Ashley Englefield DeWitt, president of Englefield Retail since September, said she’s excited about how much the industry is stepping up with better food options, cleaner stores and faster service. Heath, Ohio-based Englefield Inc. owns Duchess Convenience Stores in Ohio and Virginia.
“Customers expect more now, and that gives us a great excuse to shake things up, from our packaging to our tech to how our stores look and feel,” said Englefield DeWitt, whose cousin F.W. (Will) Englefield V, was named president of Englefield Energy in September. Both are the third generation of Englefields to lead divisions of the company.
Labor remains a challenge, costs keep climbing and competition isn’t slowing down in the company’s market, she said. Englefield DeWitt said stores that don’t invest in their people, their food and their overall customer experience are going to feel it the most in 2026.
“People stay where they feel appreciated and supported,” she said. “We’ve invested in better training programs and educated our team members on growth opportunities. We have a great group of leaders who are visible in the stores and support our teams, and that makes all the difference.”
In her new role, she said she wants “to reinvest in our current stores and modernize the whole experience—inside and out. I also want to focus on smart, intentional growth in new markets and communities. Overall, my goal is to elevate our standards, support our teams and continue to build a brand we’re proud of.”
- Englefield Oil is No. 59 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of largest U.S. convenience-store chains.
She also wants to see the company move faster, “especially in getting real-time data and making quicker, smarter decisions. We have the talent and the vision. If we can tighten our speed, elevate our food programs and boost our loyalty engagement, we’ll see an even bigger impact.”
That said, Englefield DeWitt said the c-store chain will “grow where the numbers make sense—by reinvesting in our existing stores, building great new ones and exploring acquisitions that fit our footprint.”
She added that they’re studying markets with strong population growth, new communities to serve and room for a high-quality convenience offering.
Englefield Witt said that what makes her proudest of the company is carrying on the legacy her grandfather started and “seeing how our people bring it to life every day. We have teams who genuinely care about their stores, their customers and each other—and that pride shows in the way we operate.”
Her first step in terms of strategy in her new role has been focusing on the company’s vision and making sure teams know where they’re headed.
“I think it’s important to all be aligned on standards, foodservice and sales goals, and what a great Duchess experience should feel like,” she said.
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