GPM Investments LLC is an aggressive acquirer of convenience-store chains large and small. This year, it moves up to No. 5 on CSP's Top 202 after it grew by more than 300 sites, all via acquisitions, in 2019. These included the purchase of the Riiser convenience-store chain of 63 c-stores in Wisconsin from Riiser Fuels LLC, Wausau, Wis. That acquisition brought the RStore, Mad Max and Jetz brands into the GPM fold and marked the company's entry into Wisconsin. And GPM got an extra bonus: Before the deal was completed, Riiser Fuels purchased Marshfield, Wis.-based Baltus Oil Co.'s eight Bread and Butter Shop c-stores in Wisconsin. These stores also join the GPM portfolio of brands.

Also in December, GPM signed an agreement to acquire the wholesale fuel distribution operations and retail assets of Empire Petroleum Partners, Dallas. Empire Petroleum distributes fuel under multiple brands in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest. The deal includes 77 retail sites and 225 controlled locations.

GPM opts to maintain most of the retail brands it acquires to take advantage of the brands' reputations in their markets.

GPM's Fas Mart brand features a notable foodservice offering, including fried chicken, panini sandwiches and fresh grab-and-go items.

Its retail brands also include Shore Stop, Scotchman, BreadBox, Young's, Li'l Cricket, Next Door Store, Village Pantry, Apple Market, Jiffi Stop, Admiral, Roadrunner Markets, Jiffy Food Marts, E-Z Mart, 1 Stop and TownStar.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are year-end 2019.

Headquarters:Richmond, Virginia
No. of Stores:1272
Rank:7
Rank Last Year:6
Website:https://gpminvestments.com/