Thursday February 22, 2007 FEATURES Experts: QuikTrip pay is above average, and so are stores News that QuikTrip Corp. plans to build a $21 million "kitchen" in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo., is yet another sign that the privately owned company is aggressively pursuing a growth agenda - and an emphasis on fresh foods. The facility, which will supply QuikTrip franchises, is to be called the QuikTrip Kitchen, and will be built on a 12-acre site near a QuikTrip franchise, one of the criteria the company had for the facility. According to a news report, it will produce fresh doughnuts for the stores. (Full Story) Efforts to increase U.S. refinery capacity move along, slowly In his State of the Union address one month ago, President Bush called for an increase in domestic oil production, which his office said would include continuing to work with Congress to encourage investments in refinery capacity. One place where such investment started long before the president's speech is Arizona. (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 Reopening date of Valero refinery is uncertain after explosion and fire Valero Energy Corp., said it was uncertain when it would be able to restart operations at its McKee refinery after the facility in Sunray, Texas, was damaged Feb. 16 by an explosion and fire. (Full Story) U.S. Supreme Court rejects $79.5 million tobacco ruling The Supreme Court on Feb. 20 threw out a $79.5 million punitive damages award to a smoker's widow. (Full Story) The Pantry completes deal for 33 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama The Pantry, Inc., Sanford, N.C., announced Feb. 20 that it has completed the previously disclosed acquisitions of 33 convenience stores. (Full Story) Sheetz opening triggers fuels price war in Wilson, N.C. Regular gas is selling at $1.99 a gallon in Wilson, N.C., and with a Wal-Mart shopping card, motorists can buy it for $1.96 at Murphy USA, according to The Wilson Daily Times. (Full Story) AAA offers online mapping and fuel locator service to non-members The American Automobile Association (AAA) announced Feb. 20 that it is making its proprietary mapping tool available to non-members. (Full Story) Oil price falls for third day, staying below $60 Oil slid for a third day, but stayed within in a narrow range below $60 a barrel, Reuters reported Feb. 21. (Full Story) Official voices opposition to Irving Oil's plan for a new refinery A proposed second Irving Oil refinery in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, is bad news said a city councillor in Moncton, New Brunswick, CBC News reported Feb. 20. (Full Story) Silver Hill adds gas stations to small-balance commercial lending program Silver Hill Financial, Miami, Fla., a national real estate lender specializing in small-balance commercial loans, announced Feb. 15 that it has expanded its lending program to include financing on gas stations. Silver Hill said it pioneered a residential-style underwriting approach for small-balance commercial loans in 2003 and has since continued to enhance its program. (Full Story) In Memphis: Water in gasoline forces closings of dispensers at stations Watered down gas left numerous drivers stranded when it froze in the fuel lines of vehicles, WHBQ FOX13 reported Feb. 16. (Full Story) 7-Eleven introduces prepaid mobile international calling service At participating 7-Eleven stores, ReVoS PrepaidMobile calling service provides unlimited calls to 42 countries including destinations in Canada, Mexico, Europe and China for less than $20 per month, 7-Eleven announced Feb. 19. (Full Story) Robbers throw hot drinks at convenience store clerks Police in Philadelphia, Pa., are seeking two bandits who have robbed at least 16 convenience stores in the area by throwing hot drinks into cashiers' faces before grabbing money from registers and running, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Feb. 20. (Full Story) MapQuest site helps locate stations with least-expensive fuels MapQuest, a unit of AOL, says it has a fuel-related Web site designed to find the cheapest gasoline. It also can locate stations selling hydrogen and biodiesel, the company said, according to a news report. (Full Story) UST Inc. comments on Family Smoking Prevention Act UST Inc., Greenwich, Conn., on Feb. 16 released the following statement: (Full Story) Tedeschi Realty Corp. selling property valued up to $400 million Tedeschi Realty Corp. is selling 26 