Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/585738
32 Oil Prophets Competition—it's what drives us, both personally and professionally. Staying ahead of the competition in the convenience-store industry is critical to a company's success. In today's ultra-competitive packaged- beverage category, c-store operators face competition from every direction. Archrivals across the street and new entrants from outside the industry, and even packaged-beverage manufacturers themselves, are competing for a piece of a store's cold-vault sales. So how can c-store operators stay ahead of the competition? Take a critical look at the cold vault and make sure you: Have a modern, eye-pleasing 1. design and layout that competes with the other retailer's offerings Have enough room for the ever- 2. broadening variety of beverage types available today Have a well-lit selection that will 3. present the merchandise and entice customers to visit the beverage aisle Stay open, flexible and have the 4. foresight and fortitude to make a change if one is needed Modern Design In the past, a simple store layout with a basic cooler/freezer section was all you needed to be competitive. Today, mass merchandisers, drug stores and supermarkets all target the grab-and- go shopper and, they are doing it with wonderful store designs and layouts. Winning the Cold- Vault Competition By Paul DeVane