Cumberland Farms Brews up a Free Cup of Coffee for New Years Eve Revelers

This New Years Eve Cumberland Farms is making it a little easier to keep perky as we bid so-long to 2008 and welcome 2009. From 5 pm on New Years Eve until 5 am on New Years Day all Cumberland Farms locations will be giving away a cup of its new Farmhouse Blend and original piping hot coffee - on the house for the second year in a row. Search for a Cumberland Farms near you by clicking here.

Gulf Express Convenience Store Opens with Donation

To celebrate the grand opening of its latest convenience store, a Gulf Express station located in Framingham, Cumberland Farms presented the Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest with a $1,000 donation last week.

The Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest serves more than 600 young people per day in Framingham, Marlborough and Hudson, Mass. Students in elementary school through high school participate in after-school programs ranging from technology to gym activities.

Through Cumberland Farms’ Corporate Giving Program for Youth, the company works to improve the prospects for young people; encourages and supports young people’s achievements in business and leadership; and provides educational opportunities for young people.

Good news! Grape juice isn't bad for your waist, says study

This just in from Welch Foods, Inc. of Concord, MA - drinking polyphenol-packed 100-percent Concord grape juice isn't associated with significant weight gain or changes in appetite, and may actually reduce waist circumference. That's according to new study data presented at the 49th annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition. The study examined the effect of regular consumption of 100-percent Concord grape juice on body weight, diet quality and markers of metabolic syndrome, compared to a placebo grape-flavored beverage.

Visit www.welchs.com for more information on the study. Visit your local Cumberland Farms to purchase Welch's grape juice.

Top 10 Retail Movies

There are dozens of movies about retailing that have been released over the years. The following Top 10 are from Retail Info News:

1. Elf, 2003 Will Farrell is raised by Santa's elves, but it is time for him to find his birth family in New York City. Scenes take place in Gimbel's to complete the off-made connection between Christmas and retailing.
2. You've Got Mail, 1998 AOL product placement romance remakes 1940 film "The Shop Around the Corner." Meg Ryan is an independent bookstore manager while Tom Hanks is scion of a family that runs a mega chain.
3. Mallrats, 1995 Kevin Smiths second film also features Jay and Silent Bob. Although less successful than "Clerks," it has achieved cult status. Shenanigans are carried out by Shannon Doherty and Ben Affleck.
4. Clerks, 1994 slacker comedy introduced to cinema Jay and Silent Bob. Made on a budget of $27,000 and shot at a convenience store in New Jersey where the director, Kevin Smith, worked.
5. Mannequin, 1987 An artist makes a store mannequin so perfect it comes to life at night in the form of Kim Cattrel, from "Sex and the City." Movie largely takes place in a large New York City department store.
6. High Fidelity, 2000 Dramedy about record shop owner examining the past to figure out why he can't maintain a relationship. Arrested development is clear from the vinyl records he specializes in.
7. Miracle on 34th Street, 1947 Yes, there is a Santa Claus, Virginia. Timeless, uplifting drama moves from Macy's flagship store to a psychiatric hospital to a courtroom, where Santa Claus is put on trial.
8. Employee of the Month, 2006 To get an idea about this movie all you have to know is it was a Jessica Simpson vehicle. It makes the list because the entire movie is set in a large , warehouse club store.
9. Empire Records, 1995 Comedic day in the life of an independent record store fighting for survival against a large chain. Wacky employees, including a young Renee Zellweger and Liv Tyler, save the store.
10. 40 Year Old Virgin, 2005 Four buds at an electronics superstore learn Steve Carrell hasn't "done the deed." Carrell meets Catherine Keener, manager of an iSold It store. "It" finally happens.

Looking for a great retail career? Check out some of the job openings at Cumberland Farms here

Do not take a holiday from interviewing

Many jobseekers take a vacation from the job search during the holidays, figuring that no one is hiring. This is a mistake on their part, but one that can be used to the diligent jobseeker’s advantage. The fact is employers are hiring all the time. If there is a need for workers, then it does not matter if it is the week of Christmas. And, while it is true that some of those you wish to interview with are on vacation, many others will be working throughout the holidays. Jobseekers who keep up their interviewing schedule during the holidays, or even try to increase their activity, will likely be rewarded with several interviews.

Looking for a job? Check out Cumberland Farms!

