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FRONT & CENTER News
about NYACS Member Retailers and Suppliers
TARGETED SOLUTIONS LLC: The Plymouth MA-based consulting firm announced a new partnership with Ready Training Online, bringing online training services to the convenience industry. For the past five years, RTO, an Elizabethtown PA-based company, has offered standard courses on essential training topics including sexual harassment and diversity/violence in the workplace, as well as custom courses specific to businesses of all sizes. In addition, Targeted Solutions has launched an expanded web site. HAROLD LEVINSON ASSOCIATES: The Farmingdale-based wholesale distributor acquired House of Oxford, a wholesale cigar and tobacco distributor based in Somerset NJ. HLA is currently licensed in 31 states with applications pending in all others. HLA Vice President of Sales Marty Glick said HLA was the fifth largest cigar and tobacco distributor in the U.S. before the acquisition, and this makes them one of the largest direct-to-retail distributors in the nation. LORILLARD TOBACCO CO.: Lorillard has elected Murray Kessler as president and chief executive officer, effective July 13. Mr. Kessler, 51, joins Lorillard most recently from The Altria Group. He previously was president and chief executive officer of UST LLC S&S FOOD BROKER: S&S has been appointed broker for Paramount Farms (Wonderful pistachios), Thanasi Foods (meat snacks and seeds), Hoffco (cell chargers, LED flashlights, sunglasses), and Sundia (salsa and chips). S&S was named 2009 Broker of the Year by Prairie City Bakery and Cheese Pleasers. Meanwhile, three new employees joined the S&S team. Greg Petko, covering the Southern Tier, Western New York and Pennsylvania, has 35 years of experience serving grocery stores, mass merchandisers, drug chains, distributors and convenience store chains. Elizabeth Sugarman, with 15 years of food industry experience, is covering New England. Sara Roberts is a new customer service representative. QUICK CHEK CORP.: CSP Information Group named Dean Durling, CEO of Quick Chek Food Stores, as its 2010 “Retailer Leader of the Year.” He will be honored October 7 at a dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta during the NACS Show. Based in Whitehouse Station NJ, Quick Chek is a privately held, family-owned chain of 120 convenience food stores in New Jersey and the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York. CORE-MARK / FINKLE DISTRIBUTORS INC.: Core-Mark, one of North America’s largest wholesale distributors, is acquiring Finkle Distributors Inc. of Johnstown NY, increasing its geographic footprint in the Northeast. Core-Mark provides distribution and logistics services as well as marketing programs to 25,000 retail locations in 50 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces, including C-stores, grocery stores, drug stores and other specialty and small format stores. FDI President Dan Finkle is joining Core-Mark to service his existing customers and help grow market share by leveraging the resources of the combined companies. XTRA MART CONVENIENCE STORES: With NHL legend and ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose on hand to sign autographs, the chain celebrated the grand opening of its newly rebuilt store in Lansing, Tompkins County. The expanded 4,000-square-foot location includes a Dunkin' Donuts franchise. NOCO EXPRESS SHOPS: Continuing its “store-within-a-store” concept, the Tonawanda-based chain has introduced a Mighty Taco takeout restaurant inside its newly remodeled and expanded NOCO Express at Bailey Avenue and McKinley Parkway in South Buffalo. Meanwhile, Scott Keller of Depew NY won free fuel for a year courtesy of NOCO Express and M&T Bank in a drawing among cardholders making transactions at M&T ATMs in NOCO stores. RED BULL NA: Stefan Kozak is the new CEO of Red Bull North America. He joined the firm six years ago, most recently serving as "head coach" for Canada and Latin America. JACK LINK’S BEEF JERKY: Founder and CEO Jack Link was named Ernst & Young’s Upper Midwest Region Entrepreneur of the Year in the “Master” category. Using the family's beef jerky recipe, he started the business in 1985, selling products out of the back of a pickup truck. WILSON FARMS INC.: The Williamsville-based chain named Perry's Ice Cream and Miller Brewing Co. its Vendors of the Year, based on criteria such as their support of Wilson Farms corporate initiatives, community involvement, service and response to stores, support of advertising and marketing programs, and making a difference to the stores they service. Meanwhile, Chester's, a leading fried chicken foodservice offering, opened its newest location inside the Wilson Farms in Niagara Falls. SUNOCO INC.: The Sunoco/Price Chopper supermarket “Fuel AdvantEdge” program has expanded north into the Potsdam, Massena, Gouverneur, Canton and West Carthage regions, with 10 local Sunoco locations participating. In addition, Sunoco officially opened its new ethanol plant in the former Miller brewery outside Fulton, Oswego County. Sunoco entered into a multi-year partnership to be the official fuel retailer and convenience store of the Indy Racing League's IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. REID STORES INC.: The Lockport-based chain has acquired three stores in Chautauqua County from Lake County Dairy. Now rebranded as part of Reid’s “Crosby's” chain of C-stores, they are in Falconer, Westfield and Bemus Point/Greenhurst. They feature many upgraded amenities including Crosby's new takeout and eat-in menu at Crosby's Corner Cafe.
