HOUSTON — Star Fuels has chosen PriceAdvantage software to automate and accelerate fuel pricing at its 65 convenience stores throughout Texas.

The Houston-based company said it selected PriceAdvantage based on the software’s ability to consolidate critical fuel pricing information including competitor pricing, replacement costs, volume and margin trends, allowing the fuel retailer to execute faster, more informed price changes.

“We now can easily access all of the variables and data needed to execute fuel price changes quickly,” said Bob Kastetter, COO at Star Fuels. “Using PriceAdvantage, we now have the ability to make strategic price changes two or three times a day using real-time data.” 

Star Fuels selected the PriceAdvantage SaaS solution to leverage the benefits of a cloud service model including the low upfront cost, ease of implementation and the maintenance and infrastructure cost benefits. The PriceAdvantage pre-built integrations with Star Fuels’ current multiple point-of-sale (POS) systems–Gilbarco and VeriFone–allow the chain to be up-and-running quickly.

Another Star Fuel goal was to reduce the staff time required to support the fuel pricing process.

“The potential ROI is impressive,” Kastetter said. “We anticipate returns through top-line gross profit, but the reduction in staff time alone will have a huge impact on my team’s productivity and bottom line goals. It will give them more time to manage other business critical duties.”

Chip Stadjuhar, president and CEO of Skyline Products, parent company of Colorado Springs, Colo.-based PriceAdvantage, said, “The team at Star Fuels recognizes that to remain competitive, speed is of the essence. We are pleased to partner with Bob and provide a solution that gives him the data he needs, when he needs it, and the freedom to make price changes anywhere, anytime using a mobile device.”

PriceAdvantage’s highly configurable solution allows fuel marketers to execute their specific fuel pricing strategy faster and more accurately by reducing manual processes and human errors. It enables customers to make rapid, informed fuel pricing decisions based on their unique business rules, then automatically post new prices to their POS systems, fuel pumps and price signs, and then receive price change confirmation in minutes.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Jones & Frank, a leading value-add distributor, installer and servicer of fueling equipment, has announced that Jim Bolch has been named chief executive officer and will join the board of directors, effective immediately.

Bolch will be based in Raleigh, N.C., where the company has its headquarters.

“We are thrilled that Jim has agreed to lead Jones & Frank at this pivotal point in its development,” said Barrett Gilmer, managing director at private-equity firm MidOcean Partners, the majority owner of Jones & Frank. “Jim’s in-depth knowledge of service organizations, sophisticated business acumen and strategic vision make him the ideal executive to take on this important role. His longstanding track record of driving operational improvements and accelerating bottom-line performance will be instrumental as Jones & Frank continues to expand its service business, grow distribution revenue and further improve upon its nation-leading market share in the industry.”

Bolch brings vast experience from a career spanning more than 30 years in global industrial and service businesses serving a variety of customer segments. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Exide Technologies, one of the world’s largest producers and recyclers of lead acid batteries, with operations in more than 80 countries and annual revenue in excess of $3 billion. Prior to leading Exide, he was president of the industrial technologies sector of Ingersoll Rand responsible for multiple business lines including air compressors, tools, materials handling, fluid handling and Club Car compact vehicles. He joined Ingersoll Rand from Schindler Elevator Corp., where was executive vice president of the service business. Prior to his tenure at Schindler Elevator Corp., Bolch spent 21 years with United Technologies Corp. (UTC) where he served in multiple roles including vice president of operations for the UTC power division and vice president of global service operations for Otis Elevator.

Jones & Frank distributes, services and installs fueling equipment to retail gas stations, commercial and government fleets and emergency power customers. It covers the Atlantic Seaboard and the Midwest from a network of branch offices and distribution centers. Jones & Frank represents products in the fueling infrastructure marketplace including Gilbarco Veeder-Root, VeriFone, Containment Solutions, OPW and Franklin Fueling.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — This edition of New Convenience-Store Roundup features new convenience-store openings, sales, acquisitions and store closings with listings for the month of June 2015.

The unscientifically gathered roundup is by no means complete, but serves as a monthly competitive snapshot of newly opened or closed U.S. convenience stores, gas stations, truckstops and travel centers not previously reported in CSP Daily News.

Many of the stores are owned by independent operators, while others belong to major chains, some part of CSP’s Convenience Top 101. Some of them may be your new competitors.

The list has been arranged by state. Click through each item for more details on each store.

Your store not listed? Please send your new-store announcements to Greg Lindenberg at glindenberg@cspnet.com.

