DENVER — Kum & Go LC, which has 400 convenience stores, is expanding its retail network with 13 openings planned in the Denver area in 12 months. The growth includes four stores newly opened since August, for an eventual total of 75 Kum & Go stores in Colorado along the I-25 and I-70 corridors from Wellington to Fountain and on the Western Slope.
- Kum & Go is No. 18 in CSP's2019 Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by number of retail outlets.
Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go operates in 11 states: Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
“Personally and professionally, I’ve been coming to Colorado my entire life. I love the state and the energy and personality of Denver,” said President Tanner Krause. “It’s great fun to announce that we are bringing the Kum & Go experience to the neighborhoods of Denver.”
“For 31 years, Kum & Go has been proud to provide great service to customers in Colorado,” said Niki DePhillips, senior vice president of store development. “When we looked at new markets in Colorado to grow in, the booming Denver metro quickly rose to the top of our list. We’re excited for the opportunity to bring our friendly, fast and convenient shopping experience to the Mile High City.”
The four stores Kum & Go opened in the Denver area since August include one in Littleton, one in Thornton and two inside Denver city limits, with two more stores—one in Westminster and one in Denver—to open by the end of 2019. The company plans to open seven more in the Denver area in 2020, including two in Aurora, three in Arvada and one each in Wheat Ridge and Denver.
The new stores are designed using energy-efficient and sustainable practices, the company said:
- Kum & Go installs water-saving fixtures throughout its stores, using at least 20% less water than conventional fixtures.
- Roofs are covered with a white rubber finish, reflecting the sun’s heat and reducing cooling needs.
- The concrete mix is manufactured and contains raw materials from within 500 miles of new stores, lowering pollution and supporting local economies.
- Electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations continue to become more prevalent at Kum & Go due to partnerships such as the one with Tesla offering fast-charging EV stations.
- New builds use recycled materials to reduce virgin material consumption and use building materials with low or no volatile organic compounds in materials such as paint and glues to ensure clean indoor air environment.
- Recycling is available at most pumps and resulted in 25,167 pounds recycled in 2018.
- Stores, gas canopies and parking lots use LED lights to reduce heat emitted and focus light, reducing energy outputs.
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