NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Oct 3, 2012) - CBX, the strategic branding and retail design consultancy based here, took a top honor in Convenience Store News magazine's annual Retail Design Awards program. The firm was recognized for its work with Aloha Petroleum, Ltd., the Hawaii-based gasoline retailer and convenience store operator.
The winning entry is the Aloha Island Mart located on Waialae Avenue in the Kahala suburb of Honolulu, across from Kahala Mall. CBX won in the "Sky's the Limit Remodel" category, which included projects with budgets exceeding $250,000. Working with CBX, Aloha embarked in January 2011 on a five-year, $20-million-plus program to refresh and rebrand its Aloha Island Mart c-store chain.
The $2 million Kahala project involved the demolition and ground-up rebuild of the store, which would serve as the company's flagship location and design prototype. Re-opened in June 2011, the Kahala project represents the full scope of CBX's design assignment for Aloha, which included the 3,000-square-foot store's interior design as well as exterior architectural design, logo, fuel islands and canopy.
Now in its seventh year, Convenience Store News' Retail Design Awards program, honors convenience retailers who have created the most exciting, innovative and shopper-friendly looks for their stores. Entries are judged on innovation, creativity and the positive impact of the overall design on the business.
Commenting on the project in its September 2012 issue, Convenience Store News noted: "The c-store in the Honolulu suburb dated back to 1960 and contained only 750 square feet of main retail space. Despite its small size, this Aloha Island Mart was one of the company's highest volume stores.
"Today, the overall design taps into the company's Hawaiian roots: the store's exterior mimics the iconic plantation-style architecture found throughout the islands. The exterior also prominently displays the restyled Aloha logo on the facade, signage, gas canopy and fuel pumps," the magazine continued. "Stepping inside, the new logo -- a stylized 'A' floating in a field of watery blue and green -- calls attention to the foodservice areas. An abundance of natural light from the glass wall entrance and a series of bowl-shaped galvanized metal pendant lights contribute to the historic design aesthetic. In addition, an open ceiling emphasizes and enhances the store's open layout." Other design features include Oahu's first walk-in beer cave.
The magazine goes on to note that, at the suggestion of customers, Aloha added restrooms inside the store and, for the benefit of runners and bicyclists, doubled the number of water fountains outside the building.
Aloha was one of eight convenience stores from around the U.S. recognized in the September issue for outstanding store design and innovation. Winners and honorable mentions were named in categories for Best Original Store Design, Best Interior Design, Sky's the Limit Remodel and Best Mid-Budget Remodel. The competition also includes winners in specialty categories such as Best Foodservice Presentation and Best International Store Design.
About Aloha Petroleum, Ltd.
Aloha Petroleum, Ltd. is an independently owned and locally operated fuel marketer/distributor and convenience store operator, with a history that dates back to the early 1900s. Aloha is the largest retail gasoline marketer in the state of Hawaii and was recently ranked 9th among Hawaii's Top 20 companies by Hawaii Business magazine. Currently, Aloha Petroleum serves Hawaii with more than 100 Aloha, Shell, and Mahalo branded retail fuel locations on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii (the Big Island).
About CBX
CBX is a brand agency specializing in corporate identity, consumer branding and retail. The company, with its current staff of 140, was founded in 2003 and has a client base that includes Del Monte, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, A&P, Pathmark, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Lord and Taylor, Wawa, Sunoco, and PetroChina. In addition to its New York City headquarters, CBX has an office in Minneapolis, and through the CBX Worldwide Partnership, has operating offices in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne, Shanghai, London and Seoul. The firm was ranked #282 in the Advertising & Marketing industry for the 2011 Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest growing private companies.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional photos are available from Parness & Associates.