Alabama

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened its doors for business along Interstate 85 in Shorter, Ala., on June 25. The new store offers gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift items, name-brand electronics and Subway and McDonald’s restaurants. It also features seven showers, 91 truck parking spaces, a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, RFID, cardless fueling and CAT scales.

Florida

7-Eleven franchisees Humayun and Janet Bashir opened a new convenience store in Venice, Fla., on June 26.

A convenience store–the Holley Food Mart–reopened in Holley, Fla., on June 21.

Illinois

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened its doors for business along Interstate 64 at Exit 27 in New Baden, Ill., on June 4. The new store offers gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift items, name-brand electronics, a Hardee’s restaurant and a game room. It also features seven showers, 97 truck parking spaces, a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, RFID cardless fueling, CAT scales and other driver services.

A 7-Eleven convenience store—formerly a White Hen—closed in mid-June in Evanston, Ill. A spokesperson said the store’s lease had expired and that the franchisee will be assuming another store in the Chicago area.

Indiana

Malik Zia bought the Quick Stop convenience store in Cassville, Ind., in August 2013. It took until June 2015 to open it because of local bureaucratic red tape, she said. The store features gas and all the usual items of a store of that type. It is open 24 hours, and Zia plans on having pizza, pressurized fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, deli sandwiches and more in the next few weeks.

Michigan

Aanikoosing Inc. opened a 3,000-square-foot Ojibwa Express convenience store in Marquette Township, Mich., in late June. The facility, owned by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, has six fueling positions.

The Ground Floor Market opened in Flint, Mich., on June 17. The business, owned by SkyPoint Ventures, offers pastries and sandwiches from Fenton’s Crust bakery and The Laundry restaurant

Mississippi

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened its doors for business along Interstate 59 in Poplarville, Miss., on June 11. The new store offers gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift items, name-brand electronics and an Arby’s restaurant. It also features seven showers, 70 truck parking spaces, a Love’s Truck Tire Care center, RFID cardless fueling and CAT scales.

New York

Stewart’s Shops opened a new convenience store in Northville, N.Y., on June 5.

A 7-Eleven convenience store in Bensonhurst, N.Y., closed on June 6. A note on the window directed customers to a nearby location.

Pennsylvania

A Sunoco gas station in Sanatoga, Pa., closed in early June.

A longtime Wawa convenience store in Philadelphia’s “Chinatown” closed in early June because of what a note on the door said were “circumstances beyond our control.” Spokesperson Lori Bruce said the company hopes to find a new location in the area.

A 7-Eleven convenience store in West Bethlehem, Pa., closed on June 21, the second in the last year.

South Carolina

The Spinx Co. reopened a convenience store in Greenville, S.C., on June 10. It features an indoor and outdoor dining area, an expanded beverage wall with items such as sweet and unsweet flavored iced teas, lemonades and new Spinx Slushy flavors. Shoppers can purchase several new grab-and-go items in the Fresh on the Go and Bakery departments as well as a variety of new craft beer offerings. The opening serves as a reintroduction of the newer, large-store layout at more than 6,500 square feet. It offers two pump islands for increased fueling capacity. The second island, which is set back slightly from the store, offers all three standard fuel grades as well as diesel.

Tennessee

Weigel’s has opened a new convenience store in Claxton, Tenn., with its new Weigel’s Kitchen, offering paninis, smoothies, gourmet coffee and more.

Texas

Buc-ee’s Ltd. opened a new location in Terrell, Texas, on June 15. Josh Smith, the general manager of the new travel plaza, called the new location “Disneyland on the Interstate” because of the experience it provides motorists. The cahin is known for its large stores, the variety of products and services and its clean restrooms.

Stripes opened new convenience stores in Bay City, Texas, on June 3, Liberty, Texas, on June 16 and Edinburg, Texas, on June 29.

The United Family celebrated the grand opening of the company’s first United Supermarkets and 1,472-square-foot United Express gas station and convenience store in Brownwood, Texas, on June 17. In addition to standard convenience items, the United Express store has sandwiches, breakfast burritos and other items available that are made fresh daily in the supermarket. It also has a four-pump (eight-dispenser) fuel station, which offers gasoline and diesel.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Regional convenience-store and gourmet deli retailer Parker’s has promoted Sarah Bragg to development supervisor. In her new position, Bragg is responsible for implementing training and development strategies for Parker’s c-stores in Georgia and South Carolina.

