събота, 31 декември 2011 г.
Arsenal 1-0 QPR
Trio Heads For Holiday Reunion With Space Station Residents
Hayden suffers accident in training
ND1223111
WASHINGTON ? NACS successfully helped lead a coalition on Capitol Hill to put bipartisan pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize menu labeling regulations that will exclude most convenience stores from the burden of compliance.
The letter, signed by 17 members of Congress, urges the FDA to adopt ?Option 2? of the proposed rule, which would limit the menu labeling regulations to establishments that primarily sell restaurant and restaurant-type food.
In previous comments submitted to FDA, NACS recommended that a floor space calculation should be replaced with one based on revenues. NACS believes an entity should be covered only if revenues from restaurant-type food sales exceed 50% of the store?s overall sales. In evaluating this ratio, prepackaged food should be excluded from the restaurant-type food revenues and fuel sales should be included in the store?s overall sales.
Therefore NACS has been advocating for Option 2 because it does not include prepackaged food and fulfills the intent of the menu labeling law, consistent with Executive Order 13563, which directs agencies to adopt the least burdensome approach when issuing regulations.
Option 2 would only cover establishments whose primary business is selling food for immediate consumption or selling food that is prepared and processed on premise. This option would also allow FDA to meet the objectives of the menu labeling law without unnecessarily burdening most convenience stores.
Read more on the beginnings of the menu labeling debate in NACS Magazine.
Brees breaks Marino's pass record
ND1223114
WESTLAKE, Ohio ? In addition to its Fresh Healthy Caf� in Kingsland, Georgia, TravelCenters of America LLC has opened a second Fresh Healthy Cafe in Livingston, California, serving up nutritious and delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
?We are adding this new Fresh Healthy Cafe to augment our ?StayFit? program, which provides professional drivers better ability to follow their own wellness program with healthier food and exercise options while they are on the road,? said Tom O'Brien, president and CEO of TravelCenters, in a press release. ?Drivers have recognized TA and Petro for identifying and offering healthier menu choices, and our new restaurant in Livingston is keeping with that recognition.?
Fresh Healthy Cafe quickly serves wholesome menu items to customers, an important feature for drivers who are on the clock. An alternative to typical fast food, the restaurant's menu options include smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, organic coffees and teas, healthy wraps, grilled paninis, hearty soups and salads, all made with fresh fruits and vegetables.
TravelCenters of America LLC (TravelCenters) is headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, and operates in 41 states and Canada under the TA and Petro Stopping Centers brands.
Norwich 1-1 Fulham
Yachts' armed guard from pirates
ND1228113
Please note: This is one of the top five most read articles in the marketing/merchandising news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
HOUSTON -- Despite U.S. consumers? threats of protests in response to the redesigned Starbucks logo unveiled last week, the new look may be a smart move in the long run as the coffee company expands into Asian markets, according to a Rice University researcher who has studied consumer reaction to logos.
?The logo of a brand is much more than a pictorial representation of the brand,? said Vikas Mittal, professor of marketing at Rice and co-author two studies on customers, logos and brand commitment. ?For consumers who are highly committed to the brand, the logo represents a visual conduit that enables a customer to identify with the brand. Our studies have shown that highly committed consumers also have very high levels of brand attachment. As such, any changes to the brand conduit -- the logo -- are seen as a violation of the psychological contract between the brand and the consumer.?
Starbucks dropped both its name and the word ?coffee? from its 40-year-old logo as the Seattle-based coffee chain prepares to triple its locations in China from about 400 to 1,500.
In one of his studies, Mittal found that companies that changed their logo design were most likely to estrange their most committed customers. A second study found that when angular logos were changed to rounded logos, they were more acceptable in interdependent and collectivist cultures -- often found in Asian countries, such as India and China -- than in Western countries, which tend to have a more independent or individualistic culture.
?It is important for companies to refresh their logos, but the process of doing so must be carefully managed,? said Mittal. ?Our research shows that companies need to carefully consult customers -- whether through Internet sites or chat rooms -- to ensure that customers feel they have been heard in the redesign and repositioning process. That will ensure that highly committed customers -- who are also often the heaviest consumers of the brand -- feel connected to the brand.?
