LAVAL, Quebec – Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., one of the world’s leading convenience-store retailers, announced today that it is consolidating its Circle K, Statoil, Mac’s and Kangaroo Express retail brands under one refreshed global banner, creating a new, global convenience brand, “Circle K.”

The new Circle K brand will replace Couche-Tard’s existing Circle K, Statoil, Mac’s and Kangaroo Express branding on its convenience stores and gas stations across Canada, the United States, Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe. The new Circle K brand will also appear on licensed stores across Asia and will be a fundamental part of Couche-Tard’s future growth.

Couche-Tard has chosen to retain the company’s founding Couche-Tard retail brand in Québec in Canada due to the specifics of that market.

The global Circle K brand will begin rolling out to c-stores in the United States in January 2016. It will be seen on gas stations in Europe from May 2016, while Canadian customers outside Québec will see the new Circle K brand starting in May 2017.

As of July 19, 2015, Couche-Tard’s network comprised 7,987 convenience stores throughout North America, including 6,556 stores offering road transportation fuel. Its North American network consists of 15 business units, including 11 in the United States covering 41 States and four in Canada covering all 10 provinces.

In Europe, Couche-Tard operates a retail network across Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), Poland, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Russia. As at July 19, 2015, it comprised 2,229 stores, the majority of which offer road transportation fuel and convenience-store products while the others are unmanned automated gas stations that offer road transportation fuel only. The corporation also offers other products, including stationary energy, marine fuel, lubricants and chemicals. Couche-Tard operates key fuel terminals and fuel depots in six countries.

In addition, about 4,700 stores are operated by independent operators under the Circle K banner in 12 other countries or regions worldwide (China, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam), which brings to more than 14,900 the number of sites in Couche-Tard’s network.

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

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (RJR), an indirect subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), announced today that it has signed a vapor product technologies-sharing “term sheet” with British American Tobacco Holdings Ltd. (BAT).

The companies have not finalized the specifics of the deal, but it is the first step in reaching a definitive agreement.

The term sheet provides a framework for collaboration and mutual cross-licensing of vapor product technologies through 2022.

The companies’ collaboration will include a process for joint research and development activities and cooperation on regulatory, scientific and manufacturing issues related to vapor products.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based RJR, an indirect subsidiary of RAI, is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States. RJR’s cigarette brands include Newport, Camel and Pall Mall. These brands, and its other brands, including Doral, Misty and Capri, are manufactured in a variety of styles and marketed in the United States.

Based in London, BAT is a global tobacco group with more than 200 brands sold in more than 200 markets.

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

WEST READING, Pa. — R.M. Palmer Co. has launched new seasonal Halloween candy offerings for 2015, delivering “More Boo for Your Buck” through fun-yet-affordable novelty candy.

Recent additions to the Palmer line that will be making their Halloween debut this year include Yoo-hoo Candy Bars and Yoo-hoo Mini Candy Bars.

At 4.5 ounces, the Yoo-hoo Candy Bar is meant to appeal to fans of the chocolate-flavored drink. Yoo-hoo Mini Candy Bars are also perfect for trick or treat night; individually wrapped and packaged in 4-oz. peg bags, 14-oz. bags, and also available in bulk at select retail locations.

In addition, Palmer is introducing four new Halloween bags this season. They include foil-wrapped Double Crisp Skulls in a 5-oz. bag; Mummy Munchies, which contains a 178 piece (3.75 lb.) mix of five Palmer individually wrapped candies: Fudge Filled Boos, Double Crisp Skulls, Chocolaty Plumpkin Pals, Double Crisp Googly-Eyes and Peanut Butter Cups; the Zombie Treats bag with 313 pieces (5.75 lbs.) of Palmer chocolaty treats; and the Giant Pumpkin bag, which delivers the best value with 433 Halloween-themed candy pieces. The three larger Halloween bags are resealable.

R.M. Palmer has been crafting fun, seasonal chocolate novelties since 1948. From its headquarters in West Reading, Pa., Palmer’s 850 employees design, produce, package and ship more than 500 unique items to nearly 100,000 retail locations in North America.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — William McKnight spoke of data as the world’s next natural resource, like oil, water or sunlight.

