WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Kum & Go LC has appointed of Chris Jones as senior vice president of marketing, effective Jan. 6, 2014. In his new role, Jones will report directly to president and CEO Kyle J. Krause.
"Chris fills a critical leadership role that will help Kum & Go meet our goal of becoming the No. 1 convenience retailer in the U.S. by the year 2021," said Krause. "He is a seasoned leader with a proven track record when it comes to strategic marketing, branding, customer engagement and analytics. I believe Chris is a thought leader who will help move Kum & Go's business performance forward."
Jones joins Kum & Go from Athene USA (formerly Aviva USA), where he served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for five years. Prior to that, he worked in marketing leadership roles at Mars Inc. on brands such as Snickers, Milky Way and Pedigree.
In other company news, earlier this month, the retailer opened a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store, the first of its kind in Jonesboro, Ark. It now has seven stores in Jonesboro and 42 stores throughout Arkansas.
This new store offers a Go Fresh Market offering a variety of freshly made-to-order pizzas, baked goods and breakfast and deli sandwiches prepared daily in Kum & Go's onsite kitchen. Outside, a variety of fuel options give customers more value and choices at the pump, including diesel and E-85 fuel.
Also in December, Kum & Go opened a new c-store in Springfield, Mo. In November, it opened new c-stores in Colorado Springs, Colo., Joplin, Mo., Rifle, Colo., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Greeley, Colo.
Kum & Go stores are saving energy and water through the company's commitment to sustainable practices. New stores are designed, built and submitted for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Kum & Go currently has 67 LEED-certified stores, with 16 additional projects under construction, which it said is the most of any convenience retailer in the nation.
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go has approximately 425 convenience stores in 11 states (Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming). In addition to a wide selection of merchandise, Kum & Go provides customers a proprietary mix of products under the Hiland brand. Other proprietary product offerings include Java Ridge Premium Coffee, Napa Creek and Sea Ridge wines, Go Fresh Market sandwiches and Nuclear energy drinks.
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