Space Station Commander Captures Unprecedented View Of Comet
2012 MotoGP season brought forward
Station Crew Set To Launch To A New Home For The Holidays
ND1227114
This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
ALEXANRIA, VA ? Oil prices hitting triple digits, analysts predicting $4 gas and gas prices making the news around the clock.�
- Consumers treat your brand as your price.
- Certain customer groups prefer certain payment methods.
- High gasoline prices present new opportunities to grow in-store sales.
- Consumers don?t blame retailers?or do they?
- There may be a tipping point for cutting back on consumption.
�
Argentina starts building new F1 circuit
NASA Announces Launch Date and Milestones for Spacex Flight
Washi (Western North Pacific Ocean)
An animation showing the onset and movement of rainfall from Washi was created by Dr. Zhong Liu, at the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
People worldwide to ring in 2012
Judy Murray explains Fed Cup decision
Toro Rosso sign Ricciardo and Vergne for 2012
Argentina starts building new F1 circuit
ND1227114
This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
ALEXANRIA, VA ? Oil prices hitting triple digits, analysts predicting $4 gas and gas prices making the news around the clock.�
- Consumers treat your brand as your price.
- Certain customer groups prefer certain payment methods.
- High gasoline prices present new opportunities to grow in-store sales.
- Consumers don?t blame retailers?or do they?
- There may be a tipping point for cutting back on consumption.
�
Dixon warns of 'risky' Henry move
петък, 30 декември 2011 г.
ND1223116
BOSTON ? Lottery players in Massachusetts may soon be able to choose debit as an option to purchase lottery tickets, reports the Beverly Citizen.
The news source writes that the state Lottery Commission is preparing ?as early as Jan. 1? to allow lottery customers to purchase games with debit cards, a move that state Treasurer Steven Grossman said would offer convenience.
?I think it could have a modest, positive impact on sales. I think it?s a convenience issue for people,? said Grossman. ?This is all about customer service. If you make your customer service absolutely as good as it can be, it?s bound to have a positive impact on sales.?
The news source adds that lottery officials said 33 of 42 state lotteries already allow for debit card purchases.
Grossman noted that retailers would be required to notify customers of the option to pay by debit for lottery purchase, and other state officials added that retailers might ?need to be educated about the shift in policy? to avoid making banned lottery sales to customers using EBT cards or credit cards.
Although the Lottery Commission did not vote on the issue, Paul R. Sternburg, executive director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, said he?s giving the potential change some last-minute scrutiny, according to the news source.
Injured Sharapova out of Brisbane
Murray must be positive - McEnroe
Corretja appointed Spain captain
Hulkenberg replaces Sutil at Force India
Hulkenberg replaces Sutil at Force India
Saints lose unbeaten record
Dixon warns of 'risky' Henry move
ND1228113
Please note: This is one of the top five most read articles in the marketing/merchandising news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
HOUSTON -- Despite U.S. consumers? threats of protests in response to the redesigned Starbucks logo unveiled last week, the new look may be a smart move in the long run as the coffee company expands into Asian markets, according to a Rice University researcher who has studied consumer reaction to logos.
?The logo of a brand is much more than a pictorial representation of the brand,? said Vikas Mittal, professor of marketing at Rice and co-author two studies on customers, logos and brand commitment. ?For consumers who are highly committed to the brand, the logo represents a visual conduit that enables a customer to identify with the brand. Our studies have shown that highly committed consumers also have very high levels of brand attachment. As such, any changes to the brand conduit -- the logo -- are seen as a violation of the psychological contract between the brand and the consumer.?
Starbucks dropped both its name and the word ?coffee? from its 40-year-old logo as the Seattle-based coffee chain prepares to triple its locations in China from about 400 to 1,500.
In one of his studies, Mittal found that companies that changed their logo design were most likely to estrange their most committed customers. A second study found that when angular logos were changed to rounded logos, they were more acceptable in interdependent and collectivist cultures -- often found in Asian countries, such as India and China -- than in Western countries, which tend to have a more independent or individualistic culture.
?It is important for companies to refresh their logos, but the process of doing so must be carefully managed,? said Mittal. ?Our research shows that companies need to carefully consult customers -- whether through Internet sites or chat rooms -- to ensure that customers feel they have been heard in the redesign and repositioning process. That will ensure that highly committed customers -- who are also often the heaviest consumers of the brand -- feel connected to the brand.?
