TEMPLE, Texas — The Fikes Cos. has selected Verifone’s Commander Site Controller and Ruby2 POS solutions for deployment across its entire chain of CEFCO Convenience Stores.

CEFCO operates 227 c-stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

Verifone’s solutions will provide CEFCO an Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV)-ready platform that enables the chain to support EMV in its stores in time for the October 2015 EMV liability shift. In addition to reducing complexity by separating payment, fuel and point-of-sale (POS) software for easier management and remote upgrades, the solutions will also enable CEFCO to support EMV at the pump in time for the October 2017 EMV liability shift that applies to the petroleum forecourt.

“Our goal is to standardize and consolidate our payment systems with a solution that gives our entire chain of CEFCO stores the most efficient path to EMV acceptance,” said H. Lorne Brockway, vice president of information technology for The Fikes Cos. “Verifone’s partnership will enable us to not only support EMV in time for the liability shift deadlines, but also improve our store management capabilities and expand our use of the solution in the future.”

Verifone’s authorized service contractor network is managing the rollout, which is currently underway, and the company said it expects it to be completed by the end of 2015.

Commander Site Controller from Verifone is a single-site management software platform that supports all petroleum and card brands, providing increased speed in at-the-pump and in-store payment acceptance, fueling operations and back office control.

Benefits of Commander Site Controller include increased speed of payment, fueling and store control through 100% IP data transfer; expandable architecture for added functionality; and remote access for real-time updates and operations management from any web-enabled device, including tablets and smartphones.

Commander Site Controller features Commander Console, a cloud-based software management system for payment, in-store and forecourt operations. It includes an iOS and Android mobile app through which store managers can access a graphical set of operational matrixes.

Commander Site Controller supports Ruby2, Verifone’s latest POS solution built to endure harsh convenience-store environments. Its touch-screen console provides order taking and payment processing, and its multi-core processor allows for streamlined store and customer management through a centralized device that increases space at the counter with its small footprint for each work station.

“Merchants in all verticals are challenged by the migration to EMV as well as the rapidly changing payment technology landscape,” said Dan Yienger, senior vice president of Petroleum for Verifone. “Fikes’ forward-thinking approach to payments will simplify and expedite its move to EMV, while at the same time putting in place a flexible, standardized payment system that is easy to use and can grow with future business needs.”

San Jose, Calif.-based Verifone connects 27 million payment devices to the cloud—merging the online and in-store shopping experience and creating the next generation of digital engagement between merchants and consumers. The company has clients and partners in more than 150 countries, including well-known retail brands, financial institutions and payment providers.

The Fikes Cos. is a group of six family owned business units. Fikes Wholesale Inc. is a petroleum products marketing business that distributes fuel to commercial and retail accounts throughout the United States through strategic relationships with Shell, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, CITGO, Valero and numerous independent fuel suppliers. Its convenience retailing business markets through a network of approximately 227 CEFCO and Food Fast convenience stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. CORD Financial Services specializes in ATM sales, placements and credit-card processing services to more than 8,000 locations throughout the United States. The Group Petroleum Services transportation business consists of 28 fuel delivery trucks, and its JF Air Traffic charter airline service operates through a partnership with Landmark Aviation.