Month: September 2023

7-Eleven announced at its National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) trade show that it has named McLane Co. as the Service Provider of the Year.

This remarkable accolade is awarded to the partner exhibiting exceptional and unwavering service to 7-Eleven franchisees, Franchise Owners Associations (FOAs) and the National Coalition in its entirety.

The award was decided unanimously by NCASEF board members in favor of McLane, and they have lauded McLane as a committed and fully engaged vendor partner.

“I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with McLane over the years,” said Sukhi Sandhu, chairman of NCASEF. “Their steadfast dedication and commitment to quality, efficiency and the success of our franchisees has made them an invaluable partner to us. We are proud to present McLane with this well-deserved award, and we look forward to shared success in the years to come.”

McLane has noted that the reasoning for this distinguished award stems from its resolute alignment with NCASEF’s vision. McLane has worked with 7-Eleven for the past 56 years and assists in servicing more than 9,200 7-Eleven locations spanning 38 states. McLane completes nearly one million deliveries to 7-Elevens each year, carrying a wide range of products from cold beverages, food and candy to health and beauty essentials.

“We are honored to receive this award and excited to continue growing our partnership with such an exceptional retailer,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer. “Our trusted partnership with 7-Eleven is something we’re incredibly proud of at McLane. Our amazing team works hard to bring the best in service, quality, efficiency and customer care, and we thank our teammates who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our partners’ success.”

McLane offers tailored solutions for retail and restaurant customers from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising. McLane’s partnership serves to eliminate barriers of entry for smaller retailers and solve complex logistical challenges for large chains. More information can be found on the company’s website.

Founded in 1894, McLane Co. is one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants and chain restaurants. As an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant businesses, McLane buys, sells, delivers and serves the world’s most popular brands.

Source: Convenience Store Decisions

September 24, 2023

IFDA also recognized McLane teammates as Rising Stars during annual conference

McLane is proud to announce 15 drivers were recently inducted into the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) Truck Driver Hall of Fame. The recognition took place during IFDA’s annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas at a ceremony honoring the exceptional careers and contributions of professional drivers.

“I am immensely proud of the McLane drivers inducted into the Truck Driver Hall of Fame. This well-deserved honor is testament to their outstanding professionalism, unwavering commitment to safety, and the vital role they play in serving our communities” said Susan Adzick, President McLane Restaurant. “I extend my sincere appreciation to the drivers for their dedication to their roles, and to their families for their support.”

McLane’s 2023 IFDA Truck Driver Hall of Fame inductees are:
• Anthony Angei, McLane Milwaukee
• David Broehl, McLane Riverside
• Joseph Casagranda, McLane Milwaukee
• Frank Debellis, McLane Orlando
• David Engleson, McLane Milwaukee
• David Landry, McLane Charlotte
• Chris Lewis, McLane San Antonio
• Randy Lynn, McLane Taylorville
• Fidel Marquez, McLane Arlington
• Michael McCarthy, McLane Riverside
• Pat Osif, McLane Denver
• Donnie Peirce, McLane Arlington
• Michael Rush, McLane Orlando
• Ronald Joe Wells, McLane Haines City
• Charles Windham, McLane Atlanta

To be eligible for the recognition, Hall of Fame inductees must have at least 25 years of employment with an IFDA member company, no chargeable accidents during that time and no moving violations within five years prior to the nomination.

IFDA also named four McLane teammates Rising Stars at the conference—up-and-coming leaders in foodservice distribution who have worked in the industry for at least five years, and demonstrate a record of industry success and innovation:
• Dana Wondercheck, Business Analyst, McLane Houston
• Lilamy Pitt, Accounts Payable Supervisor, McLane San Antonio
• Christopher Howard, Assistant Manager Distribution, Vantix Carrollton
• Stephanie Henry, Customer Service Manager, Vantix Rocky Mount

Congratulations to McLane’s drivers and teammates recognized by IFDA this year. Their contributions and professionalism drive our company forward.

September 12, 2023

McLane recently marked the 50th anniversary of its Mid-Atlantic distribution center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The anniversary was observed with an event on Sept. 8 celebrating the facility’s history and contribution to the area economy with remarks by company leaders, elected officials, and current and former teammates.

“We are proud to recognize this milestone and reflect on the innovation, dedication and excellence that has made McLane Mid-Atlantic what it is today,” said Tony Frankenberger, president and CEO of McLane. “Its success has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of our teammates, the partnership of our customers and suppliers and the support of the communities we serve.”

McLane Mid-Atlantic originally opened in 1973 as Southland Distribution Center, preparing and delivering orders to convenience store locations in the region until McLane Company, Inc. acquired Southland Corporation in 1992. The distribution center now delivers candy, snack, health and beauty, cold and frozen grocery items and additional products to retail customers including leading convenience stores and military exchanges. Each year, Mid-Atlantic drivers drive 3.5 million miles and make more than 30,000 deliveries of nearly 264 million pounds of merchandise across five states.

