65 Years and Going Strong: Bosselmans Celebrates Anniversary

Danger comeback falls short in United Bowl
This is the post-game article from the IFL Championship
game, which was played on June 29, 2014. The Nebraska
Danger were 2013 Intense Conference Champions
SIOUX FALLS, SD – Nobody should have to lose games like the
2013 United Bowl.
The Nebraska Danger and Sioux Falls Storm played an
instant classic at Sioux Falls Arena on Saturday night and as
any championship game should, it came down to the final
possession. But, the IFL trophy will remain in South Dakota for
another year as the Storm held on to defeat Nebraska 43-40
when Joe Houston missed a 43-yard field goal with 12 seconds
that would have forced overtime.
“What an unbelievable effort from both teams,” Danger
coach Mike Davis said after the game. “You know, we said all
week that we wanted to have the ball in the last minute with a
chance to win the game, and that’s what we got.
“I could not be more proud of this group of guys.”
The Storm’s third straight IFL championship was sealed by
their league leading defense after quarterback Terrance Bryant
connected with Clinton Solomon for a 16-yard touchdown pass
with 2:45 left in the game.
Sioux Falls held the Danger to just one first down after that,
setting up Houston’s field goal. But, the Storm’s touchdown
earlier came after a play that could have gone either way.
After Marcus Barnett gave the Danger a 40-36 lead with 3:13
left, it appeared he had recovered a fumble on the ensuing
kickoff. But, a simultaneous recovery was called, giving Sioux
Falls the football and on the first play, Bryant hit Solomon for
the game-winner.
“That was a tough one to swallow,” Davis said. “But, you
can’t say one play changed the outcome of the game. We had
chances and they had chances and the ball bounced their way
in the end. Our hats are off to Sioux Falls as they deserved to
win the game.”
It was nearly an improbable Nebraska comeback.
Down 33-24 late in the third quarter, Nebraska appeared to be
dead to rights as the Storm had first and goal inside the 1-yard
line. But, linebacker Maurice Simpkins forced a fumble of SF
running back Tory Harrison and Darnell Terrell recovered. The
play set up Houston’s 37-yard field goal which cut the lead to
33-27.
After a Douglass field goal with 13:08 left in the game made
the score 36-27, Nebraska went to work. Jameel Sewell capped
a 39-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle of the
field to cut the lead to 36-34. On Sioux Falls’ next possession,
Deivon Tate went over the dasher board for an interception in
the end zone that set up Barnett’s big play for the lead.
An evenly played first half favored the defensive pace set by
the Storm. A frantic final minute – which saw the lead change
hands three times – ended with Sioux Falls holding a 24-23
advantage after Parker Douglass kicked a 17-yard field goal
with two seconds left.
Sioux Falls took control in the third quarter. They scored
on the second play of the half when Bryant hit James Terry
for a 39-yard touchdown pass and on the Danger’s ensuing
possession, Sewell was tackled in the end zone for a safety and
a 33-23 Storm lead.
“The start of the second half was tough on us,” Davis said.
“It just made it that much harder for us to get back in the game.
When you get down two possessions like we did against a great
team that makes it a tough hill to climb.”
Nebraska’s first playoff season in franchise history comes to
an end with an 11-5 record after they entered the year having
just won eight games in their first two seasons. Sewell, the
league MVP, accounted for five touchdowns (three passing and
two rushing) and 260 totals yards to lead the Danger. Bryant
was named MVP of the game for Sioux Falls after throwing 182
yards and four touchdowns.
“I’m extremely proud of the effort this team gave throughout
the season,” Danger General Manager Mike McCoy said. “We
are thankful for their hard work and hope to continue our
momentum into next season. We are appreciative of the great
support of the fans we have received through the season as
well.”
