Convenience Retailer

New product of the day—Reviver Odor-Removing Clothing Wipes

Reviver is the first-ever reusable, fabric-safe clothing wipe that instantly eliminates unwanted aromas from clothes and hair. This breakthrough invention offers a fast, effective and affordable method to remove odors that come from smoke, food or pets—even staleness from the gym, commute or workplace. It is easy to use. Simply slide the Reviver sleeve over your fingers and rub it against your clothes and hair to release Reviver’s odor-neutralizing compounds and leave behind a just-laundered scent. Each Reviver wipe delivers multiple treatments. “The Reviver clothing wipe is a game-changing product. Its innovative development has created a new retail category of ‘instant freshening,’” said Ben Kusin, CEO of Kusin & Kusin Ltd. and the entrepreneur behind Reviver. “No single product has ever addressed the need for immediate odor control for clothes and hair, and Reviver is the ultimate quick and effective solution.”

Reviver
469.759.9052
www.reviver.com

TravelCenters of America Opens First Tule Tree Legendary Burritos Restaurant in Edinburg, Texas

TravelCenters of America LLC, operator of TA and Petro Stopping Centers branded travel centers, recently opened its first Tule Tree Legendary Burritos at its TA location at 8301 North Hwy. 281 in Edinburg, Texas. This is the company’s first proprietary branded fresh Mexican fast food concept.

All menu items at Tule Tree are made fresh to order for the guest and packed up for a portable, on-the-go meal or a relaxing break in the dining area. The restaurant offers authentic Mexican recipes designed by chef Heriberto “Beto” Munoz.

At Tule Tree, diners first select their style: burritos, tacos or a bowl. Next, they choose between steak, barbacoa (shredded beef), chicken or veggies as a main ingredient. Then they fill it up with black beans, cilantro rice and other fresh toppings and top it off with chips and homemade guacamole or salsa. Throw in a fountain or bottled beverage and you have a meal.

“We know that professional drivers crave variety as they travel,” said John Ponczoch, Senior Vice President of Restaurant Operations for TravelCenters. “The Tule Tree combines fabulous taste and quick service. It’s a new way for drivers in a hurry to get their meal fast and keep moving across the country.”

The Tule Tree concept received its name from the historic Arbor del Tule, a Montezuma Cypress, located in the town center of Santa María del Tule in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The famous tree has the stoutest trunk of any tree in the world and is sometimes known as the “Tree of Life,” because of the many images of animals that are said to be visible in the tree’s trunk. As part of an official project, local schoolchildren give tourists tours of the tree, showing them the creatures that the trunk features, such as jaguars and elephants. The mere size of Tule Tree’s overstuffed burritos call to mind images of the broad base of the Arbor del Tule.

The entire staff at Tule Tree invites guests to sit back and enjoy their Tule Tree meal and envision Oaxaca, Mexico as they savor the authentic flavors that make Tule Tree burritos truly legendary. Tule Tree is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, TravelCenters of America is a leading travel center business in 41 states and Canada operating under the TA and Petro Stopping Centers brands. With 242 convenient locations off interstate highway exits, TA and Petro offer customers diesel and gasoline fueling services, nearly 500 full- and quick-service restaurants, 24-hour convenience stores, heavy truck maintenance services, RoadSquad™ emergency roadside service, electronic communication and many other services, all within large, high traffic facilities. For more information on TravelCenters and TA, visit www.tatravelcenters.com.

New product of the day—GreenBasis foodservice disposables

Performance Foodservice recently launched its GreenBasis® label for its branded foodservice disposable products that meet the company’s criteria for environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, product composition and product life cycle. The GreenBasis label will be reserved for Silver Source and First Mark™ branded disposable products, including cups, napkins and cutlery. Products free of toxic materials or made from recycled content will receive the GreenBasis designation as will those verified as compostable, biodegradable, recyclable or reusable.

“Customers are looking for product offerings that support their sustainability efforts, particularly in the disposables category,” said Fred Sanelli, Sr., Vice President of Marketing, Brands and Sales Development for Performance Foodservice. “Our portfolio of GreenBasis products will continue to grow as we work with our manufacturing partners to develop products that meet our sustainability criteria.”

As demand for foodservice disposables in the United States is projected to approach $18 billion in 2013, the potential environmental impact of these products will continue to grow. Now, restaurants, schools, hotels, health care facilities and other foodservice establishments concerned about the environmental impact of disposables can turn to Performance Foodservice and its GreenBasis initiative.

“Our GreenBasis program addresses sustainability on a number of fronts, including the manufacturing process, product makeup and the extent to which a product avoids the waste stream,” said Sanelli. “This enables our customers using GreenBasis products to promote their sustainability efforts on several levels.”

