparing and reviewing environmental assessments (EA), including those for tobacco products, it said it has determined that certain types of actions regarding tobacco products normally do not cause significant environmental effects. These actions should be added to the list of actions that are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an EA or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The rule reasons that it would be in the best interest of the FDA, regulated industry and the public as a whole if the FDA and industry were able to categorically exclude these actions, and instead, focus their efforts on issues that may significantly impact the environment. For those actions that would require an EA or an EIS, such as applications for a regular Substantial Equivalence (SE) report, Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA) or Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), the FDA has recently posted examples of EAs and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) documents on its 2014 SE marketing orders page.

And the FDA has announced in the Federal Register a proposed rule entitled Clarification of When Products Made or Derived From Tobacco Are Regulated as Drugs, Devices or Combination Products; Amendments to Regulations Regarding Intended Uses.

This proposed rule describes the circumstances in which a product made or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption will be subject to regulation as a drug, device or a combination product under the FD&C Act.

This action is intended to provide direction to regulated industry and to help avoid consumer confusion.

The proposed rule was developed in accordance with regulatory guidance and will be available for comment until Nov. 24, 2015.

TOKYO — Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI) is in talks to buy cigarette assets from Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) as the company seeks to expand outside of its shrinking home market, people familiar with the talks told Bloomberg News.

The Tokyo-based firm may acquire assets worth about $5 billion, including some of Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc.’s Natural American Spirit tobacco brands, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. While discussions are advanced, talks could still fall apart and the size of the deal and the makeup of the assets could still change, they said.

A spokesperson for Reynolds said the company doesn’t comment on rumor or speculation.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American Inc. is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc.; American Snuff Co. LLC; Niconovum USA Inc.; Niconovum AB; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco’s brands include Newport, Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes; American Snuff’s brands include Grizzly and Kodiak smokeless tobacco products; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco manufactures and markets Natural American Spirit 100% additive-free natural tobacco products, including styles made with organic tobacco; Niconovum USA and Niconovum AB market nicotine replacement therapy products in the United States and Sweden, respectively, under the Zonnic brand name; and R.J. Reynolds Vapor manufactures and markets Vuse electronic cigarettes.

Japan Tobacco Inc. is a leading international tobacco company. Its products are sold in more than 120 countries, and its brands include Winston, Camel, Mevius and LD.

Watch for details on CSPnet.com and in CSP Daily News.

FAIRFAX, Va. — Consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail marketers are seeing a direct correlation between topline revenue growth and Hispanic media investment, according to a recent report from the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA): The Voice of Hispanic Marketing. CPG and retail companies among the top 500 U.S. advertisers increased their Hispanic media spend by 67% during 2010 to 2014 – compared to a 20% increase of aggregate Hispanic ad spending in the previous 2006 to 2010 time period.

The study revealed that shifts from English to Hispanic media explain 28% of CPG/retail companies’ acceleration in topline revenue growth from 2010 to 2014.

“Historically, CPG/retail companies have led other top marketers in their allocation of resources to capture Hispanic purchases and loyalty. More recently, we have seen how players that have increased allocations to Hispanic marketing efforts have significantly delivered accelerated topline revenue growth in the U.S.,” said Carlos Santiago, chair of the AHAA Research Committee. “For every five-point shifts from English to Hispanic media, we found, on average, a 1.75 boost in revenue growth rates—tangible evidence that shifts to Hispanic media directly impact total market revenue growth.”

Since 2006, the aggregate Hispanic ad spend by CPG/retailers increased 100%, the average CPG/retailer ad spend increased to $22 million in 2014, and allocation shifted from English media to Hispanic by 5.2 points. On the other hand, the AHAA study indicated that the CPG/retail category, which includes beverages, consumer products, packaged goods, health and beauty products, over-the-counter drugs and retail, decreased their English advertising spending by 7% during the same timeframe, indicating a major strategic shift that is placing Hispanic marketing as a top corporate priority.

• According to the report, P&G spends the most against Hispanic advertising with $439 million followed by L’Oréal, MARS, Walmart, Anheuser-Busch and SABMiller.
• Goya leads in highest percentage toward Hispanic with 59% of its advertising going to Hispanic with Constellation Brands (wine, beer and spirit marketer whose portfolio includes brands like Clos du Bois, Robert Mondavi, Corona, Modelo) and L’Arche Green (Heineken) close behind with 46% and 35%, respectively.
• Constellation Brands, L’Arche Green, Colgate, SABMiller, Guthy-Renker (maker of direct-to-consumer product lines like Proactiv+ and Sheer Cover) and Aderans (global provider of hair replacement and restoration products like Bosley for men) are among the brands contributing more than a quarter of their advertising budget to Hispanic.
• Companies that made the biggest jump include Constellation Brands, P&G, household consumer products and personal care company Church & Dwight, (Arm & Hammer, Oxi Clean and Orajel), Aderans, cereal manufacturer Post Holdings, Dr. Pepper Snapple, Colgate, Diageo and Milk Processors, all of which increased Hispanic allocation by more than 10 points and Hispanic ad spend by more than $7 million each since 2010.
• Among retailers of consumer packaged goods, HEB, Big Lots, Publix, Walmart, Target and Kroger stepped up their Hispanic efforts by 5 to 15 allocation points between 2010 and 2014.

