Dive Brief:
- Rutter’s has announced that its first location in the eastern part of Maryland will be open by the end of the year, a company spokesperson confirmed via email.
- The 10,250-square-foot convenience store, which is on the smaller end of Rutter’s store sizes, will be located in Aberdeen, Maryland, about halfway between Baltimore and the Delaware border.
- Rutter’s joins a wave of convenience stores, like Parkers, Wawa and QuikTrip expanding their footprints into new markets in 2024.
Dive Insight:
As Rutter’s looks to eventually expand into Delaware and Virginia, growing its presence in Maryland is a natural part of the process. The convenience store chain currently has three stores in Maryland, with all of the existing locations at least 40 miles west of Baltimore.
The company plans to grow from 87 stores now to more than 130 by the end of 2028. Roughly 10 of those locations are expected to be in new states, but that still leaves more than 30 sites for expansion in Rutter’s three current states of operation.
The new Maryland site sits off Route 40 in Aberdeen. The store is expected to have a lounge area, outdoor seating, a CAT scale and parking for more than 65 trucks.
Outdoor seating is “not very common” at Rutter’s locations yet, but the company is trying to include it in most new builds, the spokesperson said.
The store is expected to employ about 50 people.
In addition to planning new stores, Rutter’s has been working on expanding its menu. These include three new limited-time subs, new burritos for its regular menu and its latest seasonal private label beer.
Rutter’s currently operates 87 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. In addition to its convenience stores, Rutter’s also has a dairy and beverage company and a real estate company.
