Kroger, Loblaw, Safeway agree to accept standard 4″x 2″ RPC labels that result in a cost effective solution for growers and packers

May 8, 2012 – Three large retailers—Kroger, Loblaw, and Safeway—have agreed to accept a new standard 4″x 2″ label for Returnable Plastic Containers (RPCs) following an industry collaboration driven by Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) volunteers. The announcement was made to the PTI Leadership Council at its meeting held in conjunction with United Fresh 2012.

The change guides a level of standardization to RPC labeling and provides a cost effective solution for produce suppliers.
The effective date of the change, transition plans and other details regarding the new RPC labels have been or will be communicated individually by each retailer to its trading partners.

About the PTI:

The Produce Traceability Initiative, sponsored by Canadian Produce Marketing Association, GS1 US, Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association, is designed to help the industry maximize the effectiveness of current traceback procedures, while developing a standardized industry approach to enhance the speed and efficiency of traceability systems for the future. The PTI’s bold vision outlines a course of action to achieve supply chain-wide adoption of electronic traceability of every case of produce by the year 2012.

De Pere, WI

“Operators have responded positively to the many advantages of Ultraflex including safety, convenience and cost savings.  They appreciate how easy the gallon containers are to use and with the addition of LiquiBase, they are able to eliminate drums completely”, said Dave Wingert, Vice President of Lustra.

Lustra introduced the Ultraflex System in May of 2010 offering a full line of ultra concentrated cleaning and protection products which included granular base products that were mixed at the wash site.  “LiquiBase provides operators another choice in presoaks to further streamline their operations”, said Wingert.

About Cleaning Systems, Inc:

Founded in 1976, Cleaning Systems, Inc. is an ISO 9001-2008 and ISO14001-2004 registered manufacturer of premier cleaning and protection products and application systems for the transportation industry.  CSI’s Lustra^TM Professional Car Care Products are environmentally friendly and designed to deliver a superior car wash experience, whereas, the DynaEdge^TM product line provides the same quality of performance to commercial vehicles and industry applications. SAS™ Solution Application Systems explores and develops new and advanced technologies for the application of cleaning and protection chemicals in the transportation industry.

Visit www.CleaningSystemsInc.com for more information.

SoftLine MT leverages Mark VII tunnel technology to retrofit a 35-foot rollover bay with a mini-tunnel that can wash up to 50 cars per hour.  Following the simple, reliable and easy-to-maintain design of the SoftLine brush station for full-size tunnels, SoftLine MT’s reduced footprint top brush and side wrap-arounds use Mark VII’s patented SofTecs® foam material to safely and gently clean vehicles.  The 35-foot configuration includes an integrated presoak system, wheel/sill brush, triple foam applicators, rinse and wax arches, tire shiner, 40hp or 60hp dryer, controller and motor control center.

“A growing number of gas stations and c-stores are washing well over 3,000 cars a month,” said Tom Frietsche, Mark VII’s Product Manager for tunnels.  ”These sites may leave money on the table if they don’t find a way to increase throughput.  If they don’t have room to add another rollover bay, SoftLine MT gives them the ability to triple their wash volume at roughly double the price of a rollover, and that’s a great value proposition.”

Mark VII also launched its new WheelJet option for its SoftWash XT®, AquaJet XT®, and ChoiceWash XT® rollovers.

“Our HubScrub® system set the standard for wheel cleaning when we launched it in 2004,” said Steve Robinson, Mark VII’s Director of Marketing.  ”WheelJet takes it to the next level by extending at a nine degree angle with a longer stroke to optimize centering on wheels of all sizes.  In addition, a larger brush diameter ensures complete coverage of the largest wheels.  Finally, integrated high pressure water supplements the brushing process to remove the toughest brake dust and road grime.”

GREENSBORO, N.C. – May 7, 2012 – Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Outcast, the largest and fastest growing fuel television network, are excited to announce that Texas-based Douglass Distributing has chosen Applause TV with Outcast as the exclusive digital forecourt media provider for all dealer and company owned Lone Star Food Store locations. With over 140 ExxonMobil, Valero and Shell fuel branded locations in the Sherman and Dallas/Fort Worth area, Douglass’ decision to install Applause TV further solidifies Gilbarco and Outcast’s leadership and ongoing growth in Texas.

“We are constantly looking for innovative technology that can elevate our customers’ shopping and fueling experience,” said Bill Douglass, former NACS Chairman and CEO of Douglass Distributing. “Applause TV has exceeded our expectations and delivered the customer buzz we were looking for.”

“Site differentiation, building customer loyalty and driving in-store sales are key benefits of incorporating a digital forecourt media program into a retailer’s marketing mix,” said Mark Williams, Marketing Director at Gilbarco Veeder-Root. “Douglass’ decision to roll out Applause TV is a strong endorsement ofthe value of Gilbarco’s dispenser platform coupled with Outcast’s content and unparalleled creative services.”

