Top 202: The Biggest Movers on the 2022 List

CHICAGO — In 2022, several retailers proved the most aggressive movers on CSP’s Top 202 list of the largest retailers in the industry by store count. Here’s a peek at the merger and acquisitions made by five of those big movers ...

Headquarters: La Palma, Calif.

Rank: 7

Behind the Growth: BP went from 1,026 stores to 1,243 stores in 2021, largely due to it taking full ownership of the Thorntons c-store chain after two and a half years as part owner as part of a joint venture established in 2019. BP said the acquisition will allow the vertical oil company to grow its presence in the U.S. fuel and convenience retail business. Its rank went up from No. 8 to No. 7 due to Speedway being folded into 7-Eleven Inc.

Headquarters: Houston

Rank: 32

Behind the Growth: In October 2021, Shell Retail and Convenience Operations LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Products U.S., signed an agreement to acquire 248 company-owned fuel and convenience retail sites from the Landmark group of companies, which has stores operating in Texas under the Timewise brand. Landmark Industries was No. 35 on CSP’s Top 202 list in 2021; Shell was not on it.

Headquarters: Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Rank: 45

Behind the Growth: Refuel was No. 64 on the 2021 ranking with 113 stores. A year later, the chain rose to No. 45 on the list with 175 company-owned and -operated stores. The growth came from several acquisitions including 28 ALCO c-stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, 18 Wag-A-Bag stores in Texas and 9 Buck’s c-stores in Texas from Action Fuels LP.

Headquarters: Clinton, N.C.

Rank: 68

Behind the Growth: Sampson-Bladen Oil Co. was No. 76 with 89 stores in the 2021 Top 202 list. This year, it has moved up to No. 68 with 108 c-stores. In 2021, the chain and its affiliates acquired the assets of Rusher Oil Co. and Rushco Food Stores Inc. This added 19 c-stores to its portfolio.

Headquarters: Lawrence, Mass.

Rank: 102

Behind the Growth: Energy North Group ranked No. 128 last year with 50 stores. In 2022, it has moved up to No. 102 with 70 units. The growth came, in part, from the 11 stores it acquired from family-owned c-store brand VERC Enterprises, which exited the industry, selling its stores to Energy North Group, Nouria Energy and Global Partners LP.

• Click here to view CSP’s complete Top 202 list of largest c-store chains in the United States.
• More: 6 Chains That Fell Off the List