Grocery stores are key spots for health and wellness products for consumers to meet their health goals. The New Year always brings an influx of people interested in healthier options, but according to the New York Post, over 70% of Americans are more health conscious after the pandemic. This means
C-store Dive summarized a recent Convenience Leaders Vision Group roundtable discussion in which the future of fuel was a hot topic. With federal funding increasing for electric vehicles and sales tripling in 2022, c-store owners are facing new challenges and looking for new ways to address this trend.
goEBT merchant, Tidewater Seafood Shack, has been home to fresh, local seafood products and meals in Norfolk, Virginia for over six years.
SNAP retailers are key access points to healthy, nutritious foods for SNAP recipients. USDA announced a $25M investment for SNAP healthy incentives. This will help SNAP retailers provide coupons, promotions, or special discounts on healthy items like fruits and vegetables for SNAP recipients.
Convenience stores have been upping their foodservice game over the last couple of years. In 2021, foodservice sales reached a record high of $43.2 billion in sales, and 20.5% increase from 2020. Convenience stores are evolving to stops for people to fuel not only their cars, but themselves too.
Grocers, convenience stores, and other specialty retailers could benefit from selling branded merchandise in-store. Selling branded merchandise can increase brand awareness, bring in new customers, improve customer loyalty, and boost sales.
Convenience stores have become popular stops for quick and convenient meals. Foodservice sales increased by 20.5% to $43.2 billion in 2021, yet 6 in 10 shoppers are not happy with the current selection of healthy foods. The post-pandemic world has brought an intense focus on physical health and well-being, as
To kick off a new and exciting year, catch up on goEBT’s top posts of 2022. Find a new business tip, learn something new, or just catch up on goEBT news with the top 5 most viewed posts of 2022…
C-stores experienced a 6.2% growth in in-store sales in 2022, a record high according to c-store news’ state of the industry report. This means that store owners should take a look at their in-store shopping experience and ensure that everything is running smoothly.
For c-store owners, grocers, and other specialty retailer the holidays usually bring in more customers, more sales, and an overall busier store. November and December are often notably busy times of year. C-store owners see an increase in travel which means more people stopping in for fuel or a quick
Being an independent retailer can come with challenges. It may be more difficult to market your business in your community and stand out against the competition, luckily there are a few easy and inexpensive ways to familiarize local customers with your business.
If your store is experiencing high sales and low profits, you may need to re-evaluate your profit margins. Profit margin measures a retailer’s profit after subtracting cost from how much you sell the item for, if this number is positive then you are making money. As a business owner, you
Independent grocers, c-stores, and other specialty retailers are prime pieces in the puzzle of fighting hunger. These retailers are key community pillars that economically support many in their community, especially people like SNAP recipients.
C-stores, grocers, and specialty retailers should gear up for Christmas. The holiday season is certain to be a busy one. 47% of Americans plan to travel this season, according to travel leisure and consumers plan to spend $832.84 on average for holiday items like food and décor and gifts, according
SNAP retailers are always a vital resource for SNAP recipients, but they are especially important during the holiday season. More than 34 million people, including 9 million children, are food insecure during the United States, according to the USDA. With the holiday season revolving largely around gathering with friends and
USDA’s recent blog shares a few food safety musts that will ensure everyone practices proper food safety this Thanksgiving. Here are 3 important food safety tips to remember according to the USDA…
The c-store retail environment has been seemingly ever-changing over the past few years. A big question many convenience store owners may have is, what does the future of c-store retail really look like?
Grocers, c-stores, bodegas, and specialty retailers can benefit from more people cooking at home due to inflation. While consumers are quick to cut back in other areas, food is always going to be a necessity.
C-store owners should recognize the importance of having a stable inventory of fresh foods. Convenience has become a non-negotiable expectation for consumers. People want one-stop-shops that are quick, easy, and affordable. Since c-stores are no longer the only business catering to this need, retailers should focus on going beyond convenience
SNAP retailers can benefit from knowing what produce is in season. SNAP-Ed emphasizes the added benefits of buying seasonal produce and provides this resource for what produce is in season now.
Retailers already know how busy the holiday season can become, but with that comes challenges. The holidays can be expensive for Americans, which is a challenge for anyone but especially for SNAP recipients.
