A 75-year-old, privately held company with a dairy background, Cumberland Farms has nearly 600 convenience stores stretching along the Eastern Seaboard, and sister company Gulf Oil has more than 2,000 branded gas-station sites in 26 states (plus Puerto Rico and District of Columbia).

Cumberland Farms is the largest convenience-store chain and gasoline marketer in the Northeast. Its network of retail stores, gas stations and a support system including petroleum and grocery distribution operations spans 11 states across the Northeast and Florida.

Gulf Oil distributes motor fuels and has 12 proprietary oil terminals and a network of more than 75 other supply terminals.

Q2 2015 Update

In June, ArcLight Capital Partners, a Boston-based private-equity firm, agreed to acquire the Gulf Oil fuel business from the Haseotes family. Joe Petrowski, formerly the chief executive officer of Cumberland Farms (also owned by the Haseotes family), will serve as the head of the new company.

Headquarters:Framingham, Massachusetts
No. of Stores:549
Average Store Size:2,500-4,000 sq. ft.
Rank:17
Rank Last Year:19
States of Operation: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
Website:http://www.cumberlandfarms.com
Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.

Out front, a clean, impressively spacious forecourt, plenty of parking despite a nice morning-rush crowd and plenty of attractive signage beckoning drivers to check out the inside of the store.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside

Inside, ample space for made-to-order foodservice and a focus on the high-tech, including digital signage and touchscreen kiosks for custom sandwiches and coffee.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout
cumberland farms convenience store coffee

Cumberland Farms Convenience Stores offer literally thousands of coffee combinations, allowing for a mix of different coffee blends, creamers or flavor shots.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill

The customization extends beyond coffee. Cumberland Farm Convenience Stores offer an entire bar of proprietary sauces for various foodservice offerings (many Cumberland customers and employees use them as pretzel dips) and a massive condiments bar for hot dogs and nachos.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center

Cumberland Farms’ signature Chill Zone beverage center allows consumers to concoct their own blends of soda and frozen beverages.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza

Two styles of pizza are available by the slice or as a whole pizza.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout

Rounding out the ability to personalize the customer experience, several customers are on a first-name basis with the folks behind the counter.

Cumberland Farms convenience store Auburn, Mass.
Cumberland Farms convenience store inside
cumberland farms convenience store coffee
Cumberland Farms convenience store roller grill
Cumberland Farms conveniencs stores beverage center
Cumberland Farms convenience stores pizza
Cumberland Farms convenience store checkout