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP: Continuing its 125th anniversary celebration, Dr Pepper released six collectible cans featuring legacy artwork and popular advertising slogans such as "I'm a Pepper" and "10, 2 and 4." In addition, 12-pack cases highlight key moments from the brand's history such as its origin at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco TX in 1885. Do you have an item for the "Front & Center" roundup of member news? A new or remodeled store? A new addition or promotion in your management team? Honors or awards for your company? We're proud of the growth and accomplishments of NYACS retail and supplier members, and we want to share the positive news with the rest of the membership. Don't be shy! E-mail your "Front & Center" news item to jim@nyacs.org or fax to 518-432-7400.
SONBYRNE SALES: Al Smith is the new General Manager of Syracuse-based Sonbyrne Sales, which operates 51 Byrne Dairy stores in Central and Western New York. He was previously Senior Vice President of Operations for the 250-unit Turkey Hill Minit Markets chain based in Lancaster PA. A native of Baltimore MD, Al has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Millersville University. He and his wife Rachel have five daughters and reside in Onondaga Hill. SWISHER INTERNATIONAL INC.: Terry Pier, left, Northeast Zone Manager for Swisher International Inc. and Secretary of the NYACS Associate Board, was named Swisher’s “Zone Manager of the Year” at the company’s recent national sales meeting in Hammock Bay, Florida. His prize: Use of the Mercedes ML 350 behind him to use as a company car for a year! McLANE COMPANY: McLane Foodservice named Scott Siers as Vice President of Business Development. He has 23 years of experience in sales development and marketing in the food service industry, the last seven with PepsiCo, where he held key roles in brand positioning, business development and general management. CONWOOD COMPANY: Effective January 1, Conwood changed its name to American Snuff Company LLC, and continues to focus on producing quality smokeless tobacco products. GULF OIL LP: Gulf Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cumberland Farms Inc., announced plans to expand nationwide by acquiring all rights, title and interest to the Gulf brand in the United States. For the last 20 years, Gulf-branded gasoline has only been available in the Northeast through a licensing agreement between Gulf Oil's parent company and Chevron USA Inc. Gulf Oil now controls the right to market the brand throughout the U.S. and its territories. 7-ELEVEN INC.: 7-Eleven announced plans to open 100 stores in Manhattan within the next five years, either by executing new leases or through its business conversion program. Most of the locations will be concentrated below 125th Street on the West Side and 96th on the East Side. Meanwhile, President & CEO Joe DePinto is being featured on an episode of the new CBS reality show, “Undercover Boss.”
