GPM Investments, LLC

"I love that display," said Dave McComas, president and CEO of GPM Investments, the firm that owns Fas Mart and Shore Stop c-stores, pointing to a spinner rack of snacks at the Frito Lay booth during the retailer's seventh annual Trade Show, held in late February. "These snacks are selling so well that we could put them in the back of the store and still sell a ton of them."

Petro Group Ltd. agreed to purchase locations for $46 million.

C-store going chain-wide with security system enhancements.

Private jobber's 70 stores were purchased for $47.5 million.

Regional c-store chain building foundation for growth.

The alliance reported an increase in membership, new committees, upcoming pilots and plans for NACStech 2007, at its annual Winter Meetings in New Orleans.

The past year was good for the convenience store industry. Most operators saw higher in-store sales, and many companies continued to add stores and expand their product offerings. Of course, not everything was rosy: rising credit-card interchange fees drained profits out of many businesses, especially when added to the rapidly rising gas prices the nation experienced for the first half of the year.

As reported first on CSNews Online yesterday, Fas Mart scoops up 74 locations for $50 million.