In this second year of compiling our Top 101 c-store list, we knew there would be some new faces. They made it to the big leagues via blockbuster deals, slow and steady growth or simply joining the CSPedia database.
Click here to view the complete Convenience Top 101.
No. 39 (Tie): Almacenes Distribuidores de la Frontera
No. of Locations: 230
Headquarters: El Paso, Texas
Also Goes By: Del Rio, Oasis, Superette
Big Moves: There’s been a trend of Mexican c-stores making their way to the United States.
Trivia: Although this company calls Texas home, all of its retail locations (which include more than 200 c-stores and 25 small grocery stores) are located south of the border in Mexico. How soon before they make their way north?
No. 45: CrossAmerica Partners LP
No. of Locations: 200
Headquarters: Allentown, Pa.
Also Goes By: On the Run, ampm, BP, Exxon, Nice N Easy
Big Moves: Lehigh Gas Corp. was acquired by CST Brands in 2014, rebranding itself as CrossAmerica Partners; company later acquired 85 stores from Petroleum Marketers Inc. in April 2014.
Trivia: Originated as Topper Petroleum Inc. when Joe Topper Jr. purchased two Lehigh Valley, Pa., gas stations in 1992; since then, the company has gone by Lehigh Gas Corp. and CrossAmerica Partners LP after the CST acquisition. Topper remains CEO.
No. 49: Sam’s Food Stores
No. of Locations: 185
Headquarters: Rocky Hill, Conn.
Also Goes By: db Mart, Smoker’s Discount World
Big Moves: New to CSPedia in 2014.
Trivia: The first Sam’s Food Store opened in 1992.
No. 57: Sunoco LP
No. of Locations: 153
Headquarters: Corpus Christi, Texas
Also Goes By: MACS, Aloha
Big Moves: As the deal of 2014, Susser Petroleum Partners became a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners LP, renamed Sunoco LP; the company also acquired Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores LLC (MACS) from ETP and purchased Aloha Petroleum Ltd.’s 100 locations.
Trivia: While Sunoco LP is new to the Top 101, the company is spun off from two of last year’s top rankers: Sunoco Inc. (No. 15) and Susser Holdings Corp. (No. 17).
No. 58: Holtzman Corp.
No. of Locations: 150
Headquarters: Mount Jackson, Va.
Also Goes By: Liberty, Circle K, 7-Eleven, Valley’s, SouthSide Diner & Travel Centers
Big Moves: New to CSPedia, 2014; acquired 18 stores from Cline Energy Inc. in October 2014.
Trivia: Not just for c-stores! The Holtzman Corp. also owns Valley Ice, Holtzman Propane, Holtzman Transport, Holtzman Lubricants, Holtzman Equipment & Construction, Holtzman Service Center and Holtzman HVAC, as well as Little Apple Properties, which owns several Burger King and Denny’s restaurants.
No. 74: Par Petroleum Corp. (HIE Retail-Hawaii Independent Energy)
No. of Locations: 111
Headquarters: Honolulu
Also Goes By: Tesoro, 76 Big Moves: Acquired Koko’oha Investments Inc., the parent company of Mid Pac Petroleum LLC and operator of more than 80 retail sites across Hawaii, in June 2014.
Trivia: One of only two nonmainland-based retailers on this year’s Top 101. Interestingly enough, the other chain (No. 92, MNS Ltd.) also has its headquarters in Honolulu.
No. 84: Panjwani Energy LLC
No. of Locations: 94
Headquarters: Houston
Also Goes By: Star Stop, Handi Plus, Shell
Big Moves: New to CSPedia in 2014.
Trivia: All of Panjwani Energy’s stores are located in the growth-friendly state of Texas.
No. 92: (Tie) Krist Oil Co.
No. of Locations: 80
Headquarters: Iron River, Mich.
Also Goes By: Krist Food Mart Big Moves: Proving a little hard work can go a long way, Krist busted into the Top 101 with just two new stores opening in 2014 (one in Merrill, Wis., and the other in Menominee, Mich.).
Trivia: This fourth-generation family-owned business has its roots in a candy store purchased by founder Krist Atanasoff in 1917.
No. 100: (Tie) Mirabito Fuel Group
No. of Locations: 74
Headquarters: Binghamton, N.Y.
Also Goes By: Quickway Food Stores, Convenience Express, Manley’s Mighty Marts
Big Moves: Acquired all 17 Manley’s Mighty Marts stores in April 2014.
Trivia: In addition to 74 c-store locations, Mirabito Fuel operates a single stand-alone Tim Hortons restaurant.
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