Kum & Go Looks to Expand in Northern Colorado
FORT COLLINS -- Despite selling 21 locations in July, Kum & Go is moving forward with plans to build new locations in Loveland and Brighton Colorado in 2009.
Dennis Folden, Kum & Go chief operating officer, told Fort Collins Now that as many as three additional locations will be constructed in Greeley in the near future. "It's high growth, a great business climate and an opportunity to meet the needs of the consumer," he told the paper.
While he concedes business in the c-store industry has been slow this year, Kum & Go, which operates 430 stores in 12 states, is taking a macro view. "We continue to monitor the economy and take a look at the where oil prices are going. However, we're in it for the long-term," Folden told the paper. "It really helps that we're a private company. We fully believe that northern Colorado is a great place to be."
The sale of the 21 stores this month was not directly related to expansion plans, but more so was in response to sluggish submarkets the company operates in. In speaking about the Colorado market, Folden told the paper the number of competing convenience stores in Greeley is low for the market, which he sees as an opportunity.
"We find Colorado to be quite attractive," Folden told the paper. "That's why we want to expand in northern Colorado."
The new locations will follow the company's green standards, which include energy-saving LED lights in its coolers, energy efficient furnaces and E85 ethanol blended gasoline.
"We find that once we get in and establish ourselves in a market. That's what we’re known for," he told the paper.
Dennis Folden, Kum & Go chief operating officer, told Fort Collins Now that as many as three additional locations will be constructed in Greeley in the near future. "It's high growth, a great business climate and an opportunity to meet the needs of the consumer," he told the paper.
While he concedes business in the c-store industry has been slow this year, Kum & Go, which operates 430 stores in 12 states, is taking a macro view. "We continue to monitor the economy and take a look at the where oil prices are going. However, we're in it for the long-term," Folden told the paper. "It really helps that we're a private company. We fully believe that northern Colorado is a great place to be."
The sale of the 21 stores this month was not directly related to expansion plans, but more so was in response to sluggish submarkets the company operates in. In speaking about the Colorado market, Folden told the paper the number of competing convenience stores in Greeley is low for the market, which he sees as an opportunity.
"We find Colorado to be quite attractive," Folden told the paper. "That's why we want to expand in northern Colorado."
The new locations will follow the company's green standards, which include energy-saving LED lights in its coolers, energy efficient furnaces and E85 ethanol blended gasoline.
"We find that once we get in and establish ourselves in a market. That's what we’re known for," he told the paper.