NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tri Star Energy LLC, owner of the Daily's chain, has provided details about its intention to divest itself of a number of convenience stores and retail gasoline outlets in Tennessee. It will sell 84 operating locations.

The sites being divested are scattered throughout the company's operating territory, the bulk of which are located in the Greater Nashville market. Additional markets include Tullahoma, Knoxville and Chattanooga, among others. Gasoline brands of the sites include Shell, Exxon and BP.

[Editor's Note: This is the first in a three-part series highlighting Pacific Convenience & Fuels, San Ramon, Calif., the one-year-old c-store giant that purchased nearly 600 stores from ConocoPhillips in 2008.] AGOURA HILLS, Calif. -- A couple of days before Thanksgiving in 2008, David Delrahim received a late evening phone call from his business partner, Sam Hirbod. The news wasn't good. Tower Energy Group, which had originally signed on to supply the California dealers who were part of Pacific Convenience & Fuels' August 2008 acquisition of ConocoPhillips' retail network, had dropped out of the deal. It was yet another roadblock in PC&F's attempts at closing what was perhaps the industry's largest acquisition in 2009.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Tobacco retailers and manufacturers have kicked off the year by lighting a fire under current legislation. Two court challenges may prevent further restrictions on which tobacco products can be sold and how. A ruling filed January 5 brought injunctive relief in a struggle over color and graphics in tobacco advertising. The ruling follows and August complaint brought by Commonwealth Brands, Conwood, Discount Tobacco City & Lottery, Lorillard, National Tobacco and R.J. Reynolds.