Mega Express added that the new brand will draw on the best of both companies' retail capabilities, said the report.
As reported in CSP Daily News in mid-October, Mega Management Inc., a division [image-nocss] of Consumers Cooperative Association, is in the process of finalizing plans for its next Mega Express store, in Lake Hallie, Wis. General manager Rick Lambrecht told The Bottom Line at the time that the $1.7 million project includes construction of the organization's 12th gas station/c-store in the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls market.
The new Mega Express (formerly known as Mega Marts) will feature a northwoods theme offering a full liquor and beer department, a Department of Natural Resources registration station and a kitchen for baking Grandma Thea's pies. It will also have a small dog park for travelers.
EEC LLC, the real-estate division of Mega Management, has also finalized the purchase of a 40-acre parcel north of an existing Mega Express in Eau Claire. "We wanted this parcel for our property portfolio, especially if we decide to expand or rebuild our Mega Express location there, which is our fastest-growing c-store," said Lambrecht. "We also made this acquisition as a defensive move so that one of our competitors did not come in and build another store in that area."
The Eau Claire-based company also operates three Mega Foods grocery stores and several Mega Lube & Oil and Mega Splash car wash locations in Wisconsin. The Mega Fuels division delivers petroleum products for the Mega Express stores as well as for bulk commercial needs. Retail gasoline brands currently include BP, Cenex and Mobil.
Bloomington, Minn.-based Holiday Stationstores has 300 corporately owned gas station/c-stores located throughout 12 states in the northern tier region of the United States: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington, as well as in Alaska. It also has more than 100 franchise locations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
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