Thursday February 8, 2007 FEATURES Gasoline thieves grow more sophisticated; tips on how to stop them Just as gasoline thieves come up with inventive ways to steal fuel, petroleum marketers need be creative - and just plain watchful - to stop them. Arrests in Flower Mound, Texas, on Feb. 7 show how technologically adept some thieves can be. (Full Story) Wal-Mart and a union to seek universal health coverage: Now what? Wal-Mart Stores and the Service Employees International Union agreed at a Feb. 7 meeting on a series of goals for achieving universal health coverage, The New York Times reported, citing as its sources "people briefed on the matter." The meeting between H. Lee Scott Jr., the chief executive of Wal-Mart, and Andrew L. Stern, president of the S.E.I.U., which capped months of secret conversations, could be the beginning, however tentative, of a détente between the nation's largest employer and its labor critics, The Times noted. (Full Story) Sign up for a FREE subscription to NPN, the magazine that has been reporting news and trends in the petroleum and convenience store industry since 1909. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Get The Data That Drives The Petroleum & Convenience Industry Today! To order your print copy or CD version of the 2006 NPN MarketFacts edition, please click here NEWS ITEMS Connecticut governor's proposed budget would hike cigarette tax To pay for a proposed increase in education spending, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell will call for a hike in the state cigarette tax and an increase in the state income tax, The Hartford Courant reported Feb. 7. (Full Story) Pennsylvania finds 20 percent of gas stations lack inspection decals Some people don't bother to look for a current inspection decal before they fill up. And while an inaccurate pump is not likely to cheat a customer or a gas station out of more than a dime on the average sale, over a year, pumps that go unchecked can lead to thousands of dollars in added profit or loss for a business. (Full Story) Las Vegas smoking ban drives gamblers from c-store slot machines Slot machine operators are taking a hit as gamblers say "no thanks" to no-smoking rules in convenience and grocery stores, The Las Vegas Business Press reported Feb. 5. (Full Story) Louisiana petroleum/convenience operators to gather in Lafayette Convenience store gas station owners will be able to find new items to put on the shelf as well as the latest information about issues such as ethanol at a trade show coming to the Cajundome Convention Center on Feb. 28. (Full Story) Iowa Senate committee votes to approve $1 cigarette tax hike A bill raising Iowa's cigarette tax by $1 per pack won approval in a Senate committee vote Feb. 6. (Full Story) In Lexington, Ky., a new Wal-Mart offers gasoline for $1.79 at opening At its grand opening Jan. 26, prices at the gas station at a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in the Hamburg section of Lexington, Ky., were $1.79 a gallon ($1.76 with a Wal-Mart discount card). (Full Story) Appalachian Oil to pay $2.5 million to R.J. Reynolds in fraud case United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced Jan. 31 that Appalachian Oil Company Inc. has entered into a pretrial diversion agreement with the United States for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. (Full Story) Brazil and U.S. to forge ethanol alliance Washington will roll out a strategic partnership with Brazil to expand ethanol and other biofuels usage in the hemisphere, The Miami Herald reported Feb. 5. (Full Story) Hot Stuff chooses chief executive officer The board of directors of Hot Stuff Foods, Sioux Falls, S.D., has announced that John Fontana will become the company's new chief executive officer, replacing chairman and CEO Des Hague who is leaving to pursue other business interests. (Full Story) In Iowa: Leaking gasoline tanks draw fire in Iowa, elsewhere Iowa's attorney general, Tom Miller, has filed suit against a Wisconsin company alleging environmental violations concerning 61 of its underground storage tanks (USTs) at 17 retail gas stations in nine Iowa cities. (Full Story) Pennsylvania ruling could boost availability of beer in convenience stores A pending ruling from Commonwealth Court could keep the status quo or sharply increase availability of beer at Pennsylvania convenience stores and supermarkets, The Altoona Mirror reported Feb. 4. (Full