KNOXVILLE, Tenn., and ENON, Ohio -- Building on a history of collaboration, Pilot Flying J and Speedway LLC have entered into a joint venture consisting of 120 travel plazas, primarily in the southeastern United States.
As reported in a McLane/CSP Daily News Flash, the new entity, PFJ Southeast LLC, will initially consist of 41 locations contributed by Speedway and 79 locations contributed by Pilot Flying J, all of which will carry either the Pilot or Flying J brand and will be operated by Pilot Flying J.
This venture will better serve customers in the high-growth Southeast region of the United States by investing in upgrades and renovations of the 41 locations contributed by Speedway, the companies said.
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot Flying J has more than 650 retail locations. Speedway, with headquarters in Enon, Ohio, owns and operates approximately 2,770 convenience stores in 22 states. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corp., Findlay, Ohio.
Pilot Corp. and Marathon Oil Corp. entered into an agreement to form Pilot Travel Centers LLC in 2001. In 2008, Marathon sold its 50% ownership interest in Pilot Travel Centers to Pilot and CVC Capital Partners. Following the merger with Hess Corp. in 2014, six WilcoHess locations in Virginia were rebranded as Pilot locations and jointly operated between Pilot Flying J and Speedway.
“This is another exciting chapter in a longstanding relationship between Pilot Flying J and Speedway,” said Ken Parent, president of Pilot Flying J.
“Speedway’s core dedication to customer service, combined with Pilot Flying J’s expertise as an exceptional travel-center operator, will make PFJ Southeast LLC a premier choice for professional drivers throughout the Southeast,” said Tony Kenney, president of Speedway. “We will be able to provide additional amenities to our customers under the Pilot and Flying J brands and better service drivers in this region overall.”
This latest transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances.
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