Editor's note: Darren Schulte, NATSO vice president of membership, frequently visits NATSO members to review their locations and offers impactful merchandising and operations improvements. Contact Schulte at dschulte@natso.com or (915) 526-5820 to learn more about the costs and details of this service.
Clark Oil is an excellent example of an operator running a successful location. Clark Oil has its roots in the convenience store industry, so it is no surprise that they focus on speed and can move people in and out of the truckstop quickly.
Their cooler performance is critical to them. They have a nice design, a good selection of products and great signage. They are innovative in the candy and cooler sets because they have to be.
Cigarettes and beer are also really important to them, which goes back to their c-store history. They’ll also be more likely to adopt new and innovate products, such as cannabidiol gummies, before other locations. The c-store market is ultra-competitive, which forces the c-store operators to be focused in these areas.
They have several food offerings, including Hunt Bros. Pizza, Churches Chicken and a Huddle House. They compliment these options with grab-and-go foods, a roller grill, Krispy Kreme Donuts and local favorites, such as boiled peanuts.
Join me on a virtual tour:
/// Did you know most weeks can find Darren Schulte, NATSO's Vice President of Membership, visiting a NATSO member truckstop location, spending three to four days, using his merchandising and operations expertise to help them grow their business? Learn about NATSO’s Travel Center Profit Toolbox here.
Photos Credit: Darren Schulte/NATSO
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