NEW YORK LOTTERY: New instant games launched this month were the $5 “Harley Davidson,” the $5 “Five Hundred Dollar Cash Bonus,” and the $2 “Find the 8’s.” Coming in March are the $1 “Lucky 3’s,” the $2 games “Copa Cash, “Loose Change Doubler,” and “10x Cash Payout,” and the $5 “One Million Bucks,” “Big Money,” and “Mother’s Day 2010” games. CHESTNUT PETROLEUM DISTRIBUTOR: The New Paltz-based company held its first annual Dealer Family Appreciation Day and Incentive Awards Picnic September 27 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut with 50 dealers, guests, employees, and friends attending. John Demeo of the Saw Mill River Road, Millwood NY location was one of three Shell-branded dealers honored as best-in-class operators for their commitment to customer satisfaction and business growth. CPD employees MJ Tenney and Mike Calabrese were recognized for organizing the event. Oyon Amin, son of Retail Accounting Manager Ruhul Amin, won a new bicycle. Among suppliers helping to host the event was Pepsi Bottling Group.
LDD CORPORATION: The chain of five Getty Mart locations promoted Tina Cassidy to General Manager, succeeding Ben Zimmerman, who moved to Nevada. She has been with the company for six years and most recently managed the Palmyra store. WILSON FARMS INC./REID PETROLEUM CORP.: The companies jointly launched Western New York's second E85 fuel station, located at the Wilson Farms store at 95 South Transit Road in Lockport. They had launched the first one exactly one year earlier in North Tonawanda.
McCULLAGH COFFEE CO.: The Buffalo-based company announced an agreement with NOCO Energy Corp. to supply coffee for 29 NOCO Express Shops in Western New York. The coffee will be sold under the Nickel City Roast brand name.
THE HERSHEY CO.: The firm granted HP Hood LLC a license to manufacture, sell and distribute extended-shelf-life Hershey flavored milks and milkshakes nationwide. Hood will partner with Hershey to launch a line of 12 oz. single-serve Hershey-branded products – including Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk, Chocolate Milkshake, and Cookies n’ Cream Milkshake – to markets across the U.S. beginning in January 2010.
NICE N EASY GROCERY SHOPPES: The chain opened its newest store September 4 in Clay, Onondaga County, featuring an
REID STORES INC.: The Brockport-based chain opened a new Crosby’s convenience store at 14383 Ridge Road in Albion, Orleans County. The Sunoco-branded location was formerly JP’s Farm Market II. It features a Crosby’s Corner Café with an expansive eat-in and take-out menu, including fresh-baked pizza by the slice or whole, calzones, chicken, made-to-order hot or cold subs, fresh baked goods, and pre-made sandwiches and salads. In addition, its “Corner Café Connect” seating area offers free Wi-Fi access. Reid Stores now has 31 locations in New York State.
KNC HOLDINGS INC.: The Latham-based convenience store operator is opened its first free-standing Papa John's pizza outlet October 1st on Route 7 in Troy. KNC, which has a Papa John's inside its Airport Mobil C-store on Route 7 in Latham, acquired an exclusive franchise to open as many as 12 free-standing Papa John's in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga counties.
MANLEY’S MIGHTY MARTS: August Kutchinski, formerly with Giant Supermarkets, is the new President of the Binghamton-based chain, succeeding Jack Brayton, who remains General Manager of parent company Manley Associates.
Do you have an item for the "Front & Center" roundup of member news? A new or remodeled store? A new addition or promotion in your management team? Honors or awards for your company? We're proud of the growth and accomplishments of NYACS retail and supplier members, and we want to share the positive news with the rest of the membership. Don't be shy! E-mail your "Front & Center" news item to jim@nyacs.org or fax to 518-432-7400. Home - About NYACS - Trade Show - The Industry - Membership - Contact Us - Issues - Tools
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Easy Street Eatery, Nice N Easy gasoline, beer cave and produce section. The store has an open ceiling in the retail area, exposing steel trusses, heating and AC ducts, conduits and other fixtures. It has LED lighting inside and out, including canopy, yard and building lights, interior store, cooler and storage areas. Twenty-year NNE veteran Diane Conger is Store Director, Tracy Lawton is Foodservice Director, and Warren Bauder is Assistant Manager.