Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Dean Foods Reaches Agreement With Southeast Dairy Farmers
Dean Foods Co. has reached an agreement to settle litigation brought on behalf of a class of dairy farmers in various Southeastern states. The case had been scheduled for trial beginning in August.
Under the proposed settlement agreement, which is pending approval by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Dean Foods will pay a total of $140 million over a period of four to five years into a fund that will be available for distribution to dairy farmer class members in a number of Southeastern states.
Dean Foods will make an initial payment of $60 million upon preliminary approval of the agreement by the Court, and will make subsequent payments of $20 million in each of the following four years on the anniversary of the final approval date. "We continue to be confident that we have operated lawfully and fairly at all times in the Southeast," said Gregg Engles, company chairman and chief executive officer. "We believe this settlement is in the best interest of our shareholders, employees, customers and consumers. Settling this case allows us to focus on the business challenges that we face, and to continue to take costs out of our operations while avoiding the expense, uncertainty and distraction of a protracted litigation and the likelihood of a lengthy appeals process.
Under the proposed settlement agreement, which is pending approval by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Dean Foods will pay a total of $140 million over a period of four to five years into a fund that will be available for distribution to dairy farmer class members in a number of Southeastern states.
Dean Foods will make an initial payment of $60 million upon preliminary approval of the agreement by the Court, and will make subsequent payments of $20 million in each of the following four years on the anniversary of the final approval date. "We continue to be confident that we have operated lawfully and fairly at all times in the Southeast," said Gregg Engles, company chairman and chief executive officer. "We believe this settlement is in the best interest of our shareholders, employees, customers and consumers. Settling this case allows us to focus on the business challenges that we face, and to continue to take costs out of our operations while avoiding the expense, uncertainty and distraction of a protracted litigation and the likelihood of a lengthy appeals process.
Friday, July 15, 2011
7-Eleven Undertakes its Fastest Store Renovation Ever
Retailer Upgrades More than 1,000 Stores on East Coast Launches ‘More in Store’ Marketing Campaign
Dallas (July 13, 2011) – 7-Eleven, Inc. wants residents in the greater New York City, Northern and Central New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas to come see what they’ve been up to for the last few months.
The retailer has undergone its fastest store-renovation effort ever, significantly upgrading more than 1,000 of its 7-Eleven® stores on the East Coast.
The whirlwind store-remodeling ramped up in March, when the convenience retailer added revamped coffee bars, hot-foods equipment and, in some cases, updating stores’ interiors with new walls, floors, ceilings, lighting and fixtures. It’s all part of a campaign to present a consistent and fresh customer experience in each of its stores in these markets.
The four-month construction schedule was somewhat of a logistical marvel. Most stores remained open during the remodeling process, with each store upgrade taking no more than five days – actually, nights to avoid the heavier customer-traffic periods during the day. The schedule called for 60 stores to be renovated each week. In addition to various equipment improvements at 1,000-plus stores, 7-Eleven replaced floors, repaved parking lots or upgraded the exteriors of another 550 stores.
Some stores already had added the hot foods program with new ovens and display cases, the expanded coffee bars or both, while others were adding all these new elements at once. Each renovation was planned to ensure continuity in look, product offering and convenience store-to-store.
While the construction project was underway, 7-Eleven employees in the affected stores received additional customer-service training to enhance their guests’ overall experience.
“We want to present one updated and refreshed store face to our guests in these markets, and offer a quality alternative to fast-food restaurants, which includes expanded fresh-food selections, hot foods and a new coffee island with dispensers that ensure high quality at every location,” said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics.
To let consumers know that there’s a “new” 7-Eleven in town, the company is kicking off a media blitz this month that includes television and radio spots, outdoor and online advertising and newspaper ads for free or fresh and hot foods offerings. Media messages convey that 7-Eleven stores are good not only for snacks and variety, but can be meal destinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The colorful “More in Store” campaign features larger-than-life beauty shots of fresh foods like sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit, pizza, chicken wings, muffins and iced coffee. Print and outdoor headlines like “More of What You’d Never Expect,” “We A.M. to Please,” “Shame on the Same Ol’,” “We’ve Raised the Bar on the Coffee Bar” and “Give Your Tastebuds the VIP Treatment” were written to entice consumers to visit 7-Eleven stores to see and taste the difference.
