Wednesday November 7, 2007 FEATURES EIA: diesel price ties record high; average gasoline price also is up Retail diesel prices climbed 6.3 cents last week to reach 315.7 cents per gallon, an amount equal to the all-time record high price of Oct. 24, 2005, according to the Oct. 31 edition of "This Week in Petroleum," published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical branch of the U.S. Department of Energy. Regional diesel prices were all higher with the East Coast rising 7.0 cents to hit 314.8 cents per gallon, according to "This Week." (Full Story) Wawa milk labeling in question; Pennsylvania opposes 'absence labeling' Wawa's plan to label its milk free of artificial growth hormone might be on the way out - before it even got in. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture said such labeling is not permitted. State authorities did not mention Wawa by name, and a spokeswoman for Wawa told NPN MarketPulse that the chain "will be looking into it further." (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 the introductory price of only $195 (plus shipping and handling). To order your print copy and/or CD version of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts edition, please click here NEWS ITEMS In Alabama: E85 coming to fuel stations along Interstate 65 Motorists traveling on Interstate 65 in Alabama will soon have the opportunity to fill up their vehicles on cleaner burning fuels produced in the United States, Governor Bob Riley announced Oct. 31 at a gas station in Vestavia Hills. (Full Story) Some Florida stations still out of compliance with generator law As Florida struggles to find the money to install generators at special-needs shelters, it continues to lag behind in the number of gas stations required under a 2006 law to be better prepared for hurricanes, according to a Nov. 4 article by Jason Schultz in the Palm Beach Post. (Full Story) Survey: Gas prices jump to near $3 a gallon The price of a gallon of gasoline has jumped back up near $3 a gallon, according to a survey published Nov. 4, CNN reported. (Full Story) Tesoro Corp. announces third quarter results Tesoro Corp. on Nov. 1 reported net income of $47 million, or $0.34 per share in the third quarter of 2007, compared to $274 million, or $1.96 per share in the third quarter of 2006. (Full Story) Marathon Oil reports third quarter 2007 results Marathon Oil Corp. on Nov. 1 reported third quarter 2007 net income of $1.021 billion or $1.49 per diluted share. (Full Story) Altria Group to acquire John Middleton, Inc. for $2.9 billion Altria Group, Inc. announced Nov. 1 that it entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of John Middleton, Inc., a leading manufacturer of machine-made large cigars, from privately held Bradford Holdings for $2.9 billion in cash. (Full Story) Shell adopts Pay By Touch biometric payment technology Shell adopted Pay By Touch biometric payment technology at its pumps and inside convenience stores, according to a Nov. 1 announcement by the company. (Full Story) Price of oil reaches $96 a barrel The price of oil rose to a new record above $96 a barrel Nov. 1 after a surprise drop in U.S. crude stockpiles raised concerns about supplies for coming winter demand, the Associated Press reported. (Full Story) Double Kwik planning sale of 57 stores A Virginia firm is planning to buy 57 area Double Kwik markets and convert them to its Fas Mart brand, according to an Oct. 31 article by David McGee in the Bristol Herald Courier. (Full Story) Bush calls children's health insurance bill a 'trick' President Bush on Oct. 31 again vowed to veto a renewed push to expand a popular children's health care program, saying it would play a "trick" on Americans by moving the country closer to a federalized health system, CNN reported. (Full Story) Hess reports estimated results for third quarter of 2007 Hess Corp. reported net income of $395 million for the third quarter of 2007 compared with net income of $296 million for the third quarter of 2006. (Full Story) Sunoco reports third quarter 2007 results Sunoco, Inc. on Oct. 31 reported net income of $216 million ($1.81 per share diluted) for the third quarter of 2007 versus $351 million ($2.76 per share diluted) for the third quarter of 2006. (Full Story) New York governor backs off vow to collect Indian sales taxes New York Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer is backing away from a promised effort to collect taxes on the sale of cigarettes and gasoline by Indian retailers, even while the state's budget deficit continues to rise, officials acknowledged Oct. 30, according to an article by Tom Precious in The Buffalo News. (Full Story) PetroClear announces year-long online order promotion Recognizing the value of its customers and wishing to demonstrate its appreciation for their business, PetroClear, Albion, Ill., a division of Champion Laboratories, Inc., and a manufacturer of fuel-dispensing filters, announced Oct. 30 that it has created a special offer for all of its customers who place their orders either online or through the Transnet integrated business-to-business service offered by PetroClear. (Full Story) OPW Fluid Transfer names vice president for Asia-Pacific, Latin America OPW Fluid Transfer Group, Mason, Ohio, on Oct. 30 announced the appointment of Mark Tippie to the position of vice president of Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Tippie will be responsible for the overall growth and development of OPW Fluid Transfer Group's products within those regions. (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Applause™ media system delivers Google® at the pump This content management system is the first of its kind. It enables consumers to do local Google searches, look at maps, and even print driving directions at the pump. Combined with vivid color screens, it's just the kind of valuable information and presentation that will attract customers to the stations that offer it. Applause also includes Gilbarco's existing SMART Merchandising™ system to promote in-store products, specials and print coupons for immediate redemption inside. It's a proven way for retailers to increase sales for in-store merchandise by more than 20%. Soon, Applause will also add modules for weather, sports scores, and other information that keep consumers coming back. Gilbarco Veeder-Root www.gilbarco.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS Ethanol & Biodiesel Management Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago, IL November 28-30 Contact: 866-620-5940 opis@opisnet.com NACS Category Management Seminar New Orleans, LA Sheraton, New Orleans December 4-5 Contact: Amy Burke or Carolyn Schnare (800) 966-6227   ASD/AMD New York Variety Merchandise Show Javits Center, New York January 13-15 Contact: Melissa Younkin Marketing Manager 310-481-7325 SIGMA Winter Leadership Meeting Salt Lake City, UT February 7-8 (703) 709-7007 www.sigma.org   SIGMA Winter Management Converence Snowbird, UT The Cliff Lodge February 10-13 (703) 709-7007 www.sigma.org WPMA Convention The Mirage Las Vegas, NV February 19-21 (801) 263-9762 www.wpma.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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