LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Kwik Trip Inc. is ramping up development of its compressed natural gas (CNG) network in first-quarter 2014, starting with the opening of two sites in Eagan, Minn., and De Pere, Wis., this month. Also in the pipeline: CNG fueling sites in Waterloo, Iowa; and Wausau and Menomonie, Wis.
In April 2012, Kwik Trip opened its first CNG location in its hometown of LaCrosse, Wis., and has expanded its fueling infrastructure to include 22 sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Wisconsin sites include two in LaCrosse, two in Oshkosh, one each in Sturtevant, Pewaukee, Grand Chute, Sheboygan, Verona, Baldwin, Janesville, Oak Creek, Waukesha, New Berlin and De Pere. In Minnesota, Kwik Trip has CNG installed in Rochester, Minnesota City, Owatonna, Eagan, St. Michael and Mankato. It also has one location in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Pricing for CNG ranges between $1.59 and $1.89 per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE).
For the rest of 2014, Kwik Trip plans to add 10 to 15 new CNG locations and expand into new markets. With its nearly two dozen sites to date, it has the biggest CNG network in the c-store industry thus far. It also has augmented its own distribution fleet, Convenience Transportation, with 50 natural-gas vehicles (NGV), allowing Kwik Trip to test and promote different classes and sizes of NGVs and share its experiences with fleets interested in converting to CNG.
Kwik Trip, based in La Crosse, operates more than 400 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. It opened its first convenience store opened in 1965 in Eau Claire, Wis., and began selling fuel in 1970. The privately owned, vertically integrated chain's growth strategy includes new initiatives such as natural gas and other alternative fuels, as well as a focus on food and value priced commodities.
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