Phillips 66 Offers ‘Fountain Freedom’ to Its Buying Program Members
NORMAN, Okla. – Phillips 66’s branded retailer buying program, Convenience Store Alliance (CSA), is offering the "Fountain Freedom" program, a complete package that provides chain-store pricing on soda fountain syrup, carbonation solutions, equipment and financing to independent operators.
National equipment supplier Ken’s Beverage Inc. (KBI), a major supplier to Circle K Stores Inc. and McDonald's Corp., is a new addition to the fountain program. KBI provides CSA members with a national call-in number that takes care of all inquiries from fountain equipment sales and installation, to equipment repair and preventative maintenance.
“Our Fountain Freedom program enables dealers to pour Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Dr Pepper products out of the same machine, at prices independent dealers would not have access to without group buying power,” said CSA President and CEO Mike Lawson. “And now, Ken’s Beverage solves the dilemma of who will service the fountain equipment once they are on our program. We even offer equipment financing plans through Direct Capital.”
CSA also formed a new partnership this year with NuCO2, a carbonation solutions company that installs and maintains bulk CO2 tanks. NuCO2 can help store operators eliminate waste and free them from the hassle of dealing with potentially dangerous CO2 cylinders, according to CSA.
NuCO2 services 7-Eleven, Love’s Travel Stops, Pilot Flying J and Buc-ee’s locations, as well as about 70 percent of the beverage-serving restaurant community in the United States.
“We are excited to be a part of CSA’s turnkey solution in the fountain beverage offering,” said NuCO2 Southwest Regional Sales Manager Eric Monroe. “CSA is the only association we have partnered with that has a full fountain program available to [its] members, which will certainly give CSA members a key advantage in a highly competitive consumer category.”
ONLINE SAVINGS CALCULATOR
Phillips 66 also announced the release of an online calculator that shows the savings potential with the Fountain Freedom program. For example, online users can type in their current fountain syrup purchases and instantly view the potential program savings.
The savings calculations are based on CSA’s national account pricing and rebates on fountain syrup through Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper and Pepsi -- three of its now six Fountain Freedom vendors. An instructional video walks store operators through how to the use the online calculator.
“We have been very pleased with the savings CSA has provided our branded sites since the announcement of our relationship last year,” said Mike O’Connor, manager of programs and brand image for Phillips 66. “And since current member savings are based on fountain syrup costs alone, we eagerly anticipate the added savings with CSA’s new fountain equipment and CO2 vendors.”
Convenience Store Alliance is exclusive to Phillips 66 in the western half of the United States, but any fuel-brand affiliation can participate in the Fountain Freedom program in the eastern U.S.
Phillips 66 is a growing energy manufacturing and logistics company with high-performing Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses. Its U.S. marketing business includes more than 7,500 retail fuel sites under the Phillips 66, 76 and Conoco brands.