As I listened to him recently at a software users’ conference, the comparison seemed obvious. With parking spaces, garbage cans, cars, watches, clothes, even our own bodies potentially having sensors to track just about everything, data may prove to be the raw material needed to reinvent commerce, healthcare and all things manufactured and consumed.

As president of McKnight Consulting Group, Plano, Texas, the data-information specialist had keen insight into retail that he shared with attendees at The Pinnacle Corp.’s annual users’ summit in Southlake, Texas, last week.

Here are some of those thoughts:

• Real time. Gone are the batch days as companies with monthly uploads are moving to weekly, weekly to daily, daily to hourly, hourly to real time.
• Dynamic pricing. Retailers will be able to adjust pricing based on trending sales, maximizing goals be they margin or volume.
• Inventory optimization. Retailers can have more of what’s in demand in stock and less inventory that just sits.
• Couponing. Data can help retailers offer more relevant discounts to grow affinity, traffic or market basket.
• Selling data. Retailers can make money off of selling raw data to information companies who analyze the numbers and provide crucial results.
• Self-serve reporting. In time, key individuals within the company will have access to data to populate their own measuring tools.

Customer affinity information can come from combining data from third parties, McKnight said, a process he called “triangulation.” Retailers don’t have to analyze their store data in a vacuum. Information such as the kinds of magazines a customer buys or the search words he or she uses derived from third parties can let a retailer develop relevant coupon or loyalty offers.

Once refined, raw data can help retailers stock hot items, offer tantalizing incentives and bring people into the store. Understanding and acting on those opportunities may be the next gold rush.

Angel Abcede has written about convenience-store technology for more than 20 years and is senior editor atCSP magazine.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Clean Energy Fuels Corp. celebrated the opening of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) station in Mississippi with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Located within the Flying J Travel Plaza in Pearl, Miss., the station will support the fueling needs of Raven Transport’s 115 LNG heavy-duty trucks hauling goods for a leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) company.

Mississippi State Senator Dean Kirby (R) and State Representative Ray Rogers (R), who were integral to the station’s opening, attended the event.

“We’re pleased that LNG fueling stations now are offered at more than 60 Pilot Flying J locations,” said Pilot Flying J region manager Dave Mangialardi. “For us, that’s what it’s all about: making these resources available to our customers, because we’re committed to making life better for professional drivers. And as our partnership with Clean Energy continues to make LNG more accessible to drivers, they’ll be able to access natural gas from coast to coast.”

“We are pleased that America’s Natural Gas Highway comes right through our town of Pearl, but I look forward to seeing it expand throughout Mississippi,” said Kirby.

“The Pearl station opening brings together two key partnerships for Clean Energy,” said Mike Hendrixson, national account manager for Clean Energy Fuels. “Raven Transport is a recognized leader in transportation and Pilot Flying J is the largest operator of travel centers and plazas throughout the U.S. By bringing natural gas to these already established fueling centers, the transition to natural gas becomes seamless.”

Clean Energy Fuels is the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America. It builds and operates compressed natural gas (CNG) and LNG fueling stations; manufactures CNG and LNG equipment and technologies for itself and other companies; develops renewable natural gas (RNG) production facilities; and delivers CNG, LNG and Redeem RNG fuel.

Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, is based in Knoxville, Tenn., and has more than 650 retail locations. Its network provides drivers with access to more than 70,000 parking spaces for trucks, 4,800 showers and more than 4,400 diesel lanes offering diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) at the pump.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo will unveil “a whole new side” of Mountain Dew this fall, a dark side. Mtn Dew Black Label is a “deeper, darker Dew” that will be introduced at colleges and universities this fall.

A carbonated soft drink made with real sugar and “crafted with dark berry flavor and herbal bitters,” Mtn Dew Black Label is made those for those times when Dew drinkers want to unwind with a touch of class, the company said.

Mtn Dew Black Label will be available at on-campus retailers at approximately 600 colleges and universities this fall. It will be available nationwide in 2016.

