February 2006
Royal Buying Group partners with Fintech to represent thousands of convenience stores


Royal Buying Group, Inc. (RBG) based in Hinsdale, Illinois is a national organization dedicated to maximizing sales and profitability of convenience store and petroleum locations. RBG was established in 1995 to help its members increase exposure and lower marketing costs. RBG provides merchandising and marketing services to its membership, helping with selecting, negotiating, implementing and tracking the best possible vendor programs on their behalf. Members and vendor participants all benefit from RBG's cost savings strategies and gain access to quality products and services, proven promotional campaigns and consistent approaches to merchandising and retail execution.

"We are very excited about our partnership with Fintech and providing members with advanced EFT Payment Processing Services for their alcohol purchases. It is very clear that the Fintech solution lowers costs and improves customer service. This important program clearly helps level the playing field for our members in an increasingly competitive and complex business environment. We strongly support the Fintech EFT payment program and appreciate their focus and efforts to provide our members with the highest levels of customer service, quality and advanced technology" said Michael Zielinski, President and CEO, Royal Buying Group.

Reprinted from NACS Online
January 23, 2006


ATLANTA, GA -- Customers who visit Home Depot to pick out paint samples and liquid nails will soon have the option to also fuel up their vehicles, purchase a bag of chips and their favorite soft drink prior to leaving the parking lot.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Home Depot will open the first of four convenience stores in February, Home Depot Fuel, in the Nashville area.

"Home Depot will join a handful of big-box retailers, including Kroger, Wal-Mart and Costco, that have tried using gas stations next to their stores to give consumers another reason to stop in," writes the newspaper.

Within the next five years, Home Depot is planning to have 300 Home Depot Fuel locations in operation, said Home Depot Executive Vice President of Business Development and Operations Frank Blake on Jan. 18.

The first Home Depot convenience store is slated to open on Feb. 1 in Brentwood, Tenn., followed by other stores in June.

"Unlike many other retailers with gas stations, we can offer a convenience store that doesn't compete with the 'host' store," said Blake.

The newspaper writes that each Home Depot location is expected "to ring up from $5 million to $7 million in sales annually," and that the addition of convenience stores "could add $1.5 billion to the chain's total sales by 2010."

Like Home Depot, which reports that construction contractors represent 25 percent of its customer base, convenience stores also cater to construction workers for their morning coffee, gasoline fill-ups and grab-and-go breakfast meals.

"We think the economics here will be attractive," said Blake, adding, "Pro customers are the heaviest weekday users of convenience stores."

Meanwhile, as retailers strive to satisfy consumers with convenience products and gasoline, they are also able to "cross-promote" by offering discounts on fuel when purchasing other in-store merchandise--therefore giving customers "additional incentive to stop in," notes the newspaper.

However, more and more big-box retailers and grocery stores are beginning to realize selling gasoline in conjunction with discounts from in-store sales can boost store traffic and increase their profitability.

"Last year, 3,580 supermarkets, discount retailers and warehouse clubs captured nearly 8 percent of total fuel sales," writes the newspaper, "compared with 75 percent sold by 110,000 convenience stores, according to Energy Analysts International."

EAI also predicted that by 2008, 8 percent market share "will about double to nearly 15.5 percent."
Click here to enter the contest!

First Prize (1 winner)
Accommodations for two at a hotel on Tampa Bay for two nights.

Second Prize (1 winner)
$100 gift certificate to amazon.com

Third Prize (5 winners)
$50 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers such as Target, Costco, Kroger, Exxon, Applebees, Outback and others!