BOSSELMAN
COMPANIES
In This Issue:
◘ 65 Years and Going Strong
◘ Chuck Bosselman Honored
◘ Letters From Our Customers
◘ Old Tires become new Art
◘ Boss Shop Baldwin Filters
Display Contest
◘ Boss Shops add Three
◘ Driver Appreciation Week
◘ 50th Pump & Pantry
◘ Nebraska Lottery Tour
recognizes top 20 lottery
sellers over past 20 years
◘ Ogallala P&P represented in
Soap Box Race
◘ Pump & Pantry takes top
ranking
◘ New Cinnabons open across
Nebraska
◘ Pump & Pantry inside
Memorial Stadium
◘ Pump & Pantry Delivers a
Dose of Home
◘ We’ll Get Ya Goin
◘ 2014 Danger Schedule
◘ Pump & Pantry visits
Midland University
◘ Donation of Horse & Knight
to GICC
◘ 2nd Annual Chuck
Bosselman Memorial Golf
Tournament
◘ Competition heats up in GI
games
◘ 21st Annual Miracle on
Sante Fe Parage of Lights/
Breakfast with Santa
◘ QSL Restaurant to be added
◘ Motel 6 hosts Thanksgiving
◘ Car Club visits Quality Inn
Editor: Stephanie King-Witt, Director of Marketing
Contributing Writer: Tony Chapman
Layout/Design: Richie Berggren, Creative Manager
For news coverage, please contact Stephanie King-Witt at 308-381-2800 ext. 144 or
email [email protected] Deadlines for articles are May 1 and October 1 each year.
◘ Happy Birthday Grandma Max
65 Years and Going Strong:
Bosselmans Celebrates Anniversary
Reprinted from the Grand Island Independent
By Robert Pore
August 31, 2013
After 65 years, the Bosselman Companies
continue to grow and prosper.
Just this week, the Bosselman Companies
and Bosselman Hospitality Group announced the
conversion of a Settle Inn in Lincoln to a Quality
Inn and Suites.
“The conversion of this hotel into a Quality
Inn and Suites is a great addition to our growing
hospitality and lodging offerings,” President
Charlie Bosselman said. “We look forward to
continuing to provide excellent service to the
traveling public under the Quality and Choice
Hotels brand.”
Today, the Bosselman Companies celebrate their 65th anniversary. In 1948, Fred Bosselman,
a farmer and part-time truck driver, and his wife, Maxine, opened the Bosselman & Eaton Truck
Stop on Highway 30 in Grand Island with his brother Charles, brother-in-law Al Eaton and sister
Charlotte Eaton.
According to the Bosselman website, the truck stop started by the Bosselman family developed
a reputation for good food and good service. In 1965, Bosselman built the Bosselman Truck Plaza
at the intersection of the new Interstate 80 and Highway 281 at Grand Island. Known as the “Truck
Stop of Tomorrow,” the location became a landmark on I-80 and has served the public for nearly
50 years.
To celebrate the Bosselman Companies’ 65th anniversary today, Grandma Max’s, named after
Maxine Bosselman, will be offering a 65 percent discount to show thanks to all the support from
the public over the year. Grandma Max’s is at the Bosselman Travel Center at I-80 and Highway
281.
When his grandparents started the company, Bosselman said, they probably didn’t envision the
growth it has achieved over the last 65 years.
“They thought they were going to build this one little truck stop,” he said.
But one thing led to another, Bosselman said. Because the truck stop served food, it was a
logical step to go into the restaurant business. The truck stop also had bunks for the truckers to
sleep during their over-the-road hauls, so it was logical to go into the hotel business.
Over the years, according to the Bosselman website, the business became a family affair
with the addition of Fred’s sons, daughters and their spouses. The company expanded into many
new ventures, including convenience stores, additional truck plazas, fuel and propane services,
transportation services and truck repair shops. The company was supervised by Fred Bosselman
and his sons, Fred Jr. and Chuck.
Eventually, the company divided into two entities, retail and energy.
Headquartered in Grand Island, the Bosselman Companies own and operate 50 Pump & Pantry
convenience stores; 42 Boss Shops; the Bosselman Travel Center; a Hampton Inn, three Pump &
Pantry Motels, two Settle Inns and six Motel 6 franchises; six Grandma Max’s and Max’s Highway
Diner Restaurants, Sam Bass’ Saloon & Steakhouse and Schmooter’s Bar & Casino; food courts
◘ Settle Inn converts to Quality Inn
◘ 2013 Trip Advisor Award
◘ Danger comeback falls short
fall/winter2013
Continued from Page 1
including Subway, Little Caesars and Caribou Coffee; and the
Nebraska Danger indoor professional football team.
