To my Giant Eagle family, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, friends and associates,
After 7 wonderful years in Pittsburgh, I have accepted a new opportunity that will take me back to Washington, DC. This is truly bittersweet. I am a better man for the time I spent here working for such a great company, and with so many great people. Now I must look forward to the next stage in my progression, and strive for continued excellence. I want to personally thank Laura for the incredible words. I am overwhelmed with emotions. Giant Eagle created a world of opportunity for me, and I am forever grateful for everything this great company has done for me.
For those of you that know me, you know how difficult this decision obviously is/was. Giant Eagle is a fantastic company, and our operating regions are full of great cities. I am reluctantly leaving, but looking forward with great anticipation to the next chapter in my life. I cherish the time I spent cultivating strong bonds with each and every one of you, and will leave a large part of my heart in Pittsburgh.
I wanted to send along a note with my updated contact information (see below) with the hopes that you will continue to stay in contact as I embark on this new chapter in my life. I am moving, but not going away. And you never know, I could always come back if opportunity presents itself! I love all of you, Giant Eagle, and Pittsburgh. I wish you nothing but greater success and prosperity in the future.
Respectfully,
Derek Gaskins
Vice President of Marketing
NACS - The Association for Convenience & Petroleum Retailing
1600 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
+1.703.518.4236 direct line
+1.412.889.0045 mobile
dgaskins@nacsonline.com
www.nacsonline.com
derek@glamourlife.com - personal email
"Go Confidently in the Direction of your Dreams. Live the life you've Imagined. - Thoreau
________________________________________
From: Jenkins, Kerrie On Behalf Of Karet, Laura
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 12:19 PM
To: PDL_RIDC_Campus; PDL_StoreOperations; PDL_American_Seaway_Foods; PDL_Crafton; PDL_ButlerMeats; PDL_Chestnut_Ridge_Beverage; PDL_RiserFoods; PDL_Tamarkin
Subject: Personnel Announcement - Derek Gaskins
Giant Eagle, Inc.
Interoffice Memorandum
To: All Giant Eagle Team Members
From: Laura Karet, Chief Strategy Officer and President of New Ventures and Formats
Date: April 10, 2009
Re: Derek Gaskins
It with mixed emotions that I announce Derek Gaskins' resignation from Giant Eagle. Derek will be leaving to pursue an opportunity as the new VP of Marketing for the National Association of Convenience Stores(NACS). His last day will be next Friday, April 17th.
Derek started his career here at Giant Eagle in July 2002 as Marketing Manager for Non-Foods. He excelled and transitioned to his current role as Marketing Director for Convenience and Fuel. He helped grow the marketing of the GetGo business from a small format of 20 stores to its current business of 150+ locations. Derek has been instrumental in branding for the banner, fuelperks!, and foodperks!. For the last 7 years Derek has also helped launch several other new business including Giant Eagle Express, Market District Coffee, and Giant Eagle Optical. His vision and creativity will be surely missed!
A transition plan for Derek's team and his responsibilities will be announced very shortly
Please join me in celebration of Derek's time with us and wish him success in his future at a farewell gathering Friday, April 17th in the cafe from 9:00 to 10:30.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mr. Gaskins Goes to Washington
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Cleveland Cavaliers
at the Quicken Loans arena in downtown Cleveland. Cavs dominated
throughout and gave true glimpses of what I believe will FINALLY be a
championship team for Cleveland. That city deserves it. The fanbase is
unbelievably passionate, loyal, and patient. Hopefully, this will be
the year the fans will be rewarded.
It would be even sweeter if the Cavs beat Kobe and the Fakers in the
NBA Finals. We shall see. What a great game to witness the continued
emergence of King James. Lebron is legend!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Let's Go Pens
Let's Go Pens!!! Sphere: Related Content
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Elephants are amazing...
I recently had the privilege of an upclose encounter with Elephants at the Pittsburgh Zoo. The sheer size, mass, and power of them is spectacular! The photo is me and some coworkers behind the scenes inside the pen with the elephants. While this photo was being taken, we heard a a blood curdling rumble. The zoo keeper explained that it was a purr, but to me it sounded like a scary, if not terrifying roar. I was ready to run, but did my best to maintain composure for this great photo opportunity.
Thank goodness this did not turn into an episode of "when animals attack". I can picture my friends and family now saying, "why was he even back there to begin with?". As stupid as I may have been to go into "their" chamber, I will forever cherish my moment with the majestic beasts.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A very Powerful picture from Barrack Obama's trip to Britain
A very Powerful picture from Barrack Obama's trip to Britain, the picture says it all…. BROTHER TO BROTHER...
You go boy! He is sooo cool. According to one commentor, "This is the most powerful photo in the series. Remember that British Royal custom, and both U.S. and British security procedure dictate that they are not supposed to talk, touch, or shake hands, but the two brothers couldn't resist the historic moment. The Black Royal cop never imagined in his wildest dream that he would usher a Black American president into the British corridors of power. Nice."
