Break Time

MFA Oil Co. is a farmer-owned cooperative with more than 40,000 members. The company became the largest supplier of propane in Missouri and created the Break Time convenience stores in 1985 through its subsidiary MFA Petroleum, which also operates the Big O Tire and Jiffy Lube franchises.

The retailer aims to provide fast and friendly service in clean and well-merchandised stores. Larger stores offer Dashboard Diner made-to-order subs in cold or toasted varieties such as Philly cheesesteak, chicken bacon ranch, meatball and the best-selling Club. Break Time has also expanded its made-to-order salad program to attract more female customers to the stores. Its proprietary Break Time Roasters Cafe coffee program offers 100% Arabica coffee. Hunt Brothers Pizza, homemade breakfast sandwiches and tea and fountain beverages are also available.

In 2017, MFA Oil debuted its latest Break Time prototype: a 5,000-square-foot, foodservice-forward site in Lee’s Summit, Mo., featuring a redesigned logo and Smokestack Bar.B.Q program. In 2018, MFA Oil has been on an acquisition streak, buying Raines Oil in Southeast Missouri and Cardie Oil of Kansas.

Source: Convenience Digital Resource Library, Technomic. For benchmarking purposes, store counts are year-end 2017.

Photo courtesy of KOMUnews.