The family organization is now in its third generation and
has expanded to 23 states with more than 1,200 employees.
Bosselman said the secret of the company’s success is that it’s
a family-owned and -operated business.
“But the people who work here are family, and we consider our
customers as part of the family,” he said. “It is a very personal
angle that we take with everything we do.”
That hometown philosophy extends to all the Bosselman
properties across the country, he said.
“We really try to have that family appeal, and we try to support
that in everything we do,” Bosselman said.
That philosophy extends to the communities where the
Bosselman Companies do business. The stores and employees
work with various fundraising activities that emphasize that a
business is part of the fabric of a community.
Bosselman said that’s the foundation of the business his
grandfather, Fred Bosselman, started in the late 1940s.
Fred Bosselman died at the age of 89 on July 27, 2006.
He was buried in the Grand Island Cemetery, across the street
from the corporate office, and will always be able to keep an eye
on his company.
Early in 2012, Chuck Bosselman died after a battle with
cancer. He was also buried in the Grand Island Cemetery.
Fred Bosselman Jr. now oversees Bosselman Energy, while
Charlie Bosselman and Brandi Bosselman-Lofing oversee the
Bosselman Companies. The original Bosselman & Eaton Truck
Stop location still serves the public, now as a modern Pump &
Pantry.
Being a family-run business, Bosselman said, gives the
company a sense of continuity and not a business with a
revolving door of owners and managers.
“It helps foster that whole business plan that we have
where everyone is part of the family,” Bosselman said. “With
any family business, it is never easy. But we are walking into
our fourth generation here in a company, which is becoming
unheard of in the business world. A lot of planning and a lot of
thought went into how we did this.”
The industries the Bosselman Companies are involved in
never get easier, Bosselman said.
“Every industry we are involved in, it is consolidation as it
is easy for the big guys to loom over the top of you and squash
you out, but I think we have done a great job over the years
of structuring strategic partnerships with vendors and other
people in the industry and even our competition,” he said. “We
have partnerships with huge multinational corporations that
have helped us survive.”
Bosselman said the 65 years of the company have been a
“wild ride.”
“We have been through a lot,” he said. “I have said we could
write a book based on all the stuff we have seen go on not
only at our locations but through the different industries we are
involved in. It is an interesting business. It is what our family
knows. You grow up washing windows, busing tables. You are
learning all the time.”
That’s true for the fourth generation of the Bosselman family.
“They are going to start at the ground level and go from there,”
Bosselman said.
2
Former Settle Inn of Lincoln
converted to Quality Inn & Suites
A ribbon cutting with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce was held September 27.
From left to right, Emily, Rebecca, Dan and the Subwoman
(Christina Rivera)
Chuck Bosselman honored
Chuck Bosselman was honored by Grand Island Senior High
when he was inducted into their Hall of Fame this fall. Jan, Charlie,
and Brandi Bosselman accepted the award on his behalf.
Colby, Kansas Hampton Inn earns
2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
The Hampton Inn of Colby, Kansas announced on July
22 that it received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence
award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence,
is given only to establishments that consistently achieve
outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is
extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the topperforming 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor
receive this prestigious award.
To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses
must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of
a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor.
Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received
within the last 12 months.
“The Bosselman Hospitality Group and the Colby Hampton
Inn are pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of
Excellence,” said Dustin Lofing, Executive Director of
Bosselman Hospitality. “We strive to offer our customers
a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence
that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on
TripAdvisor.”
“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of
businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago,
Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering
TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience,” said
Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor
for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides
top performing establishments around the world the
recognition they deserve.”
13
Pump & Pantry
visits Midland U’s
Back in Business Bash
On August 20, Pump & Pantry hosted a booth at Midland
University in Fremont’s “Back to Business Bash”. Hundreds
of Midland students visited the many booths set up by
area businesses. Pump & Pantry handed out very special
“Midland orange” cups featuring the Pump & Pantry logo
and the Midland logo, good for discounted refills at Pump &
Pantry, as well as coupons for Cinnabon.
