Top 20 Growth Chains

10/13/2015

Convenience Retailers Push Forward With Growth Strategies

In retail, store count growth is extremely important to a company's success. It's even been said that if you're not growing, you're dying.

Convenience Store News' exclusive Top 20 Growth Chains list for 2015 reflects some of the huge merger and acquisition deals that were consummated in 2014, including Speedway/Hess, Sunoco/Susser/ Aloha Petroleum, and CST/CrossAmerica Partners (Lehigh Gas)/Nice N Easy.

Despite all the M&A activity, other retailers on our list grew organically. Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip, Pennsylvania-based Wawa and Oklahoma-based QuikTrip were among the top c-store chains in building new stores over the past year.

Many of the top retailers accepted their Top 20 Growth Chain awards at the Acosta Sales & Marketing booth during the 2015 NACS Show, held in Las Vegas in October.

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MORE ABOUT OUR TOP 20 GROWTH CHAINS

Speeding to the Top

Speedway LLC's footprint explodes through Hess retail acquisition and organic growth.

Consolidation Nation

This year's Top 20 Growth Chains reflect a busy year on the M&A front.

EXPERT INSIGHTS ON M&A ACTIVITY

Can M&A Get Any Hotter in the C-store Industry?

The strong tailwind from 2014 continue to blow.

Can Anything Cool Down M&A in the C-store Industry?

Market forces could slow pace, lower multiples.

Finding Your Perfect Lender

The best partner mirrors the size of your business and your aspirations for growth.

Speedway LLC rocketed to the top spot mainly due to its acquisition of Hess Corp.'s retail network. The move helped push the retailer's store count from 1,478 in 2013 to 2,746 in 2014. On hand to accept the award for the retailer was Tim Rupp.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. took the No. 3 spot with 3.8-percent increase in store count, from 3,794 stores in 2013 vs. 3,938 in 2014. Kimberly James, left, of Couche-Tard joined with Lara Gallistel, of presenting sponsor Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc. t

CrossAmerica Partners LP landed at the No. 5 spot after it added 105 stores to hit 309 in 2014. The increase amounted to a 51.5-percent jump. Accepting the award for the company were, from left to right, Mark Mathias, Matt Nefferdorf, Marcello Ciminelli,

Casey's General Stores Inc. came in at No. 6 when it increased its footprint from 1,778 stores in 2013 to 1,865 stores in 2014. James Pistillo and Julie Jackowski accepted the award on behalf of Casey's from Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc.'s Roger Chesley.

Murphy USA Inc. saw its store count grow 34.3 percent from 2013 to 2014, placing it in the No. 8 spot. Don Miller, Kyle Williams, Mindy West and Charles Jarrett, all from Murphy, joined with Kevin Miller from Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc. to accept the aw

CHS Inc./Cenex ranked No. 9 with a 2.8-percent store increase, boosting its portfolio from 1,361 stores in 2013 to 1,399 stores in 2014. Akhtar Hussain received the award for his company.

Kwik Trip Inc. occupied the No. 12 spot for its year-over-year store growth: 407 stores in 2013 vs. 441 stores in 2014. Steve Loehr was on hand to accept the honor for Kwik Trip and was joined by Scott Swanson, far left, and Roger Chesley, far right, from

No. 13 QuikTrip Corp. added 33 stores from 2013 to 2014, expanding its c-store portfolio by 4.9 percent. Accepting the award for the retailer were Amy Phillips, Andy Houdashelt and Rus DeWolf, who were joined by Roger Chesley of Acosta Sales & Marketing

CST Brands Inc. took the No. 15 spot as it saw its presence grow through new builds and acquisitions while carrying simultaneously carrying out a divesture plan, boosting its store count from 1,036 in 2013 to 1,065 in 2014. Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc.'s

Travel center operator Pilot Flying J, ranked No. 16, increased its portfolio by 4.9 percent, increasing its store count to 582 in 2014. Angelo Lopez, left, and Fred Rosen from Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc. presented the award to Pilot Flying J's Lara Pal

No. 18 Mirabito Energy Products grew its holdings by 23 stores, or 37.1 percent, when it jumped from 62 stores to 85. Mirabito's Kevin Quinton, center, and Rich Mirabito, right, joined Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc.'s Fred Rosen to accept the award.

Sheetz Inc. captured the No. 19 spot with 20 new stores. The retailer's count grew from 466 in 2013 to 486 in 2014. Joe Sheetz accepted the award on behalf of his company from Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc.'s Fred Rosen, far left, Ray Bodnar and Jeff Garlo

Holiday Cos. took the No. 20 spot with 498 stores at the close of 2014 compared to 479 in 2013 to see a 4 percent increase. Holiday's Rick Johnson was on hand to accept the award from Roger Chesley of Acosta Sales & Marketing Inc.

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