ND1227112
This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
AUSTIN, Texas ? Shell is about to score an industry first when it comes to major oil loyalty offers, NACS has learned.
The refiner is joining an electronic discount network that will allow consumers who shop at brand-name retail merchants such as Macy?s, Barnes & Noble, Nike, J.C. Penney and The Home Depot to convert reward points they earn at those chains into instant price discounts at the pump.
?We?re already the No. 1 brand in the U.S. and we intend to further widen the gap between ourselves and our competition in 2012,? says Rick Altizer, Shell Retail North America marketing delivery manager.
Shell unveiled the plan and other strategies it will adopt to strengthen its brand at a national trade show and convention in Austin, Texas, yesterday. Some 90% of Shell wholesalers are among the 2,000 plus-attendees at the event, along with more than 200 vendors, Shell officials say.
The new ?Fuel Reward Network? (FRN) will let consumers decide how ? and how much ? they want to save on their gasoline and diesel purchases, says another Shell official. The FRN will launch at Shell in phases during 2012.
Under the program, consumers will pick up a free FRN card at any participating Shell station and register online at fuelrewards.com. They will then be able to add and combine rewards they earn from purchases at FRN grocers, FRN Dining, FRN Online Mall and FRN e-coupons and spend them to fill up at the pump. They can stack up their rewards or spend them as they earn them, up to a maximum 20 gallons per purchase.
Consumers who join FRN will be able to track and manage their rewards online, Shell says. In all, more than 700 brand-name merchants are participating in the network.
Shell was the first major oil company to launch a coast-to-coast rewards offer with a grocery chain, signing a deal with supermarket giant Kroger in 2009 that will eventually cover 31 states. Shell later added regional supermarket grocery chains to its rewards portfolio, including Giant and Stop & Shop, in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, both owned by Dutch company Royal Ahold, and Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo in the Southeast. Several West Coast chains also have been added to Shell?s supermarket string.
However, even with such broad geographic coverage, Shell was still only able to provide rewards coverage to approximately 8,000 of its 14,000 branded stations in 120 markets. The FRN program will help Shell fill in the gaps in its coverage.
Shell?s grocery rewards offer has been a resounding success, officials say. Some 3.5 million Shell customers use their loyalty card to redeem discounts, says one Shell source. Of those, 2.5 million were new to Shell and purchased an average of 21 gallons a month. The 1 million existing Shell customers who have started to redeem grocer rewards are now buying six gallons more every month, Shell says.
Working the behind-the-scenes magic on the FRN offer is Excentus, the Texas-based third party loyalty company, which is bringing the new rewards partners to Shell.
The rewards are funded by the issuing retail partner ? the merchant or grocery chain ? at no additional cost to Shell retailers over and above the 3.5cts/gal they pay for the Kroger rewards deal.
There is also expected to be an option in the new program that will allow retailers to issue their own site rewards as well.
?Everyone is trying to do something in this [loyalty] space but we?re going to be going far beyond what our competitors are doing,? Altizer says.
?The Fuel Rewards Network will help Shell-branded wholesalers and retailers by providing the opportunity to attract new customers and grow their existing loyalty base, boost non-fuel sales and leverage manufacturer funding of discounts,? Altizer adds.
Shell will also kick off a new fuels marketing strategy next year and a special bulk-buying program for Shell marketers, officials say.
Shell will launch a new fuel formulation called ?Next Generation SNE? in March 2012 that execs say will deliver 20% more active cleaning agents to boost engine performance.
The new additive will be introduced into all three grades of Shell gasoline. The refiner intends to spend around $100 million promoting it, which is more than it set aside for the launch of its ?Nitrogen-Enriched? gasoline in 2009.
?There is a new molecular structure in the additive which is unsurpassed in the industry today,? Altizer said. The new fuel is designed for most modern engines, is thermally more stable than conventional technologies, and holds up better under high operating temperatures, which means the formulation will work in all types of engines, conventional or modern.
Shell has also unveiled what officials say is an ?innovative? bulk buying program for marketers. Called the ?Shell Diamond Deal,? it will offer retailers special pricing from a half-dozen or more equipment suppliers who have agreed to work with the company on ?big ticket items.? Retailers will be able to discount deals on LED lighting, signage, health-and-beauty units and carwash equipment, as well as other equipment.