Donation of Horse &
Knight to GICC
The Bosselman Companies donated a horse and knight to
the “Knights” at Grand Island Central Catholic High School.
It was installed on November 1 by BOSS Construction on the
corner of 13th St. & Custer in Grand Island. The horse and
knight came from the former Lincoln Settle Inn.
2nd Annual Chuck Bosselman Memorial Golf
Tournament held August 9 at Riverside Country Club
Winners: 1st Place: Dustin Lofing, John Martinez, Don Johnson, and Shane Johnson
The weather was perfect and a great time was had by all!
Letters From Our Customers
Sunday afternoon we stopped at your
south east Hastings store on Hwy 6 to
fuel up. I always stop there on my way
through because of convenience, and
we go through often for irrigation repairs
done in Hastings. We were having some
difficulties with the high winds and our
camper. A young man named Drew was
very helpful and his assistance made
the rest of our journey much easier. Just
want to say ‘atta boy’ to Drew, as his
style of treating customers in spite of
being busy, was inspiring. With people
like that in your stores you will do well,
and he no doubt will do well also. Thank
you and observe that young man closely
as he is a great asset.
Sincerely,
Ted J. Minarick ,
Bluff Gravel Company
Morse Bluff, NE - via website
While passing through Rapid City on
vacation, our RV developed an axle
bearing leak, so we stopped at your
facility on Deadwood Ave. in Rapid City.
Your employee, Nate Hand, got us in, got
the problem diagnosed and repaired,
and got us back on the road in almost no
time at all. Never in all my travels have
I encountered a more helpful, cheerful
and professional person at a truck
repair facility. He is to be commended
and you are to be congratulated for
having him on your staff. While I hope
I may not soon have the need, I will
certainly search out one of your shops
in the event I need such service in the
future. And I will certainly mention your
business in the various internet forums
in which I participate. Thanks
Larry Watson - via website
Thank you from the bottom of my heart
for rebuilding our Chapman Pump &
Pantry. I can’t count the times I and
other people have said “I wish Pump &
Pantry was open.” There has been no
place to buy a pop, gas, and so on. So I
thank you and God bless you.
Rosetta Parker-Roy – via letter
10
While traveling on I-80 near Princeton,
IL, our utility trailer wheel bearing
blew out. The fellow who arrived was
Tom. While Tom quickly and efficiently
repaired the trailer and got us back on
the road, the way he went about his
work and his interaction with us was
incredible. This guy is a public relations
star for you. From his first look at the
problem, he assured us it was ‘easily
fixable’. He kept us informed with what
was going on each step of the way.
He was not only informative, but also
delivered his updates in a way that was
reassuring and understandable. Tom
needed repair parts and went for them.
He promptly returned with two sets of
parts, explaining, “In case one doesn’t
fit, the other will.” And bing bang, he
was done. The man has a rare talent
with understanding and communicating
with people in a professional, friendly,
calming way. You must hear these types
of reports about Tom regularly. If you do
company recognition for outstanding
employees, he needs to be put on the
poster. Give him a raise, he is a keeper
for you.
Steve Stuck – via letter
Good Morning, I believe the party I
am trying to email is Brent Johnson. I
would like to tell you, Motel 6 in Fargo is
amazing! Over Thanksgiving I was there
and they had a dinner for everyone
and served everything from veggies
to a turkey. It felt like home being able
to spend time with others and have a
homemade meal. Carol and Stephanie
did a wonderful job! And I am looking
forward to spending Christmas with
them! Also I wanted to say you have an
amazing staff. Stephanie was working
everyday day I was there and long hours
seemed like she never went home but
she always had a smile on her face and
put one on mine. LaToya is also very
nice! Those 2 girls definitely make that
motel a fun place! Thanks again for
everything it’s good people like this that
keep us coming back. Thanks so much!
LJ - via email
Yesterday, Sunday Sept. 2, 2013, I was
at your truck stop in Grand Island. I left
the lights on and ran the battery down
and couldn’t get my vehicle started. I
went back inside and told the girl at the
counter my problem. She immediately
called on her hand held and got me
help. Your employee whose name is
Ron could not have been more helpful,
bringing jumper cables and calling for
a pickup. In this day and age where
people are just putting in their time it
is refreshing to meet an employee like
this. He should be commended.
