Integrated Managed Networks for Convenience Stores

Case Studies

Alon Brands, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alon USA Energy, Inc. that operates more than 300 convenience stores in the Southwestern United States. As the largest 7-Eleven licensee in the U.S., the majority of these operations are branded as 7-Eleven stores and sell FINA fuel. Alon Brands also manages fuel, credit card and marketing programs under the FINA brand to independent convenience store owners, having more than 1,000 FINA-branded stores in the network.

Alon uses Acumera managed network services to provide FINA branded stores a high speed information management program that allows the transfer of daily price book files, digital security recordings, automatic tank gauge readings, and other vital files from stores to corporate offices with total security, while limiting in-store access to the internet.

"We selected Acumera for the network transition because of its proven performance in supporting our Abilene stores. We particularly appreciate that the Acumera system reduces costs by delivering information to the right individuals within the company when it's needed."

Tim Patterson
General Manager of Marketing and Credit Card Programs, Alon Brands

Skinny's, Inc., based in Abilene, Texas, was founded in 1974 by Joe E. Davis, Chief Executive Officer. Skinny's is currently the largest operator of convenience stores in North Central Texas, with more than 100 locations in 28 municipalities operating under the Skinny's banner. The company is an independent gasoline retailer.

Acumera's services integrate Skinny's existing systems onto a broadband network, reduce telephony and operating expenses, and enable new IT system applications.

"We selected Acumera because of their ability to connect our existing systems such as credit card processing, PDI reporting, tank gauge monitoring and check authorization to a broadband network at an affordable price. The modem and serial interfaces in the Acumera Merchant Gateway enable faster performance without a fork-lift systems upgrade.

Acumera also crafted VPN policies to work with Skinny's existing VPN concentrator for data security, and is supporting our plans for energy management system deployments. [This] approach is actually reducing our operational costs."

Jodie McGaughey
Vice President, Skinny's Inc.