The company is considering store-remodel programs in other parts of the U.S.
About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 8,600 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are approximately 41,500 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2010, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales close to $63 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Forbes magazine’s 2011 list of Top Franchises for the Money; #4 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2009, #3 in Forbes magazine’s Top 20 Franchises to Start, and #2 in Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies. Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven in its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven received the 2010 Retailer of the Year honor from PL Buyer because of the company's private-label brand initiative. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.
Contact:
7-Eleven, Inc.
Margaret Chabris
972-828-7285
margaret.chabris@7-11.com
Dallas (July 13, 2011) – 7-Eleven, Inc. wants residents in the greater New York City, Northern and Central New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas to come see what they’ve been up to for the last few months.
The retailer has undergone its fastest store-renovation effort ever, significantly upgrading more than 1,000 of its 7-Eleven® stores on the East Coast.
The whirlwind store-remodeling ramped up in March, when the convenience retailer added revamped coffee bars, hot-foods equipment and, in some cases, updating stores’ interiors with new walls, floors, ceilings, lighting and fixtures. It’s all part of a campaign to present a consistent and fresh customer experience in each of its stores in these markets.
The four-month construction schedule was somewhat of a logistical marvel. Most stores remained open during the remodeling process, with each store upgrade taking no more than five days – actually, nights to avoid the heavier customer-traffic periods during the day. The schedule called for 60 stores to be renovated each week. In addition to various equipment improvements at 1,000-plus stores, 7-Eleven replaced floors, repaved parking lots or upgraded the exteriors of another 550 stores.
Some stores already had added the hot foods program with new ovens and display cases, the expanded coffee bars or both, while others were adding all these new elements at once. Each renovation was planned to ensure continuity in look, product offering and convenience store-to-store.
While the construction project was underway, 7-Eleven employees in the affected stores received additional customer-service training to enhance their guests’ overall experience.
“We want to present one updated and refreshed store face to our guests in these markets, and offer a quality alternative to fast-food restaurants, which includes expanded fresh-food selections, hot foods and a new coffee island with dispensers that ensure high quality at every location,” said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics.
To let consumers know that there’s a “new” 7-Eleven in town, the company is kicking off a media blitz this month that includes television and radio spots, outdoor and online advertising and newspaper ads for free or fresh and hot foods offerings. Media messages convey that 7-Eleven stores are good not only for snacks and variety, but can be meal destinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The colorful “More in Store” campaign features larger-than-life beauty shots of fresh foods like sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit, pizza, chicken wings, muffins and iced coffee. Print and outdoor headlines like “More of What You’d Never Expect,” “We A.M. to Please,” “Shame on the Same Ol’,” “We’ve Raised the Bar on the Coffee Bar” and “Give Your Tastebuds the VIP Treatment” were written to entice consumers to visit 7-Eleven stores to see and taste the difference.
The company is considering store-remodel programs in other parts of the U.S.
About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 8,600 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are approximately 41,500 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2010, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales close to $63 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Forbes magazine’s 2011 list of Top Franchises for the Money; #4 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2009, #3 in Forbes magazine’s Top 20 Franchises to Start, and #2 in Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies. Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven in its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven received the 2010 Retailer of the Year honor from PL Buyer because of the company's private-label brand initiative. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.
Contact:
7-Eleven, Inc.
Margaret Chabris
972-828-7285
margaret.chabris@7-11.com
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Foodservice Social Media Universe (FSMU) Conference
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Coffee and Other Dispensed Beverages Represent a Purpose-Driven Purchase and High Frequency Convenience Store Visits, Reports NPD
Houston, Texas, July 5, 2011 —Getting a cup of coffee or another dispensed beverage is the single-minded mission of many high frequency convenience store visitors, and often they'll grab a donut or something else to go with it, according to convenience store research by The NPD Group, a leading market research company.