- Carole Donoghue (caroledonoghue@yahoo.com)
N. Korea: No engagement with South
ND1227112
This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
AUSTIN, Texas ? Shell is about to score an industry first when it comes to major oil loyalty offers, NACS has learned.
The refiner is joining an electronic discount network that will allow consumers who shop at brand-name retail merchants such as Macy?s, Barnes & Noble, Nike, J.C. Penney and The Home Depot to convert reward points they earn at those chains into instant price discounts at the pump.
?We?re already the No. 1 brand in the U.S. and we intend to further widen the gap between ourselves and our competition in 2012,? says Rick Altizer, Shell Retail North America marketing delivery manager.
Shell unveiled the plan and other strategies it will adopt to strengthen its brand at a national trade show and convention in Austin, Texas, yesterday. Some 90% of Shell wholesalers are among the 2,000 plus-attendees at the event, along with more than 200 vendors, Shell officials say.
The new ?Fuel Reward Network? (FRN) will let consumers decide how ? and how much ? they want to save on their gasoline and diesel purchases, says another Shell official. The FRN will launch at Shell in phases during 2012.
Under the program, consumers will pick up a free FRN card at any participating Shell station and register online at fuelrewards.com. They will then be able to add and combine rewards they earn from purchases at FRN grocers, FRN Dining, FRN Online Mall and FRN e-coupons and spend them to fill up at the pump. They can stack up their rewards or spend them as they earn them, up to a maximum 20 gallons per purchase.
Consumers who join FRN will be able to track and manage their rewards online, Shell says. In all, more than 700 brand-name merchants are participating in the network.
Shell was the first major oil company to launch a coast-to-coast rewards offer with a grocery chain, signing a deal with supermarket giant Kroger in 2009 that will eventually cover 31 states. Shell later added regional supermarket grocery chains to its rewards portfolio, including Giant and Stop & Shop, in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, both owned by Dutch company Royal Ahold, and Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo in the Southeast. Several West Coast chains also have been added to Shell?s supermarket string.
However, even with such broad geographic coverage, Shell was still only able to provide rewards coverage to approximately 8,000 of its 14,000 branded stations in 120 markets. The FRN program will help Shell fill in the gaps in its coverage.
Shell?s grocery rewards offer has been a resounding success, officials say. Some 3.5 million Shell customers use their loyalty card to redeem discounts, says one Shell source. Of those, 2.5 million were new to Shell and purchased an average of 21 gallons a month. The 1 million existing Shell customers who have started to redeem grocer rewards are now buying six gallons more every month, Shell says.
Working the behind-the-scenes magic on the FRN offer is Excentus, the Texas-based third party loyalty company, which is bringing the new rewards partners to Shell.
The rewards are funded by the issuing retail partner ? the merchant or grocery chain ? at no additional cost to Shell retailers over and above the 3.5cts/gal they pay for the Kroger rewards deal.
There is also expected to be an option in the new program that will allow retailers to issue their own site rewards as well.
?Everyone is trying to do something in this [loyalty] space but we?re going to be going far beyond what our competitors are doing,? Altizer says.
?The Fuel Rewards Network will help Shell-branded wholesalers and retailers by providing the opportunity to attract new customers and grow their existing loyalty base, boost non-fuel sales and leverage manufacturer funding of discounts,? Altizer adds.
Shell will also kick off a new fuels marketing strategy next year and a special bulk-buying program for Shell marketers, officials say.
Shell will launch a new fuel formulation called ?Next Generation SNE? in March 2012 that execs say will deliver 20% more active cleaning agents to boost engine performance.
The new additive will be introduced into all three grades of Shell gasoline. The refiner intends to spend around $100 million promoting it, which is more than it set aside for the launch of its ?Nitrogen-Enriched? gasoline in 2009.
?There is a new molecular structure in the additive which is unsurpassed in the industry today,? Altizer said. The new fuel is designed for most modern engines, is thermally more stable than conventional technologies, and holds up better under high operating temperatures, which means the formulation will work in all types of engines, conventional or modern.
