Thursday May 24, 2007 FEATURES Safety official sees like factors behind BP's troubles in Texas, Alaska A federal safety official told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that she found "striking similarities" between the causes of a fatal BP accident in Texas City, Texas, in 2005, and the company's pipeline failure at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in 2006. The explosion at the refinery in Texas killed 15 people. The pipeline failure resulted in the leakage of more than 200,000 gallons of oil. (Full Story) Florida threatens fines if operators aren't generator-ready by June 1 Florida authorities have said they will fine gas station operators if their sites aren't generator-ready by June 1, the official start of hurricane season; but the president of the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association told NPN MarketPulse that state law makes no provision for such fines. State inspectors have said they will report violators to local state attorney offices for prosecution, according to an article in the Palm Beach Post. (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 Tio Networks extends bill payment services alliance with ExxonMobil Tio Networks Corp., Burnaby, British Columbia, a provider of non-bank financial services, announced May 22 that it has extended its alliance with ExxonMobil out to 2012 from 2004. (Full Story) 'Don's Darlings' cavort in a hot tub; will it sell more beer? Don Talley, a businessman in Longview, Texas, has installed a large hot tub staffed by bikini-clad young women, dubbed "Don's Darlings," between the drive-through bays of his drive-through beer barn, according to a May 18 article by Mike Elswick in The Lufkin Daily News. (Full Story) Judge seeks to revive 'lights' case against Philip Morris USA A judge whose $10.1 billion judgment against Philip Morris USA in a lawsuit over light cigarettes was thrown out on appeal is asking a court whether he can revive the case, according to a May 21 article by Jim Suhr of Associated Press. (Full Story) Refinery, rail problems leave Costco short of premium fuel One of Costco's suppliers, the Tesoro refinery in Salt Lake City, Utah, has had trouble obtaining high-octane blend that is mixed with regular gas to produce premium, the result of an unspecified hang-up in rail transportation, a Tesoro spokeswoman said May 21, according to an article by Linda Fantin in The Salt Lake Tribune. (Full Story) For U.S. venture, Tesco decides to go non-union As it moves into the Western U.S., Tesco has decided to run a non-union shop, according to a May 18 article by Frank A. Albano in the Las Vegas Business Press. (Full Story) Governors call for federal investigation of gasoline prices Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced May 21 that 21 of her fellow governors have co-signed her letter to the congressional leaders of both parties asking for federal hearings and an investigation into the rising price of gasoline. (Full Story) Kentucky AG wants lawsuit against Marathon Oil moved Kentucky's Attorney General wants his gas price gouging lawsuit moved out of federal court, according to a May 18 report by Laura Hornsby of WCPO.com. (Full Story) ExxonMobil launches conversion of Memphis-area On The Run stores In May, ExxonMobil is celebrating the conversion of its 40 Memphis-area Tigermarket convenience stores to On the Run convenience stores at Exxon service stations, according to a May 21 press release. (Full Story) N.Y. gas stations first in state to sell ethanol to public Two upstate New York gas stations are selling ethanol fuel to the general public and officials said they are the first in the state to do so, according to a May 22 report by the Associated Press. (Full Story) Quick-Chek, Hess, named in litigation over consumer data protection A 2003 federal law designed to combat identity theft has triggered a series of putative class action suits against retailers in New Jersey, including Quick-Chek convenience stores and Hess gas stations, according to a May 17 article by Charles Toutant in the New Jersey Law Journal. (Full Story) Schnucks purchases two Mid-South Fill `n Stations Leaders of Schnuck Markets, Inc., Memphis, Tenn., announced May 17 that the grocery company will expand its Schnucks Express fuel center lineup by acquiring two existing Mid-South convenience stores formerly operated as Fill `n Stations. (Full Story) Executive to leave Home Depot; future of 'Fuel' stores in question Home Depot's executive in charge of growth initiatives is leaving, raising questions about the fate of new-business concepts under his watch, including Home Depot Fuel, a new chain of convenience store/gas stations the company began building outside its warehouse stores last year, according to a May 17 article by Patti Bond for Cox News Service (Full Story) In Louisville, Ky.: station owner refuses to sell fuel The owner of a Marathon station in Louisville, Ky., shut down his dispensers in protest over the cost of fuel, according to a report by Chuck Olmstead of WHAS-11. (Full Story) Florida: gas stations still aren't prepared for a hurricane crisis A state report shows more gas station owners and operators need to step up preparations to avoid a repeat of the miles-long lines of gas-hungry motorists following Hurricane Wilma two years ago, according to a May 20 article by Chuck McGinness in The Palm Beach Post. (Full Story) West Virginia governor's office recognizes Little General in wake of blast A representative from West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin's office presented Little General President Greg Darby with a certificate of recognition May 16 for the company's response in the wake of a deadly Jan. 30 explosion at its store in Ghent, W. Va., according to an article by Michelle James in The Register-Herald Reporter, a newspaper in Beckley, W. Va. (Full Story) Alliance Data to be acquired by Blackstone for $7.8 billion Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced May 17 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P., an affiliate of The Blackstone Group, in a transaction valued at approximately $7.8 billion, including the assumption of certain debt. (Full Story) Susser Holdings' reports first-quarter net loss; merchandise sales up Susser Holdings Corp., Corpus Christi, Texas, reported May 16 that its first quarter 2007 merchandise sales increased 8.8 percent to $93.4 million, versus $85.8 million a year ago. (Full Story) Swiss Farms under construction, next to a Wawa A Swiss Farms drive-through store is scheduled to open in June in East Goshen, Pa. - next door to a Wawa store, according to an article by Ed Mahon in The Philadelphia Inquirer. (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Saving space with cups Tomlinson Industries offers a perfect solution when counter space is at a minimum. This Wire Cup Dispenser holds up to four different sized paper, plastic or foam cups. Its easily adjusted with a simple twist, and its suction feet keep the dispenser firmly in place. The dispenser's compact dimensions are: depth: 18-1/4"; height: 23-3/4"; and width: 5-7/8". Tomlinson Industries www.tomlinsonind.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS NACS Marketing Conference Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center Dallas June 5-7 (703) 684-3600 www.nacsonline.com Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association 2007 Summer Outing Trapper's Turn Golf Course Wisconsin Dells, Wis. June 12 (608) 256-7555 www.wpmca.org   NACS Global Forum Tokyo, Japan Shanghai, China June 15-20 (800) 966-6227 www.nacsonline.com NACS Advanced Category Management Seminar: Turning Data Into Dollars New Orleans June 20-21 (800) 966-6227 www.nacsonline.com   GACS—Georgia Association of Convenience Stores 2007 Convention Marriott Sawgrass Resort Ponte Vedra Beach, FL June 24-26 (770) 736-9723 www.gacs.com California Independent Oil Marketers Association 2007 California Petroleum Conference Sacramento, Calif. June 24-27 (916) 646-5980 www.cioma.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 Keith Reid, 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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