03-25-1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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4«- # # 4 # % « 41 M * A » 4 4# •» % » « More and more gasoline stations offer to^ fill you up when you stop to fill up your car Bw Arn« r.>n« Eorics — cigarettcs and beer — are not that serv ed cold food only.By Christine Arpe Gang Memphis Commercial Appeal gories — cigarettes and beer — are not that served cold food only, growing." said John Cooper, branded food manager for NL^PCO Express, a Memphis. Tenn.. chain. "Soft drinks are. but we need something else. The whole take-out. take-home food area is high-growth.” During 1995. MAPCO teamed with Blimpie International, a submarine sandwich chain. 0 m m m 4» • 4 % 4 •lr, H % « 4 4 4 4 4 % t 4 « 4 T t’s becoming easier to find a cook I on duty at a gas station than to find X a mechanic. That’s because convenience stores that also sell gasoline are trying to lure customers inside with home- style foods, delicatessens or familiar fast foods. And businesses that were Oatlnnc havP real estate basically gas stations with small conve- StatlOHS Uave TCai eSiaiB nience sections arc jumping on the "Thi» r.ict-fppciers are interestei bandwagon. "It's not a trend, it’s an avalanche.’ said Harry Murphv. director of techni cal services for the Service Station is dnven oy interest rrom ooin siues ui ••• ---------------- Dealers of America. "Some companies the equation; ’The vendors of fast food station/ __^tAm nnri nfhpr« are looking to increase their market There aren t many McDi share, and our service stations- convenience stores have prime retail ’The fast-feeders are interested in teaming with our industry because we have the real estate. ” Cooper said. Different arrangements "All the major convenience stores are offering more food.” Sartain said. There are "all kinds of different arrangements" bet\;een the gas and food purveyors. Headrick said.' me gas-station owners are gening liieir own fast-food franchises. Some lease space to deli or fast food businesses, and some simply make deals with sup pliers and open their own delis. In the last year. McDonald’s Corp. announced its intention to team with are adding their own delis, and others are going into partnerships with com panies like McDonald's. Subway or Burger King." 1 he trend is as hot in Mirmesota as it is in other parts of the country, said Greg Headrick, executive director of the Minnesota Service Station and Convenience Store .-yssociation. Murphy said oil companies have found they sell far more gasoline in units with convenience stores than in those with service bays. I'e the real estate. Cooper saia. announceu us uuciiuuu lu u-am Headrick said the move to fast food both Amoco Corp. and Chevron Corp. is driven by interest from both sides of in developing fast-food outlets as gas “TtiP vpn.tnr*; nf fast food Station/ convenience stores. "There aren’t many McDonald’s or Burger Kings (in gas stations) in Min- convenience stores nave prime reiau nesota yet. blit they re coming. Head- locations; it’s easier to incorporate fast rick said. \ou will find \Vliite Casue, food into one of those sites than to find Subway, Taco Bell and other outlets in ^ a___1 .L- . r____J camrir'o ctntirin«i iimiinH fhp StiltP HOW.a new site. And the food offers new traffic for service stations.’* Starling at 5 a.m., breakfast cus tomers file into At the Market No. 2 in Memphis. The compartments of the t ^ ^ ^ A t 1 1 1 A ^ ^ f — - -- service stations around the state now, he said. According to the National As sociation of Convenience Stores (NAGS), prepared food accounted forMempnis. i ne compariineiub ui uic ------------ large steam table are filled with scram- 1 1.9 percent of all sales at convenience bled eggs, grits and several kinds of stores in 1994. That was up from 10.4 breakfast meats. In addition, there*s a percent in 1992. warming cabinet with ready-to-grab biscuit sandwiches. At noon, a stampede of workers 1- ♦ •4 4 Cheaper labor "With service bays, you take in 20 cars in the morning and that’s it." he said. "Cars are getting more technical. and equipment and training are uay c.t u..,^ .....,..y ------- expensive. Labor is easier and cheaper six entrees, a like number of vegeta to get for convenience stores.” ki..c ,-nrn muffins .mrl .i rminle of Repair business is increasingly going to car dealers and businesses that provide specialized service for brakes, mufflers, transmissions or tune-ups. Murphy said. Convenience stojes are turning to ‘Convenience stores want a more diverse customer base.” said Stewart Small, communications and informa- ^ -------------/----- 30 minutes for lunch, so they hit the pavement running." said lim Sartain. owner. Convenience stores are luming lu Sartain. who bought the store four selling prepared food as sales of their months ago. kept the successful hot most frequently purchased items slow, food operaUon just as it was. Previ- ir I'lrofxf rntp. nii5;ivHpowmpd 3 converuf*nce slorc At noon, a siampeoe oi woiKt-rb oiuau. ------- from a nearby industrial park comes in lion specialist for NALb. It s Deen for Bertha lones’ home cooking. Every mostly blue-collar males, ages 18 to 24. dav she and two helpers prepare five or who come in for cigarettes or lottery six entrees, a like number of vegeta- tickets. To get a diverse customer, they bles, corn muffins and a couple of must offer what those customers want* homemade desserts. And the service is and prep^ed foods are the way to go. fast. “Most of our customers only have Headrick said that^ 51 frequently purenasea items siow. loou opeiauuu ju:>i u wa^. ritv*- In the long term, our largest cate- ously he owned a convenience store gr ’ • « now is ordering your food at the pump through the intercom. You go in to pay for gas and pick up your sandwich at tile same time.” — Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. . , 4-