Through its leading family of foodservice distributors, Performance Food Group, Inc. delivers over 98,000 national and proprietary-branded food and food-related products to more than 128,000 independent and national chain restaurants, quick-service eateries, pizzerias, theaters, schools, hotels, health care facilities and other institutions. Altogether, PFG’s family of distributors offers outstanding service with a wide variety of high-quality products that help customers run their businesses successfully. For more information, visit www.pfgc.com.

Product of the day—Energy-X Gum

Energy-X Gum is an increasingly popular new product that offers consumers an alternative to energy drinks. The problem with energy drinks is that they are extremely high in sugar and calories. Energy-X Gum is sugar-free and packed with 55 mg of caffeine as well as B vitamins. The product is designed to help perk a person up while providing a burst of freshness in each piece. Both the spearmint and peppermint flavors have a much fresher and milder taste than strong tasting energy drinks and shots. A much safer and more flavorful alternative for people who need a pick me up at some point during the day, consumers of Energy-X Gum get the immediate burst of energy that they need. And they get it from one piece of gum rather than an entire energy drink. Plus, those who chew Energy-X Gum do not experience the crash that so often goes hand in hand with energy drinks.

Energy-X
818.998.0996
www.goenergy-x.com

Crossmark Names Joe Crafton Chief Executive Officer

Crossmark, a leading sales and marketing services company in the consumer goods industry, recently announced the appointment of Joe Crafton as Chief Executive Officer for the company. Mr. Crafton previously served as Crossmark’s President. The appointment comes as news that John Thompson, CEO of Crossmark since 2010, will switch his position within the company to Chief Strategy Officer, focusing primarily on acquisitions and strategic alliances. Thompson will remain a shareholder, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors and will continue to be responsible for overseeing the company’s international businesses. In additional personnel news, Ben Fischer maintains his role as Chief Operating Officer, but he will assume the additional title of President.

The announced personnel moves became effective on January 7, in part precipitating from the recent majority investment in Crossmark by an affiliate of Warburg Pincus. According to Thompson, this investment brings a renewed focus on growth for the company. “We have charted a course for the future that positions us well to grow our business and better serve our clients,” said Thompson. “I chose to create the new Chief Strategy Officer role in order to better focus my efforts on external growth opportunities. Simultaneously, Joe and Ben will continue to develop and lead new initiatives that will continue to enhance service to our clients and customers.”

Crafton began his career at Crossmark in 1988, previously serving as a manager with Procter & Gamble. In 2000, he was elected to Crossmark’s Board of Directors. Crafton held a variety of leadership positions within the company before being appointed President in 2010.

“For nearly 25 years, Joe has proven himself in a variety of Crossmark senior leadership roles in both the legacy sales agency business as well as emerging and innovative service businesses,” said Jim Neary, Managing Director for Warburg Pincus. “Under Joe’s leadership of the company’s marketing services division, Crossmark has become the North American leader of in-store marketing services.”

Crafton expressed his excitement at being a part of Crossmark at this watershed moment for the company. “We have great people and a strong culture of exceeding clients’ expectations with service excellence,” he said. “With the twin tailwinds of both outsourcing and shopper marketing, we are well positioned for significant growth. I look forward to building on our company’s strong foundation and to continue delivering more value and growth for our clients and customers.”

For more than 100 years, Crossmark has helped the most powerful brands in the world achieve their business objectives across a wide range of retail channels. The company’s expertise encompasses a number of areas, including headquarter sales, retail merchandising, retailer solutions, event marketing, in-store data collection, field intelligence, retail analytics and retail technology solutions. For more information, visit www.crossmark.com.

New product of the day—Minute Maid Reduced-Calorie Juice Drinks

Minute Maid® has once again proven it knows how to deliver great-tasting, reduced-calorie refreshment, releasing four new light juice drinks earlier this year. Minute Maid Pure Squeezed Light No Pulp Orange Juice Beverage is never from concentrate and features just 50 calories per 8-oz. serving—50 percent less sugar and calories than regular orange juice. Minute Maid Light Raspberry Fruit Drink with Tea and Light Peach Fruit Drink with Tea are fun, new ways for people to enjoy the goodness of Minute Maid with a tasty splash of tea, each boasting just 15 calories per 8-oz. glass. And new Chilled Light Mango Passion Fruit Drink is packed with the exotic and delicious taste of mango and passionfruit so people can enjoy the flavors of the tropics. It also has just 15 calories per serving. All of the new Minute Maid reduced-calorie products are packaged in clear, recyclable 59-oz. bottles, allowing people to see the goodness inside. The four new products can be found in the chilled sections of grocery and convenience stores across the United States.

