In 1959, W.A "Bill" Krause and T.S. Gentle formed a partnership and created the beginnings of the now large convenience store chain, Kum & Go. The two, a father-in-law and son-in-law, created Hampton Oil Co. in Hampton, Iowa, which soon became the Krause Gentle Corp., and later Kum & Go LC.
Today, Kum & Go is recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, and expansion is ongoing. It was named on Inc. magazine's September 2012 500/5000 list of fastest-growing privately held U.S. companies.
The chain continually looks at its footprint and considers acquisitions, new builds and remodels. In July 2011, the company announced a major economic investment in central Arkansas, followed by a similar announcement of new stores in the Colorado Springs, Colo., area. The company will invest $70 million to $80 million in the next five years in new stores.
| Headquarters: | West Des Moines, Iowa |
|---|---|
| No. of Stores: | 422 |
| Average Store Size: | 4,000+ sq. ft. |
| Rank: | 27 |
| States of Operation: | Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming |