AMARILLO, Texas-- Toot'n Totum recently entered into an agreement with Frontier Fuel Co. to purchase their portfolio of 10 Express Lane convenience stores, along with two parcels of undeveloped land previously targeted for future convenience store locations.
The deal, originally announced in early March, closed in late Spring, company spokesperson Melinda Batchelor told CSP Daily News. "We are in the process of rebranding" the stores, she said. "We are working on them right now."
The stores, located throughout the Panhandle, consist of four operating properties in Dalhart, Texas; one store in Stratford, Texas; three stores in Dumas, Texas; one store in Borger, Texas; and one store in Pampa, Texas. The makeup of these locations varies from major diesel truck operations to large foodservice stores and traditional convenience stores.
Express Lane stores are a division of Dalhart, Texas-based Frontier Fuel, serving the northern Panhandle since 1979.
Frontier Fuel will retain its Kansas Express Lane stores as well as its seed, farm management, crop insurance divisions and Express Lane Lube Centers. Frontier Fuel Co. will also continue to operate and expand its wholesale fuel and lubricant operations in Dalhart, Borger, Pampa, Stratford and southern Kansas.
According to Greg Mitchell, president and CEO of Toot'n Totum, "Our strategic plan is targeting expansion outside of the greater Amarillo area, and the Express Lane stores were a perfect fit. This acquisition afforded us the opportunity to purchase the premier operations in several communities at the same time and immediately have a strong presence across the panhandle. We are confident that we are well positioned to service these stores through our relationship with existing supply partners and our current distribution center."
He added, "Not only do we look forward to transitioning these locations to Toot'n Totum stores with our signature look, services and products; we also are anxious to become viable members of the communities we serve. Our belief in serving the communities extends well past our retail operations and we look forward to working with the school districts and charitable causes in each of these towns, the same as we currently do for our Amarillo locations. Additionally, as an added bonus upon closing, these stores will immediately begin offering our TnT Gas Discount card, which allows the consumer a discount of $.10 per gallon on all fuel purchases."
Dyke Rogers, president and CEO of Frontier Fuel Co., said, "We are pleased to have come to a mutually acceptable deal with the Toot'n Totum group. Our stores are located in great communities with great customers and wonderful employees. We feel these stores will be a perfect complement to Toot'n Totum's growth plans. This sale will now allow us to focus and expand Frontier's other businesses."
Toot'n Totum anticipates retaining the existing retail work force and the companies are currently working on closing the sale within the next 30 to 60 days. This acquisition will bring the Toot'n Totum portfolio to 71 stores throughout the Panhandle.
In other company news, Toot'n Totum stores are offering guests a discount on gas at all 72 locations, reported The Amarillo Globe-News.
The Toot'n Totum Gas Discount Card automatically rolls back the price at the pump by 10 cents, every day, on every gallon. The card works like a debit card and has no fees attached for the consumer.
"Credit card fees can easily add up to 3% on a retail transaction," Mitchell said. "By eliminating those fees, we are able to pass the savings directly through to our guests."
In addition to the everyday savings of 10 cents, for a limited time, every Tuesday and Thursday is the TnT Daily Double.
Twice a week, one store in the chain doubles the discount to 20 cents on every gallon. The retailer notifies members the evening before via email, and it posts the store location on the Toot'n Totum website and Facebook page. For 24 hours, cardholders can double their savings to 20 cents on every gallon.
The program is administered by National Payment Card Association, Coconut Creek, Fla., a leading secure, private-label debit-card processing company.
Toot'n Totum is a privately owned company founded in 1950 in Amarillo, Texas. It owns 60 c-stores in Amarillo, Texas, with an additional store under construction, and one store in Borger, Texas. It also owns and operates ten Mr. Payroll locations in Amarillo and the northern panhandle, as well as six Toot'n Totum Car Care Centers and six Toot'n Totum Car Wash locations.
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