Convenience store chain QuikTrip planning to outpace last year's net growth of 21 stores, which increased its store count 3.7%; most of 44 stores under construction will be larger 'Gen 3' stores featuring outdoor seating, beverage bar

Cindy Allen

LOS ANGELES , January 31, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – In 2012, convenience store chain QuikTrip Corp, which is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is planning to outpace last year’s net growth of 21 stores, which constituted a 3.7% increase in the number of QuikTrip stores, Convenience Store News reported Jan. 30.

In 2011, QuikTrip opened a total of 36 stores. The chain also closed some stores and sold eight locations, yielding a net gain of 21 stores.

Forty-four QuikTrip stores are under construction.

"If everything goes the way we hope, we expect to open more stores this year than we ever have before," said Mike Thornbrugh, a manager of public and government affairs at QuikTrip.

Most of the stores that are currently under construction will feature QuikTrip’s newest store design, the "Gen 3,” which is both larger than previous designs, includes outdoor seating and has multiple store entrances. They also have a soft-serve/ice cream bar and a specialty beverage bar that are staffed by employees.

Thornbrugh said that, from this point forward, all new stores will be “Gen 3,” assuming that the property is able to support this format.

Currently, QuikTrip operates stores in 10 states, but it will soon operate stores in 11 states when a store located in North Carolina opens in March 2012.

The primary source of this article is Convenience Store News, Deerfield, Illinois, on Jan. 30, 2012.

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