Convenience-store industry veteran Joseph Petrowski has died, Yesway Chairman and CEO Tom Trkla shared on Monday. Petrowski joined Fort Worth, Texas-based Yesway in 2016 as a senior advisor and member of its executive committee, Trkla said on a post on LinkedIn.
“His impact on our organization and the industry as a whole has been immeasurable,” Trkla said. “Joe's proven track record, decades of experience and industry connections were invaluable to Yesway’s senior management team and me as we executed our strategy to build the Yesway portfolio. His vision, leadership and commitment to excellence played a pivotal role in shaping Yesway into what it is today.”
- BW Gas & Convenience Holdings LLC, which owns Yesway and Allsup’s, is No. 18 on CSP’s 2023 Top 202 ranking of convenience-store chains by store count.
Prior to working at Yesway, Petrowski led Cumberland Farms Gulf Oil from 2005 through 2013, before the Westborough, Massachusetts-based c-store chain sold the Gulf Oil brand and was later acquired by the EG Group. After leaving Cumberland Farms, Petrowski founded Mercantor Partners, a private-equity group focused on downstream energy distribution and retail convenience.
Beyond his career, Petrowski dedicated himself to his community and education, Trkla said. Petrowski was on the boards of Boston College High School, Trinity Catholic Schools and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA).
“We have lost not only a colleague but also a mentor and a friend,” Trkla said. “Joe's legacy will continue to inspire us, and his contributions to the industry will be remembered for years to come.”
Yesway is owned by BW Gas & Convenience Holdings. The company is an affiliate of Beverly, Massachusetts-based Brookwood Financial Partners, a real-estate and private-equity investment and asset management company. The chain has more than 425 convenience stores in nine states under the Yesway and Allsup’s brands.
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