Shell has also unveiled what officials say is an ?innovative? bulk buying program for marketers. Called the ?Shell Diamond Deal,? it will offer retailers special pricing from a half-dozen or more equipment suppliers who have agreed to work with the company on ?big ticket items.? Retailers will be able to discount deals on LED lighting, signage, health-and-beauty units and carwash equipment, as well as other equipment.
- Carole Donoghue (caroledonoghue@yahoo.com)
Donnelly closer to Swansea deal
Trio Heads For Holiday Reunion With Space Station Residents
ND1227115
?This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
SALEM, OR and OLYMPIA, WA ? Just when you thought being eco-friendly was not only environmentally sound but also financially prudent, lawmakers in Oregon and Washington State are mulling electric car taxes as a means for recouping the lost gas tax revenue from the transit switch, the Register-Guard and Seattle Times report.
�
Veteran Space Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson to Leave Agency
Pit-lane pioneers: Women in Formula One
Brees breaks Marino's pass record
Defender Smalling has tonsillitis
Chelsea agree fee for Bolton's Cahill
Nadal secures Davis Cup for Spain
Nadal plans to take February off
Veteran Space Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson to Leave Agency
четвъртък, 29 декември 2011 г.
U.S. to sell $30B worth of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia
Southampton v Bristol City (1945)
LTA chief avoids rankings target
Mother of U.S. man: Iranian charges are false
GB's Mensah-Bonsu signs in Turkey
Henry negotiations 'progressing'
IndyCar star Wheldon killed by fence pole
ND1229113
Please note: This is one of the top five most read articles in the foodservice news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
SEATTLE ? Starbucks announced yesterday a mobile payment system available in all U.S. stores for BlackBerry and Apple iOS users, Bloomberg reports.
After downloading the Starbucks Card Mobile App from the Starbucks website, users load money onto the app (or link an existing Starbucks card) to enable the payment function. Once in a Starbucks store, users then hold their smartphone in front of a countertop scanner, which reads the on-screen barcode to record the purchase. Within seconds (this writer reports the process worked seamlessly earlier this morning), the app is updated to reflect the remaining balance.
While the Starbucks Card Mobile App launched last year, it initially allowed users to just review their card balance, reload the card, and view transactions. The company began a payment test in Seattle, Northern California, New York, and Target stores before expanding it nationwide yesterday.
"Today, one in five Starbucks transactions is made using a Starbucks Card and mobile payment will extend the way our customers experience and use their Starbucks Card," said. Brady Brewer, vice president of Starbucks Card and Brand Loyalty.
Last year, Starbucks customers loaded $1.5 billion onto their cards, a 21 percent increase from 2008.
In a related story, CNN Money reports on the growing popularity of ?mobile currency,? whereby customers use their mobile phones in place of cash or credit cards.
?There?s a lot of money at stake if it?s done right,? said Omar Green, director of strategic mobile initiatives at Intuit.
According to research firm Generator Research, mobile payments are expected to reach $633 billion annually by 2014, with nearly half a billion customers using their phones to make payments.
Last November, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile launched a joint mobile commerce network called Isis that is expected to be operational within 18 months. The service will use Discovery Financial Services, not Visa or MasterCard, as its financial services partner.
Not to be outdone, Visa, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo are also working on smartphone payment technologies.
An emerging ?game-changer? in mobile payments is ?Near Field Communication? (NFC), which enables the exchange of data over short distances. With an NFC chip in a smartphone, an NFC reader records a purchase without having to scan a bar code. Google has already committed to the technology, with its CEO saying its next version of Google Android would include the tap-and-pay functionality.
NASA Hurricane Updates on Twitter
Check NASA's Hurricane Twitter feed for a daily behind the scenes look at storms in the tropics.
ND1227112
This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
AUSTIN, Texas ? Shell is about to score an industry first when it comes to major oil loyalty offers, NACS has learned.
The refiner is joining an electronic discount network that will allow consumers who shop at brand-name retail merchants such as Macy?s, Barnes & Noble, Nike, J.C. Penney and The Home Depot to convert reward points they earn at those chains into instant price discounts at the pump.
?We?re already the No. 1 brand in the U.S. and we intend to further widen the gap between ourselves and our competition in 2012,? says Rick Altizer, Shell Retail North America marketing delivery manager.
Shell unveiled the plan and other strategies it will adopt to strengthen its brand at a national trade show and convention in Austin, Texas, yesterday. Some 90% of Shell wholesalers are among the 2,000 plus-attendees at the event, along with more than 200 vendors, Shell officials say.