Don Maberry – via website
On behalf of Sheriff Clark Millsap, I
would like to say Thank You for your quick
response and assistance in replacing
the damaged wheel on Bartow County
Sheriff’s DARE officer Marc Barrere’s
vehicle on Friday, July 19 at the Corbin,
Kentucky Boss Shop.
We are very appreciative that there
are still businesses that will assist
when people are in need, from my
conversation with Investigator Barrere,
I am sure you are that way with all
customers.
Again Thank You,
Major Doug Duncan
Criminal Investigations Division –
via letter
I stopped at your truck stop in Grand
Island today and when I went to leave
my car wouldn’t start. I had my 2
year old daughter with me. 3 of your
employees were very helpful and made
sure we were ok and went out of their
way to make sure I got back on the road.
I will definitely in the future make that
my stopping point when traveling on the
interstate from Lincoln to North Platte
since your employees make sure that I
am safe and go out of their way to help.
Thank you very much to the 2 guys and
lady who were so kind today. I wish I
would have gotten their names so you
can thank them again for me.
Jamie - via email
3
Old Tires become new Art
By Jeannie Brown
Reprinted from the Julesburg Advocate
There is a new addition out at the Big
Springs Boss Shop… a sculpture of a blue
and white caterpillar on a red and white
mushroom! The figure stands a little over
13 feet high guarding the north side of
the shop. The character is made out of old
tires.
Bosselman’s sponsored the contest that
inspired shop employee, Justin Marlow,
to design the “Alice in Wonderland”
character to be recreated out of old tires.
As a promotion for their “Sizzlin’ 777” sale
this summer, Boss Shops had a contest.
Each of their 42 locations had 1 month
to design and build a sculpture made of
tires. The winning location is rewarded
with $777. This summer the crew at Big
Springs won it again! Two years ago they
won with their tire replica of Mr. Monopoly,
also designed by service writer, Justin
Marlow. Mr. Monopoly currently watches
over the south entrance to the truck bays.
Shop manager, Rick Brown, said he
has noticed quite a few families with
children stop to take pictures with the
whimsical creature this summer. It took
a lot of work to assemble and paint the
giant bug, especially with the shop being
short-handed. But the crew managed
to continue their excellent service while
putting together an award winning and
fun new addition.
A competitor’s semi-truck is seen visiting the Gretna Pump &
Pantry. Even the competition knows We’ll Get Ya Goin’!
Released
There will be eight home
games
this
season
including a visit from
the Danger’s United
Bowl foe the Sioux Falls
Storm on May 31st. This
year’s schedule also
includes a trip to the
IFL’s newest franchise,
the Bemidji Axemen,
located in Bemidji, MN.
Come out and enjoy
all the hard hitting
action this winter at the
Heartland Event Center!
Winners of Boss Shop’s Sizzlin 777’s
Display Contest:
Region 1 - Jerome
Region 2 - Big Springs
Region 3 - Princeton
Region 4 - Smithton
Region 5 – Evansville
Region 6 – Weatherford
Mon. Feb. 10 vs. Lincoln Haymakers
Fri. Feb. 21 @ Sioux Falls Storm
Sat. March 1 vs. Bemidji Axemen
Sat. March 8 vs. Texas Revolution
Fri. March 14 Tri-Cities Fever
Fri. March 21 @ Bemidji Axemen
Sun. March 20 @ Colorado Ice
Sat. April 12 vs. Texas Revolution
Frid. April 25 vs. Wyoming Cavalry
Sat. May 3 @ Tri-Cities Storm
Fri. May 9 @ Wyoming Cavalry
Sat. May 17 @ Green Bay Blizzard
Thurs. May 22 vs. Colorado Ice
Sat. May 31 vs Sioux Falls Storm
Sat. June 14 @ Texas Revolution
“Cinnabon in Omaha” mention on
Breaking Bad gets national traction
Boss Shop Baldwin Filter Display Contest
Baldwin invited Boss Shops to participate in a filter display
contest this fall, with Baldwin employees voting on the designs.