The Coca Cola Company
800.438.2653
www.minutemaid.com

New product of the day—Land O’Lakes Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt

Iconic butter brand Land O’Lakes recently announced that its Land O’Lakes Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt was awarded a 2013 Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Award in the butter category. Many consumers use olive oil and sea salt in their everyday cooking, often combining the ingredients with the rich flavor of butter. Land O’Lakes Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt conveniently works in place of other oils or cooking agents, while enriching the flavor of your favorite recipes. Land O’Lakes® Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt is part of the Land O’Lakes exclusive “Half Stick” line. It is one of three products available in premeasured, easy-to-use half sticks, individually-wrapped to keep the butter tasting fresher, longer. “Land O’Lakes Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt is a great way to enhance the flavor of many dishes,” said Heather Anfang, Director of Marketing at Land O’Lakes. “We’re pleased that consumers enjoy the flavor of the new butter, and that they find the Half Sticks convenient for everyday cooking.”

Land O’Lakes
800.328.9680
www.landolakesinc.com

Haven't checked it out yet? Convenience Retailer's February issue is online

If you haven't gotten your copy yet, check out the January/February issue of Convenience Retailer online now! Our latest issue is overflowing with important news, new product features and a wealth of information designed to help convenience retailers compete in a crowded marketplace. In this issue, you will read about:

*E-cigarettes: How can you best incorporate them into your product portfolio?

*Convenience stores that are going green in 2013

*Energy Sweets, Snacks and Treats: It's not just about drinks anymore.

*New products from CandyRific, Clif Bar, Kettle Brand and others

*A special insert featuring new products introduced at January's Tobacco Plus Expo

and MUCH MORE!

Check out the January/February issue of Convenience Retailer by clicking on the link below:

Acumera Announces Results of PCI DSS Compliance Assessment; Company Fully Compliant

Acumera, a leader in trusted connection services for convenience stores, recently completed its own Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance assessment and obtained an annual Report on Compliance, showing the company to be a fully compliant service provider. Coalfire, a Qualified Security Assessor firm, successfully completed the testing and controls validation of Acumera as a network and security service provider. The validation process included testing the controls deployed for merchant implementation. The successful assessment shows Acumera’s customers that they can confidently include the company’s controls in their own compliance management efforts without further testing and validation, ultimately saving them time and money.

“The necessarily complex nature of PCI standards results in a similarly complex compliance model,” said Rick Link, Coalfire’s Southwest Regional Managing Director. “We applaud Acumera’s approach to compliance management and consider them to be a leader among PCI DSS service providers.”

According to Acumera’s Chief Technology Officer Brett Stewart, providing Acumera’s Attestation of Compliance to customers and making the Acumera ROC available to their QSAs will enable customers to quickly demonstrate compliance in key areas of the assessment, thus significantly reducing the time and energy required by the audit process.

“One of Acumera’s primary goals is to reduce the headaches our customers experience in maintaining their PCI DSS compliance, which is why we went through the process for the perimeter security services we provide,” said Stewart. “Armed with our PCI documentation, Acumera customers’ QSAs will be able to accept Acumera’s compliance in several certain specific areas. While no third-party solution can ensure 100 percent compliance, we believe our approach sets a new, more effective and efficient roadmap to achieving PCI DSS compliance.”

Alon Brands Retail, which operates nearly 300 convenience stores in Texas and New Mexico, was one of the first customers to evaluate Acumera’s PCI Audit Support. “Acumera has been a reliable and trustworthy partner of ALON for several years,” said Amir Wurzel, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Alon Brands. “With the unique combination of Acumera’s helpful PCI Tools and the recent service provider ROC, which clearly defines the scope of the services, we expect to reduce our annual PCI audit costs and, most importantly, to reinforce our data security controls.”

Founded in 2002, Acumera provides Trusted Connection Services to multi-site merchants, specializing in the reduction of headaches caused by network management and security issues. Customers are free to focus on running their businesses because Acumera actively manages their networks and provides unparalleled visibility and remote management capability. Acumera gets customers’ stores, network clients and devices securely connected and keeps them connected. In addition to network status, merchants have real-time insight into key operational measures, such as fuel inventory levels and environmental and food safety temperatures. To learn more, visit www.acumera.net.

New product of the day—KWV African Passion Wines

A new South African wine sold in the United States will raise funds to support human rights and social justice in Africa. African Passion wines, made in the KWV Cellar of Paarl in the heart of the Cape wineland, are fruit-forward and balanced by soft maturation characteristics. The seven varietals include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, moscato, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and chenin blanc, as well as a cabernet merlot blend. KWV, a pioneer in the South African wine industry, is contributing 10 percent of all sales to the TransAfrica Forum. Based in Washington, D.C., TransAfrica promotes diversity and equity in foreign policy and justice for the African world. “Our involvement with African Passion wine has been a blessing for our organization,” said Nicole Lee, President of TransAfrica Forum. “In addition to the ongoing support from the brand, the partnership allows us to spread awareness towards our overall mission of promoting diversity, equity and justice for the African world.”

KWV
www.africanpassionwines.com