NPD's Convenience Store Monitor, which continually tracks the consumer purchasing behavior of more than 51,000 convenience store shoppers in the U.S.,finds that 86 percent of dispensed coffee purchases are planned and seven percent are purchased on a deal. Other dispensed beverages are also purpose-driven purchases with only 14 percent bought on impulse and 13 percent on a deal. Consumers of coffee and other dispensed beverages are high frequency buyers who represent68 percent more visits than the average convenience store customer.
Coffee and other dispensed beverages represent 31 percent of unit purchases made in a convenience store, and of the dispensed beverage consumers, 33 percent are looking for coffee, 11 percent cappuccino or latte and 3 percent hot or iced tea.Typically, with the dispensed beverage incremental purchases are made amounting to an average visit of $6.83. Forty-five percent of consumers who purchase their coffee between 6 and 10 a.m. tend to also purchase doughnuts, gum, sweet rolls, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, snack cakes, and cookies, reports NPD.
Dispensed beverage buyers are different than average convenience store buyers, who tend to be blue collar males, 18-to-49 years-old, according to the Convenience Store Monitor. Dispensed beverage buyers tend to be female, ages 35-64, white collar, Hispanic and from larger households. Coffee buyers tend to be male, ages 45-65, a mix of white and blue collar, strong military connection, smaller households and higher income.
"The fact that the buyers of coffee and other dispensed beverages are defined differently than the typical convenience store visitor presents anincremental opportunity for c-stores," says David Portalatin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD. "If a convenience store can deliver on what dispensed beverage buyers are looking for in terms of product quality, a rewards program, and a clean and bright store, it can attract a loyal new customer base."
Coffee and Dispensed Beverage Buyers are Super Heavy C-Store Visitors
C-Store Visits per Month (Index vs. Industry)
Source: The NPD Group/Convenience Store Monitor
"The fact that coffee and other dispensed beverages are purpose-driven purchases is a ready-made niche for any convenience store ready and willing to compete with QSRs and other retail outlets offering coffee and beverages," says Portalatin. "If a convenience store is looking for a way in which to distinguish itself from its gasoline or other offering, dispensed beverages appear to be among the possible answers."
NPD's Convenience Store Monitor, which continually tracks the consumer purchasing behavior of more than 51,000 convenience store shoppers in the U.S.,finds that 86 percent of dispensed coffee purchases are planned and seven percent are purchased on a deal. Other dispensed beverages are also purpose-driven purchases with only 14 percent bought on impulse and 13 percent on a deal. Consumers of coffee and other dispensed beverages are high frequency buyers who represent68 percent more visits than the average convenience store customer.
Coffee and other dispensed beverages represent 31 percent of unit purchases made in a convenience store, and of the dispensed beverage consumers, 33 percent are looking for coffee, 11 percent cappuccino or latte and 3 percent hot or iced tea.Typically, with the dispensed beverage incremental purchases are made amounting to an average visit of $6.83. Forty-five percent of consumers who purchase their coffee between 6 and 10 a.m. tend to also purchase doughnuts, gum, sweet rolls, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, snack cakes, and cookies, reports NPD.
Dispensed beverage buyers are different than average convenience store buyers, who tend to be blue collar males, 18-to-49 years-old, according to the Convenience Store Monitor. Dispensed beverage buyers tend to be female, ages 35-64, white collar, Hispanic and from larger households. Coffee buyers tend to be male, ages 45-65, a mix of white and blue collar, strong military connection, smaller households and higher income.
"The fact that the buyers of coffee and other dispensed beverages are defined differently than the typical convenience store visitor presents anincremental opportunity for c-stores," says David Portalatin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD. "If a convenience store can deliver on what dispensed beverage buyers are looking for in terms of product quality, a rewards program, and a clean and bright store, it can attract a loyal new customer base."
Coffee and Dispensed Beverage Buyers are Super Heavy C-Store Visitors
C-Store Visits per Month (Index vs. Industry)
Source: The NPD Group/Convenience Store Monitor
"The fact that coffee and other dispensed beverages are purpose-driven purchases is a ready-made niche for any convenience store ready and willing to compete with QSRs and other retail outlets offering coffee and beverages," says Portalatin. "If a convenience store is looking for a way in which to distinguish itself from its gasoline or other offering, dispensed beverages appear to be among the possible answers."
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