The new ?Fuel Reward Network? (FRN) will let consumers decide how ? and how much ? they want to save on their gasoline and diesel purchases, says another Shell official. The FRN will launch at Shell in phases during 2012.
Under the program, consumers will pick up a free FRN card at any participating Shell station and register online at fuelrewards.com. They will then be able to add and combine rewards they earn from purchases at FRN grocers, FRN Dining, FRN Online Mall and FRN e-coupons and spend them to fill up at the pump. They can stack up their rewards or spend them as they earn them, up to a maximum 20 gallons per purchase.
Consumers who join FRN will be able to track and manage their rewards online, Shell says. In all, more than 700 brand-name merchants are participating in the network.
Shell was the first major oil company to launch a coast-to-coast rewards offer with a grocery chain, signing a deal with supermarket giant Kroger in 2009 that will eventually cover 31 states. Shell later added regional supermarket grocery chains to its rewards portfolio, including Giant and Stop & Shop, in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, both owned by Dutch company Royal Ahold, and Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo in the Southeast. Several West Coast chains also have been added to Shell?s supermarket string.
However, even with such broad geographic coverage, Shell was still only able to provide rewards coverage to approximately 8,000 of its 14,000 branded stations in 120 markets. The FRN program will help Shell fill in the gaps in its coverage.
Shell?s grocery rewards offer has been a resounding success, officials say. Some 3.5 million Shell customers use their loyalty card to redeem discounts, says one Shell source. Of those, 2.5 million were new to Shell and purchased an average of 21 gallons a month. The 1 million existing Shell customers who have started to redeem grocer rewards are now buying six gallons more every month, Shell says.
Working the behind-the-scenes magic on the FRN offer is Excentus, the Texas-based third party loyalty company, which is bringing the new rewards partners to Shell.
The rewards are funded by the issuing retail partner ? the merchant or grocery chain ? at no additional cost to Shell retailers over and above the 3.5cts/gal they pay for the Kroger rewards deal.
There is also expected to be an option in the new program that will allow retailers to issue their own site rewards as well.
?Everyone is trying to do something in this [loyalty] space but we?re going to be going far beyond what our competitors are doing,? Altizer says.
?The Fuel Rewards Network will help Shell-branded wholesalers and retailers by providing the opportunity to attract new customers and grow their existing loyalty base, boost non-fuel sales and leverage manufacturer funding of discounts,? Altizer adds.
Shell will also kick off a new fuels marketing strategy next year and a special bulk-buying program for Shell marketers, officials say.
Shell will launch a new fuel formulation called ?Next Generation SNE? in March 2012 that execs say will deliver 20% more active cleaning agents to boost engine performance.
The new additive will be introduced into all three grades of Shell gasoline. The refiner intends to spend around $100 million promoting it, which is more than it set aside for the launch of its ?Nitrogen-Enriched? gasoline in 2009.
?There is a new molecular structure in the additive which is unsurpassed in the industry today,? Altizer said. The new fuel is designed for most modern engines, is thermally more stable than conventional technologies, and holds up better under high operating temperatures, which means the formulation will work in all types of engines, conventional or modern.
Shell has also unveiled what officials say is an ?innovative? bulk buying program for marketers. Called the ?Shell Diamond Deal,? it will offer retailers special pricing from a half-dozen or more equipment suppliers who have agreed to work with the company on ?big ticket items.? Retailers will be able to discount deals on LED lighting, signage, health-and-beauty units and carwash equipment, as well as other equipment.
- Carole Donoghue (caroledonoghue@yahoo.com)
Brees breaks Marino's pass record
ND1222115
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. ? Irving Oil has just awarded $60,000 to support six local community organizations throughout Atlantic Canada and New England through its Community Fuel Grant Program. Each organization applied and requested for a grant worth up to $15,000.
?We are very pleased and proud to award these six groups with grants to help support education, the environment, and communities in need throughout our region,? said Harry Hadiaris, general manager of Irving Oil, in a press release. ?We received applications from more than 100 organizations, and we are honored to select these six. Congratulations to all.?