The Stop That Keeps You Going Careers That Keep You Growing

$1 per Gallon Gas? Cumberland Farms CEO Says It May Be

One day after a petroleum industry expert said oil prices will likely bottom out at $40 to $50 per barrel next year, Gulf Oil and Cumberland Farms CEO Joe Petrowski said the price of oil could sink to as low as $20 per barrel and pump prices may plummet to $1 per gallon by early next year.
"The oil market is a manic-depressive market. It tends to over shoot," said Petrowski told WCVB-TV in Boston. "The market overshot last summer on the high side. Oil should never should have gone to $147, but it did and it can."
Now Petrowski believes the slide in oil prices will continue and overshoot on the low side. "There is a better than 25-percent probability that we'll see oil go as low as $1 a gallon sometime after the first of the year," he said.
Dramatically lower gas prices would essentially be similar to a rebate check for consumers, he said. The drop may even help ease the country out of the recession.
What will you do with the money saved at the pump?

Gulf Oil Unveils E85 Fueling Station

Last week Gulf Oil, LP opened its first e85 fueling station in New England to service commuters with Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs).

According to Gulf Oil officials the station is an important milestone to expand Massachusetts and New England's fuel resources, providing greater access to affordable and environmentally friendly alternative fuels. There are more than 75,000 FFVs registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, about 4,000 of which are located within a 5-mile radius of the new Gulf Oil e85 fueling station, located at 100 Service Road at Logan Airport.

According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, there are more than 1,800 E85 ethanol fueling stations in the U.S. E85 is also more affordable and environmentally friendly than conventional gasoline. For instance, drivers who filled up with e85 in August paid on average 68 cents a gallon less than their counterparts who used conventional gasoline. In addition, e85 reduces ozone-forming pollution by 20 percent, green house gases by 30 percent, according to the Argonne National Laboratory.

Gulf Oil CEO Joseph Petrowski said the opening is the result of two strong partnerships that seek to bring alternative fuels to the state. The first is between Gulf Oil and the station's operator Energy North and its President Ken Black who is committed to broaden its fuel options from traditional petroleum to a more varied and secure domestic source of bio fuel. The second partnership is between the public and private sectors including the federal Energy Department and Massachusetts Representation Bill Delahunt, Governor Deval Patrick, and state Energy Secretary Ian Bowles.

'Forbes' Names Top Private C-Store Companies

The 2008 Forbes list of the 100 largest U.S. private companies is out, and nine convenience stores made the cut.
Flying J topped the c-store segment at No. 16 (moving up from No. 19 last year. Love's Travel Stops made the list at No. 25 (jumping up from No. 42 last year). Cumberland Farms held its spot at No. 35 (same as last year).
QuikTrip moved up three places from last year to No. 37. Sinclair Oil came in at No. 45 (losing a little ground from last year's No. 38 spot). Colonial Group, operating Enmark gas stations and convenience stores, took dead center of the list at No. 50 (moving up seven spots from its place last year).
RaceTrac Petroleum skipped up five places from last year, earning the No. 56 spot of this year's list. Wawa came in at No. 69, dropping five places from its position in 2007. Sheetz made the list at No. 82, gaining ground from its place last year of No. 98.Beyond just the Top 100, Forbes total list of top private companies in the United States (with $1 billion or more in 2007 revenue) included 441 companies employing 6.2 million people and accounting for $1.8 trillion in total revenues.
Other convenience store companies that made the expanded list include: U.S. Oil (No. 211), Thorntons (No. 250), Kum & Go (No. 283), and Brookshire Brothers (No. 361).

Cumberland Farms offers free coffee on Fridays

Cumberland Farms is offering free cups of coffee on Fridays through early December at its roughly 500 convenience-store-and gas-station locations.

Cumberland Farms said in a press release: "The company dedicated six months to researching, testing, and tasting blends with its coffee roaster to create a delicious new taste, at an unexpected price. Farmhouse Blend is a medium roast with a smooth, harmonious flavor. Because Cumberland Farms understands the importance of offering its consumers a great cup of coffee at an affordable price, customers can pour a cup of Farmhouse Blend for free every Friday through Dec 5. Additionally, all hot beverages, of any size, will be just 99 cents, every day of the week. (For those loyal to Cumberland Farms original coffee, that's still available too.)"
Cumberland Farms press release included a statement from Ari Haseotes, the chain's president and chief operating officer.

"We felt the time was right to offer our customers an updated and delicious coffee choice at a great price," Haseotes said. "A great cup of coffee shouldn't cost as much as a gallon of gas, nor should anyone have to take a lot of time out of the day to get it. Farmhouse Blend is another way we provide our customers with value and convenience."

Do you have experience working with coffee, fast food and providing great customer service? Looking for a great career? Apply now to some of the best jobs in the convenience store industry.

Cumberland Farms is set to kick off food drive

Cumberland Farms, the Canton-based convenience-store chain, said it has partnered with Massachusetts 4-H to mobilize a food drive that will benefit food pantries across the Bay State.

