In 1998, Lal and Don Sidhu began with a simple dream—to find a stable job and build a strong family foundation in the United States. That dream started with a single store. Today, U.S. Market, based in Salem, Oregon, has grown to over 50 c-store and gasoline stations in six states.
In a single year, the company jumped 25 spots to No. 130 in CSP’s Top 202 store count.
Their growth was a simple, but methodical process, says Amar Sidhu, who handles business development for U.S. Market. “We’d buy one, make it run perfectly, then sell to put money down for two locations,” Sidhu says. “One, two; one, two, just like that.”
The company is on track to do 20 new builds over the next two years, Sidhu says. The new stores will have a U.S. Market Kitchen, offering fresh, made-to-order salads and paninis.
Where they’ve achieved additional success is with loyalty. Sidhu says their social media fan base has turned into somewhat of a “cult,” where collaborations with members have turned into actual, branded merchandise. Its My US Market mobile app has also been a success, offering customers a seamless experience with rewards, promotions and convenience items.
The company sees a bright future ahead. “If you are going to be working in a small town, you need to know how to make neighbors your friends,” Sidhu says. “You have to know what they want, give them the best memories [and] work diligently.”
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.