The following six organizations were each awarded up to a $15,000 grant:
Cowan Heights Elementary in St. John?s Newfoundland currently enrolls more than 356 students from kindergarten through grade seven. In May 2010, the City of St. John's determined that the existing playground structure, which was 20 years old, was below code levels and would require removal. The Irving Oil Community Fuel Grant will allow Cowan Heights Elementary to purchase high-quality commercial playground equipment to withstand many years to come.
Earth Rangers of Woodbridge, Ontario, is an award-winning nonprofit organization focused on communicating a positive, science-based message to children on the importance of protecting biodiversity. The Earth Rangers Education Outreach Program educates more than 300,000 students across Canada about the threats facing biodiversity. Earth Rangers? live Animal Ambassadors are incorporated into the program to help connect children with wildlife and the environment. The Irving Oil Community Fuel Grant has made it possible for Earth Rangers to deliver their program to over 6,000 students on the eastern leg of their National Tour.
Everybody Wins! Connecticut Inc., in Hartford is an affiliate of Everybody Wins! USA, a national organization founded in 1991 in New York City to address illiteracy issues among inner-city school children. The organization targets children at-risk due to poverty, lack of English language skills, and poor academic achievement. Through the Irving Oil Community Fuel Grant, Everybody Wins! will be able to help improve literacy for more than 1,000 children.
Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, Maine, is one of the Northeast?s most widely respected marine research institutes and operates the LabVenture! program for school children. GMRI is making a long-term investment in science literacy by providing programs to ignite the curiosity, ambition, innovation, and problem-solving potential of Maine's young students. The Irving Oil Community Fuel Grant will help educate more than 10,000 Maine school children.
The Mentor Connector based in Rutland, Vermont, was established to collaborate with existing mentoring programs in the country and address the needs of youth on a waiting list for a mentor. The organization has made more than 100 matches since it began in 2004. Currently, the greatest need is to connect youth with male mentors, so the Irving Oil Community Fuel Gant will assist with recruitment efforts.
Saint George?s YouthNet based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has offered mentorship to the youth of Halifax, discovered and encouraged their talents, and helped them dream of a future for nearly 20 years. Saint George?s YouthNet recognizes that the north end neighborhood struggles with violence, neglect, addiction and abuse. The Irving after school program allows youth to relax and unwind in a healthy, supportive, and educational atmosphere. Through the Irving Oil Community Fuel Grant, YouthNet?s after school program, which provides youths with a healthy and educational atmosphere, will add an engaging art program.
?At Irving, we believe it is very important to support organizations in the communities where we all live and work,? said Hadiaris. ?The Community Fuel Grant supports numerous programs with missions to educate and support young minds and encourage innovation.?
Space Station Commander Captures Unprecedented View Of Comet
NASA Hurricane Updates on Facebook
Check NASA's Hurricane on Facebook provides daily looks at storms in the tropics and it's updated on Weekends during storms
Murray must be positive - McEnroe
ND1227111
Please note: This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
ALEXANDRIA, VA - Any time consumers face higher gasoline prices, conspiracy theories and urban legends are sure to follow and proliferate, especially via e-mail.
By now you?ve probably gotten e-mails with copy like this:
"GAS WAR! Join the resistance!!!! I hear we are going to hit close to (fill in the blank) a gallon by the summer. Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action?"
Or maybe it?s this:
?It has been calculated that if everyone in the United States did not purchase a drop of gasoline for one day and all at the same time, the oil companies would choke on their stockpiles??
Or this:
?It turns out that some oil companies import a lot of middle eastern (sic) oil and others do not import any. I thought it might be interesting for Americans to know which oil companies are the best to buy their gas from."
NACS has developed a fact sheet that debunks these and other gas-related myths. So, the next time a friend tries to be helpful in sharing ideas about gas prices, you may want to share this link.
And, if you receive e-mails with other myths, please forward them to NACS Vice President of Communications Jeff Lenard at jlenard@nacsonline.com and we?ll debunk them, too.
Myanmar: Blast in Yangon kills 20
Wigan appeal over Sammon red card
Corretja appointed Spain captain
High winds postpone Fir Park game
Space Station Astronaut Will Answer Video Questions From Public
ND1223116
BOSTON ? Lottery players in Massachusetts may soon be able to choose debit as an option to purchase lottery tickets, reports the Beverly Citizen.