McLane Mid-Atlantic currently employs nearly 650 teammates who have an average tenure of 12 years. Sixty-nine teammates were originally Southland employees, and 250 teammates have worked at the distribution center for more than 10 years, including division president Jackie Palmer.

“I am incredibly proud of the tenure of our teammates, the pride and care they exhibit for our facility, and their unwavering commitment to delivering the best for our customers,” said Palmer. “With gratitude for the past and excitement for the future, I look forward to continuing this remarkable journey and success together.”

In addition to being a longstanding employer of choice for the region, McLane Mid-Atlantic has given back to the community and supported a range of organizations including the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and area schools. The McLane Mid-Atlantic Pep Squad, a group of volunteer teammates, has spearheaded many of the projects to support their neighbors in need.

“We would like to congratulate McLane Mid-Atlantic for their 50 years of business in Stafford County. McLane Mid-Atlantic has been a true asset to the region, delivering products to a multitude of local convenience and grocery stores, providing hundreds of jobs to our residents, and serving as a community steward participating in local organizations and charities. We look forward to your continued success – thank you for investing in our county, and congratulations on 50 years of business!” remarked Thomas Coen, Vice Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

Convenience stores are synonymous with summer travel across the United States. So, it seems appropriate that McLane Co. Inc. would wrap up its 2023 McLane Engage national tradeshow with closing keynoter Chet Garner presenting the rules of the road.

As host and star of the PBS travel documentary show “Daytripper,” Garner is familiar with the rules — and they not only apply to travel, but also to everyday life and business, he said. According to the Texas native, eight rules to remember are:

1. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
2. Sometimes the right road isn’t paved.
3. Passion is your best fuel.
4. The road is long, bring snacks.
5. The fastest route is not always the best route.
6. Wrong turns are only wrong if you let them be.
7. The people are more important than the road.
8. We are all storytellers, some of us just don’t know it.

“We are all ambassadors for the places from where we come. We just have to lean into it,” Garner said, adding that convenience stores are ambassadors for their communities.

The State of the C-store Consumer

Those eight tips are key for convenience store operators and their partners in the supply chain to keep in mind as the channel’s consumers continue to face headwinds brought on by economic uncertainty.

Is the United States heading toward a recession? According to Nik Modi, analyst with RBC Capital, it doesn’t matter what a recession is — it’s just a technical term. What matters, he said during a session entitled “State of the Union: The Economy, the Consumer, and the Convenience Channel,” is how the consumer feels.

[Read more: McLane Trade Show Engages Convenience Channel at https://csnews.com/mclane-trade-show-engages-convenience-channel]

“It just means that we have two straight quarters of GDP [gross domestic product] decline. That’s all it is. It doesn’t really get to how consumers are feeling and some of the concerns they might have for the future that might impact spending patterns,” Modi said, citing that inflation is having a delayed effect on consumer thinking and behavior.

For example, retailers are starting to see consumers trade down across all income classes, not just the lower and middle classes. “Even at McDonald’s, people are opting not to buy a side of fries. I don’t know if it can get any worse than that,” Modi added.

“This is not just about a lower-ranking-income consumer anymore. We’re starting to see things trickle out to the broader population,” he pointed out. “Sorry to say folks, and I know it’s probably not the message you want, but I do think it’s going to get worse.”

What does this mean for the convenience channel? According to Modi, it’s all about value, which can take several forms like promotions and private label products. Tradedowns also take several forms, including package size, delayed purchases, switching retailers to find lower price points and buy now, pay later options.

To meet the consumer shift toward value, he advised c-store retailers to exploit the relative value, but be purposeful. For example, consumers can buy a 12-pack of beverages and still get a good relative value, yet retailers and manufacturers need to convey that value. “Are you signaling it on your packaging? Are you signaling it in merchandising displays on the front of the window? Are you exploiting relative value? What does it offer within the store vs. what comes outside of the store?” he posed.

Modi also recommended that convenience channel players think about how they can become part of the at-home occasion, especially if unemployment ticks up and people go out less. “What can you do so you don’t fall victim to people spending more time at home and not in your store?” he asked, suggesting ideas like “movie night” bundles with snacks and beverages.

“I think when you think about relative value, you think about what’s going on with the economy. There’s a lot of opportunity for the channel to really be involved in some of these dynamics, but we have to communicate them in the right way so it’s part of the consumer’s thinking and thought process,” he said.

The McLane Engage convention took place Aug. 29-31 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The newly imagined tradeshow experience featured booths from more than 160 exhibitors, as well as a new products showcase. The event also provided the opportunity to build meaningful connections with industry powerhouses and learn from notable experts at a series of educational sessions. 

Temple, Texas-based McLane Co. is one of the largest supply chain services companies in the United States. Through McLane Grocery and McLane Foodservice, it operates more than 80 distribution centers and one of the nation’s largest private truck fleets, and provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its subsidiary, Empire Distributors.

McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Source: Convenience Store News