Starting Monday and running through November 15, people can drop off all non-perishable food at any of the 190 Cumberland Farms stores in the state as 4-H members aim to collect 12,000 pounds of food.

Citing statistics from Project Bread, Cumberland Farms noted in a press release that on in three Massachusetts children lives in a family that struggles to put food on the table - "a figure that is unfortunately only worsening in the current troubled economy."

"Too many people in Massachusetts don't have enough to eat," Cumberland Farms chairman and chief executive Lily Bentas said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner with 4-H in this food drive, easing the burden of families in need."

The Cumberland Farms press release added, "The 4-H will retrieve the donations from the Cumberland Farms stores, delivering the food to local food banks in each county, from Barnstable to Berkshire, from Norfolk to Middlesex, from Worcester to Plymouth and in between."

A Good Retail Job - Framingham, MA

This is an exciting opportunity that could be the start of a great career with Cumberland Farms! We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who enjoy helping customers. Join us as a Manager-In-Training and show our customers what good customer service is all about!

As Store Manager you will manage a retail location using critical information from state-of-the-art in-store computer systems, maximize profits using proven marketing and merchandising strategies, analyze store financial data for cost containment, inventory management and hire, train and develop employees to their fullest potential.

Cumberland Farms, Inc., offers a competitive employee benefits program. We offer benefits to salaried, full time and part time hourly employees. If you're looking for an exciting career with a progressive company and an excellent benefits package, then apply today!

The Stop That Keeps You Going Careers That Keep You Growing

Now You See Them...Retailers Need to Engage Fast with Gen Y New Hires

Employers must win over their younger new hires quickly, according to a survey of more than 2,500 senior human resources executives conducted by Boston-based global consulting firm Novations Group (www.novations.com).

About half of the executives (51 percent) reported that they have between one and six months to show Generation Y employees that the company is the best place for them. One-quarter (26 percent) indicated they have less than a month to do so!

This means retail managers have a short window of time to capture the hearts and minds of Gen Y new hires. Some simply tactics to improve Gen Y retention are:

• Making sure that every applicant gets a realistic job preview and a clear sense of what to expect from he company.
• Try to connect new hires with other employees

Facing Facts

If you're wondering what the face of Facebook users looks like, you're not alone. The Simultaneous Media Usage Study (SIMM) conducted last December by BIGresearch offers some insight.

Amound survey participants who indicated that they go to Facebook most often for fun/entertainment:

• 64 percent are female
• 63 percent are ages 18 to 24
• 73 percent regularly view photos from friends
• 59 percent regularly IM/chat while online
• For women's clothing, they shop most often at Forever21, American Eagle and Old Navy
• For men's clothing , they shop most often at American Eagle, Kohl's and JCPenny
  

Believe and Achieve Scholarship Program

Cumberland Farms hosts the third year of its Believe and Achieve Scholarship open to college-bound seniors. The program awards about 80 individual scholarships of $1,000 to students in the Northeast and Florida.

The Believe and Achieve Scholarship program is open to students who live within 30 miles of any Cumberland Farms. The program is also open to children of Cumberland Farms employees. While the initiative takes academic performance into account, the award also considers students’ financial needs.

Applications can be submitted online through http://www.cumberlandfarms.com/ from Oct. 15 through Dec. 15. Information about the Believe and Achieve Scholarship, including entry criteria and deadlines, is available online as well as at Cumberland Farms locations.

Save money at the pump by carpooling

Do you realize how much your commute may be costing you? Everyone is concerned about prices at the fuel pump, but there's more to a commute than just the cost of gas. The average Massachusetts household spends more on transportation than it does on food: 15% of its income. Of the 3 million people who commute in Massachusetts each day, 74% of them drive alone. Why spend your time and money in traffic? Choose an alternative to driving alone -- carpooling, vanpooling, transit, and others. You may have more options than you think. If you live in Massachusetts, click here for more information on MassRIDES. MassRIDES can help you find others who share your commute!

Working in Retail

Retail continues to be an industry with enormous growth potential. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the retail sector is expected to increase to more than 26 million employees by the year 2010. Retailers are always looking for good people with a commitment to customer service, the ability to work in a team environment and who can work through complex situations with problem solving skills. Working in retail offers many exciting opportunities for dedicated individuals.

