Global Convenience Store Focus

In this first edition, read how NACS' new Green Tool-Kit can benefit the environment and your bottom line and how Tesco's award-winning Express format is implementing green initiatives. Find out how UK c-store retailers are performing in organics from leading research company Nielsen and how a new contactless payment technology is taking the UK market by storm. Read about the challenges on the shop floor in a top store manager's diary and why Poundland ceo, Jim McCarthy, reckons value chains will give c-stores a run for their money.

NACS/Insight Products & Events

Exclusive: Don't Miss Diary Dates
Early bird discounts available. Friday 30 January-Wednesday 4 February 2009. South Africa is one of the most innovative convenience retail locations on the planet.

Opinion & Comment

“We Are Inflation Busters,” Says Poundland CEO
Jim McCarthy, chief executive of U.K. value chain, Poundland, and former Sainsbury’s convenience boss, tells Fiona Briggs why his stores are some of the busiest on the high street.

Sharon’s C-store Diary: Managing Age-restricted Tobacco Sales
Sharon McKenna, award-winning convenience store manager at Spar Cullybackey, part of the Henderson Retail group in Northern Ireland, begins her monthly diary on convenience store challenges.

Product News

An Opportunity in Natural Energy Drinks
European convenience retailers are well placed to exploit the growth in energy drinks, according to a new report from Business Insight.

Co-op Exploits Frozen Food Trend
The Co-operative is tapping into the frozen food revival in the U.K. with the launch of a range of frozen ready meals.

Research

Oil Prices Challenge Global Convenience Market
High and rising oil prices are the number one challenge for the global convenience industry, according to a new report from Insight.

Discounters Win Scale in U.K.
Discounters are winning scale in the U.K. market and threaten convenience stores and top-up shopping as much as supermarkets. Those are the key conclusions of Nielsen’s Consumer Insight report, Shoppers Count on the Discounters.

Organics Surge in Convenience
Sales of organic food in U.K. convenience stores are growing at twice the rate than at their main rivals, new data from Nielsen reveals.

Cider and Vodka Top Global Alcohol Sales
Cider and vodka are the fastest-growing alcoholic drinks around the world, according to Nielsen’s first global report on trends in alcoholic beverage consumption.

Out-of-town Revival to Impact High Street
An unprecedented wave of investment in U.K. town centres won’t stop the long-term migration of retail sales to out-of-town parks, according to new reports from Verdict Research.

Retail News

NACS to Launch Green Toolkit
NACS will soon launch its Green Toolkit, a first of its kind guide to help convenience and petroleum retailers implement a green and sustainable operation.

Tesco Environment Store Wins Top Award
Tesco, the U.K.’s leading supermarket chain, has won the prestigious Global Convenience Format of the Year Award in the 2008 Retail Industry Awards for its Express environment store in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

Petro-Canada Develops Destination C-Store
Petro-Canada, the Canadian forecourt convenience operator, is developing its Neighbours convenience store format as a destination outlet, famous for coffee and foodservice.

Reitan Expands 7-Eleven on Forecourt
Reitan, the leading Scandinavian convenience retailer, is entering a new partnership with Shell that will extend the 7-Eleven format to forecourts in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

One Off: Greek Store Targets Busy Mothers
Global Convenience Store Focus has teamed up with Clare Dowdy, author of independent retail design book, One Off, to showcase individual and cutting-edge food stores from around the world. First up is Greece’s modern-day grocer-cum-deli, Bakaliko.

Wawa To Present Foodservice Credentials in Dublin
Leading U.S. convenience operator, Wawa, is presenting at the Insight/NACS Global Convenience Benchmarks event in Dublin, Ireland, 23-26 March 2009.

Insight/NACS Launches South African Convenience Tour and Industry Summit
Join this new event and visit some of the most innovative convenience retailers in South Africa.

Technology

Contactless Payment Technology Rolls Out to UK Convenience Stores
Barclaycard is rolling out its contactless payment technology to U.K. convenience stores and independent retailers.