Historically low fuel costs, driven in part by coronavirus-related shutdowns, have been an unexpected benefit for GPM Investments in 2020, just as the seventh-largest convenience store chain in the U.S. prepares to go public.
"We actually like low prices of fuel," GPM Investments CEO Arie Kotler told Cheddar. "As you can imagine, low prices of fuel leave a lot of money in the consumer's pocket, which enables those consumers to come into the stores and purchase more product. We saw a very nice increase basically in our same-store sales because of that."
Consumer patterns have shifted during the pandemic, he added, from big-box to "small-box" stores.
GPM is in the process of acquiring wholesale fuel and retail chain Empire Petroleum, which would bring its total value to $2 billion and make it the country's sixth-largest convenience store chain.
In addition, GPM is set to go public via a special purpose acquisition company called Haymaker.
"Given the current environment, the company’s resilient business model is particularly relevant, the inherent growth drivers extremely compelling, and their disciplined execution commendable," Steven Heyer, CEO and executive chairman of Haymaker, said in a statement.
While the company is a wholesaler of fuel, low oil prices still serve its bottom line.
"We are buying directly from the refiners and selling to the consumers," Kotler said. "As a matter of fact, we like oil prices to be low, to be honest. It's actually helping us tremendously."
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the nation's first-ever drinking water standard around polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or "forever chemicals."
It's Women's History Month and Tuesday marks Equal Pay Day. To honor the occasion, Laura Gassner Otting, author of Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life, spoke with Cheddar News' correspondent Shannon LaNier about how to properly value yourself and get the pay you deserve, regardless of your gender.
Southwest Airlines Co. on Tuesday outlined a plan to strengthen its operational resilience after a winter storm late last year led to widespread cancellations and delays.
Novo Nordisk has announced that it's cutting the price of pre-filled insulin pens and vials by up 75 percent for people living with diabetes starting in January 2024.
The latest consumer price index (CPI) shows prices rising 0.4 percent month-over-month in February, down from 0.5 percent in January, while the annual inflation is up 6 percent, down from 6.4 percent.
