APPLETON, Wis. -- After 40 years as a direct operator of convenience stores, U.S. Venture Inc. is selling its remaining company-ops and transitioning its franchised locations into a licensing model.
U.S. Venture, Appleton, Wis., is selling its 10 remaining company-owned Express Convenience Centers in the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas of Wisconsin over the coming months.
As reported in a 21st Century Smoke/CSP Daily News Flash, most but not all of these will continue to operate under the Express brand; however, Kwik Trip Inc., La Crosse, Wis., is acquiring and rebranding two Express Convenience Centers in Appleton, according to report by The Green Bay Press Gazette.
U.S. Venture also has 24 franchised Express Convenience Centers in the Midwest. To further expand the brand and sign on new c-store partners, U.S. Venture is transitioning these to a license operating model over the next year.
In a statement obtained by CSP Daily News, U.S. Venture said that licensing makes the brand more affordable for operators and streamlines support. Plans are in the works to transition ownership and support associates working in the stores.
As it exits retail, U.S. Venture plans to focus more fully on growing its fuel distribution business through its U.S. Oil division, which serves 670 dealers across the Midwest.
"We are proud of the accomplishments the Express brand has achieved over the years," said U.S. Venture CEO John Schmidt. "Most importantly, we are very grateful for the dedication of all our associates and loyal customers who help make Express a success. As we continue our strategic focus in growing our fuel distribution business, we look forward to supporting the Express brand through our licensed partners."
As U.S. Venture sells its Fox Valley sites, Kwik Trip is growing in the region, having built or acquired around a dozen locations over the last few years, according to the Gazette. In addition to expanding and renovating the two Express Convenience Centers in Appleton, Kwik Trip is planning three new stores in Menasha and Kaukauna, Wis.
Hans Zietlow, director of real estate for Kwik Trip, told the newspaper that the cost of building each site ranges between $4 million and $6 million.
"We're investing where we see continued growth," said Zietlow of the Fox Cities. "When I compare this market to the rest of the state, I see it as a good place to invest for the future. The whole Fox Valley is in a much better economic position than much of the rest of the state or neighboring states."
U.S. Venture is an energy and transportation products distributor and marketer. An independent, family-owned business, it operates in the Midwest through several divisions. Along with the Express convenience stores, it owns U.S. Oil (bulk storage terminals, wholesale and branded distribution of petroleum products, multiple-brand c-store jobbership and gas station-related real estate; it also owns and markets GAIN compressed natural gas); U.S. AutoForce (tires and automotive parts); U.S. Lubricants; U.S. Petroleum Equipment; Design Air (heating, ventilation and air conditioning wholesaler); and Custom Manufacturing (manufacturing and supplying metal tubing for the automotive, furniture and lawn and garden industries).
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