The Missouri native originally joined Parker’s in 2012 as a manager at the Ellabell, Ga., c-store. She previously worked as an assistant manager, trainer and cashier at Eagle Stop in Eugene, Mo.

“Sarah brings a detail-oriented approach and a strong work ethic to everything she does,” said Amy Lane, chief operating officer at Parker’s. “We’re thrilled to see her step forward to oversee training and development at our stores across the region. She is a real asset to the Parker’s team.”

Parker’s currently operates 37 convenience stores and employs nearly 500 people throughout Georgia and South Carolina. Its headquarters in in Savannah, Ga. The company gives back to every community where its stores are located through the Fueling the Community Program, which donates a portion of the profit of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of the month to area schools. It also founded the Parker’s Emergency & Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, donates gas cards to benefit cancer patients, spearheads an Anti-Litter Campaign in Savannah and serves as the presenting sponsor for Picnic in the Park, a free outdoor concert held in Savannah every October.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Motorists can now purchase lottery tickets at the gasoline dispenser in North Carolina.

The purchases are possible through a new service offered by the N.C. Education Lottery that provides lottery players the convenience of entering a drawing in one of the jackpot games—Powerball, Mega Millions or Carolina Cash 5—while pumping gas.

The service is optional to lottery retailers. Currently, Play at the Pump is available at 120 locations across the state, including all Murphy Express stores.

The Education Lottery is the fourth state lottery to provide this option using technology developed by an Atlanta-based company, Linq3. The other states are California, Missouri and Minnesota.

“Every business must stay on top of changes in technology to remain relevant in today’s marketplace,” said Alice Garland, executive director of the Education Lottery. “Many lottery players will continue to buy tickets inside their favorite stores, but Play at the Pump makes it convenient for others to participate. By staying up with the times, we can attract new customers and build on our success raising money for a good cause.”

To use the service, customers swipe a debit card at the gas pump to get Quick Pick numbers for the next drawing in one of the jackpot games. They get a receipt with their numbers and also can get a text of their numbers and a text if they win. Small wins, up to $599, are credited to their debit card. Players pay a flat $1 transaction fee to Linq3 to cover these services. Larger wins must be claimed at a lottery office.

Several features ensure purchases are made responsibly. They include:

• Only debit cards can be used in Play at the Pump purchases. Credit cards are not allowed.
• Customers must be 18 years old or older. The service quickly checks the age of the owner of the debit card before a purchase can happen.
• Limits placed on purchases. A customer can spend no more than $70 per debit card per week.

 “Lotteries and retailers have a new opportunity to grow sales and profits by selling lottery draw games at the pump,” said Daniel Cage, CEO of Linq3. “Our Play at the Pump service is interactive and designed as a convenience for fuel customers to add a lottery ticket when filling up.”

The Linq3 solution works in partnership with the existing lottery networks, allowing lotteries to reach a greater market.

HOUSTON — Phillips 66 is rolling out a new national image programs at several hundred gas stations in 2015 that include the new Phillips 66 “shield” and 76 “wave” designs.

The new brand images are part of Phillips 66’s Experience 66 campaign and operational support initiative to encourage petroleum marketers to offer the 66 and 76 brands. Along with branding, it focuses on customer expectations and experience and site and restroom cleanliness.

Phillips 66 recently named LSI Industries Inc. as the provider of graphics and lighting for the two fuel brands and their new look.

Survey and logistics work by the LSI program management and implementation services group of LSI Adapt also provided data to help drive customer decisions and rollout plans for Phillip 66’s Brand Image Central (BIC) marketer web portal program.

“Our long-term partnership with Phillips 66 once again utilized the expertise of our team and its proprietary image creation capabilities in support of the development process with quick, cost-effective solutions—vital in a national rollout program with over 500 individual graphic and lighting elements and a demanding schedule,” said Robin Hood, executive vice president of LSI Graphics Segment.

“This project is a good example of how LSI positions itself and works closely with national brand name companies to provide image development, prototyping, support and rollout execution to achieve cost-effective and complete lighting combined with graphics image solutions,” he said.

The new image packages contain a variety of LSI-developed products ranging from dispenser decals to custom LED illuminated canopy fascia to energy-efficient LED under-canopy lighting.

Cincinnati-based LSI is a manufacturer that combines technology, design and manufacturing to produce lighting and graphics products using solid-state LED technology. It offers design support, engineering, installation and project management for custom lighting and graphics rollout programs for the retail environment. Major markets include commercial and industrial lighting, gas stations, convenience stores and multi-site retail including automobile dealerships, restaurants and national retail accounts.

