MIDLAND, Texas — The Kent Cos., the parent company of Kent Kwik convenience stores, has acquired Connell Oil Co., Mineral Wells, Texas. The deal includes six company-operated, Chevron-branded Mr. C’s convenience stores, a group of branded and unbranded dealer supply accounts and a bulk plant.
The newly acquired stores will be rebranded as Kent Kwik and align with the chain's growth plans, the company said. The Kent Cos. continues to expand their businesses in Texas as well as out of state.
The acquisition increases the Kent Kwik portfolio to 59 company-owned and -operated stores throughout Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The company also supplies more than 100 contract dealers in Texas and Louisiana. In addition, the company has three new Kent Kwiks under construction, along with a new Kent Lube Fast Oil Change Center, two new Huddle House restaurants, one new Rustic Café and two new Kent car washes.
The company expects all of the new units to open by fall 2021, it said.
In late 2020, The Kent Cos. purchased the four Buy Fast c-stores and one Big Chicken truckstop in Fayetteville, Tenn., from Parsons Oil.
- The Kent Cos. is No. 130 on CSP’s 2020 Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by store count.
Founded in West Texas by Buck Kent in 1957, The Kent Cos. began as Kent Oil and Kent Distributors and remains a family-owned business under second-generation ownership of Bill Kent. The Kent Cos. includes Kent Kwik, Mr. Payroll, Rustic Café, Huddle House, Baskin Robbins, Kent Car Wash, Kent Tire and several other entities. Kent Kwik, the Midland, Texas-based company’s largest entity, has 59 locations in four states.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.