An Example Retail Career Path:

Area Sales Manager - Supervises a territory of stores

Store Manager - Responsible for the day-to-day operations

Manager-in-Training - Trains to run a store

Customer Service Associate - Can be part-time or full-time

4 Quick Tips to Finding a Great Job on the Internet

1. Research Yourself On-line
Do some research on your cyber identity. Enter your name into Google, Yahoo, MSN. What comes up? Does a simple search of your name turn up offensive writing, less than professional photos, or activities that could turn off a potential boss? If so, you need to clean up your image, fast. Many employers use search engines and social-networking sites to research candidates.
2. Network On-line
Get yourself on LinkedIn or other professional networks. Make the most of these sites by building contacts and asking mentors or former employers to recommend you.
Many companies use LindedIn for recruiting.
3. Think Twice Before You Hit Send
The Internet makes it easy to send out resumes. Consider quality over quantity. Research each opportunity and to tailor your resume and cover letter to each employer and position. Add key words to your resume that are from the industry to let the employer know you understand the job duties.
4. Don't Forget To Say "Thank You"
Even when the Web helps you land the interview, remember to send an old-fashioned thank-you note as soon as possible. Handwritten notes make the best impression and will sometimes put you on the top of the list for call backs!

Free Resume Builder

Many people working in retail do not have a resume. They are very confused about resume writing. The biggest difficulty is knowing where to start or what to include. They don't know what to write in a good resume and what not to write. For example, a good resume does not have to be just one page in length or follow a specific resume format. Every resume is a one-of-a-kind marketing communication.

I think I can help.

If you are one of these frustrated individuals trying to create a great resume, try using my Resume Builder to write your winning resume. When you are done, check out the jobs that are available or download your resume and go. It's easy.

When your new resume gets you an interview with a great company, come back and check out my Interview DON'Ts before you go to the interview. I wish you all the best in your search for a new job.

Important Interview DON'Ts

Most job seekers and recent graduates know what to do on a job interview: Sell why they are best for the job. Sadly, many of these same job seekers make common mistakes during the same interview. Sometimes their mistakes cost them a great retail job.

Use these tips on what not to do during your next retail interview:

• Show up unprepared
• Have nothing to say
• Say too much
• Trash a former employer
• Give too many personal details
• Fidget, bite your nails, or drum your fingers
• Bring only one copy of your resume
• Sit before you’re offered a chair
• Show up late
• Discuss money, time off or benefits unless an offer has been made
• Ask no questions
• Get too comfortable
• Give vague answers
• Use foul language
• Act as if they need you more than you need them
• Forget to shake hands
• Fail to follow up
• Fail to send a thank you note
  

Retail Store Manager Careers

This exiting opportunity could be the start of a great retail career!

Are you an enthusiastic individual who enjoys helping customers? Would you like to turn your "job" into a career?

Consider becoming a retail Manager-In-Training and show customers what good customer service is all about!
As a Manager-in-Training you will be trained to manage a retail location using critical information from a state-of-the-art windows based computer system.
Many retail stores recognize success is directly related to the success of each employee. That is why Cumberland Farms invests so heavily in training and development. The Company's unique Manager-in-Training program emphasizes the learning process to ensure learning takes place, identifies, defines and conveys management skills utilizing in store mentoring, includes instruction by our best, most experienced Training Managers, and provides self-paced, hands-on practice to reinforce newly learned skills.

Your new retail career starts at Cumberland Farms.

Resume Tips

Tips for writing a great resume

Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume. Once you have determined an objective you can structure your resume around that objective.

1. Think of your resume as a marketing tool. Market yourself through your resume. Why should a company hire you?
2. Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job. You want to generate enough interest to be called in for an interview. Use the interview to provide a more detailed explanation of your accomplishments.
3. Use bulleted sentences. Resumes are read quickly. Bullets make it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb it.
4. Lead with your strengths. Put strengths first where they are more apt to be read.
5. Accent the positives. Focus on job duties that support your objective.
6. Use action words. Action words cause your resume to pop. For example, prepared, developed, monitored, and presented.
7. Use #'s, $'s and %'s. Numbers, dollars, and percentages stand out in the body of a resume.
8. Construct your resume to read easily. Remember, resumes are reviewed quickly. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and effectively.
9. Have someone else read your resume. They may help you discover items you left off your resume.

Company honored for operational excellence

Cumberland Farms receives CSP Magazine's

2007 Outlook Leadership Award

Cumberland Farms was selected by CSP Magazine to receive its 2007 Outlook Leadership Award for Operational Excellence. Cumberland Farms had the highest overall scores in a mystery shop survey involving seven other chains.

"We are extremely happy for our Store Managers and Area Sales Managers," said Vice President of Store Operations David Merriam. "They work very had to ensure that our customers consistently have a pleasant and positive shopping experience. Part of achieving store-level excellence comes through continuously reinventing ourselves to meet the customer's needs and expectations. That means being more than just a place to buy food and gas. It's about offering the products in an environment that's friendly and accessible."