QuikTrip

Founded with one location in Tulsa, Okla., in 1958 by Chester Cadieux II and Burt Holmes, today QuikTrip has 723 convenience stores in 11 states. The chain opened its 700th store in 2014 and will eventually replace older stores with the “Gen 3” model that is 5,700 square feet. The Gen 3 model is designed to churn inside and outside sales—in particular, by helping customers get in and out of the store, and on and off its high-volume lot.

The store features four entrances—two in the front and two on the side—and is more than 40% larger than the previous format. Of its 700-plus stores, more than 130 are Gen 3 models.

QuikTrip gives back to the community by donating to The United Way and recently added a new group that helps families of veterans called Folds of Honor.

For the 13th year in a row, QuikTrip landed on Fortune magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, hitting No. 54 in 2015. More than 17,000 people work for QT, and total sales are estimated at more than $11 billion.

Headquarters:	Tulsa, Oklahoma
No. of Stores:	723
Average Store Size:	4,000+ sq. ft.
Rank:	12
Rank Last Year:	14
States of Operation:	Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas
Website:	http://www.quiktrip.com
Family Business:	Yes

QT excelled in exterior cleanliness in the mystery shop.

QT CEO Chet Cadieux was all smiles when he heard of the company’s win.

All of QT’s 716 locations have nearly identical floor plans.

Hiring great people is the reason for QT’s success, Cadieux says.

QT is striving to be as successful with foodservice as it is with gasoline.

Cadieux says keeping the exterior as clean and appealing as inside the store is “the hardest part” of his employees’ jobs.