Mtn Dew Black Label will come in 16-ounce matte-black cans. Each can contains 210 calories and 83mg of caffeine.

Suggested retail prices is $1.99 per can.

​LUBBOCK, Texas — The Love’s Travel Stop in Lubbock, Texas, opened to much fanfare just before Labor Day weekend. It’s a much-needed stop for drivers traveling on the desolate stretch of interstate road between Lubbock and Amarillo in the Texas panhandle, the company said. It’s also a welcome place for gameday fans coming by car and airplane to see their favorite teams duke it out at Texas Tech since it’s also conveniently located across from the airport.

But this Love’s is also important to the company for a completely different and very special reason: it’s the first location dedicated in memory of a Love’s employee.

Robert Arthur, who died June 9, was born in Lubbock on March 14, 1954. He attended Texas Tech University, went to work for a supermarket, then Petro Stopping Centers, then at Love’s in 2003. He spent time in store management when he first joined the company then found the perfect fit for his experience, work ethic and personality on the store opening team in the merchandising department as a divisional merchandising manager.

“He loved his job, and he was good at it,” said Mike Schmitt, district marketing manager, who worked with Robert for nearly 10 years. “Tom Edwards used to brag on him for his flashy displays. And he was a machine. He’d put his head down, always with a smile, and get it done.”

Love’s vendor partners, who are also a familiar part of the store opening team, all agreed that Robert’s willingness to do whatever it takes to get a job done made him memorable, but it was so much more than that.

“He was a very good friend, personally,” said Don Paddock, CEO of KSG Distributing, who worked with Robert for 10 years and caught a flight to Lubbock especially for the store dedication. “He was always glad to see you with a huge smile on his face and a story for you.”

Paul Leland with DAS worked with Robert for six years. “I miss his voice, his laugh. You always knew when he left the building because it got so quiet. There was always a buzz around him.”

Those who worked with him shared stories of Robert’s love for milkshakes and his uncanny ability to talk anyone with access to a blender into making milkshakes for the whole team. He was known for telling jokes, giving nicknames and having “MacGyver”-like skills in finding the right tools to conquer the most challenging retail merchandising dilemmas.

Schmitt took Robert’s unexpected passing in June last year especially hard, Love’s said. He asked the Love family to dedicate the Lubbock store in memory of his good friend.

He worked with Eric Roth and EchoMedia to find the best words to memorialize Robert’s personality and to create a plaque that would hang permanently in the store. He then organized a brief memorial service and asked Robert’s family, including his mom, brother, sister-in-law, daughter and son-in-law to attend.

Click here to view a video and to hear Mike read the memorial plaque and present it to Robert’s family.​​

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc., based in Oklahoma City, has more than 350 locations in 40 states.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Unexpected support has opened the door for grocery and convenience retailers in Oklahoma to sell full-strength beer.

The Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma unexpectedly announced this month that it has changed its position on state regulations that limit grocery and convenience stores to selling only 3.2 beer (alcohol by weight) and limit liquor stores to sell strong beer, but only at room temperature.

“Many will be surprised to hear this coming from a group which represents [liquor-store] retailers who have regularly been accused of playing an obstructionist role when it comes to changing even some of the most antiquated laws that govern alcohol in Oklahoma,” association president Bryan Kerr said.

Currently, cold, full-strength beer can only be sold in state-licensed Retailer Package Stores, which the Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma represents. Kerr, however, said that restriction is antiquated and does not meet the needs of Oklahoma consumers.

“This summer, we conducted a poll through the most respected pollster in Oklahoma, Bill Shapard of Sooner Poll, and we heard the customer loud and clear,” Kerr said. “We are committed to meeting the needs of the Oklahoma consumer without sacrificing public safety or increasing access of the product to teens and others who should not have it.”

The Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma has proposed these changes to state laws:

1. Oklahoma should move to single-strength (“strong”) refrigerated beer for all outlets that currently sell either 3.2 or strong beer.
2. As a matter of convenience, wine should be available for purchase in a limited number of grocery stores.
3. Customers should be able to buy mixers, corkscrews, glassware, cigars and other items inside their local Retail Package Store.
4. Customers should be able to order our products and have them delivered by a properly licensed employee of a Retail Package Store.
5. Customers should be allowed to attend tastings inside the premises of a Retail Package Store.
6. Customers should be permitted to bring their child with them into a Retail Package Store.
7. Customers should be allowed to buy liquor, wine and beer from a Retail Package Store on Independence Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
8. Customers should have access to growlers and “crowlers” (growler cans) filled and sealed at a Retail Package Store.

The Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma (RLOA) has also come out strongly in favor of allowing Oklahoma breweries to sell their own full-strength product at the brewery itself, either by the glass or in cans and bottles.

“It seems silly and unfair that a consumer can go to any winery in our state and enjoy a glass of wine and then buy a bottle of that exact product but they can’t do the same at Oklahoma breweries,” Kerr said.

In addition, the RLAO is proposing that Oklahoma wineries have a cap lifted on the amount of wine they can produce and still be able to self-distribute that wine.

“We are looking for as many ways as possible to help Oklahomans in the spirits, wine and beer business to better serve our customers,” Kerr said. “Our plan encourages economic growth and does away with antiquated laws while still protecting public safety. These are things our customers have asked for and the retailers want to help make it happen.”

A senate bill proposed this spring could put many of the ideas outlined by the RLOA before voters early next year.

SB 383, authored by Sen. Stephanie Bice, would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to remove restrictions on the control of low-point beer and wine, if approved.

The Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma was formed in 1982 and represents the many men and women who have invested their time and money into providing quality alcoholic beverages to their neighborhoods, cities and counties. The RLAO works with the legislature and other interest groups to help craft laws that benefit both Oklahoma Package Stores and the consumer.

SAN ANTONIO — CST Brands Inc. has announced that the independent executive committee of its board of directors has approved a purchase program authorizing CST Brands and its subsidiaries to purchase up to an aggregate of $50 million of common units representing limited partner interests in CrossAmerica Partners LP.

“The CrossAmerica unit price presents an attractive investment yield, and this plan reinforces CST’s continued support of CrossAmerica and is in recognition of the strength of the partnership’s long-term business strategies,” said Kim Lubel, chairman and CEO of CST Brands.

Under the program, purchases may be made in amounts, at prices and at such times as CST Brands or its subsidiaries deem appropriate, all subject to market conditions and other considerations. The purchases may be made in the open market, as amended, or in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Any purchases will be funded from available cash on hand. Such purchases will be made in such quantities, at such prices, in such manner and on such terms and conditions at management’s discretion, based on factors such as market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The common unit purchase program does not require CST Brands to acquire any specific number of CrossAmerica common units and may be modified, suspended, extended or terminated by CST Brands at any time without prior notice.

The purchases will not be made from any officer, director or control person of CST Brands or CrossAmerica.

CST Brands does not intend for common unit purchases under the program to cause CrossAmerica’s common units to be delisted from the NYSE or cause the common units of CrossAmerica Partners LP to be deregistered with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), CST Brands said.

As of Sept. 18, 2015, the partnership had 33,144,683 total units outstanding (includes both common and subordinated units). CST Brands is the beneficial owner of 5,284,308 common units of CrossAmerica Partners LP, representing a 15.9% ownership interest in the outstanding limited partner interests of CrossAmerica Partners LP.

CST Brands is one of the largest independent retailers of motor fuels and convenience merchandise in North America. Based in San Antonio, it has approximately 1,900 locations throughout the southwestern United States, New York and eastern Canada offering a broad array of convenience merchandise, beverages, snacks and fresh food. In the United States, CST Corner Stores sell fuel and signature products such as Fresh Choices baked and packaged goods, U Force energy and sport drinks, Cibolo Mountain coffee, FC Soda and Flavors2Go fountain drinks. In Canada, CST is the exclusive provider of Ultramar fuel and its Dépanneur du Coin and Corner Stores sell signature Transit Café coffee and pastries.

CST also owns the general partner of CrossAmerica Partners LP, a wholesale distributor of fuels, which distributes fuel to more than 1,100 locations across 23 states.