Convenience Stores

Despite plummeting fuel prices, the ranks of convenience stores swelled to a record level last year.

The U.S. convenience store count increased to 154,195 stores as of Dec. 31, a 0.9% increase (1,401 stores) from the year prior, according to the 2016 NACS/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count.

When one looks at the hot topics in retail today, no shortage of economists, journalists, industry thought-leaders and technology pundits are talking about the future of payments. One topic that many aren’t really discussing is managing large volumes of cash receivables.

Photo: Julie Bierman, left, with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, and Jennifer Dilts, right, with Dollar General will be honored at the upcoming NCA annual meeting.

Fast-food chain The Wendy’s Co. may be the first big retailer to suffer a public data security incident in 2016.

According to the Krebs on Security blog, Wendy’s is investigating possible fraudulent activity related to credit cards used at some of its store locations. Wendy’s was notified earlier this month by partners in the payment industry that unusual activity was occurring.

German discount supermarket chain Lidl has revealed where it will drop its anchor in the United States.

The retailer revealed on its website that it is seeking locations between New Jersey and Georgia. It said it is looking to build stand-alone, 36,000-sq.-ft. stores on sites that are at least 3.5 acres with a minimum of 150 parking spaces.

The intense focus directed on EMV compliance in fall 2015 has faded, but it is still a critical issue for the retail industry.

Away from the spotlight, progress in EMV compliance since the Oct. 1, 2015 mandate passed has moved more slowly than many in the industry may realize. According to a survey of 200 retail professionals conducted during the January 2016 NRF Convention by ACI Worldwide, the majority of respondents are not compliant.

Newark, Del. -- Atlantic Realty Companies announced Main Street Movies 5 has signed an 18,000 sq. ft. lease at Newark Shopping Center in Newark, Delaware.

Main Street will invest $3 million in a full-scale renovation of the existing theater space and expand into the adjacent space. Construction is set to begin in February with a grand opening in August.

Kroger customers are about to find out "how low" gas prices can go with a new contest from the nation's largest supermarket chain.

With Kroger's newest #FuelPointsSweeps giveaway, customers have a chance to win free fuel for a month, not to mention pay as little as 1 cent for a gallon of gas.

Family-owned and operated Broadway Panhandler, in Manhattan’s East Village, is going out of business after 40 years in operation.

The cookware store has long been a cult fave among restaurant chefs and home cooks alike.

As to the reason, the owner cited health issues of his wife and said his attempts to sell the business were unsuccessful, according to the New York Times.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has appointed Claude Tessier as its CFO, effective Jan. 28. The leader in the Canadian convenience store industry, Couche-Tard is the largest independent convenience store operator in the United States terms of number of company-operated stores.

The industry veteran joins Couche-Tard from Canadian grocer Sobeys Inc., where he was president of the IGA Operations Business Unit.