Thursday November 9, 2006 FEATURES Gift cards expected to be popular again this holiday season Many shoppers will purchase gift cards this holiday season, according to a survey conducted by Retail Forward, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a management consulting and market research firm specializing in retail information and strategies. Gift cards proved to be big sellers in some convenience stores in the holiday season a year ago, as NPN MarketPulse reported (see "Gift cards hailed as a bonanza for retailers," NPN MarketPulse, Dec. 15, 2005). (Full Story) How to comply with Florida's generator law Petroleum marketers in the Sunshine state must comply with a new "generator law" that becomes effective June 1, 2007. Morton Dranoff, for one, doesn't have to worry about it. (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 California measures to hike taxes on cigarettes, oil production, trailing The Associated Press reported that California's Proposition 86, an initiative that would boost cigarette taxes to fund health care programs, was losing with 54 percent opposed, in early returns. (Full Story) In Missouri: tobacco tax trails in early tallying of votes A call to quadruple Missouri's cigarette tax continued to trail in early returns Nov. 7, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (Full Story) Florida voters approve anti-tobacco amendment to state constitution An amendment to the Florida State Constitution, designed to protect consumers, especially young consumers, from addiction, disease and other health hazards of using tobacco, passed in Nov. 7 balloting, according to The Palm Beach Post. (Full Story) The Pantry ends 2006 fiscal year on acquisitive note The Pantry, Inc., Sanford, N.C., provided an update Nov. 7 on its recent acquisition and new store development activity. (Full Story) Veeder-Root offers system designed to help station owners with ORVR Veeder-Root, Simsbury, Conn., announced its new On-Board Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) Hanging Hardware System to help station owners comply with impending ORVR compliance deadlines. (Full Story) OPEC leader says another cut may be needed OPEC could cut oil production further this year to deal with an oversupply in the market, the cartel's president said Nov. 6, according to The Associated Press. (Full Story) UL reports progress on safety certification for ethanol dispensers Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), Northbrook, Ill., reported advancement Nov. 6 toward developing safety requirements for E85 ethanol dispensers following a two-day forum at its global headquarters Nov. 1-2. (Full Story) GE Capital to buy Trustreet, a REIT specializing in restaurant properties GE Capital Solutions, the leasing and financing unit of General Electric Co., said on Nov. 6 that it would buy restaurant real estate investment trust (REIT) Trustreet Properties Inc. for $17.05 per share, Reuters reported. (Full Story) Citgo awarded $387.4 million in case stemming from 2001 refinery fire A jury in Cook County, Illinois on Nov. 6 awarded Citgo Petroleum Corp. a $387.4 million judgment against a parts manufacturer that the oil company said was responsible for a 2001 fire at its refinery in Romeoville, Ill., The Chicago Tribune reported Nov. 6. (Full Story) Gasoline prices fall to lowest point yet in 2006 The price of gasoline has fallen to its lowest level in more than 10 months, according to data from the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Full Story) Kwik Trip counts on foodservice, employees, to power growth Kwik Trip Inc., La Crosse, Wis., will continue to grow because of its employees and innovations in what it sells at its convenience stores, President and CEO Don Zietlow said Nov. 2 at the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. Zietlow spoke to about 425 people at a luncheon during the event, The Tribune reported Nov. 3. (Full Story) IRI 'trip typology' study reveals new insights on how shoppers shop The average American household takes one less shopping trip per month today versus five years ago, creating a big concern for both retailers and manufacturers, who now have fewer opportunities to "get the sale," according to Information Resources (IRI), Inc., Chicago. (Full Story) In Rhode Island: thousands of cigarette packs seized from two c-stores Police said they confiscated almost 9,500 packs of contraband cigarettes at a pair of convenience stores in Wakefield, R.I., reported The Associated Press. (Full Story) NOCO Energy to sell natural gas, electricity to residential customers NOCO Energy Corp., Tonawanda, N.Y. a fuels distributor in Western New York, announced Nov. 2 that the company has been approved and authorized by the New York State Public Service Commission to sell natural gas and electricity to homeowners across the region. (Full Story) Fleet One fuel cards accepted at more than 960 Murphy USA locations Fleet One, LLC, a Tennessee-based provider of financial service solutions to companies with fleets of vehicles and