Retailers, it’s already that time of year again! Time to start preparing your retail space and inventory for the upcoming holidays. With Christmas and Thanksgiving being the top 2 most celebrated holidays in the United States, there is no doubt that this time of year makes retailers a lot busier.
C-Stores’ fresh/prepared food sales increased 21.3% from 2020, according to NACS 2021 industry report. With this fact in mind, more c-stores may choose to feature prepared foods so it is really important to be educated in food safety so your store can continue to enjoy boosted fresh food sales.
USDA’s SNAP-Ed program is an amazing resource for SNAP retailers as well as SNAP recipients. The program focuses on educating people on how to live a healthy life and how to make the most of their SNAP dollars, organizing nutrition education classes and social marketing campaigns, as well as takes
Food deserts are defined by the USDA as “low-income census tracts with a substantial number or share of residents with low levels of access to retail outlets selling healthy and affordable foods.” In food deserts it is extremely difficult for kids, families, and communities to access foods that promote health
Retailers should prepare their stores for Halloween! Whether it’s making sure you’re stocked up on plenty of candy or getting your Halloween themed displays prepped and ready to go, the holiday is quickly approaching so make sure your store is ready to go for the festivities!
In honor of National Farm to School Month, let’s learn the importance of supporting adequate nutrition and balanced plates.
National Farmers Day is celebrated today, October 12th, the perfect date since it is near the end of harvesttime. Farmers only make up 2% of America yet their impact extends to us all, so let’s celebrate our farmers today and every day!
USDA celebrates National School Lunch Week, a celebration of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), October 10th-14th, 2022. This year’s theme is “peace, love, and school lunch,” a fun 70’s theme that will make your school cafeteria a little groovier this week.
FNS National Farm to School Month takes place each October and is supported by USDA. The goal is to support farmers while also providing nutritious, balanced plates to schoolchildren. This month also celebrates food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.
Louisiana announced an increase in SNAP benefits beginning October 1st, 2022 in response to increased cost of living. This is the second more recent increase, the first of which was on October 1st, 2021 and was the first reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) in 45 years.
Keeping up with changing requirements for proper age verification can be a challenge for retailers. It is difficult to keep regulators, customers and even your employees satisfied. How do you balance between having a strict 100% ID check policy, trusting your employees to make good judgements, and keeping your regular
TruAge is an innovative, universally accepted age-verification system that makes it more accurate to verify an adult customer’s age when purchasing age-restricted products, and at the same time makes identity theft difficult. One-time-use digital tokens are used to share only the most important elements to confirm the purchaser is of legal age, which
Retailers nationwide are preparing to accommodate all things fall this season – from seasonal produce to Halloween candy and more! In honor of the first day of fall, let’s dive in to what inventory trends you should expect to see this fall.
Retailers are facing supply chain issues that can lead to food inventory shortages. Amidst many other issues like rising costs and labor shortages, low inventory is the last thing retailers want to deal with. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent this, according to Marketman…
Inflation is another challenge retail stores are having to face this year. Rising costs can hit businesses hard, but there are ways you can work towards minimizing the impact inflation has on your business. Here are 4 ways you can combat inflation at your retail store, according to a blog
SNAP spending reached an all-time high of $113.8 billion in fiscal year 2021, according to the USDA. This is largely due to recent economic challenges in the last few years and the expansion of SNAP benefits during the pandemic.
Hunger Action Month happens each year during the month of September and is designed for people to come together to join the fight against hunger. Today marks the first day of September, making today a great time to learn about how you can make a difference. Here are 5 ways
Retailers, especially grocers and c-stores, can experience a major rush during this holiday weekend as people prepare for cookouts and road trips.
The USDA backs farming diversity with the announcement of a $550 million funding increase on August 24th, 2022, to “support projects that enable underserved producers to access land, capital, and markets, and train the next, diverse generation of agricultural professionals.” With only about 9% of US farmers belonging to minority
Data security is a critical part of any retail store. Convenience store and grocery store computers and POS can hold a variety of personal data–from customer data to employee data and even store owner data–so it is important to make sure that information is kept safe from a data breach.
