SAVANNAH, Ga. – Parker’s, a nationally recognized convenience-store leader based in Savannah, Ga., was one of only two convenience-store retailers to be included on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
For Parker’s, it was the fourth consecutive year. For 2015, the Savannah, Ga.-based company came in at No. 4663. In 2014, it was No. 3032; in 2013, it took the No. 2603 spot and in 2012, it ranked at No. 3006.
It had 2014 revenue of $316.1 million, with a three-year growth rate of 53%. It added 156 jobs.
“We’re deeply grateful to all of our loyal customers for making this recognition possible,” said president and CEO Greg Parker. “We’re thrilled to be recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, delivering the ultimate in customer service and the lowest prices to our customers. Fast, fresh and friendly is more than just a motto at Parker’s. It’s a promise we keep to our customers every day.”
Parker’s, founded in 1976, currently operates 38 convenience stores and employs nearly 500 individuals throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
Parker’s has opened eight new retail locations over the past year and plans to open more.
“At Parker’s, we’re preparing for explosive growth and plan to open 10 stores within the next year. We’re excited about the future and about our potential for smart, strategic growth,” said Parker.
But Parker’s wasn’t the only convenience-store retailer on the list. Coming in ahead of Parker’s at No. 4443 was 36 Lyn Refuel Station, a single c-store located in Minneapolis.
It had 2014 revenue of $7.9 million, with a 59% growth rate. It added one job and has 10 employees.
“We are a small, awesome convenience store located in south Minneapolis,” the company said on its website. “We're a small, awesome convenience store in south Minneapolis. We're not the hot, new, or trendy spot, nor are we anything particularly innovative or special. We just like to do our own thing and challenge ourselves to be better to our community. We sell gas and tobacco, but that doesn't define us. We may not be your favorite store yet, but we are rad.”
It added, “Since 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 2005, we have done our best, failed miserably at times, to empower the staff, not be the neighborhood eyesore, and to give back to our community in creative ways. We try to do our part to make the world we live in a better place. We firmly believe our success is shared between our community and our staff. The success we've received has been a result of the efforts of our friends and neighbors.”
“Only a tiny fraction of the nation’s companies have demonstrated such remarkably consistent high growth,” said Inc. president and editor-in-chief Eric Schurenberg of the companies on the annual list, “particularly in the difficult economic environment of the past few years.”
To make the cut, companies needed to achieve significant sales growth between 2011 and 2014.
Inc. magazine has released the complete list of honorees and will recognize winners in the September 2015 issue and at the 2015 Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Gala, which will be held October 21-23 in Orlando, Fla.
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