the merchants that serve them, announced Nov. 2 that it has contracted with Murphy Oil Corporation to provide Fleet One Local fuel cards for all its Murphy USA store locations in the United States. (Full Story) Great American Family Parks to sell Crossroads Convenience Center Great American Family Parks, Inc., a company focused on buying and managing profitable regional theme parks and themed amusement attractions, announced Nov. 3 that it has completed the first part of a planned two-stage transaction to sell its Crossroads Convenience Center (CCC) business to Idaho Chevron Center, Inc. (Full Story) One Stop Express becomes 13th site in Texas to offer 'BioWillie' Earth Biofuels, Inc. on Oct. 31 announced the availability of BioWillie biodiesel fuel at its thirteenth Texas location. (Full Story) In Massachusetts, 'Question 1' on the ballot is about selling wine Massachusetts voters on Nov. 7 will decide, among other things, Question 1: whether more food stores can sell wine. (Full Story) In Illinois: about half of convenience stores following meth law Although compliance is improving, about half the convenience stores selling ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products are still not obeying a law designed to crack down on illegal methamphetamine labs, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Nov. 1, according to The News-Gazette. (Full Story) Valero Energy reports strong results in third quarter Valero Energy Corp., San Antonio, Texas, reported strong profit growth during the third quarter despite falling gas prices, according to The Memphis Business Journal. (Full Story) Feds cite lack of hazard warnings in two deaths at Valero refinery Missing hazard warnings and inadequate safety training led to the deaths of two men who suffocated in a reactor tank at Valero refinery near Delaware City last year, a federal safety agency reported Nov. 2, according to The News Journal, a newspaper in Delaware. (Full Story) EIA: Average retail gasoline price increases after 11 weeks of declines As of Oct. 30, the U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased for the first time in 12 weeks, reported the Nov. 1 edition of "This Week in Petroleum," published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Full Story) Cumberland Farms rolls out 'Believe and Achieve' scholarships Cumberland Farms on Nov. 1 announced its Cumberland Farms Believe and Achieve Scholarship program, providing individual $1,000 scholarships to eligible graduating high school seniors in its service area. (Full Story) Panda plans to build ethanol plant fueled by cattle manure in Texas Panda Ethanol Inc. announced Nov. 1 that it plans to build a 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant near the city of Muleshoe in Bailey County, Texas. (Full Story) Hot Stuff Foods adds Lettieri's to its stable in management buyout Hot Stuff Foods, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Lettieri's Inc. Shakopee, Minn., announced Nov. 1 that the senior management of both companies have completed a management buyout of Lettieri's, folding the foodservice solutions provider into the Hot Stuff Foods portfolio of brands. (Full Story) California Senator asks FTC to scrutinize Chevron deal Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., on Oct. 31 asked the Federal Trade Commission to review Chevron Corp.'s pending acquisition of 122 gas stations in the state owned by USA Petroleum Corp., reported The Associated Press. (Full Story) PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Structural Concepts introduces Fusion™ Series deli display cases The innovative Fusion™ Series combines beauty and science to create temperature-controlled deli display cases that keep foods looking and staying fresh longer, increasing visual appeal and spurring sales. Fusion is one of the industry's widest selections of refrigerated, heated, and combination hot and cold deli cases. The Fusion Series offers models for foodservice or grocery: hot deli, combination hot and cold deli, combination split hot and cold deli, refrigerated deli, refrigerated bakery, and sandwich prep/open merchandiser. All of the Fusion cases are easy to operate, with advanced refrigeration technology that lowers energy costs and offers superior temperature consistency. Fusion Series deli cases come in standard interior and exterior finishes or with a variety of finish and glass options, including stainless steel exteriors for an upscale presentation. Structural Concepts www.structuralconcepts.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS Ethanol and Biodiesel Management Westin Galleria Houston Nov. 15-17 (866) 620-5940 opisnet.com/ethbiomgmt/ Fall Pressure Vessel Conference Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel Houston Nov. 16 (847) 438-8265 www.steeltank.com   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 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 |  © 2006 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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