The news source writes that the state Lottery Commission is preparing ?as early as Jan. 1? to allow lottery customers to purchase games with debit cards, a move that state Treasurer Steven Grossman said would offer convenience.
?I think it could have a modest, positive impact on sales. I think it?s a convenience issue for people,? said Grossman. ?This is all about customer service. If you make your customer service absolutely as good as it can be, it?s bound to have a positive impact on sales.?
The news source adds that lottery officials said 33 of 42 state lotteries already allow for debit card purchases.
Grossman noted that retailers would be required to notify customers of the option to pay by debit for lottery purchase, and other state officials added that retailers might ?need to be educated about the shift in policy? to avoid making banned lottery sales to customers using EBT cards or credit cards.
Although the Lottery Commission did not vote on the issue, Paul R. Sternburg, executive director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, said he?s giving the potential change some last-minute scrutiny, according to the news source.
сряда, 28 декември 2011 г.
Toro Rosso sign Ricciardo and Vergne for 2012
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Please note: This is one of the top five most read articles in the petroleum retailing news category for NACS News in 2011. View the original story here.
ALEXANDRIA, VA - Any time consumers face higher gasoline prices, conspiracy theories and urban legends are sure to follow and proliferate, especially via e-mail.
By now you?ve probably gotten e-mails with copy like this:
"GAS WAR! Join the resistance!!!! I hear we are going to hit close to (fill in the blank) a gallon by the summer. Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action?"
Or maybe it?s this:
?It has been calculated that if everyone in the United States did not purchase a drop of gasoline for one day and all at the same time, the oil companies would choke on their stockpiles??
Or this:
?It turns out that some oil companies import a lot of middle eastern (sic) oil and others do not import any. I thought it might be interesting for Americans to know which oil companies are the best to buy their gas from."
NACS has developed a fact sheet that debunks these and other gas-related myths. So, the next time a friend tries to be helpful in sharing ideas about gas prices, you may want to share this link.
And, if you receive e-mails with other myths, please forward them to NACS Vice President of Communications Jeff Lenard at jlenard@nacsonline.com and we?ll debunk them, too.
Foster rules out Olympic comeback
Injured Sharapova out of Brisbane
Veteran Space Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson to Leave Agency
Ex-Egyptian leader's murder trial resumes
FARC to release six hostages
U.S. Navy: Iran blocking Hormuz 'unacceptable'
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CARY, N.C. ? With Christmas right around the corner, what better way to finish your shopping than stopping by your local convenience store? Jon Bratta, vice president of packaged goods at Kangaroo Express, shares his list of hot products that can be found in the aisles of any convenience store.
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Washi (Western North Pacific Ocean)
An animation showing the onset and movement of rainfall from Washi was created by Dr. Zhong Liu, at the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Injured Sharapova out of Brisbane
Alonso reveals Ferrari's new approach
Crash landing injures 26 in Kyrgyzstan
Corretja appointed Spain captain
Heskey adds to Villa injury woes
Tennis 'peace pairing' breaks up
Aberdeen v Hearts
Tainted milk product scare causes outrage in China
Hulkenberg replaces Sutil at Force India
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NEW YORK ? Energy drinks continue to post a strong performance on year-over-year basis, reports the Premier Beverage Group?s recent analysis of an industry report by Morgan Stanley. Fouad Kallamni, founder and president of the group, said the report showed a strong, sustained growth in the energy drink market as reason for optimism in 2012.
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Chelsea title bid difficult - Villas-Boas
вторник, 27 декември 2011 г.
Pit-lane pioneers: Women in Formula One
Hulkenberg replaces Sutil at Force India
Kim Jong Il funeral set for Wednesday
ND1221112
AUGUSTA, Maine ? From Wisconsin to Maine, Republican lawmakers are looking to change child-labor laws to help businesses like grocery stores and restaurants, Bloomberg reports. Child-labor laws became federal laws in 1938 to stop young people from working at factories instead of attending school.
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NASA Astronaut Available Via Internet To Discuss Recruiting
Thane (Northern Indian Ocean)
... TRMM passed over newly formed Tropical Cyclone Thane in the Northern Indian Ocean and saw an organized storm with heavy rainfall and "hot towering" clouds ...
Swansea 1-1 QPR
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Italian tanker hijacked off Oman