This upward trend shows no signs of stopping with the mean Hispanic ad spend increasing from 16%, or $12.6 million, in 2006-2010 to 74%, or $21.9 million in 2010-2014. Finally, CPG/Retail category marketers increased their spending against Hispanic dedicated media from 6.3% in 2010 to 10.7% in 2014, led by CPG manufacturers achieving 10.9% and followed by Retailers reaching 9.3% in 2014 Hispanic Allocation.

The CPG/Retail Category evolved from being a “follower” with 6.3% in 2010 to becoming a “leader” with a 10.7% Hispanic Allocation in 2014. From 2010 to 2014, the number of CPG/retail companies in the “Best-In-Class (BIC)” and “leader” allocation tiers among top 500 advertisers doubled, jumping from 26 to 40 companies. In fact, many of these companies were previously in “follower” and even “on-the-sidelines” categories.

Over the past five years, the top 500 advertisers boosted their spending in Hispanic targeted media by 63% or $2.7 billion from $4.3 billion in 2010 to $7.1 billion. The top 500 advertisers boosted their average spending from $9 million in Hispanic targeted media in 2010 to $14 million now.

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Co. has announced that it has been selected again to both the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices.

Hershey is one of only 13 companies from the food, beverage and tobacco industry in the World Index and ranked in the 93 percentile overall. Hershey’s rankings in the various DJSI dimensions continues to increase year over year. This is the fourth consecutive year that Hershey has been included in the North America Index and the third year it has been named to the World Index.

Hershey’s selection to the World Index reflects the company’s substantial progress in its global corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. Over the course of the last few years, it has made significant strides in its corporate responsibility initiatives, including sustainable sourcing and improving basic nutrition to help children learn and grow, particularly in West Africa.

The company is also outpacing its milestones for achieving 100% certified and sustainable cocoa by 2020. Hershey set a new target earlier this year to source at least 50% of its global cocoa supply from certified and sustainable sources by the end of 2015, a full year ahead of schedule. Beginning in 2016, Hershey will source enough certified and sustainable cocoa to exceed the amount required for the global production of four of its most popular chocolate brands: Hershey’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Brookside and Kit Kat (in the United States).

“Our cocoa sustainability work has always been about training and educational programs that make cocoa production a sustainable and attractive vocation for farmers in West Africa,” said Terry O’Day, senior vice president chief supply chain officer. “Through our industry-wide sustainability initiative, CocoaAction, we’ve aligned with our peers to support farmers and farming communities, which is good for the long-term future of cocoa production.”

Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Earlier this year, the company launched Nourishing Minds, a global social platform that focuses on providing nutritious food to underserved children.

“We are evolving our social programs to align with our company and employees’ expertise in food production and processing so that we can make the most impact around the world,” said O’Day. “At Hershey, we believe that bright futures begin with basic nutrition. A child with an empty stomach can’t focus on school, and we’re addressing that need in West Africa and in our local communities in the U.S. and where we do business around the world.”

Nourishing Minds will impact communities around the world, including programs that provide nutritious food to underserved children in the United States, but the work has begun in Ghana with a program called Energize Learning. Since June, Vivi, a peanut-based protein supplement developed by Hershey food experts, has been distributed, at no cost, to children in more than 130 schools. Hershey launched the program in partnership with the Ghana School Feeding Program and non-profit, Project Peanut Butter.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are determined by SAM (Sustainable Asset Management), in partnership with the S&P and Dow Jones Indices. They are the first global sustainability benchmarks that track the financial performance and sustainable business practices of the world’s leading companies using economic, environmental and social criteria.

The Hershey Co., based in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader. The company, which has more than 80 brands around the world that drive over $7.4 billion in annual revenues, includes such brand names as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside.

DALLAS — 7-Eleven convenience stores now offers on-demand delivery in six more markets through Postmates, a San Francisco-based technology and logistics company that provides this service through a network of independent couriers.

This is 7-Eleven’s second round of deployments with Postmates. The initial pilot launched in the San Francisco and Austin, Texas, markets in July.

Slurpee and other cold beverages are included in the Postmates delivery, which clocks in around 35 minutes from order placement to delivery. But the average time between product pickup at a 7-Eleven store to customer delivery is a mere 11 minutes, ensuring Slurpee beverages maintain their frosty deliciousness.

About 250 7-Eleven locations in New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle offer an assortment of 7-Eleven’s products from hot foods and snacks to cold beverages and other convenience-store items that are now available for delivery.

7-Eleven will continue to add participating stores in these markets as Postmates expands its service areas.