Monday, April 6, 2009
Rock and Roll HOF Induction Ceremony
We had the honor of being a VIP guest to the 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, OH. What a spectacular night! We were front and center to witness Little Anthony and the Imperials, Bobby Womack, Wanda Jackson, Metallica, Run DMC, and others get immortalized.
The performances were even more impressive. The highlight had to be seeing Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimmy Paige, and Metallica JAMMING!!!
Also, check out the video of the red carpet. Me and the Mrs. are captured right before Rev Run makes his grand entrance.
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction red carpet |
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Ready for Football already?
I am still morose over the end of the season. The Steelers won it all, and I can't wait for training camps to start up, so the NFL can get back to dominance.
I think we could have a second league? If the game were marketed correctly, and played in the Post draft doldrums through the Summer, the fan support would be easily built.
Attached are a few photos from our journey to Tampa for Superbowl XLIII. Hopefully the Redskins will get their act together and make it to Superbowl XLIV setting up the ultimate clash with the Steelers. Imagine our two favorite teams meeting for all the marbles?
Spirits Makers Replace Bartender With Convenience
Spirits Makers Replace Bartender With Convenience
As More Americans Entertain at Home to Save Money, Liquor Companies Offer New Lines of Pre-Made CocktailsArticle
By DAVID KESMODEL
Liquor giants are rolling out pre-mixed products to entice recession-weary Americans to serve more cocktails at home.
On Thursday, Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. is unveiling Sauza Margarita-in-a-Box, 15 servings of pre-made margaritas containing its Sauza tequila. The party-in-a-box, scheduled to hit the market in May, will cost about $18. Brown-Forman Corp., meanwhile, plans to release two ready-to-drink cocktails in bottles this summer, including Southern Comfort Sweet Tea. And Diageo PLC has begun releasing several prepared cocktails, including Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea.
Distilled-spirits makers are aware that many drinkers don't want to fuss with mixing drinks themselves. At the same time, they want to address a shift by consumers toward entertaining at home more and visiting bars less. Last year, sales of spirits in bars and restaurants in the U.S. fell 2.2% by volume, the first decline since 1995, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., a trade group. Total liquor sales rose 1.3% by volume last year, the slowest rate in a decade, according to Impact Databank, the research arm of drinks-industry publisher M. Shanken Communications Inc.
Spirits makers face a challenge in trying to court consumers in a weak economy because liquor is perceived as more expensive than beer or wine, said Anne Carlson, an analyst with market-research firm Information Resources Inc. "They are doing a lot of different things to find their way," including selling both smaller and larger bottles of liquor to give consumers more choices.
Some consumers, preferring cocktails with fresh ingredients, may balk at the pre-made drinks. These new products come at a time when restaurants and bars have introduced cocktails with fresh fruit and juices, and spirits companies have been helping train bartenders to make more sophisticated cocktails.
Beam Global, a unit of the Deerfield, Ill., conglomerate Fortune Brands Inc., says its 1.75-liter margarita boxes are made to fit into a refrigerator and to be toted to barbecues and picnics. The company says it will be the first boxed margarita cocktail in the U.S. market containing real tequila.
Beam Global decided to offer the beverage partly to compete better with beer and wine products, which typically can be carried more easily to outdoor events than various cocktail ingredients. In addition, the success of boxed wines in the U.S. "shows that convenient packaging can be a big benefit for consumers," said Gary Ross, associate brand manager for Sauza.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. is unveiling Sauza Margarita-in-a-Box, 15 servings of pre-made margaritas containing its Sauza tequila. The party-in-a-box, scheduled to hit the market in May, will cost about $18.
The liquor maker also will release this month several new flavors of its DeKuyper Burst Bar Shots, which are pre-mixed shots that it began selling last summer.
Brown-Forman, the Louisville, Ky., maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey, plans in late June to release two prepared cocktails made with its Southern Comfort whiskey-flavored liqueur: Southern Comfort Sweet Tea and Southern Comfort Hurricane. The 1.75-liter bottles will sell for about $20 each. The beverages mark one of the largest new product launches for Southern Comfort since Brown-Forman bought the brand 30 years ago, said Campbell Brown, director of the Americas for the brand.
Sales declines for Southern Comfort in bars in key markets such as New York and Florida "have been pretty large" in the recession, Mr. Brown said. Sales in grocery and liquor stores have "softened the landing, but we need to have new news out there about the brand."
London-based Diageo is releasing Smirnoff Tuscan Lemonade, Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea and Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Mojitos across the U.S. by the end of May. Diageo, the world's largest spirits producer by volume, has been pleased with the sales of other prepared cocktails, including its four-year-old Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita, sold in bottles, said Larry Schwartz, president of the U.S. arm of Diageo. The company believes the new products also help lift awareness and sales of its flagship brands, such as Smirnoff vodka, he said.
Sales of prepared cocktails have been rising faster than spirits sales overall in the U.S. over the last year. In the year to date through Feb. 22, sales of prepared cocktails at U.S. food and drug stores rose 8% in dollar terms against year-earlier levels, while total spirits sales climbed 4%, according to Chicago-based Information Resources.
Write to David Kesmodel at david.kesmodel@wsj.com
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page B9