Retail store owners of convenience stores, grocery stores, specialty retail and the like can experience big benefits by investing in technology. It has made its way into almost every facet of our lives and has proven to be a necessity. Although technology can have its drawbacks, there is no doubt
Farmers fuel food sustainability by using digital agriculture platforms that improve farming efficiency and optimize the food supply chain. Technology has been optimizing every area of our lives since the digital revolution began, so it only makes sense that this idea made its way into our food system. Here are
Local farmers and the USDA bring fresh local food to schools to enrich the connection communities have with local food producers with the Farm to School grant program. This program was a part of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, like the National School Lunch Program, that aims
The USDA announced an $8 million dollar increase in funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) Produce Prescription Program on August 10th, 2022. This investment comes as a part of continued efforts from the USDA to increase health and nutrition security for those in need.
Age verification is important now more than ever since there are approximately 54,000,000 age-restricted transactions per day. The United States has laws in place that protect minors from age-restricted items, and if your store accidentally makes an age-restricted sale to a minor, then you could possibly face legal trouble. Here
The National School Lunch Program is arguably the most important anti-hunger program for school children in the United States. As we welcome kids back to school for the 2022-2023 school year, let’s learn more about the NSLP and its impact in the United States …
FNS reauthorization might sound like another painful task you want to put off, but the reality is the process is easier than you think! How do you know you need to apply for FNS reauthorization? You will receive a letter in the mail telling you that it is time to
Food insecurity has become a larger and larger issue over the last few years, but the USDA has been working diligently to help lessen the impacts of this issue.
On July 22, 2022, the USDA announced a funding increase “to help schools continue to serve kids healthy meals this coming school year and provide financial relief for schools and child care providers.” The increase will be effective July 1, 2022, and schools will receive an additional $0.68 per free/reduced
EBT, the payment system for SNAP benefits, is available in more farmers markets than you may think. In fact, EBT is accepted in farmers markets in all 50 states! EBT being accepted in farmers markets provides a number of benefits for both farmers and SNAP recipients including…
Labor shortage is just one of the many impacts the pandemic has had on our economy. In 2021, 47 million workers resigned from their jobs to find more flexible workplaces. The pandemic seemed to make more workers realize they value work-life balance above all else, and they won’t settle for
From COVID-19 to conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war to rising costs from inflation and food supply chain issues, the last two-and-a-half years have not been easy for any of us. COVID-19 has impacted nearly every facet of our lives worldwide, but it has had a particularly strong impact on food
On July 11th, 2022, the USDA announced their P-EBT program, which is a partnership with 27 states and territories (and growing) that provides summer food benefits to eligible children. For years, the summertime has been a struggle for millions of families who rely heavily on the school system to feed
Are you a store owner looking for a quick snapshot of the retailer application for SNAP? Our free EBT resources are exactly what you need if you are interested in applying to accept SNAP! Before you get started on the application take our SNAP retailer quiz to see if you
Active shooter situations are increasing. What can grocery store and convenience store owners do to prepare for these terrifying situations? It is no secret that active shooter cases have been on the rise over the last several years, and with the recent grocery store shootings in Colorado, Florida and New
SNAP recipients come from a variety of backgrounds and situations. While we may think we know who uses SNAP, the reality is SNAP recipients are far more diverse than most people realize, and can include your friends, neighbors, family, coworkers, etc. SNAP users are more varied and a lot closer
The USDA has announced a new framework that aims to create a more fair, competitive, and resilient food system. This system builds on the existing work the USDA has been doing since 2021 to address supply chain and structural issues. The last few years have shown issues in our food
SNAP retailer requirements are strict, and keeping track of mistakes can be a complex process. Although SNAP fraud is relatively rare, failure to comply with program rules can result in severe consequences for your business, such as: Temporary or permanent disqualification from the program Monetary penalties and fines Criminal prosecution To help you navigate program rules, we’ve put together a list of common
Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program has provided nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches in schools to improve the health and wellbeing of America’s children. Research shows school meals may be the healthiest food children receive in a day, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, August 16, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result of this re-evaluation, the average SNAP benefit–excluding additional funds provided as part of COVID-19 pandemic relief–will increase beginning on October 1, 2021.