retail properties in what could amount to one of the largest portfolio sales in Greater Boston with a value around $400 million, The Boston Business Journal reported Feb. 15. (Full Story) C-stores in Yakima say tribal smoke shops have unfair advantage The issue of taxing cigarettes has been a sore subject for local businesses in Yakima, Wash., that are not on an Indian reservation, reported NBC affiliates KNDO-TV and KNDU-TV. (Full Story) Star Fuel's All Star Stores receives 'Golden Cup Award' for brewed coffee Star Fuel's All Star Stores in Oklahoma City was recognized for excellence in brewing coffee with the "Golden Cup Award" from the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), according to a Feb. 19 announcement by the association. (Full Story) UBS upgrades Retalix; Tesco factor seen as a growth driver UBS has upgraded Retalix Ltd., from "Neutral" to "Buy 2" in a new review of the web-based applications provider for retailers. UBS also raised its target price for the share by $6 to $25, according to Globes, a business publication in Israel. (Full Story) New Hampshire governor looks to lottery, cigarette tax to balance budget New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch wants to raise about $100 million - and balance the state budget - by increasing the cigarette tax and selling more lottery tickets, The Concord Monitor reported Feb. 16. (Full Story) In Georgia: House lawmakers start own effort for Sunday booze sales Losing patience with the Senate's reluctance to consider a measure that would allow Sunday sales of alcohol in Georgia, House lawmakers launched their own effort Feb. 15 to legalize selling booze on the Sabbath, reported The Associated Press. (Full Story) Phoenix business community sees opportunity in Tesco venture After Tesco revealed some details last week about the launch of Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores in the Phoenix metro market, local businesspeople and job seekers became eager to get involved with what's expected to be a major force in the U.S. grocery industry, The Arizona Republic reported Feb. 14. (Full Story) C-store operators in Indianapolis seek to stay current with retail trends In Carmel, Ind., Warren K. Johnson owns a station at 116th Street and Range Line Road that sold Citgo fuel for years until it recently switched to sell gas from Valero. (Full Story) Tucson gas stations don't have to install vapor recovery systems Tucson gas stations don't have to install vapor recovery systems (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK New partnership adds offerings to SiteSentinel iSite OPW Fuel Management Systems recently announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Salt Lake City-based FuelBay, Inc., to provide a variety of combined equipment and software services for its various tank gauging and fleet management products, beginning with its new SiteSentinel iSite automatic tank gauging system. OPW Fuel Management Systems will integrate the "FuelBay Inside" program into its new iSite and iTouch automatic tank gauging systems. OPW Fuel Management Systems' new SiteSentinel iSite automatic tank gauging provides users with a revolutionary new solution that is easy to use, install and provides complete inventory, delivery, automatic reconciliation, and environmental compliance information for as many as 256 USTs and/or ASTs, 1,000 external sensing devices, or a combination of both, through a single console. A FREE trial subscription to FuelBay Inside will be included with every purchase of the new iSite system. OPW Fuel Management Systems www.opwfms.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS Ethanol and Biodiesel Supply Summit JW Marriott Washington, DC Feb. 28 - March 2 (866) 620-5940 www.opisnet.com/supply NASM Convention & Exposition World Golf Village and Renaissance Resort St. Augustine, Fla. March 5-8 (703) 922-9784 www.nasmonline.com   The Southeast Petro-Food Marketing Exposition Myrtle Beach Convention Center Myrtle Beach, S.C. March 7-8 (919) 782-4411 www.sepetro.org Winning Fuel Buying Strategies Hotel Monaco Seattle March 14-16 866-620-5940 opisnet.com/fuelbuying/   Human Resources Forum Sheraton Hotel New Orleans March 13-15 (703) 684-3600 www.nacsonline.com Liberty U.S.A./PPMCSA C-Store Trade Show Pittsburgh ExpoMart Monroeville, Pa. March 15 (412) 461-2700 www.libertyusa.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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