Murphy USA, Murphy Express

Arkansas-based Murphy Oil Corp. owns convenience and fuel retailers Murphy USA and Murphy Express. Murphy Oil Corp. is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, symbol MUR. In 2013, Murphy Oil Corp. spun off Murphy USA into a downstream subsidiary, which operates independently of the parent company and is separately traded.

Murphy USA is the retail arm, selling petroleum products and convenience merchandise through a large chain of more than 1,200 convenience stores in 23 states. Stores are positioned as the low-cost fuel-market leader, with most sites located on the parking lot of a Walmart.

The chain is known for extremely high sales volume per square foot it in its kiosks, which average about 440 square feet in size. More than three-fourths of the Murphy USA stores are only about 200 square feet. In recent years, the company has rolled out a new 1,200-square-foot prototype, which allows for offerings such as an in-store ATM and refrigerated units, as well as higher-margin items, such as dispensed coffee and fountain drinks.

A new, larger format for Murphy Express is 3,450 square feet and includes 24 fountain heads, eight ICEE heads, four coffee stations and eight cappuccino heads, as well as a larger variety of snacks and non-food items. The company has 213 stand-alone Murphy Express stores.

The company planned to open 86 locations in 2015, six of them large-format Express stores. In 2016, another 85 locations are planned, including six larger Express stores. All will feature the new design.

Headquarters:	El Dorado, Arkansas
No. of Stores:	1296
Average Store Size:	Less than 1,000 sq. ft.
Rank:	7
Rank Last Year:	8
States of Operation:	Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Website:	http://www.murphyusa.com/

The front of the new stores is bold and invites customers in with a warm welcome.

The Murphy Express storefront was designed to convey speed and convenience with an open entrance devoid of barriers.

Leading a path through the center of the store and toward cold and hot dispensed beverages is warm brown tile.

The front counter in the new stores was designed to be more open and inviting, with less customer-distracting clutter.

Soft, recessed lighting spreads a cool glow throughout the store without the harshness of fluorescent bulbs of the past.

Sleek signage calls attention to areas of the store and also offers welcoming messages to customers.

As part of the new design of the Express stores, a larger variety of snacks sits on endcaps and throughout the store.

The cold-dispensed-beverage area has 24 fountain heads and eight ICEE heads for customers to choose from.

Murphy Express isn't shy about offering beverage stockup oppotunities in its c-stores.