How FriendShip Stores Unveiled Its New Kitchen Concept

ELYRIA, Ohio -- FriendShip Stores has opened a new, 5,500-square-foot convenience store in Elyria, Ohio, the first to offer its new foodservice concept, FriendShip Kitchen.

Check out how the Fremont, Ohio-based retailer got the concept off on the right foot. ...

Photos courtesy of FriendShip Stores

On July 26, Brian Beck, co-owner and leader of parent company Beck Suppliers Inc.’s convenience-store division, began the festivities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. FriendShip Stores invited several local leaders, including Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce; Brenda Davis, an Elyria City Council member; and Lori Kokoski, Lorain County Commissioner, to the event.

The new Elyria store is the largest for the 25-unit chain and its first to open in 2018.

At the new store, the company unveiled its proprietary FriendShip Kitchen restaurant. For the past year, the company had been developing the freshly prepared menu items, such as hand-breaded chicken, said Ed Burcher, vice president of foodservice.

“There really is something for everyone all through the day—from oven-baked breakfast pizza, stuffed burritos and egg sandwiches for breakfast, paired with coffee made from premium roasted beans, to lunch and dinner choices that range from salads to sandwiches, pizza and FriendShip’s signature hand-breaded chicken,” Burcher said.

Along with the new foodservice offerings, the store is the first in the chain to sell its new proprietary gasoline brand, FriendShip Fuel.

For the opening, FriendShip touted "11 Days of Deals." The store gave away free coffee and cappuccinos, sampled products and rolled out FriendShip Kitchen specials, including a promotion July 26-29 during which the first 100 guests each day received a free FriendShip Stores travel mug and were entered to win a free chicken dinner each week for a year. Customers could also put their names in to win free gas for a year.

The c-store also hosted live radio broadcasts.

Founded by Virgil Beck in 1950, Fremont, Ohio-based Beck Suppliers is a family-owned and -operated retail and wholesale petroleum marketer. The company distributes Marathon, Sunoco, BP and Shell motor fuels to independent retailers as well as to its company-operated FriendShip Store locations. Beck Suppliers also distributes propane and heating oil to thousands of Midwest homes and businesses.