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Grocery and Convenience Retailers

convenience_retail · Sunapee, NH, US · Detailed Write-up
Detailed version — This is the full-depth case study. The short summary lives on the overview and adjacent nav pages.

Evans Expressmart — Sunapee, NH: Inventory & Seasonality Model

Store Profile

FieldValue
Store NameEvans Expressmart #7 (Sunapee)
Address546 NH Route 11, Sunapee, NH 03782
Phone(603) 763-5740
Hours5:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
Co-tenantDunkin' Donuts (5:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Fuel BrandCITGO (regular, midgrade, premium, ethanol-free)
Parent CompanyEvans Group, Inc. (Lebanon, NH)
Chain Size7 locations (NH + VT)
OwnershipFamily-owned since 1950s
AmenitiesATM, restrooms, air, lottery, propane, pizza, snacks, beer & wine, tobacco, live bait
NAICS447110 (Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores)

Location Context

FactorDetail
Year-round population3,465 (2025 est., +3.4% since 2020 census of 3,342)
Peak seasonal multiplier3.5–4.0x (summer lake tourism)
Effective summer population~12,000–14,000 (residents + seasonal homes + tourists)
Ski season multiplier2.0–2.5x (Mount Sunapee Resort, 1.5 hrs from Boston)
Effective winter peak~7,000–8,500 (residents + ski visitors + weekenders)
Shoulder seasonsFall foliage (Oct): 2.5x, Spring mud season (Apr-May): 0.8x
Location advantage"Just over the bridge" — primary Route 11 corridor, gateway to lake
Competition radiusNearest alternatives: New London (10 mi), Newport (15 mi)

Seasonality Model — 5 Demand Zones

Zone 1: SUMMER PEAK (Memorial Day – Labor Day)

Traffic multiplier: 3.5–4.0x baseline

Zone 2: SKI SEASON (Dec – Mar)

Traffic multiplier: 2.0–2.5x baseline

Zone 3: FALL FOLIAGE (Sep 15 – Oct 31)

Traffic multiplier: 2.0–2.5x baseline

Zone 4: MUD SEASON (Apr – May)

Traffic multiplier: 0.7–0.8x baseline

Zone 5: BASELINE (Nov, early Dec pre-ski)

Traffic multiplier: 1.0x

Inventory Categories — Estimated SKU Matrix

A typical convenience store/gas station of this size carries 2,500–3,500 SKUs. Given the co-located Dunkin' (which handles its own supply chain), Evans manages approximately:

Category 1: Fuel (4 grades)

ProductSummer Daily VolWinter Daily VolMargin
Regular unleaded2,500 gal1,200 gal$0.15–0.25/gal
Midgrade400 gal200 gal$0.20–0.30/gal
Premium600 gal300 gal$0.25–0.35/gal
Ethanol-free800 gal150 gal$0.30–0.45/gal
Ethanol-free is the seasonal standout — boat engines, lawn equipment, and small motors require ethanol-free fuel. Summer demand 5x+ winter.

Category 2: Beverages (~400 SKUs)

SubcategorySKUsSummer ParWinter ParSeasonal Items
Carbonated soft drinks120HighMedium
Water/enhanced water60Very HighLowGallon jugs summer
Energy drinks50HighHighConsistent
Beer (packaged)80Very HighMediumCraft/seasonal rotations
Wine30HighMedium
Juice/tea/kombucha40HighLow
Hot beverages (non-Dunkin)20LowHighHot cocoa, cider

Category 3: Tobacco & Nicotine (~200 SKUs)

SubcategorySKUsSeasonalityNotes
Cigarettes100FlatNH has no sales tax — draws VT buyers
Cigars/cigarillos40Slight summer bump
Smokeless/chew30FlatStrong in rural NH
Vape/e-cig20FlatAge verification required
Rolling papers/accessories10Flat
NH tax advantage: NH has no sales tax and lower tobacco tax than VT ($1.78/pack vs $3.08/pack). Cross-border purchasing from VT residents is significant.

Category 4: Packaged Food & Snacks (~500 SKUs)

SubcategorySKUsSummer ParWinter ParSeasonal
Chips/salty snacks100HighMedium
Candy/chocolate80MediumMediumHoliday assortments
Nuts/jerky/protein50HighMedium
Cookies/pastries40MediumMedium
Ice cream/novelties40Very HighNoneSeasonal (May-Sep)
Fresh pizza (Evans branded)15HighMedium
Sandwiches/wraps20HighMedium
Dairy (milk, cream)15MediumMedium
Bread/bakery10MediumMedium

Category 5: Non-food Merchandise (~300 SKUs)

SubcategorySKUsPeak SeasonNotes
Lottery tickets30FlatHigh margin, compliance-heavy
Automotive (oil, wipers, fluid)40Winter peakWindshield fluid, antifreeze
Ice (bags)3Summer (10x winter)Critical summer item
Live bait5Summer onlyWorms, crawlers for lake fishing
Propane exchange2Summer peakGrilling + camping
Sunscreen/bug spray10Summer only
Hand warmers/toe warmers5Winter onlySki traffic
Maps/local guides5Summer/fallTourism
Phone chargers/accessories15Flat
OTC medicine/first aid30Flat
Personal care25FlatTravel sizes
Firewood bundles2Fall/winterCampfires + woodstoves
Fishing tackle/basics10Summer

