Pilot updates progress on $1B New Horizons initiative

Dive Brief:

Pilot Company has opened two new travel centers, one each in Texas and California, and plans to add more than a dozen to its footprint by the end of the year, according to a Tuesday press release.
The new travel centers have a combined 130 truck parking spaces, part of an expected 600 parking spots to be added nationwide across all planned new locations, the release said.
Pilot has also completed more than 80 remodels as part of its New Horizons initiative, a $1 billion program to remodel 400 locations over three years.

Dive Insight:

By the end of 2023, Pilot expects to complete another 30 remodels in 28 states and add more than 20 additional dealer locations, in addition to the 12 entirely new locations.

"We're strategically building out and renovating our network with forward-thinking designs and offerings to bring a consistently best-in-class experience to the road for all drivers," said Allison Cornish, Pilot’s senior vice president of store modernization and development. "Every upgrade or new addition is made with our guests and team members in mind."

The new location in Odessa, Texas, features 16 fueling positions and six diesel fueling lanes with biofuel and diesel exhaust fluid; 39 truck parking spots; and four showers.

The travel center in Rialto, California, features 14 gas fueling spots and eight diesel locations with biofuel and DEF; a Cinnabon and an Arby’s with a drive thru; 91 truck parking spaces; seven showers; a Certified Automated Truck scale; and a lounge for professional drivers.

Both locations offer fresh food options, including pizza, snacks and grab-and-go items, along with Pilot’s coffee program, public laundry and self checkout.

Pilot’s New Horizons updates are continuing apace. In November, Cornish said it had completed around 55 remodels, and another 60 stores had received light updates. The New Horizons remodels target both forecourt and in-store areas, improving aspects like bathrooms, fuel pumps, kitchens, lighting and more.

Knoxville, Tennessee-based Pilot, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, has more than 750 total locations in 44 states and six provinces under its Pilot and Flying J brands. The chain totals more than 77,000 truck parking spaces and 790 restaurants. It also boasts the third-largest tanker fleet in North America.