The shop location with the most unique and eye catching design
won a steak dinner for all of that location’s employees. Two
Boss Shop locations were selected as the winners: Jerome, ID
and Lake Station, IN.
Baldwin also rewarded a $50 Visa/Master Card to the top
sales person at each Boss Shop.
Winners were:
Brian Newcomb at Weatherford (sold 32 filters)
Jon Bachman at Fargo (sold 22 filters)
Kat Christison at Jamestown (sold 16 filters)
Robert Lewis at Lake Station (sold 14 filters)
4
We’ll Get Ya Goin’!!! 2014 Danger Schedule
Thanks to a reference in the AMC drama series “Breaking
Bad” and an Emmy win on September 22 in the Best Drama
Series category, the phrase “Cinnabon in Omaha” gained
a little national recognition. Best Drama Series nominees’
clips were played prior to the announcement of the winner
during the Emmys broadcast, and during the scene selected
from “Breaking Bad,” from an episode in the show’s final
season titled “Granite State,” character Saul Goodman,
contemplating his future with a new identity away from New
Mexico, comments, “If I’m lucky, in a month from now, bestcase scenario, I’m managing a Cinnabon in Omaha.”
After the comment spread quickly on Twitter, and was
making its way across the social media scene, Bosselman
Hospitality Director Dustin Lofing thought it would be fun to
play along. The Bosselman Marketing Department created
banners to be placed at the company’s two Cinnabon
locations in Omaha, featuring the “Breaking Bad” quote
and images of characters from the show. A few weeks
later, the buzz continued when on October 10, a random
photo of one of the banners appeared on Reddit. Social
media sites such as What Talking and others picked up on
the photo, which was then featured in a blog post by The
Consumerist. The post stated that The Consumerist had tried
to contact Cinnabon’s corporate office to see if the banner
was ‘the real deal’, but emails bounced back. Bosselman
Marketing Director Stephanie King-Witt quickly contacted
The Consumerist to confirm that the banners were, in fact,
real, and followed up with additional photos quickly provided
by the stores themselves. The Consumerist then posted a
follow up statement along with the photos of the Pump &
Pantry with the Cinnabon banner in front. Related articles
followed on AdWeek, AdFreak, and in the Omaha WorldHerald, also featuring photos of the banner and stores.
9
Pump & Pantry Delivers a Dose of Home
Reprinted from Convenience Store News
By Tammy Mastroberte
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Bosselman Cos. operates 50 Pump
& Pantry convenience stores throughout the state, about half
of which are located in small-town communities. The fourthgeneration, family-owned company, which is celebrating its
65th anniversary, prides itself on its hometown commitment
to customers. This commitment is even part of its mission
statement, so when crafting a new Pump & Pantry prototype
design, the company wanted to reflect a hometown feel
throughout.
“We looked back and saw how we succeeded over the
years, and then looked at our competition putting up sterile
and sharp store designs,” Charlie Bosselman, president of
Bosselman Cos., told CSNews Online. “We knew we wanted
to lend ourselves to being the hometown experience and
reflect that in our new builds.”
The new streamlined, contemporary “hometown” design
reflects the look of a Victorian house, featuring a turret with
a round-shaped room and pointed roof. This area provides
seating for customers to eat and drink inside the store.
The overall design is modeled after the look and feel of its
Grandma Max’s restaurants, which also feature a turret.
“Everyone liked the look and it really brought forth the
hometown theme, so we decided to incorporate it into the
c-stores to relate the same feeling,” Bosselman said.
The traditional Pump & Pantry colors are green, yellow and
white, but the new design adds in blue to “pump up” the
brand image and allow for more creativity, he said. The store
exterior features a blue metal roof and white, split-faced brick,
with the turret positioned in the front and to the right. The
design took a year to create and was done internally before
being passed to an outside architect who drew up the plans.
8
Boss Shops add Three
Boss Shops opened three new shop locations this summer and fall: Gretna, Nebraska, Rawlins, Wyoming, and Sullivan, Missouri.
