ATLANTA, Georgia — Manufacturers and suppliers offered a variety of solutions taking advantage of technology trends, from mobile to shelf-tag automation. Much of the focus was about marketing to the consumer, but other offers centered around operational efficiencies and convenience store management.Here are a few of the exhibitors that stood out:
U-Gas shows the possibilities of a small-scale foodservice commissary. (CSP Net)
The commissary at U-Gas Inc. was born six years ago with a board-meeting pronouncement from company founder Paul Taylor: “Let’s open a commissary and make a good sandwich.”The company had been supplied with sandwiches from a third party. But unhappy with the product quality, U-Gas hired two deli managers from a local grocery chain to develop a sandwich program from scratch. “We started off with two ladies doing it themselves, making and delivering it, going to stores and ordering what they needed,” says Curtis Springer, director of foodservice for the St. Louis-based chain.Read More
Mobile 2 Go: A CSP Technology Blog 2.1 (CSP Daily)
ARLINGTON, Texas — Part of the conversation surrounding mobile payment is what tangible solutions exist.To that end, Drew Mize, the COO for Arlington, Texas-based The Pinnacle Corp., sat with me to discuss his company’s mobile application or “app,” noting how the larger concept of mobile payments is a definite trend and not a fad.
Tedeschi Food Shops Rolls Out New Ciabatta Sandwiches (CSP Daily)
ROCKLAND, Mass. – Tedeschi Food Shops is proud to announce its newest addition to its expanding fresh food lineup in the fresh case: five new “Signature” sandwiches on fresh artisan cibatta bread.Read More
Securing Mobile (CSP Daily)
FORT WORTH, Texas — While the emergence of mobile phones as a new path for retailers to market themselves and for consumers to pay digitally, the trend also poses a potential minefield for data security, as each mobile phone represents a chance for breach.Speaking before about 175 people at Arlington, Texas-based The Pinnacle Corp.’s annual users conference, Rick Dakin, CEO of Coalfire, Louisville, Colo., a data security analysis and auditing firm, said retailers need to prepare for a new level of vulnerability where answers are few.
Pinnacle People on the Move
ARLINGTON, Texas; August 20, 2013 – The Pinnacle Corporation (Pinnacle) announced today addition of Terry Plunkett to the team as Vice President Sales. Terry has spent the majority of his 20+ year professional career in sales and sales leadership in the IT industry, serving clients across many industries. Most recently he owned a consulting firm working with companies – including Pinnacle – to drive incremental revenue growth by establishing better tools and processes, and by investing in the development of their sales teams. “As I have come to know Pinnacle over the past two years I have been very impressed with the vision, leadership, and character of the leadership team.” says Terry. “I am delighted to be joining Pinnacle, and the capacity for continued growth.”
“We are delighted to welcome Terry to Pinnacle and are confident that his background and expertise will assist us as we continue building on the very positive momentum of the past several years’ growth” says Bob Johnson, Pinnacle’s President and CEO.
Pinnacle is also pleased to welcome the following recent new hires to the Pinnacle team:
Kim Duncan, Marketing Coordinator
Heather McBride, Accounting Assistant
Chad Whitaker, Client Services Palm POS Support Team
About Pinnacle
The Pinnacle Corporation is a leader in the automation technology industry focusing on the rapidly evolving convenience store and petroleum industries. Founded in Arlington, TX in 1990 with its corporate headquarters located in downtown Arlington, Pinnacle delivers products that automate the broad spectrum of convenience store operations and supply chain management of fuel operations. Nationwide, Pinnacle’s products and services are used daily in thousands of convenience outlets to automate and improve their store operations and by fuel marketers to increase their efficiency in the complex management of fuel delivery.
Contact Information:
Heather Smith
The Pinnacle Corporation
1-800-366-1173, extension 254
Pinnacle Renews Microsoft Certified Partner Status (CSP Daily)
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Pinnacle Corp., a leading supplier of automation technology to the convenience retail and petroleum industries, announced that it has renewed two Silver Level Competencies in the Microsoft Partner Network.To earn each Microsoft Silver Competency, Pinnacle completed a set of tests and qualifications to prove a sophisticated level of technology expertise.
Pinnacle Renews Microsoft® Certified Partner Status
ARLINGTON, Texas, June 25, 2013 — The Pinnacle Corporation (Pinnacle), the leading supplier of automation technology to the convenience retail and petroleum industries, announced that it has renewed two Silver Level Competencies in the Microsoft Partner Network. This achievement demonstrates Pinnacle’s ability to meet Microsoft customers’ evolving needs in today’s dynamic business environment. To earn each Microsoft Silver Competency, Pinnacle completed a set of tests and qualifications to prove a sophisticated level of technology expertise.
“We are pleased to renew our certified partner status in the Microsoft Partner Network again for 2013,” said Drew Mize, Pinnacle’s Chief Operating Officer. “This achievement allows us to promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft, and affords our organization benefits that enable us to drive more value into the solutions we deliver to market.”
Microsoft Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training, and support for Microsoft platforms, providing a unique and competitive advantage in the channel. The Microsoft Partner Program was originally launched in October 2003; Pinnacle has maintained its Partner certification status since 2005.
As one of the requirements to participate in the Microsoft Partner Network, Pinnacle had to declare and qualify for at least one specialized Microsoft Competency. These Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities in specific Microsoft technologies, and each has a unique set of requirements and benefits formulated to accurately represent specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. This year Pinnacle achieved two unique Microsoft Competencies at the Silver Level:
Enterprise Resource Planning – recognizing expertise in deploying Microsoft Dynamics business management solutions, with specialization in Microsoft’s Dynamics GP™ platform.
Application Development – recognizing expertise as a Microsoft ISV, software development, and web development capabilities.
About Pinnacle
The Pinnacle Corporation is a leader in the automation technology industry focusing on the rapidly evolving convenience store and petroleum industries. Pinnacle delivers products that automate the broad spectrum of convenience store operations and supply chain management of fuel operations. Nationwide, Pinnacle’s products and services are used daily in thousands of convenience outlets to automate and improve their store operations and by fuel marketers to increase their efficiency in the complex management of fuel delivery.
Contact Information:
Rosemary Waldrip
The Pinnacle Corporation
1-800-366-1173, extension 205
Ideas 2 Go: In a Pickle (NACS)
Could a single pickle set your store apart from the competition? Double Quick, a 45-store chain headquartered in Indianola, Mississippi, thinks so. The retailer has successfully refined a local favorite that’s caught the attention of a cable food network and The New York Times.Read More
VIDEO: Gigi’s Fresh Cafe, an Escape from ‘Gas Station Food’ (CSP Daily)
St. Louis convenience store retailer U-Gas goes upscale, fast casual with its foodservice offer.