With Applause TV, retailers receive turnkey content management through Gilbarco’s industry leading partner Outcast. Along with engaging news and entertainment content, Applause TV includes a mix of national, regional and site-specific advertisements.  In addition, on-demand couponing capabilities provide another tool to drive fueling customers inside the store for higher-margin purchases.  Applause TV delivers engaging programming for the active, on-the-viewer, including NFL Network, Fox News Channel, MLB Network, Flixster movie ratings and reviews, and much more.

Gilbarco and Outcast were first to market with the award-winning Applause TV, available to any site, anywhere, nationwide.

About Gilbarco Veeder-Root

Gilbarco Veeder-Root is the worldwide technology leader for retail and commercial fueling operations. We offer the broadest range of integrated solutions from the forecourt to the convenience store and head office.  For almost 150 years, Gilbarco has earned the trust of its customers by providing long-term partnership, uncompromising support and proven reliability.  In fact, we help manage the business and maximize the bottom lines for 19 of the top 20 convenience store operators in the U.S.   Gilbarco Veeder-Root.  Technology with a human touch.

De Pere, WI-

“CSI recognized that with technologically advanced ultra concentrated chemistry, there is a need for more advanced chemical application systems to reduce costs and provide a greater customer experience,” said Dave Krause, President of CSI.

SAS will be introducing their Mizer™ Solution Distribution System at The Car Wash Show in Las Vegas May 7th through the 9^th.  Krause also said a new web site www.SAS-4.com is now on-line with additional information about the Mizer.

About Cleaning Systems, Inc:

Founded in 1976, Cleaning Systems, Inc. is an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 registered manufacturer of premier cleaning and protection products and application systems for the transportation industry.  CSI’s Lustra^TM Professional Car Care Products are environmentally friendly and designed to deliver a superior car wash experience.  DynaEdge^® product line provides the same quality of performance to commercial vehicles and industry applications.  SAS™, Solution Application Systems, explores and develops new and advanced technologies for the application of cleaning and protection chemicals in the transportation industry.

Visit www.CleaningSystemsInc.com for more information.

GREENSBORO, N. C. – May 02, 2012 –

“Gilbarco’s Flex Fuel dispensers help retailers protect and enhance their brand,” said Chad Johnson, Encore Marketing Manager for Gilbarco Veeder-Root. “Increasing consumer demand for ethanol and other alternative fuels allows Gilbarco to support our customers’ profit growth goals. As a Growth Energy board member, we are proud to help build the nation’s ethanol infrastructure.”

Gilbarco Veeder-Root offers the industry’s broadest range of fueldispensers specifically designed for alternative fuels. All are approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the National Conference on Weights and Measures for up to E85 and covered by a two year warranty. The Flex Fuel dispensers are available with the same CRIND® options as other Encore models. Options include PCI and EMV-compliant payment systems and Applause™ TV for forecourt merchandising.

About Gilbarco Veeder-Root

Gilbarco Veeder-Root is the worldwide technology leader for retail and commercial fueling operations. We offer the broadest range of integrated solutions from the forecourt to the convenience store and head office. For almost 150 years, Gilbarco has earned the trust of its customers by providing long-term partnership, uncompromising support and proven reliability. In fact, we help manage the business and maximize the bottom lines for 19 of the top 20 convenience store operators in the U.S. Gilbarco Veeder-Root. Technology with a human touch.

“I was interested in working for a company that wants to grow,” said Mr. White. “There is nothing I want to do more than build teams and help an organization move forward in a way that is focused on building closer relationships with customers and enhancing an already dynamic product line. Unitec’s direction aligns with my personal philosophies on building, selling and supporting products. It is the right place for me to be.”

Prior to joining Unitec, Mr. White served as Director of Sales for Arthur J. Gallagher Inc., an estate planning and life insurance provider firm, located in Atlanta. The majority of his career was devoted to Verifone Inc., a global leader in electronic payment technologies, where he worked as the Northeast Regional Sales Manager and was eventually promoted to National Sales Manager, responsible for product development and pricing strategy, distribution programs and product and service marketing activities. Additionally, Mr. White obtained a bachelor of science in business administration from Ohio University, with a concentration in marketing.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Mike’s background and skill set join our organization,” said Pam Piro, CEO of Unitec. “He will play an instrumental role as we grow our business and look for opportunities to provide new and better services to our customers.”

Mr. White is a golf and tennis enthusiast. He is married and has three daughters, ages 20, 18 and five.

About Unitec

Unitec develops, designs and manufactures reliable, innovative point-of-sale entry systems for the car wash industry. In addition to selling complete systems, system components and parts, we develop custom applications for high-volume resellers and retailers, providing owners of automated car wash facilities the right equipment, tools and marketing opportunities to increase revenues while improving customer loyalty. Unitec has earned a reputation for producing systems of the highest quality and reliability in the industry, from simple swipe-and-go credit card terminals to the most sophisticated, internet-enabled and video-capable touch screen kiosks. We are in business to satisfy the car wash owner’s foremost needs, offering free-standing, customer-activated products that integrate with all types of car wash control technologies.