The Gretna Shop, located at Interstate 80, Exit 432, is the third Boss Shop in the company to be built from the ground up and opened
on August 5. A grand opening was held on August 28 and included a ribbon cutting with representatives from the City of Gretna as well
as a lunch and prizes for customers. The Rawlins Boss Shop, located at Interstate 80, Exit 209, opened on September 9. The Sullivan
Boss Shop, located at Interstate 44, Exit 226, opened on November 18 and brings the total number of Boss Shops to 44.
The first store to feature a scaled-down version of the
hometown design was a 30-year-old location that burned
to the ground a year and a half ago in Chapman, Neb. It is
approximately 1,800 square feet. A second location, which
opened a couple of months ago in Fremont, Neb., reflects
the standard footprint of nearly 3,000 square feet.
To carry the hometown feel indoors, the company designed
a backdrop to its snack bar area using images of the
Bosselman family and history of the company through the
present time. It also brought the pop of blue inside, near the
cooler.
“In the past, we just had white walls. But we brightened it up
with color and graphics,” Bosselman said. “We redesigned
all the cabinets with a cherry wood finish and a solid surface
top for a high-end look, and spent a lot of time working on
each category.”
One of the biggest and most successful changes is the
addition of a Cinnabon franchise in the store. Such
franchises will be in operation at 10 Pump & Pantry
locations by the end of this year. Bosselman said he wanted
to offer customers something they could not get in another
c-store and something that would capture their attention
with the aroma the moment they stepped through the doors.
The chain will continue adding Cinnabon to 10 or 15 more
locations, and possibly operate some standalone franchise
locations as well.
“We are the only c-store chain Cinnabon has done a deal
with because they wanted someone who was dedicated to
doing it right. To pull it off, you really have to operate it as a
restaurant, and we have been in the restaurant business for
65 years,” he said.
For more on Pump & Pantry’s new hometown store prototype,
look in the October issue of Convenience Store News.
Gretna, NE Boss Shop
Rawlins, WY Boss Shop
Sullivan, MO Boss Shop
Boss Shops Driver Appreciation Week
Driver Appreciation Week was held September 15-20 at all Boss Shop locations across the nation! Double points on drivers’
Rewards cardwere awarded all week long and a Driver Appreciation BBQ was held at each location on Wednesday, September 18.
5
Bosselman Companies announce 50th Pump & Pantry
On July 1, the Bosselman Companies opened their 50th Pump
& Pantry convenience store at 3605 Summit Plaza Drive in
Bellevue, Nebraska. The location was formerly a BP owned by
Sapp Bros.
A full selection of hot drinks and fountain beverages, bottled
drinks, snacks, quick-serve foods, beer, wine and liquor are
available at the store, as well as quality fuels. A drive-through
car wash, the second Pump & Pantry with this feature, is also
available. A Cinnabon kitchen was also added to the store in
August.
“With three locations now in the Omaha metro, we are
pleased to continue expanding our line of Pump & Pantry
convenience stores into eastern Nebraska,” comments
Bosselman Companies President Charlie Bosselman. “We
are excited about this new store and are happy to serve the
community here in Bellevue. This store will continue to provide
excellent service while we transition it into a Pump & Pantry.”
Nebraska Lottery Tour recognizes top 20
lottery sellers over the past 20 years
On September 11 and 12, the Nebraska Lottery toured the state of Nebraska, recognizing their top 20 lottery sellers over the
last 20 years. Two Pump & Pantry stores were honored as a part of that top 20: #16 in York, and #23 in Holdrege. A trophy was
presented to the stores by Jim Haynes, Nebraska Lottery Director.
Store #16 has sold $5,471,478 in lottery products over the past 20 years, ranking 5th highest
lottery seller in the entire state. Since the inception of the Nebraska Lottery, $1,313,158 has been
transferred to the Educational and Environmental beneficiary funds on behalf of store #16.
Included in the photos are Pump & Pantry employees Mary Sklenar, Emily Powers and Nebraska
Lottery Sales Rep Jill Birkett.
