NEW YORK -- Altria is in advanced talks to buy Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc., a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Friday. The New York Times reported that a deal worth more than $10 billion could be announced as early as today, if not sooner. The source could not confirm the price or say when a deal might be announced.

[Editor's Note: This is the second of two articles on improvements going on at Sun Capital Partners' two c-store platforms, Village Pantry and Worsley Operating Corp. For more on this private-equity powerhouse and its new focus on convenience retail, watch for the September issue of CSP magazine.]

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- In a conversation with CSP Daily News, Jeff Turpin, president and CFO for Sun Capital Partners' Worsley Operating Corp., spoke of meeting the needs of today's consumer as a way to best focus future investment.

WASHINGTON -- As Congress returns to work this week in Washington, tobacco proponents are digging in their heels to battle a proposed $6.10-per-carton increase in the federal excise tax (FET) on cigarettes. Tobacco company representatives and advocates are urging retailers to call or email their legislators and voice their opinions of the bill.