Dive Brief:
- Kum & Go will open its first c-store in Utah on Monday, in Draper, about 20 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City, according to a Thursday announcement.
- The first Utah store comes about 19 months after Kum & Go announced its expansion into the state. At the time, the retailer said it would open “a series of Salt Lake City-area stores” in 2022, with plans for more than 30 locations over the next five years.
- In moving to Utah with a focus on Salt Lake City, Kum & Go will directly compete with 7-Eleven and Maverik, the latter of which is headquartered in the region and also known for its expansive fresh-food program.
Dive Insight:
Utah marks the first new state Kum & Go is entering in over 10 years, Niki Mason, the retailer’s senior vice president of store development, said in its initial announcement last year.
The store in Draper is now the first of “several” Sale Lake City-area locations set to open within the next year, with others planned to debut in South Jordan, Murray and Herriman, Utah, according to the announcement. Kum & Go is currently hiring for multiple positions across all of these locations, including full-time and part-time roles starting at $15.25 per hour for store associates and $16.50 per hour for food associates.
Besides Utah, Kum & Go is also working on opening stores in Idaho and Michigan. Including these expansions, the Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer will soon operate more than 400 c-stores in 14 states.
Like its other newly announced locations, Kum & Go’s Utah stores will feature its fresh food menu, which focuses on offering healthy options. Items include chicken, sausage and veggie burritos and bowls, as well as more than 10 pizza varieties. Earlier this year Kum & Go doubled down on its healthy foods strategy by partnering with natural and organic distributor Kehe to bring more healthier-for-you offerings to 80 of its locations.
“We believe Utahns will enjoy Kum & Go’s fresh perspective to the convenience industry and look forward to significant growth in the area for years to come,” CEO Tanner Krause said in the announcement.
