QuikTrip, Mars Earn Spots on '100 Best Companies to Work For' List

NEW YORK -- QuikTrip and Mars Inc. have landed on the "100 Best Companies to Work For" list, published by Fortune magazine.

The 16th annual list places QuikTrip at No. 66, the same spot the Tulsa, Okla.-based convenience store chain occupied last year. It is the 11th time overall the retailer has appeared on the list.

QuikTrip's portfolio counts 620 convenience stores in 11 states across the Midwest and the South. The company has 12,625 employees and boasts a 22-percent turnover rate -- the lowest in the industry, according to Fortune. The company's most common salaried position is store manager at $69,491 average annual pay. It's most common hourly position is relief assistant manager with a $43,359 average annual pay.

"Obviously for one to be considered for this is an honor, but to make it 11 years in a row kind of validates a lot of things that QuikTrip has always tried to do," company spokesman Mike Thornbrugh told the Tulsa World. Thornbrugh added that the company has been recognized for its low employee turnover, its higher salary than competitors and its policy of promoting from within.

"The rule has always been to give the employees the chance to grow and succeed," he said. "If there's a job opening anywhere in the company, our employees get the first opportunity at that job."

The latest list also sees Mars Inc. join the ranks of the 100 best companies, landing at the No. 95 spot. It did not appear on last year's list. The McLean, Va.-based company employees 11,985 worked in the United States and 55,000 outside the country.

Mars Inc. was singled out for its policy that allows employees of its pet food division -- brands include Pedigree and Whiskas -- to bring their dogs to work, where they often sleep under the desks, according to Fortune.

"We believe Mars is a great place to have a career and we are especially pleased that this ranking is due in large part to what our associates have to say about our culture, heritage and winning business," said Mars Inc. President Paul S. Michaels.

In November 2012, Mars was also recognized by the World's Best Multinational Workplaces List, which recognized its increases in the percentage of women in executive and senior management positions over the last 11 years (38 percent globally in 2012). In 2012, more than 15 of Mars Inc.'s operations were featured on national Great Place to Work and other local workplace ranking lists in countries including: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia and Spain. The company was also ranked 18th on "Great Places to Work, 25 Best Multinational Workplaces in Europe."