80+ Years of Serving Los Angeles… from Locals to Celebrities goEBT EBT processing merchant Hawkins House of Burgers, home to “The Best Burger in Los Angeles,” has been a staple in the Watts neighborhood of southeast Los Angeles for more than 80 years. Cynthia Hawkins, the youngest of 14 children,
50 Years and Counting in the Food Industry goEBT EBT processing merchant Sr. Cliff’s Texas Style Burritos, home of the original Soul Man burrito, has been providing Afro-Mexican fusion food to the Compton community since 1992. However, the story of this community staple actually began in 1969, when founder and
EBT Processor goEBT Adds Credit Processing, Smart Payment Terminals to Service Offering goEBT+ payment terminal application enables EBT, credit processing on one smart device
goEBT will be at the GACS 2020 Southern Convenience Store and Petroleum Tradeshow and Convention in Macon, GA on Tuesday, November 17-19, at the Macon Centreplex. The GACS 2020 Southern Convenience Store and Petroleum Tradeshow and Convention serves convenience store owners and operators in the Southeast, making it the perfect
Amidst Economic Uncertainty, Pandemic, CDE Grows Employee Headcount by 33%, Adds Office in Greater Atlanta Marietta-based payment solutions provider expands presence with new office space, staff
Bluefin and CDE Partner to Provide Secure Payment Services to Essential Businesses Despite COVID-19 Restrictions Companies leverage PCI-validated P2PE to protect business continuity for healthcare
According to the Small Business Administration, the second leading cause of business failure is insufficient or delayed financial support. In many cases, this is brought about by a poor business credit score. If you are unaware, a business’ credit score is similar to a personal credit score. A person’s credit can
Now more than ever the American people will be turning to local businesses to meet their families’ nutritional needs. With the economic impact of COVID-19 the number of applicants for government assistance has doubled. As part of the U.S. government’s $2T stimulus package, an additional $15.5B has been allocated to
It’s no secret that in today’s world, businesses and consumers are more mobile than ever before. With this evolution there has been increasing demand for more wireless payment devices and solutions. Providing an ideal mobile point of sale experience requires having reliable network connection that doesn’t cost a fortune. CDE
Being environmentally friendly is nothing new, and in most markets, it is becoming more important from a business perspective that you attempt to protect the planet. There are a million ways to reduce energy use, recycle or use recycled goods, and eliminate environmentally harmful products from circulation. In today’s blog,
While we have numerous customers scattered across the country with unique qualities, this month’s Merchant Spotlight provides a wide range of products and services for their customers that many others can not match. Knicker Knacker Market and Grocery Store has built a business for anyone that may come walking through
A large part of gaining favoritism among legislation is bringing these officials to your level as a store owner and showing them how valuable your business is. In recent years, the value that C-stores provide to their community was lost in the eyes of legislators. Laws did not exist to
It’s unfortunate to admit but with past legislation, many C-Stores were left on the hook for crimes not caused by themselves. Recent years saw many convenient stores covering for issues caused by processing companies and credit consolidators like Equifax. These issues, mainly data breaches, cost millions of dollars to consumers
Technology is always making advancements to help whatever industry they are implemented in. Retail is no different and over the past decade, plenty of innovations have hit the market to make business life easier and improve a customer’s shopping experience. In this blog, we will list our top 10 favorite developments,
In business, time is money, and if you are spending too much time trying to maintain your store, you may be losing money in the process. Organization is more important than most people realize and it can drastically affect how customers perceive your business and how you run it. If
As younger generations reach the age of 18 and older, technology will continue to make advancements in the private sector. These tech-savvy individuals will expect the latest, most convenient, and most secure technology in nearly every aspect of their lifestyles as they move through the world. While many companies already
Issues with high sales and low profits usually relate back to your store’s product margins. Margins refer to the amount you spend on a good versus how much you sell it for. Simply put, when you subtract your cost of a good from the amount that you sold it for, the
As the title mentions, this blog is meant to assist the businesses who struggle with high traffic coming into their store, and their ability to cater to all their clientele efficiently. While the profits from consistent rushes are great for your wallet, if you are unable to help every customer
Delivery services have been established for decades now, but have not seen a lot of change until “recently” with Amazon. When I say recently, yet Amazon revolutionized delivery a few years ago by offering same-day delivery. It didn’t take long before other companies began to offer the same thing, and
