Company News

Kum & Go Completes Cody's Acquisition

All stores will transition by April 6; one closing
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Kum & Go LC said that it has completed its acquisition of Cody's Convenience Stores. With this acquisition of 37 stores, Kum & Go is now the largest convenience store operator in southwest Missouri. "The completion of this acquisition represents a significant step for Kum & Go in our strategy to accelerate growth in core markets," said Kyle J. Krause, president and CEO of Kum & Go. "Today, we significantly increased the depth and breadth of our coverage in the southwest Missouri area. We truly believe that southwest Missouri is a great place [image-nocss] to expand and bring the latest store conveniences Kum & Go has to offer."

Kum & Go now operates 71 stores in southwest Missouri. Beginning immediately, Kum & Go will begin the store transitions from Cody's to Kum & Go. The anticipated completion date is April 6.About 15% of the 350 of the Cody's staff members will not be rehired by Kum & Go, said a report by KSPR-TV. All Cody's employees had to re-apply for their positions. Kum & Go is actually increasing the former Cody's workforce. According to the report, it is closing one of the 37 stores but adding 20 more workers, just not all from Cody's.

In 2007, the company was voted No. 1 in customer service out of seven major convenience store chains and earned the national Excellence in Customer Service Outlook Award from CSP magazine. Customers can continue to expect friendly and helpful associates, a well-kept store and reasonable prices with this acquisition, said the company. "We want Kum & Go to become southwest Missouri's store of choice for coffee or pop in the morning, gas after work and all the stops in between," Krause said.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go is a pioneer in the convenience store industry. The family-owned company began in 1959 in Hampton, Iowa, and has grown to more than 400 convenience stores in 12 states (Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming and Wisconsin).

In addition to a wide selection of products, Kum & Go provides customers a proprietary mix of products under the Hiland brand name. Other proprietary product offerings include Java Ridge Premium Coffee, Napa Creek and Sea Ridge wines, Go Fresh Market sandwiches, Nuclear energy drinks and Nutri2O nutraceutical waters.

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