Gas Stations

Colorado Springs, Col. -- PriceAdvantage, a division of Skyline Products, announced that Parker's Convenience Stores has successfully completed its rollout of PriceAdvantage Enterprise. The software offering from Skyline allows companies like Parker's to automate and streamline the process of changing fuel prices at their stores.

NEW YORK — U.S. consumer confidence rose more than forecast in December, to a six-month high, amid declining unemployment and lower gas prices.  The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index climbed to 69.9 from 64.1 at the end of November.   The metric averaged 89 points in the five years leading up to the recession.

Cary, N.C. -- The Pantry Inc.'s fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 61%, pulled down by an impairment charge. Net income fell to $3.3 million for the period ended Sept. 29, down from $8.5 million in the year-ago period, which had one extra week.

Interim CEO Edwin Holman said in a statement that the convenience-store company will look to improve its merchandise sales next year and will do this by taking a look at the prices it charges.

Revenue rose 12% to $2.18 billion, boosted by fuel sales. Same-store sales were down 0.8%.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Ikea said Thursday it has officially plugged-in four Blink Pedestal electric vehicle charging stations at its Costa Mesa, Calif., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality.

The initiative represents the fourth such project for IKEA in the United States.  Installation also is planned at five other IKEA stores in the Western U.S. 

Philadelphia — Comparable sales for the third quarter took a slight dip at The Pep Boys due to continued weakness in the company's retail segment. The company reported that comparable sales fell 0.4%, consisting of a 0.4% comparable service revenue increase and a 0.6% comparable merchandise sales decrease. Total sales increased 5.2% to $522.2 million, from $496.4 million for the same period last year.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee U.K. plans to create thousands of new jobs in the United Kingdom as it steps up its drive-thru program following three years of development and strong customer response to the convenience of Starbucks coffee on-the-go.

The move will see 200 new drive-thru stores opened over the next five years. Combined with openings of conventional stores over the same period, the company expects to create 5,000 new jobs.

A funny thing happened on the way to Costco reporting a 6% increase in November same-store sales.

The warehouse club operator noted that sales in the electronics area increased in the high single digits and, in a reversal of prior year trends, attributed the gain to higher average selling prices as opposed to strong unit volume. In fact, unit volumes of televisions declined, but the drop was offset by strong sales of pricey big screen LED models as opposed to the prior year when sales were still dominated by LCD and plasma models that were experiencing deflationary pricing.

PITTSBURGH — Electric vehicle charging stations recently opened at three Pittsburgh-area Giant Eagle stores, the retailer said.

The EV charging stations, made possible by a collaborative effort through a Pennsylvania Department of Energy grant, now are in operation at the chain's Robinson Township, Township of Pine and Monroeville supermarkets.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — Regional supermarket chain Tops Markets reported a 3.6% increase in net sales for the period ended Oct. 8.

Third-quarter net sales rose $18.7 million to $538.6 million, the retailer said. Supermarket sales (excluding gasoline sales) totaled $491 million, up $7.5 million, or 1.5%, compared with the year-ago period.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — Regional supermarket chain Tops Markets reported a 3.6% increase in net sales for the period ended Oct. 8.

Third-quarter net sales rose $18.7 million to $538.6 million, the retailer said. Supermarket sales (excluding gasoline sales) totaled $491 million, up $7.5 million, or 1.5%, compared with the year-ago period.