C-stores Continue to Win Regional Recognition

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. and DUXBURY, Mass. — Multiple convenience store chains have received regional honors in recent weeks.

Stewart's Shops was named a Top Workplace in the Capital Region by the Times Union. The award measures qualities such as company values and goals, employee engagement and growth opportunities, and compensation and benefits. Company employees vote for the winners.

Stewart's President Gary Dake was also recognized with a Leadership award based upon survey responses from Stewart's employees.

Nearly 40 percent of Saratoga Springs-based Stewart's Shops, which operate 337 convenience stores across upstate New York and southern Vermont, is owned by employees through the employee stock ownership plan. This benefit is available to anyone working 1,000 hours a year. The c-store retailer also offers health insurance, paid vacation, paid maternity leave, discounted YMCA gym memberships and daycare, as well as a Make Your Own Scholarship program, which provides college scholarships to employees' dependents.

Moving to Massachusetts, VERC Enterprises received a 2017 Best of Randolph Award in the gas stations category. The annual Randolph, Mass-based program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. Winners are recognized for their proven ability to enhance the positive image of small business service to their customers and community, and have also demonstrated the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

"It is an honor to receive the Best of Randolph Award in the Gas Stations Stores category," said Leo Vercollone, president of VERC Enterprises. "This distinction makes everyone in our fine professional family proud; our commitment to the communities we serve is steadfast."

The 2017 award recipients were determined based on information gathered internally by the Randolph Award Program and data provided by third parties.

Duxbury-based VERC operates convenience stores and gas stations throughout eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire. VERC's Randolph Mobil is located at 93 Mazzeo Drive.