Bestworth-Rommel Acquired by OneAccord
Hydrogen Stations Not yet Financially Viable
National Grocers Association to Join NACS Show
Bathrooms are the Biggest Draw for Vacation Drivers

BESTWORTH-ROMMEL ACQUIRED BY ONEACCORD

KIRKLAND, WA. — Service station construction company Bestworth-Rommel of Arlington, WA., has been sold to the private investment company OneAccord Capital, based here. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Mike Eskridge, a U.S. Army veteran "with many years of senior executive experience in manufacturing," will be serving as the new CEO of Bestworth-Rommel. Charlie LaNasa, who had been serving as owner and general manager of the company, will continue to serve as an advisor through the end of February 2018.

"We've had suitors before, but OneAccord Capital is the first investment group who I thought could get it, who could understand that Bestworth is special," said LaNasa, who bought the company from the Rommels in 2001.

La Nasa added, "They're local, they're a group of people who have made money in business and they want to buy various businesses. I am their second acquisition.

"The idea is to keep the company going, take care of the people, and operate with integrity. This way, there's more security for the people."

"Bestworth-Rommel has built a reputation for quality and service that is unmatched in its industry, operating by the same principles of stewardship we try to apply at OneAccord," said Scott Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of OneAccord Capital. "We are excited about where we can take Bestworth-Rommel, and we are digging in together to chart a course for growth."

Since its founding by Dan and Cathe Rommel in 1983, Bestworth-Rommel has been designing, building and installing canopies, wall panel systems and other products for enterprises in petroleum, retail and commercial markets in 14 Western states and Canada.

HYDROGEN STATIONS NOT YET FINANCIALLY VIABLE

LOS ANGELES, CA. — The high cost of building stations and the difficulty of finding financing is holding back the development of hydrogen fueling stations.

According to a report by the California Hydrogen Business Council, building out the hydrogen fueling infrastructure is "a very challenging task" because the economics of station installation and operation are "not attractive" when the number of hydrogen vehicles is small — as it is today.

"The determining factor for low financial viability is the low fueling throughput in the early years, when the low volumes of vehicles refueling reduces financial feasibility," noted the report, "Financing the 101st Station." Because of this, the study concluded that " substantial government support will continue to be required, both in California and other zero emission vehicle (ZEV) states, as well as at the federal level" for hydrogen to succeed as a motor fuel.

Jeff Serfass, executive director of the CHBC, stated that "the market has to evolve more for private financing to kick in and for public funding in California to end." He added that "only with a supportive national policy for vehicle deployment and infrastructure will the nation see the benefits of the billions of dollars invested by private industry."

He added, "We can't expect each state to provide the kind of funding being applied in California, and there is a limited future for FCEVs in the U.S. if they are sold only in California."

The study also found that "there may need to be innovative thinking on the best model for sizing and locating hydrogen stations" including the use of mobile refuelers, community and home refuelers, or placing small stations at big box stores where traffic is high.

NATIONAL GROCERS ASSOCIATION TO JOIN NACS SHOW

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The National Association of Convenience Stores has announced that the National Grocers Association (NGA) will hold its annual Fall Leadership Meetings in conjunction with the NACS Show.

The NGA, with its membership of small format and independent grocers, is the third major trade association to partner with the NACS Show. They follow the lead of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) and the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI), both of whom have been holding their annual meetings in conjunction with the NACS Show for over a decade.

"We're excited to partner with NACS on this one-of-a-kind experience for independent grocers," said Peter Larkin, NGA president and CEO, announcing the alliance. "The combination of our events provides NGA members the opportunity to see innovative products and solutions and further expand their networks."

The first NACS Show to unite the four associations will be held in October in Chicago.

BATHROOMS ARE THE BIGGEST DRAW FOR VACATION DRIVERS

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — What makes drivers on vacation stop at a particular service station or convenience store? In an answer that will come as no surprise, vacation travelers are more likely to stop to use the bathroom than any other activity, including buying gas or food and drinks.

According to a nationwide consumer survey conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), almost three out of four American drivers (72%) say that they stop to use the bathroom when driving on a vacation, compared to 68% who purchase gas and 66% who buy food or drinks. Female drivers are more likely than male drivers to stop to use the bathroom (77% vs. 66%).

Vacationers are also particular about the stores that they visit: 41% say that cleanliness and bathrooms influence their decision to visit a store.

Wherever they're headed, millions of Americans will be stopping and going inside convenience stores as part of their vacation. Overall, the top reasons that they will go inside a convenience store are to use the bathroom (70%), buy a drink (63%), buy a snack (57%) or buy a sandwich or other meal (26%).

Originally published in the June 2017 issue of O&A Marketing News.
Copyright 2017 by KAL Publications Inc.