Kum & Go opens its fifth larger-model location on South Mingo
By KYLE ARNOLD World Business Writer on Sep 14, 2013, at 2:29 AM Updated on 9/14/13 at 6:06 AM
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Kum & Go opened a 5,000-square-foot location Friday at 10021 S. Mingo Road, continuing its addition of store designs aimed at competing with high-end rivals such as QuikTrip.
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go has been rolling out the larger model convenience stores since November, with amenities such as roller grill items, baked goods and pizza, as well as deli and breakfast sandwiches made on site.
"Our newest and larger store design that includes an on-site kitchen will provide our customers in Tulsa with a variety of quick and fresh food options," Kyle Krause, president and CEO of Kum & Go, said in a statement.
The new store replaces a location across the street at 10032 S. Mingo Road.
The convenience store and gas station chain now has five of the 5,000-square-foot models in Tulsa, going head-to-head with the expanded designs offered by Tulsa-based QuikTrip Corp. The newer QuikTrip stores, which average about 5,700 square feet, were introduced in 2011.
Kum & Go entered Tulsa in 2004 when it purchased the struggling Tulsa-based Git-n-Go chain and its 76 stores, including nine in Oklahoma. Kum & Go started building 3,400-square-foot stores in the market shortly thereafter, and executives have committed the company to becoming a strong competitor to QuikTrip.
Megan Elfers, marketing director of Kum & Go, said the company has moved aggressively into Tulsa and Oklahoma because it has a strong customer and traffic base.
"We do a lot of research when we go into a market, and Tulsa is a good fit for us," she said in a phone interview Friday.
Kum & Go now has 35 stores in metropolitan Tulsa and 49 stores in the state. The company has some 420 stores nationwide.
Kyle Arnold 918-581-8380
kyle.arnold@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Kum & Go opens new South Mingo location
Retail
Incredible Pizza Co. will jump into the indoor trampoline park business later this year.
A recurrent favorite, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. once again ranks among top picks of investing professionals who like the retailer's focus on international expansion and growth of its smaller store formats.