Store #23 has sold $4,292,323 in lottery products over
the past 20 years. The store ranks as the 20th highest
lottery seller in the entire state. Since the inception of the
Nebraska Lottery, $1,029,918 has been transferred to the Educational and Environmental
beneficiary funds on behalf of store #23.
Included in the photo is Pump & Pantry Manager Jolene Linder, District Manager
Craig Cummings, Nebraska Lottery Sales Rep Monica Kozisek and Clerk Kaley Beck.
Congratulations!
Ogallala P&P represented in Soap Box Race
Cody Noteboom, Ogallala Pump & Pantry employee, represented
Bosselman at the Wild West Soapbox Sponsors Race last summer - by
winning first place! According to Dave Barrett, director of the Soapbox
Derby events in Keith County, the race was very close! Pump & Pantry is
very proud of Cody and all that he does.
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Bosselman’s Pump & Pantry takes top ranking in
Convenience Store Magazine’s mystery shop
CSP Exclusive: Bosselman’s Pump & Pantry takes top ranking
in expanded mystery shop study
By Angel Abcede Reprinted from CSP Daily News
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- By creating a homey experience
reminiscent of that of television’s fictional town of Mayberry,
N.C., the 50-store Pump & Pantry chain took the No. 1 spot
overall in an expanded version of the eighth annual CSPService Intelligence Mystery Shop survey, beating out six
other chains with fewer than 150 stores.
Owned by Bosselman Holdings, Grand Island, Neb., Pump
& Pantry excelled in all five major categories outlined in the
study--interior and exterior cleanliness, customer service,
employee appearance and merchandising.
“It’s a ‘Mayberry’ experience,” said Charlie Bosselman,
president of the 65-year-old company, which also runs quickserve restaurants, hotels and truck service centers. “We
always say we’re from a small community, so we reflect that in
the store whether we’re in a town of 400 or in Omaha.”
In prior years, the survey focused on chains with more than
150 stores, with those results this year finding La Crosse,
Wis.-based Kwik Trip Inc. No. 1 overall, beating out seven
other chains for the top spot in that grouping.
(For more details on that half of the study, look to the August
issue of CSP magazine.)
During an eight-week period this past spring, shoppers filled
out questionnaires pertaining to the major survey categories,
with some carrying more weight than others. They visited the
stores 80 to more than 100 times during the course of the
study, which means that for some chains, the same store may
have been shopped more than once. A review of the results
will appear in the September issue of CSP magazine.
Pump & Pantry outdistanced the pack with a 96.5% overall
score. York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores (57 stores) came
in second with a 92.4% overall score, followed by Nice N Easy
Grocery Shoppes, Canastota, N.Y. (86 stores), with an 88.6%
rating. The average score was 89%.
The other chains shopped in alphabetical order in this category
were Folk Oil and its PS Food Marts, Homer, Mich. (31 stores);
NOCO Energy Corp., Tonawanda, N.Y. (105 stores); Parker’s,
Savannah, Ga. (30 stores); and Ricker’s, Anderson, Ind. (110
stores).
“Our readers continually express the importance of operational
excellence and customer service as differentiators,” said Mitch
Morrison, vice president and group editor for CSP Business
Media, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. “Expanding the survey to smaller
chains was a way to gain better insight into a retail channel
that continually strives to surprise and delight its customers.”
CSP Business Media serves the news and educational
needs of the convenience-retail and foodservice channels
with print and online publications, as well as through yearround roundtable meetings and larger annual conferences. Its
readership includes top executives from major convenience
store chains and restaurants to single-site, mom-and-pop
operators.
New Cinnabons open across Nebraska
Cinnabon kitchens continue to be added inside Pump &
Pantry stores throughout Nebraska! After the first opening
at #49 in west Omaha, new Cinnabon locations now include:
Fremont, Grand Island #10 (South Locust), Grand Island #3
(Capital Ave.), Aurora, St. Paul, Bellevue, and Lincoln. The
newest Cinnabons opened in late 2013 include Gretna (#38)
and York (#46). Life needs frosting!
Pump & Pantry inside
Memorial Stadium
This fall, Pump & Pantry became a
corporate sponsor of Husker athletics.
Here are a couple photos of the ribbon
board marketing inside Memorial Stadium.
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