Plaid Pantries Inc.

Plaid Pantries has one major wholesaler (Core-Mark), one primary QSR (Subway), and two major fuel brands (76 and Shell),

Founded in1960 by John Piacentini, the retailer’s market today stretches from Salem, Ore., to Seattle, Wash., with the newest sites centered in Beaverton and Portland. In 2011, the company was listed among the Inc. 500/5000, an annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in America. Plaid Pantries ranked at No. 4,288. It made the list again in 2012, ranking No. 4,450.

The company is a true neighborhood store serving local residents. Indeed, only 11 locations sell fuel. The rest cater to a customer base that skews younger, including teens on bikes or coming back from school. Plaid Pantry also enjoys a strong female demographic.

On the merchandising side, the company has seen a strong upside in ready-to-drink teas, with bottled tea ranking third in shelf space in 2013, only behind carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks.

But even more distinctive is Plaid Pantries’ beer assortment. Based in the microbrew capital of the United States, craft brands represent 30% of the retailer’s beer sales and 40% of its assortment. Beer’s importance is further demonstrated in the in-store placement as nearly half of Plaid’s locations feature different planograms for beer and wine.