Houston-based Phillips 66 is an energy manufacturing and logistics company with midstream, chemicals, refining, and marketing and specialties businesses. With more than 7,500 retail fuel sites, its U.S. marketing business supplies Top Tier Detergent Gasolines under the Phillips 66, 76 and Conoco brands. The Phillips 66 brand, with its shield icon, has been serving the needs of the motoring public since 1927. With its red ball, the 76 brand provides fuels that are sold at more than 1,900 retail sites on the West Coast. For nearly 100 years, the Conoco brand has been providing petroleum products to more than 2,400 retail fuel sites.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — MFA Oil Co. recently purchased Big O Tires’ interest in BORE/MPC LLC, the joint venture between MFA Oil and Big O.

Formed in 1998, BORE/MPC is the Big O Tires franchisee that owns and operates 14 Big O Tires stores in Camdenton, Columbia, Hollister, Jefferson City, Nixa, Osage Beach, Rolla, Springfield and St. Roberts, Mo., and in Bentonville and Springdale, Ark.

New stores also will open in Branson, Mo., and Fayetteville, Ark., this year.

“This is a good deal for MFA Oil Co.,” said Rusty Coats, MFA Oil director of retail tire operations. “Not only was the cost of the buyout favorable, but the single-company ownership will allow us to be quicker and more flexible in our business decisions.”

“As Big O Tires continues to look for opportunities to expand, this purchase will make that process, and others, more efficient,” said Mark Fenner, MFA Oil president and CEO. “And we’re very fortunate to have Rusty leading the Big O Tires team with his 40 plus years of experience in the tire and automotive repair business.”

Columbia, Mo.-based MFA Oil Co. is a farmer-owned cooperative with more than 40,000 members. The company is the largest supplier of propane in Missouri and created the Break Time convenience stores in 1985 through its subsidiary, MFA Petroleum, which also operates the Big O Tire and Jiffy Lube franchises in mid-Missouri. In addition to propane, MFA Oil also sells fuels and lubricants to customers in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Iowa, many through unmanned fuel lots throughout the region. There are 78 Break Time c-stores in Missouri and Arkansas.

TOPEKA, Kansas — Mars Chocolate North America has announced that it will invest an additional $100 million in its Topeka, Kansas, site, breaking ground on a new 90,000-square-foot facility. As part of this expansion, the company will create a total of 70 new full-time, permanent, high-wage manufacturing jobs.

“For over a century, Mars has been committed to making our products in the markets where we sell them,” said Tracey Massey, president of Mars Chocolate North America. “We are grateful for the warm welcome and continued support we have received from Topeka and the state of Kansas, and we are pleased to further invest in the community with additional job creation and economic development.”

As the company launches new innovations, it is committed to continuing to make its products in the United States. More than 95% of Mars Chocolate products sold in the United States are also made locally by the company’s team of more than 3,500 associates located in its nine domestic sites.

Mars was the first chocolate manufacturer to reduce single-serve products to below 250 calories, it said, and in recent months, the company has brought to market a range of new product offerings with a focus on introducing more options fewer than 200 calories. Earlier this year, the company brought back M&M’s Crispy at 180 calories per serving and in August will launch nationally goodnessknows Snack Squares at 150 calories.

“Our consumers and retailers are demanding even greater choice, seeking more product variety across a range of format, calorie and price options,” said Massey. “By further growing our footprint in the U.S., we will better be able to introduce new treats to satisfy the most diverse consumer appetites.”

Mars’ expansion in Topeka follows the grand opening of the facility in 2014, the first new Mars Chocolate North America site built in the last 35 years. With this expansion, Mars’ investment in Topeka totals $430 million, today employing more than 200 people producing a variety of M&M’s brand candies and Snickers Bars.

The facility is Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified and meets Mars’ sustainability standards. 

This latest investment follows recent announcements by Mars of additional expansion across the country. In June, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. announced it would be adding 155 new employees at its Flowery Branch, Ga., facility to support additional sugarfree gum production. In addition, Mars Chocolate North America also shared news of its plans to hire 20 new associates in Albany, Ga., to support the national launch of goodnessknows.

