Jiffy Mart and Tevis Motor Fuel Named Small Business of the Year

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Jiffy Mart and Tevis Motor Fuel were named the 2011 Small Business of the Year by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and the Carroll County Department of Economic Development.

The convenience store chain was selected for the award based on its "performance and growth, innovation and creativity, and competitiveness and community involvement." The award was presented Nov. 3 at a dinner held at the Portico of St. John.

Tevis began serving c-store customers in 1981. In Carroll County, the company owns and operates four convenience stores under the Jiffy Mart name. Tevis also leases four more stores in the county. Two are branded Shell, one is branded BP and the other is unbranded.

Regarding performance and growth, Tevis said it achieved a 7-percent same-store sales increase; a 5-percent sales increase at Subway stores housed within its locations; and a 28-percent increase in car wash sales compared to 2010.

Community involvement is one area Jiffy Mart stressed in 2011. During the year, the c-store chain helped to raise funds for St. Jude's Children's Hospital, the American Breast Cancer Foundation, the Carroll County Hospital Foundation, Sheperds Staff and the Westminster Police Department.

According to Tevis, it also participated in a number of other programs during the year, including the Maryland Wine Festival, Westminster Fall Festival, Senior on the Go Expo, Hampstead Days, Finksburg Days and other Chamber of Commerce activities.