SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The first salvo may have been fired this past week in a long-expected shakeout for the U.S. ethanol industry, according to an Associated Press report. VeraSun Energy Corp., the nation's No. 2 ethanol producer, announced it had received an unsolicited takeover bid one month after seeking bankruptcy protection, and just hours after the nation's biggest producer, Poet LLC, said it was talking with other companies about buyouts.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The working conditions in airport retail aren’t for the faint of heart, and they can provide some insight for convenience retailers seeking direction. The high-stress environment can make both hiring and retaining employees a constant challenge.

TAMPA, Fla. -- A group of Asian American convenience store owners and operators gathered last month to discuss ways to survive the current financial turmoil as their businesses dropped 20% on average in recent months. One solution reached was joining with Indian American physicians and hoteliers to boost their political influence and jointly take up issues affecting them.