Friday September 14, 2007 FEATURES EIA: gasoline prices to continue decline; projected average is $2.63 in December The Energy Information Administration on Sept. 11 released its Short-Term Energy Outlook. Here are some highlights: (Full Story) NATO and other associations fight federal tax hike on tobacco Congressional leaders as of Sept. 11 had still not appointed a conference committee to negotiate the differences between the Senate and House versions of the State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation, according to the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). The bills call for different cigarette and tobacco tax rates. Because the SCHIP program expires on Sept. 30 and no conference committee has yet been appointed, Congress may pass legislation in the next several weeks temporarily extending the SCHIP program at current funding levels to provide more time to try to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill, according to the association. (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! Order your copy of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts today! For a limited time only, take advantage of a special prepublication price and save more than 15% off the retail price. To order your print copy and/or CD version of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts edition, please click here NEWS ITEMS Research firm: convenience stores make a mark in foodservice According to consumer and retail information company The NPD Group, over the past two years, the foodservice operations at retail outlets (such as convenience stores, supermarkets, discount stores, and price clubs) have posted stronger foodservice traffic growth than any other segment of the restaurant industry. (Full Story) After warehouse fire, what next for Warrenton Oil? Warrenton Oil Co.'s future is likely to be a subject of discussion after fire destroyed the company's warehouse in Warrenton, Mo., on Sept. 13, reported Shane Anthony in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (Full Story) Oil dips slightly as Hurricane Humberto subsides Oil eased from its record high Sept. 14 as a hurricane subsided in the Gulf of Mexico and refineries looked set to return to normal operations, Reuters reported. (Full Story) OPEC to lift oil production slightly OPEC said Sept. 11 it would increase production by 500,000 barrels a day, according to an article by Jad Mouawad in The New York Times. (Full Story) EIA: retail gasoline and diesel prices increase The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased 2.2 cents last week to rise to 281.8 cents per gallon as of Sept. 10, 20.0 cents higher than last year, according to the Sept. 12 issue of "This Week in Petroleum," published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Full Story) Gilligan Oil, Ameristop deal might come undone Gilligan Oil Co. is no longer under contract related to a proposed acquisition of the Northern Kentucky-based Ameristop convenience store chain, Pat Gilligan said Sept. 11, according to an article by Jon Newberry in Business Courier of Cincinnati. (Full Story) Rutter's Farm Stores announces senior management changes Rutter's Farm Stores on Sept. 12 announced changes to its senior management staff, including the promotions of two long-time company executives, the return of another one, and a new addition. (Full Story) NewGen forges biofuels supply agreement with Titan and APPCO NewGen Technologies, Inc. announced Sept. 11 that it and Titan Global Holdings, Inc. completed a definitive biofuels supply agreement which will become effective upon Titan's acquisition of Appalachian Oil Company (APPCO), the closing of which is scheduled to occur on Sept. 12, 2007. (Full Story) Mark VII announces new vice president of sales Mark VII Equipment Inc., Arvada, Colo., a subsidiary of WashTec AG of Germany, announced Sept. 11 that Steve Jeffs has assumed the role of vice president of sales. (Full Story) Dunkin' Donuts gearing up for big expansion in Indianapolis market Central Indiana residents enjoyed a sweet celebration Sept. 10 as Dunkin' Donuts opened in Carmel, Ind., followed by an announcement that other stores will follow in Indianapolis by late October, Tom Spalding reported in The Indianapolis Star. (Full Story) BP offers 34 branded gasoline stations and commercial properties in Ohio NRC Realty Advisors, LLC (NRC) announced Sept. 10 that BP has retained the company to coordinate the sale of 34 sites located throughout Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio marketing areas. (Full Story) OPW Fuel Management Systems schedules October training seminars OPW Fuel Management Systems, part of OPW Fueling Components, has scheduled its next product-training seminar for Oct. 16-19 in Louisville, Ky. (Full Story) Pantry sues insurance companies for costs related to UST leaks The Pantry, Sanford, N.C., has filed a complaint in federal court against a pair of insurance companies, saying both are shirking their responsibilities to pay out on costs The Pantry incurred after underground storage tank leaks, according to a Sept. 7 article by Chris Coletta in Triangle Business Journal. (Full Story) Irving Oil and Shaw's expand gas discounts in New Hampshire and Maine With more than 7,500 Shaw's Rewards customers saving an average of 24 cents per gallon at Irving Oil during an eight-week pilot, the two companies announced Sept. 7 the start of an expanded month-long partnership that will provide gasoline discounts with every qualified Shaw's purchase at 57 Shaw's supermarkets and more than 140 Irving locations in Maine and New Hampshire. (Full Story) McLane Co. and ExxonMobil extend service agreement through 2011 McLane Company, Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corporation on Sept. 7 announced the signing of a new agreement that extends through 2011. Under the agreement, McLane will distribute food and non-food products to Exxon and Mobil retail locations throughout the U.S. (Full Story) Kroger seeks approval from county to install gas pumps in Daleville, Va. Gas prices in the Daleville area of Botetourt County, Virginia, may become more competitive if a Kroger store gains approval from the county to build a fuel center in the Botetourt Commons Shopping Center, according to a Sept. 10 article by Jay Conley in The Roanoke Times. (Full Story) In Dallas: Independent gas stations feeling pain Despite high fuel prices over the last couple of years, independent station owners say it's become increasingly difficult to stay in business because of higher costs, intense competition and less favorable deals with distributors, according to a Sept. 9 article by Vasanth Sridharan in The Dallas Morning News. (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Automate Your Fuel Delivery System with DM2 Delivery Scheduler™ The DM2 Delivery Scheduler™ from DM2 Software, Inc., provides fuel and lubricant wholesalers with a Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200-based solution that automates schedules to fulfill regular deliveries efficiently, saving companies time and effort while increasing profit margins. The Delivery Scheduler™ gives dispatchers instant visibility to customer data by searching on many points of contact. The software can automatically produce tickets for nearby tanks when a "relationship" delivery is scheduled. The Delivery Scheduler™ can enhance your staff's ability to turn inquiries into orders by providing instant credit checking and delivery history while the caller is on the phone. The system also provides for quick-print tickets and addition of delivery notes or instructions as a natural part of the order-taking procedure. DM2's Delivery Scheduler™ allows wholesalers to price tickets for customers at several levels. The robust history ability of the Delivery Scheduler™ allows users to keep statistics like number of deliveries and total gallons per delivery on a month-to-date and year-to-date basis, by driver and by truck. DM2 Software, Inc. www.dm2.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS Insight NACS Future of International Convenience Retailing London, UK September 24-28 Contact: Dan Munford +44(0)1936-556-090 www.nacsonline.com South Dakota Petroleum and Propane Marketers Association/South Dakota Association of Convenience Stores Annual Convention and Expo Ramkota Hotel Rapid City, S.D. September 25-26 (605) 224-8606 www.sdp2ma-sdacs.com   SIGMA 2007 Annual Meeting Westin Copley Place Boston, Mass. October 12-14 (703) 709-7007 www.sigma.org NACS Category Management Seminar New Orleans, LA Sheraton, New Orleans December 4-5 Contact: Amy Burke or Carolyn Schnare (800) 966-6227 www.nacsonline.com   Ethanol & Biodiesel Management Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago, IL November 28-30 866-620-5940 opis@opisnet.com The NACS Show 2007 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Ga. November 6-9 (800) 966-6227 www.nacsonline.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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