Mars Chocolate North America, a unit of Mars Inc., is based in Hackettstown, N.J. Mars Inc., McLean, Va., has net sales of more than $33 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience. Mars brands include Petcare (Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Kitekat, Banfield Pet Hospital and Nutro); Chocolate (M&M’s, Snickers, Dove, Galaxy, Mars, Milky Way and Twix); Wrigley (Doublemint, Extra, Orbit and 5 chewing gums, Skittles and Starburst candies and Altoids and Lifesavers mints); Food (Uncle Ben’s, Dolmio, Ebly, Masterfoods, Seeds of Change and Royco); Drinks (Alterra Coffee Roasters, The Bright Tea Co., Klix and Flavia); and Symbioscience (Cocoavia and Wisdom Panel).

WASHINGTON — A more than 40% drop in crude prices is going to pull the average retail price for gasoline this summer to a six-year low.

That’s the latest projection in the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) July Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). EIA expects retail gas prices this summer—covering the months of April through September—to average out at $2.67 per gallon. Adjusted for inflation, this would be the lowest average price since 2009.

EIA cites a projected 41% year-over-year drop in the average price of North Sea Brent crude for the decline.

Partly thanks to the relatively low prices, EIA expects travel and gas consumption to beat 2014 levels. Vehicle miles traveled is projected to grow 2.2% this summer compared to last, which would be the greatest year-over-year summer jump in more than a decade. Also fueling this travel boom: a 3.6% increase in real disposable income for this summer vs. last, marking the greatest year-over-year growth in nine years, and a 2.1% projected rise in nonfarm employment, the biggest increase in 15 years.

EIA anticipates a 2.1% bump in consumption, or the equivalent of an extra 194,000 barrels per day (bpd), for this summer compared to last. Lower gas prices and higher disposable income, employment and consumer confidence will drive the increase, EIA said.

When determining consumption, EIA considers a combination of product supplied—refinery and blender output—as well as the change in inventory and net imports. To this end, the agency projects the increase in net refinery and blender output of gasoline to keep somewhat ahead of the growth in consumption, or up by 208,000 bpd. Inventories of gasoline and gasoline blending components were 10.7 million barrels above the five-year average at the start of this summer; EIA expects them to end up 3.7 million barrels above the average by the summer’s end.

EIA is projecting a 14.3 million-barrel draw in gasoline inventories this summer, versus an 8.4 million draw in summer 2014. Increased production and the larger inventory draw should push net imports of gasoline and blending components down by 62,000 bpd versus last summer.

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — Parent Petroleum Co. is newest retail branding partner for VP Racing Fuels. It has converted one station, the first VP-branded station in the Chicago market. Based in St. Charles, Illinois, Parent owns and operates a dozen “The Pride” convenience stores in the greater Chicagoland area.

The addition of the VP Brand strengthens and diversifies the company and provides a new offering in its market, said Mark Potaczek, vice president of fuels marketing and development for Parent Petroleum.

“We are excited to bring VP into our brand portfolio as an independent option because it provides us with many benefits that were previously available only through major refiners,” said Potaczek. “VP’s brand image is very economical and attractive and communicates a theme of quality and reliability, which is consistent with its reputation in the specialty fuels, additives and racing community. Their credit-card fees are among the lowest in the industry and their marketing support programs are very useful and easy to administer. These benefits, combined with their low to no-interest equipment loans for the operator, make VP an extremely useful tool in our sales kit.”

Alan Cerwick, president of VP Racing Fuels, said, “We’re very pleased to partner with Parent Petroleum in our retail branding program. Parent is well-respected in the industry and brings fresh thinking to the challenges faced by petroleum retailers. With VP’s game-changing business model, they’ll be positioned to offer the solutions and competitive advantages convenience-store owners are looking for.”

Based in San Antonio, VP has fueled champions in every form of motorsport on land, sea and air since 1975. VP is the official racing fuel of Tudor United SportsCar Championship, AMA Supercross, TORC: The Off Road Championship, NMRA, NMCA, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models, Pirelli World Challenge, PDRA and Rally America, among more than 60 VP-sponsored series and sanctioning bodies.

Gas stations and convenience stores that join VP’s retail branding program also distribute VP’s other product lines, including ethanol-free VP Small Engine Fuels, formulated for two-cycle and four-cycle outdoor power equipment; VP Madditive performance chemicals; VP PowerWash and more. VP also markets VP PowerMaster hobby fuels for radio-controlled (R/C) racing.

Parent Petroleum specializes in service and sales of petroleum products to local municipalities, retail, commercial and industrial customers throughout Illinois and surrounding states. It has been operating gas stations for more than 30 years, mainly offering the Mobil and BP fuel brands, and started calling its stores “The Pride” to emphasize the pride taken in the stations it owns. The Pride stores are owned and operated by The Pride Stores Inc., the retail division of Parent Petroleum.