LAVAL, Quebec -- As Alain Bouchard reported Couche-Tard's lackluster 4th quarter, he was his typically positive self, suggesting the company will have little trouble getting beyond the issues raised by record-high gas prices, the struggling U.S. economy and immigration issues. "I'm pretty optimistic about the future," he said. He did, however, attack one target that he has seldom commented on in the past: credit-card interchange fees. "It's robbery!" he exclaimed.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Agriculture commissioner Todd Staples yesterday announced the results of "Operation Spotlight," a major investigation into Petroleum Wholesale's Sunmart gas stations. According to Staples, findings of the probe have confirmed that numerous Sunmart stations have cheated Texas consumers by giving them less fuel than they purchased, and he said that they strongly indicate this could have been a deliberate act by the company.

CHICAGO -- Higher gas prices may be hurting customers at the pump, but c-store operators are sharing their pain. With gross margins on fuel hovering around 5%, it's no wonder that many c-store operators are taking a fresh look at their foodservice programs, where margins are easily over 40% and may exceed 60%.