Forecourt

Three tips for merchandise management
Montréal is known for its large concentration of dépanneurs, but that hasn’t stopped André Forget from carving out a niche in the eastern side of the city. He says the location of his three Dépanneur Forget sites, in the neighbourhood he knows and loves, gives him a definite edge.
Alberta retailer finds foodservice success
For Fred Bexte, food is his world. In the kitchen, this trained chef experiments with sushi, pad Thai, and butternut squash ravioli. But his operation isn’t a fine-dining restaurant – it’s a convenience store with a very impressive foodservice program.

Top 5 tips from a c-gas innovator

In the c-gas world, it pays to be different. So when Scott Fraser took over the family business at Milne Court Petro-Canada in New Minas, NS in 2001, he decided to shake things up.
Hershey Canada insights drive c-gas success

Convenience-gas retailers, especially independents, are facing major challenges as competition from other formats intensifies. Recognizing the need for strong industry relationships, Hershey Canada has stepped up to the plate...
Online training keeps c-store employees in the know

Ensuring all employees meet the letter of the law at all times can be a major challenge for busy retailers.
Barbecue barons video

What do you get when you combine the enthusiasm of a young entrepreneur, the food savvy of an established local chef, and a unique concept never tried before in Canada?
Planograms: make your shelves shoppable

Think of any positive shopping experience you’ve had. Its success was likely a result of how easily you found what you were looking for and how long it took to make the purchase. This may seem like retailing 101, but being efficient is an increasingly difficult task in the convenience-gas channel, where customers are extremely time-pressed, and new SKUs constantly flood the market. But one key merchandising tool offers retailers a surefire way to simplify the in-store environment: planograms.
4 things you need to know about staffing

Merv Jebb considers himself to be a lucky c-store owner. Since he bought Virden Hi-Way Grocery in Virden, Manitoba two and a half years ago, he’s never had trouble finding or retaining great part-time staff...
Making friends

To call the Alcona Esso in Innisfil, Ont. just a gas station or convenience store would be inaccurate. But you also can’t refer to it simply as a lube shop, car wash or drive-thru coffee and doughnut shop, either. Alcona Esso features all of these services, but it’s much more.
Mike Black finds a new way to pay

Mike Black is no stranger to the car wash and petroleum industry. He co-owns Valet Car Wash, an independent chain of seven wash and three petroleum sites in Southern Ontario...