A user downloads the Postmates app through an iOS, Android or web app operated by Postmates, then scrolls through the list of retailers to select products they want to order.  Postmates coordinates the delivery from the most convenient outlet and a nearby courier to fulfill the customer’s order within an hour.

“7-Eleven’s founder, Joe C. Thompson Jr., used to say 7-Eleven’s mission was to ‘give customers what they want, when and where they want it’,” said Raja Doddala, 7-Eleven’s vice president of innovation and omnichannel strategy. “Through the modern technology that Postmates provides, we can fulfill that promise in a way we haven’t done before.”

The partnership with Postmates is among 7-Eleven’s ventures into the on-demand economy and plays a role in the company’s omnichannel strategy to provide time-pressed customers solutions to their everyday needs.           

“Through our partnership with Postmates, 7-Eleven’s reach extends beyond stores’ four walls,” Doddala said. “The program works well for us because it appeals to our customers who are more on-the-go, connected 24/7 and prefer fast-paced, urban living.

“Plus, we have market concentration in these geographic areas, which makes shopping with us through Postmates even more convenient for customers,” said Doddala, adding that “Postmates has figured out how to keep the Slurpee drinks cold and the Big Bites hot.”

“By partnering with 7-Eleven, we are able to offer both 7-Eleven and Postmates customers access to groceries, fresh food and other goods across all markets that our companies are both operating in.” said Holger Luedorf, Postmates senior vice president. “In providing 7-Eleven with a digital storefront and giving its team access to our fleet of more than 12,000 Postmates couriers, we are making the experience even more convenient for our joint customers.”

Meanwhile, Postmates has forged a deal with Deerfield, Ill.-based drug store chain Walgreens to offer on-demand delivery of beauty, household and health and wellness items from 600 Walgreens and Duane Reade stores across all markets for a flat $4.99 delivery fee for a limited time.

Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,600 7-Eleven convenience stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 57,200 7-Eleven c-stores in 16 countries.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — McIntosh Energy Co. Inc., doing business as MacFood Mart, has partnered with OpenStore by GasBuddy to embrace all aspects of its convenience-store marketing.

McIntosh Energy executives said they realized that it takes more than just having a good location to drive business to a store. With OpenStore, MacFood Marts have a new webpage as well as a mobile app with couponing and games. In addition, MacFoods will begin incorporating beacons into its convenience stores to “geo-target” customers and send them in-app messages.

“We are excited to partner with McIntosh Energy and look forward to the digital marketing possibilities that the OpenStore solution provides,” said CEO of OpenStore, Jason Toews. “Connecting our clients to their customers to help drive sales, increase engagement and brand awareness are our key goals.”

“McIntosh Energy is looking forward to growing their customer base in partnership with OpenStore,” said Ray McInstosh, president at McIntosh Energy.

Through the new mobile app and website, MacFood Mart will enhance the customer shopping experience while driving traffic to their stores.

Gaithersburg, Md.-based OpenStore by GasBuddy is a solution that increases customer loyalty by providing two-way communication between convenience-store owners and customers using web technologies and custom-branded mobile applications. The OpenStore dashboard allows the user to collect customer feedback, manage social media, deliver mobile coupons and text message campaigns from one location.

Russell McIntosh founded McIntosh Energy in 1953 as a home heating oil business. The company acquired a small remote location in the early 1960s as its first company-owned location for the sale of fuel and groceries. The Royville, Ind., location still exists today. It was torn down and rebuilt in 1998 with all the features of a modern convenience store. Over the years, it added other locations. Today, the company owns and operates four convenience stores in and around Fort Wayne, Ind.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — GSP, a leading provider of retail services, said that it has been named a multiple winner in the 2015 American Graphic Design Awards for its food photography produced for SuperAmerica convenience stores and its Beer Barn display for TravelCenters of America.

By taking a simple lifestyle approach, the photography brings out the quality and freshness of our client SuperAmerica’s private-label brand called SuperMom’s. The c-store chain is using the images on menu boards and point-of-purchase signage throughout more the 260 SuperAmerica locations.

TravelCenters of America wanted a way to increase beverage sales and call attention to their selection. GSP created a built-to-order, display walk-in cooler with a barn-door look entrance and modular panel design. The entrance is the first thing that customers notice. The American Graphic Design Awards are sponsored by Graphic Design USA magazine and showcase the best in design work across multiple mediums, including point of purchase, interactive, print, packaging and more.

“We design with our clients’ goals in mind, but it feels great to have been recognized by our peers as well,” said Steven Cohen, GSP’s vice president of design services. GSP’s in-house design services team’s list of capabilities range from graphic design and industrial design to store reimaging, store merchandising, displays and food photography.

GSP helps consumer-facing businesses transform their growth strategies into store-level results. Its site intelligence software optimizes planning and enables store-specific retail execution. Its survey services ensure that retailers know the details of every store to improve capital expenditure decisions, store understanding and store support. The design team provides food photography, foodservice graphics and industrial design solutions. And its point-of-purchase management team leverages expertise in design, production, fulfillment and data management to maximize return on in-store marketing efforts.