Roeser’s Bakery is much more than just your average, every day bakery. This bakery’s owner, John Roeser, has made sure that his bakery caters to customers in a way that stands out among the rest. First, he draws them in with the glow of his 20-foot neon sign that shines
As a business, it is crucial to have a plan for how you reach your audience and how immersive you make the experience. People generally think in a way of promoting their business on individual channels i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and many others. With each of these multi-channeled approaches, it
If you watch or read the news fairly regularly, you’ve probably heard talk of something called “Bitcoin”. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which allows for payments between two parties without the need for a third party or banking institution to complete a transfer of funds. This means that digital exchanges carry
Amazon continues its “new” venture by implementing one of its C-Stores in the city of Chicago. The store is beginning to gain traction and becoming a huge hit with people living in a city. Now for the business owners located in Chicago, it may be best to innovate your location
Nearly 1/3 of small businesses struggle to pay vendors, bank loans, and their staff. The issue is usually not a result of low sales, rather, an issue in payment processing. For some businesses, it takes up to a month for banks to process each payment. With some payment processing solutions,
One of the most important parts of starting or owning a business is making sure there is a market for your products. Depending on your business type, where you decide to set up shop can make or break your business before it even starts. Since many of you have already planted
Customer loyalty is not just built in your store. There is no doubt that having a good relationship with your customers is important, but showing you care for the community outside of your business is vital. Being active in the community where your business is located can make a world of
The first day of Summer is on the horizon, but what have you done to get ready for increased sales? Depending on where you are located summer can either be great for business or not at all. No matter which side you may fall on, you need to be prepared to
Payment Securities are at the forefront of business needs. Banks are constantly updating and improving their technologies to keep their customers safe and reduce liability. EMV chips were mandated in the U.S. nearly 4-years ago for in-store purchases. Businesses had to adapt to this “new” form of payment or accept
TravelCenters (TA) of America has begun to incorporate their rest locations and restaurants in 43 states on May 23rd. After a meeting between board members, the company elected to go public and liquidate what it had in assets into stocks to be openly traded on the market. Now, you may
The old saying goes, “If something isn’t broken then don’t fix it”. For some of these big C-store chains, it would seem that they figured out the proper way to grow a business and haven’t looked back. So, what should you do as a start-up or a relatively new C-store?
Nearly 221 billion dollars are lost each year due to credit card fraud and scams around the world. Financial institutions take steps to prevent these incidents from happening, yet, some scammers seem to slip through the cracks. Here are some tips to protect your business from credit card scams.
If you have been reading our goEBT blog articles, you know that we try our hardest to feature information that covers all the most important topics for small business owners, especially those in the food retail space and those that accept SNAP EBT benefits. While we’re always keeping our eyes
Many small business owners hope to continue expanding their business to make more money. While growing your business and opening additional locations may seem like an easy way to increase profits, taking on the responsibility of yet another business location is nothing to take lightly. If you’re considering this major
As a follow up to our last article about the importance of keeping up with the latest and greatest technology in your business, we’d like to use this article to talk about payment technology specifically. Because payments are the only way that your business will be able to make money,
Because owning and operating a small business usually means trying to learn and do most things on your own, many store owners in the convenience and grocery industry try to keep the number of new things they try low. However, this has proven to be a bad strategy when store
While the standard convenience stores and gas stations make up the bulk of our goEBT merchants, we also serve a number of other types of stores who like to be able to accept EBT as a form of payment. Plus, many of our convenience and grocery store merchants are finding
You may have heard about the exciting opportunities being created by the legalization of marijuana and marijuana products throughout the country. You may have also heard about the unique opportunities for success that many c-store owners are eager to take advantage of. However, as you are considering venturing into the
Earlier this year, Hawaii lawmakers proposed a bipartisan bill that would begin to eliminate cigarettes from the entire state over the next several years. This new bill aims to first raise the legal purchasing age for tobacco to 100 years old. That’s right, if approved, this new law would make
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