Dive Brief:
- Midwest retailer U-Stop Convenience Stores has acquired the 11-location Shop Quik Convenience Stores chain in Kansas for an undisclosed amount, according to an announcement from American Business Brokers & Advisors, which coordinated the sale.
- Shop Quik’s 11 Kansas c-stores all sell fuel, while five of them feature quick-service restaurants like Hunt Brothers Pizza, Wild Cafe or Chester’s Chicken, according to Shop Quik’s website.
- This marks Lincoln, Nebraska-based U-Stop’s entrance into Kansas, its second state of operation, Terry Monroe, president and founder of American Business Brokers & Advisors, confirmed.
Dive Insight:
U-Stop’s latest deal brings its c-store network to about 40 locations across Nebraska and Kansas. The Shop Quik locations it’s acquiring include five locations in both Junction City and Manhattan and one store in Ogden, Monroe confirmed.
Most of U-Stop’s locations – 23 of them — are in Lincoln, according to the retailer’s website. It also operates stores in other parts of Nebraska including Valparaiso, Ashland, Hickman and Beatrice. The company was founded in 1959 and is a division of Whitehead Oil Company.
Shop Quik, which opened its first convenience store in 1983, has now sold its last 11 locations after consolidating its network from a high of 20 stores.
Knowing they’d eventually leave the business, Shop Quik founders Greg and Pat Junghans met with Mark Whitehead, president and owner of U-Stop, and realized he was the right person to take their stores to the next level, according to the announcement.
“With the addition of the Shop Quik locations, U-Stop aims to enhance the convenience and accessibility of its offerings for its customers in Kansas,” Mark Whitehead said in the announcement. “The company is excited to become an integral part of the local communities and looks forward to contributing to their economic development.”
U-Stop’s move to Kansas underscores the convenience store industry’s growing interest in regional expansion. Many retailers — such as Wawa, Buc-ee’s, Casey’s General Stores and RaceTrac — have opened their first locations in new states over the past couple of years as they aim to reach more customers.
