DENVER — R. J. Reynolds's experiment with selling digital vapor cigarettes in Colorado and Utah has led the firm to expand into all 50 of the other United States, a firm spokesperson said.

The product attracted a lot of business in Colorado — so much so that authorities began to worry about the effects on its youth. But Stephanie Cordisco, vice president of RJR Vapor Co., said, "We are proud to expand our distribution of VUSE and offer adult smokers across the nation the most technologically advanced and best performing vapor cigarette on the market." She predicted the product will be a game changer in the e-cigarette category.

DENVER — The average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline fell 3.2 cents in one week last month, bringing the price down to $3.58, according to a survey of 2,158 service outlets by GasBuddy.com.

But it still trailed behind the national average of $3.39 cents which represented a drop of 4.2 cents.

Colorado's price was 6.9 cents lower than it had been in the month prior but only 1.9 cents lower than it was in the previous year at the same time.

DENVER — The Western Convenience store chain is so high on the benefits of E-85 gasoline that it has set out to convince the public of its value with a series of promotions at its stations.

At a kickoff event in Parker drivers were given a 50 cent discount on every gallon of E-85 purchased from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. That dropped the price at that time to $2.69 and was wildly popular.

Representatives of the chain were there with handouts designed to educate the public and to provide other freebies.

Western Convenience planned 25 such events for September and October. The Colorado Corn Growers provided some of the educational material.

According to the chain, a recent analysis of state data showed that last year drivers with flex fuel vehicles paid as much as sixty-two cents less with E-85, which contains up to eighty-five percent American biofuels such as ethanol. Its use also increases the available supply of fuel for all motorists, driving down prices, corporate officials maintained.

They said statistics show the domestic renewable fuel industry supports 10,619 jobs, $642 million in wages and $2.7 billion in economic output.

Colorado is a top producer of advanced biofuels.

DENVER — Colorado has been awarded $30 million by the Federal Highway Administration to increase the state's natural gas fueling infrastructure.

The money will help construct up to 30 compressed natural gas fueling stations and provide for about one thousand natural gas vehicles for statewide use.

"Increased use of natural gas as a transportation fuel diversifies Colorado's portfolio, supports locally produced energy, improves air quality, and can save money through lower fuel costs," Gov. John Hickenlooper said.

The stations will form a network that will allow the owner of a natural gas vehicle to drive nearly anywhere in the state, he said.

Trillium CNG, recipient of one of the grants, plans to establish a compressed natural gas outlet at a West Glenwood Shell station in Glenwood Springs that should be active by the middle of next summer.

Western Petroleum distributor Al Butler, who also is co-owner of the station, hopes that one day his trucks that deliver wholesale gasoline and diesel fuel will be powered by compressed natural gas and is working toward that end.

He said he would probably start small, converting one or two larger fuel transport trucks in his fleet within the next two years. If that works well, he will expand the use of natural gas.

PUEBLO — Police say a woman kidnapped at a Loaf 'N Jug managed to escape from her abductor by leaving a note to call authorities.

Thirty-six-year-old Andrew Vigil was arrested but not before he took the woman to a secluded area and assaulted and strangled her.

Authorities said Vigil approached the woman at the store and forced her to come with him by threatening to kill her and her two children.

When police tracked down Vigil and the woman at his apartment he told them nothing had happened and that she was a friend. But the woman had red marks on her neck and tears in her eyes and Vigil was arrested.

He faces charges of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Loco Inc., has opened a convenience store and a Fazoli's quick-serve Italian restaurant here.

The convenience store offers the usual grab and go items but has an added amenity for those driving new model diesel powered vehicles. The store has a bulk diesel exhaust fluid filling dispenser. This offers customers driving those vehicles significant savings, corporate officials said.

The station has ten gasoline fueling lanes and four diesel fueling lanes.

Loco Inc., has been in business for more than 40 years and operates seven convenience stores in western Colorado as well as a Travel Stop in Fruita.

COLORADO SPRINGS — David Begin, owner of a chain of carwashes here, has launched a program to update his facilities, adding new centralized vacuums, lava and bubbleizers, and new vending machines.

He focused on problem areas such as the vacuums where customers became increasingly frustrated and sometimes left when they had to wait too long. The centralized system solved that. And, to cut down on time wasted by employees who had to sell small items inside the customer service area, he installed new vending machines. "Before, our employees had to stop what they were doing to sell a one dollar air freshener," he said.

He also put in foam and wax arches to be offered in the top packages. "We wanted to increase the amount of show products for those customers and encourage others to try the top packages," he said.

DENVER — After the spinoff from Valero, CST started investing in its carwash program in Colorado, upgrading many sites by adding new walls, lighting, car wash equipment, doors, and heaters.

The company's distributor installed BayWatch premium door systems and BayHeat radiant tube heaters at each facility.

CLIFTON — A man standing outside the C&F convenience store here fully admitted to the cops he stole the Monster drink he held, saying he did it to be arrested. The cops obliged.

Employees said they had asked 26-year-old Guillermo Medina-Holguin to leave the store six times.

Finally he said okay, grabbed a Monster drink, went outside and drank it and calmly waited for the cops.

He stands accused of second-degree burglary and shoplifting. He gave no explanation for his desire to inhabit the county-lock-up.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of the O&A Marketing News.
Copyright 2014 by KAL Publications Inc.