Applause TV allows fuel retailers to entertain and inform their customers with engaging programming from Outcast including news, sports, weather and entertainment from Fox News Channel, NFL Network, CBS and Entertainment Tonight. The media platform delivers national, regional and site-specific advertisements, on-site and c-store promotions and on-demand couponing capabilities to drive fueling traffic inside the store for higher margin purchases.

“We’re excited to lead the market with Applause TV,” said Steve Dujka, with Landmark Industries. “Loyalty is critical in today’s competitive marketplace, and Applause TV gives us the edge by creating an engaging, entertaining fueling experience for our customers. We’re able to take advantage of great content, and Gilbarco and Outcast Media make it easy by creating our store promotions for us, resulting in increased customer loyalty.”

“We’ve seen a substantial increase in the adoption of Applause TV,” said Chris Whitley, Vice President of Marketing at Gilbarco Veeder-Root. “Industry leaders like Landmark are standardizing on Applause TV to provide a premium fueling experience to their customers, and to prepare for upcoming advances in dispenser technology like mobile payment.  The forecourt media space has evolved dramatically; both retailers and advertisers are seeing the potential of reaching a captive audience, steps away from the point of purchase.”

The quality of Gilbarco’s state-of-the-art, in-dispenser media solution together with Outcast’s best in class programming and creative services has proven to be a winning combination to enhance the fueling experience for their customers and increase fuel and c-store sales for their retailers.

Applause TV with Outcast is available to any site, anywhere, nationwide.

About Gilbarco Veeder-Root
Gilbarco Veeder-Root is the worldwide technology leader for retail and commercial fueling operations. We offer the broadest range of integrated solutions from the forecourt to the convenience store and head office.  For almost 150 years, Gilbarco has earned the trust of its customers by providing long-term partnership, uncompromising support and proven reliability.  In fact, we help manage the business and maximize the bottom lines for 19 of the top 20 convenience store operators in the U.S.   Gilbarco Veeder-Root.  Technology with a human touch.

About Outcast Media Holdings, Inc.

Outcast is a premiere digital media company reaching active, affluent, on-the-go consumers. The company consists of the two channels, Outcast Fuel Network and Outcast Fitness Network. Advertisers reach a Nielsen measured combined audience of more than 68 million active consumers each month at health clubs and gas stations in 130 DMAs. The company is privately held and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with offices in New York City, Detroit and Chicago. For more information, please visit www.Outcast.net.

Samir served on the board of advisors in the early 1990s for CSI, Lustra’s parent company. “I have always been impressed with the forward thinking and innovative products from CSI and am very eager to offer Lustra’s Ultraflex System to international customers. The ultra concentrated products are a natural for distribution abroad,” said Beaini.

Lustra provides car care products to distributors in over 40 countries worldwide.

About Cleaning Systems, Inc:

Founded in 1976, Cleaning Systems, Inc. is an ISO 9001-2008 and ISO14001-2004 registered manufacturer of premier cleaning and protection products for the transportation industry. CSI’s Lustra^TM Professional Car Care Products are environmentally friendly and designed to deliver a superior car wash experience, whereas, the DynaEdge^TM product line provides the same quality of performance to commercial vehicles and industry applications.

Visit www.CleaningSystemsInc.com for more information.

CHICAGO (March 20, 2012) – The International Carwash Association^® will launch Wash Count, a new member program designed to help car wash operators assess the performance of their businesses and to provide meaningful industry data, at The Car Wash Show™ 2012, May 7–9 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Developed in partnership with Kent Marketing Services, a leading provider of retail petroleum industry data and analysis in North America, Wash Count will provide participants with personalized, year-to-year comparisons quarterly of an individual car wash’s revenue, wash counts and average prices, as well as a comparison with other car washes by type and regional market.

“People always ask how the industry is doing and Wash Count will finally allow us to answer that question,” said Eric Wulf, CEO of the International Carwash Association. “We invite all of our members to enroll in the free Wash Count program to benefit from this unique opportunity to improve their performance and help foster a greater understanding of our industry as whole.”

International Carwash Association members will have the opportunity to enroll in this program and learn more about the personalized resources available by visiting the association’s pavilion (#180) on The Car Wash Show™ trade show floor. Members also will benefit from high-level trend data released in each upcoming edition of CAR WASH Magazine.

For more information about the Wash Count program contact Megan Clark, ICA Director of Operations mclark@carwash.org. For more information about The Car Wash Show™, visit www.TheCarWashShow.com.

About the International Carwash Association

The International Carwash Association^® is the non-profit trade group representing the retail and supply segments of the professional car wash and vehicle care industry across North America and around the globe. With nearly 2,000 member companies representing more than 15,000 car wash locations in approximately 20 countries, the association is the business partner and voice of the professional car wash industry. The Association produces The Car Wash Show™, the world’s largest car wash convention and trade show; publishes CAR WASH Magazine, the premier source of information for the car wash business leader; provides valuable research on industry trends; and administers the WaterSavers^® environmental recognition program. To learn more, visit www.carwash.org.