Congratulations Winners!
Please join us in congratulating our winners of our quarterly Fintech Focus newsletter contest (10/05):

First Prize - 2 nights hotel accommodation on beautiful Tampa Bay, FL

Billy Wells - Mid-Georgia Sales Company

Second Prize - $100 gift certificate to amazon.com

Jenifer Noble - Core Mark International

Third Prize - $50 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers

Susan Olsen - Vehrs, Inc.
Sherry Stone - Budco, Ltd.
Cynthia Walker - Spectrum Stores, Inc.
Bill Walsh - Euclid Beverage
Mary Jane Lutz - Rite Aid Corporation
Convenience Stores
Tienda
Beach Oil Company
Blythewood Oil
Quick Gas, LLC
Fairdale Group, Ltd.
East End Gas & Food Mart
La Que Buena, Inc.
Martin Gas & Oil, LLC
Colonial Pantry
Singh Petro 3

Drug Stores
Felker Pharmacy Inc.

Hotels
Best Western - Punta Gorda (Peace River LLC)

Liquor Stores
Dearborn Liquor Group
Westside Liquors
Bob-O-Link Liquors

Supermarkets
Paw Paw Shopping Center
Bassetts Market
Vino Volo
Jack's Grocery

Other
VFW Post 266
Claddagh Pubs of Franklin Park, LLC
Fraternal Order of Eagles - 2647
Orlando Culinary Academy
Archbold Knights of Columbus
Canton Club Event Center 		Restaurants
Twin Beverage of Texas, Inc.
Le Bear Resort, LLC
Bridge Ventures, Inc.
Zapatista
Three Forty One, Inc.
Cheeseburger in Paradise
TLR Coffee House
14 West
University of Dayton
Famous Freddie, LLC
Spicy's Restaurant, Inc.
Yard House Restaurants
Joliena
Landry's
Kenny & Ziggy's Deli
Lariat Steakhouse
Smith & English, Inc.
Zipps Hayden
Goldie's Sports Cafe
Zipps
Jacksonville Inn
Scallon, Inc.
Pelican Restaurants, Inc.
Sequoia Golf Holdings, LLC
Havasu Ice House
Oyster Creek Golf Club, LLC
Mavin Investments
Fox Restaurant, LLC
El Chorro Lodge, Inc.
Kamona, Inc.
BD's Mongolian Barbeque
PJ's Coffee
Boneheads Restaurant
Reel Hospitality, LLC
Kocomo's
Snookie's Bar & Grill
Solo Brioni, Inc.
TMM Corporation
Dallas Woody's Corporation
Mackay Restaurant Group
Cafesano, LLC
Chicago Pizza Northwest, Inc.
Enchiladas, Inc.
Sharkey's Greenvile, Ltd.
Chicago Restaurant Corporation
Alafaya Investments, LLC
Nacho Mama's
Aficionado Wine & Cigars, Ltd.
Chris' Hurricane Grill-West
IRI Shore Holding Inc.
Sixth & Campbell Enterprises
Oakridge Golf Club, LP
Doc Greens Gourmet Salads		 Regulated Distributors
Baton Rouge Beer Agency
Edens Distributing Co., Inc.
Jackson Beverage Company
Rinella Company
Classic Wine Distributors
Jarboe Sales Company
Bennett Distributing Co., Inc.
Needham Distributing
Dalton Beverage
Kuether Distributing
Millenium Beverage
Mid South Distributing
Select Wines, Inc.
Mitchell Wine Group, LLC
Walca Wines
Wines and Wines
Specialty Wines
International Wine & Spirits
Casa de Mescal Importing and Distribution
Elixir Liquors, Inc.
Sommelier, LLC
Johnson Brothers Beverages - Wisconsin
Wine Merchants
San Marcos Sprirts, Inc.
Clyce Distributing
United Beverage
O'Malley Beverage of Kansas, Inc.
Boone Distributing Co., Inc.
Holston Distributing Co., Inc.
International Beers
Fabiano Brothers
Vinoklet Winery, Inc.
PA Short Distributing Company
Lawrence Distributing Company
Wendell Distributing Company
City Beverage
Tuscanino
7702 Woodland Center Blvd., Suite 50 | Tampa, FL 33614