Story) In Utah: Marketer says selling fuel is a losing proposition; shuts off pumps A gas station owner in Logan, Utah, blames the boom in grocery store gas stations for causing his pumps to go bust. (Full Story) Chevron reports 9 percent drop in fourth quarter results Chevron Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit dropped by nine percent, but the oil company still made enough to post its third consecutive year of record earnings, the Associated Press reported Feb. 2. (Full Story) Report: Global warming stems from addition of carbon dioxide A report delivered Feb. 2 by a global network of scientists made certain that climate change will remain a hot button issue in politics, business and, of course, weather, The Chicago Tribune noted in an article on the researchers' findings. (Full Story) Labatt's takeover of Lakeport could change beer market in Canada Canada's discount beer market could be destined for a transformation now that Lakeport Brewing Income Fund has attracted a $201.4-million takeover bid from Labatt Brewing Co., Canadian Press reported Feb. 1. (Full Story) Report: private-label food, beverage sales to exceed $56 billion by 2011 "Private Label Food and Beverages in the U.S.," a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts, estimates 2006 sales at more than $48 billion, and projects that sales will top $56 billion by 2011. (Full Story) NPRA urges Congress to avoid additional biofuels mandates The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) said Jan. 31 that it continues to oppose the mandated use of biofuels and supports market penetration that is driven by marketplace economics. (Full Story) BP to fund biosciences institute in development of new energy sources Research into new energy sources, funded by BP PLC, is to be carried out at the University of Illinois and the University of California at Berkeley. (Full Story) New Camel product is aimed at women smokers R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is introducing a style of Camel cigarettes aimed at female smokers. (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK New "Chop Keeper" cutting tray helps reduce messes in the kitchen The "Chop Keeper" serves many purposes and has many unique functions, but what sets it apart from the rest of the market is that it is the only cutting board that has sides. These 1/2 inch raised sides keep juices and crumbs from spilling out onto the countertop and getting between the countertop and tray. The "Chop Keeper" is a uniquely shaped tray made from FDA approved plastic. The innovative design and shape of the "Chop Keeper" also allows the board to flex and form an easy funnel guide so food will slide right into a bowl, plate or cooking pan. Lightweight yet sturdy, the "Chop Keeper" is so attractive and versatile it can also double as a serving tray. Three dishwasher-safe "Chop Keepers" are included in each package: Choice of Luminescent Midnight, Copper or Stainless or a combination to match any decor. The "Chop Keeper" sells for $14.99 for 3 trays. Argee Corporation www.argeecorp.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS SIGMA 2007 Executive Leadership Conference Silvertree Hotel Aspen/Snowmass, Colo. February 11 - 14 (703 )709-7000 www.sigma.org PACE - Petroleum and Convenience-Store Exposition of Mid-America Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Ks. February 16-17 (573) 635-7117 www.mpca.org   WPMA Convention & Convenience Store Expo The Mirage Convention Center Las Vegas February 20-22 (801) 263-9762 www.wpma.com AWMA REAL DEAL EXPO Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas February 21-23 (703) 208-3358 www.realdealexpo.com   PetrolWorld Africa Middle East Business Forum 2007 Malelane Resort, Kruger Park, South Africa February 24-27 www.petrolworld.com NASM Convention & Exposition World Golf Village and Renaissance Resort St. Augustine, Fla. March 5-8 (703) 922-9784 www.nasmonline.com   For a complete list of industry events, go to NPN's calendar web page.  Published By NPN Group |  © 2007 NPN Group | All Rights Reserved For more information on NPN MarketPulse, contact: Gary Bevers, group publisher M2MEDIA360 Retail Distribution Group Ph: 832-444-7675 Fax: 800-430-3446 Chris Traczek, editor-in-chief M2MEDIA360 NPN Group Ph: 630-739-0280 Fax: 630-739-0321 This newsletter is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of M2MEDIA360.

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