In the convenience store marketplace, margins continue to tighten on core products such as candy, snacks and tobacco. Prudent operators are attempting to stem the tide by introducing foodservice items into their stores. Most facilities provide plenty of customer traffic and space within the store to enable modifications for introducing a foodservice operation. While the desire to incorporate foodservice is on the forefront, operators need to address every aspect of the implementation.

The greatest impact that Health Care Reform (ACA) has on employers is administration liability. Most employers are focusing on the health plan coverage and premium price of the plans offered. Budgetary considerations surrounding those issues are important but they are manageable and developing a strategy to meet those challenges can be easily achieved.

Please join us for a MUST-attend event that will help your company avoid costly fines. No matter if you are a one - or multiple - convenience store operator or fuel distributor the new employee and health care reform rules will impact your business.

Orange - April 15, 2014
SC Fuels Offices
1800 W Katella Ave Ste 400
Orange, CA 92867
Sponsored by: SC Fuels

Pasadena - April 16, 2014
Courtyard Pasadena/Old Town
180 N Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103

The CIOMPAC 15th Annual Destruction Derby is back for the... well... 15th year. If you've attended before, you know the sites, the sounds, and the smells. If you've never joined us you're really missing out!

April 2014

April 15: Membership Meeting (open to non-members), Orange, CA
April 16: Membership Meeting (open to non-members), Pasadena, CA

CHICAGO, April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. convenience stores reached record in-store sales in 2013, with sales climbing 2.4% to $204 billion. Combined with motor fuels sales of $491.5 billion, overall convenience store sales were $695.5 billion, according to figures released today by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

The industry's 2013 numbers were announced at the NACS State of the Industry Summit, a two-day conference that reviews and analyzes the industry's key economic indicators.

Two groups representing the ethanol industry have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court in hopes of getting California's low carbon fuel standard overturned following a January defeat at the circuit court level.

Every April and October the credit card processing industry undergoes pricing changes to the Interchange (wholesale pricing) levels for various industries. Twice a year, the credit card issuing associations reserve the right to adjust different Interchange levels based on economic changes, industry trends and consumer usage. These changes are made to help different industries pay less in fees, however credit card processors use this pricing change as an opportunity to increase fees paid by their customers

Although industry is patiently waiting for the EPA to finalize and post federal renewable fuel mandate levels for 2014, seasonal demand for renewable fuels is picking up quickly. Even CARBs announcement of suggested "curve smoothing" (temporary limits put on renewable fuel mandate levels) is having little impact on the demand and value of renewable fuels. Renewable fuel blending is moving forward despite bureaucratic rule-making stagnation

We want to remind you that the deadline for CIOMA Memorial Scholarship Fund applications is May 15th. Please spread the word to your employees and their families, and encourage them to send in an application.

Now is the time to prepare for the wave of new carbon regulations. Starting January 1, 2015, California’s Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade emissions program kicks into high gear and promises to drastically impact transportation fuels. .

California Retail Management
Phone:(916) 488-3666

Environ Strategy Consultants, Inc.
Phone:(714) 919-6525
www.environstrategy.com