'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