Category 6: Dunkin' Donuts (Separate Supply Chain)

Dunkin' operates its own inventory via Dunkin' Brands supply network:

Reorder Patterns & Lead Times

CategoryReorder FrequencySupplierLead Time
FuelDaily-2x daily (summer)CITGO (Evans Motor Fuels division)Same-day (in-house fleet)
TobaccoWeeklyMcLane/Core-Mark2-3 days
Beverages2x/week (summer), weekly (winter)McLane/Coca-Cola/Pepsi DSD1-2 days
Beer/wine2x/week (summer), weekly (winter)NH State Liquor distributors1-2 days
Snacks/packaged food2x/weekMcLane + Frito-Lay/Mars DSD1-2 days
IceDaily (summer)Arctic Glacier or localSame-day
Pizza/fresh foodDailyLocal/Evans commissarySame-day
Bait2-3x/week (summer)Local supplierSame-day
Non-food merchandiseMonthly + seasonal resetMcLane/wholesale3-5 days
PropaneWeekly (summer), biweekly (winter)Evans Motor Fuels1-2 days

Financial Model — Annual Revenue Estimate

Revenue StreamAnnual Est.% of TotalMargin
Fuel sales$2.8M–$3.5M55–60%3–5%
Inside sales (c-store)$1.2M–$1.6M25–30%30–35%
Dunkin' rent/commission$80K–$120K2–3%90%+ (NNN lease)
Lottery commissions$40K–$60K1–2%5–6% of sales
ATM fees$8K–$12K<1%80%+
Propane$25K–$40K<1%25–30%
Total$4.2M–$5.3M100%~8–12% blended

Seasonal Cash Flow Pattern

``` Revenue Index (100 = annual average monthly)

Jan ████████░░░░░░░░ 70 (post-holiday, ski ramp-up) Feb █████████░░░░░░░ 80 (ski season peak) Mar █████████░░░░░░░ 80 (ski season, spring break) Apr ██████░░░░░░░░░░ 55 (mud season — TROUGH) May █████████░░░░░░░ 85 (Memorial Day ramp) Jun █████████████░░░ 120 (summer begins) Jul ████████████████ 155 (PEAK — 4th of July, full lake season) Aug ███████████████░ 145 (peak continues) Sep ██████████░░░░░░ 105 (Labor Day, foliage begins) Oct █████████░░░░░░░ 95 (peak foliage) Nov ████████░░░░░░░░ 65 (hunting season, pre-ski) Dec █████████░░░░░░░ 85 (holiday + ski opening) ```

Cash flow challenge: April trough = 35% of July peak. Working capital management critical — must reduce inventory orders 60% in mud season while maintaining minimum stock for locals.

Inventory Seasonality — Par Level Adjustments

Summer Reset (May 15)

Winter Reset (Nov 1)

Foliage Pop-up (Sep 15)

Mud Season Drawdown (Apr 1)

Compliance Requirements

RequirementFrequencyRegulator
Fuel tank testing (UST)AnnualNH DES
Weights & measures (pumps)AnnualNH Dept of Agriculture
Tobacco age verificationEvery transactionNH Liquor Commission
Beer/wine license renewalAnnualNH Liquor Commission
Lottery terminal auditQuarterlyNH Lottery
Food safety inspectionAnnualNH DHHS
Fire suppression inspectionAnnualLocal fire marshal
EPA fuel spill plan (SPCC)Every 5 yearsEPA Region 1
Sales taxNone — NH has no sales tax
Propane storage permitAnnualNH State Fire Marshal

DaedArch Deployment Model

What We Deploy

1. Inventory Tracker (existing `tools/integrations/manufacturing/inventory_tracker.py` — adapt for retail) 2. Seasonality Engine (new — par level automation based on calendar + weather + event triggers) 3. Fuel Management (extend existing — tank level monitoring, reorder automation via Evans Motor Fuels) 4. Compliance Calendar (existing `ComplianceFramework` tool — configure for NH c-store requirements) 5. Financial Dashboard (existing `tools/finance/` — bank sync, reconciliation, cash flow forecasting) 6. Dunkin' Integration (read-only — foot traffic correlation, not inventory management) 7. XBAC Access Control (IoT extension — cooler sensors, fuel tank monitors, POS terminals)

What Xenia Would Deploy

1. Preventive maintenance schedules (fuel pumps, coolers, HVAC, Dunkin' equipment) 2. Digital checklists (opening/closing, food safety, restroom cleaning) 3. Work orders (equipment repairs, facility maintenance) 4. Team communication (shift handoffs between 2-3 employees per shift)

The Play

For a 7-store chain like Evans Group, DaedArch's value prop is unified visibility across all 7 locations — inventory, fuel, compliance, and finance in one system — which Xenia alone cannot provide.