Dive Brief:
- Convenience store retailer QuikTrip has opened a new remote travel center in Chattanooga, Tennessee — its 12th one since the start of 2022, according to an emailed press release.
- Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip introduced its remote travel center concept in June 2020 in Joplin, Missouri, Aisha Jefferson-Smith, corporate communications manager for QuikTrip, said in an interview. These locations feature a larger parking lot and c-store — as well as an expanded foodservice offering — compared to QuikTrip’s traditional locations.
- Now with 23 travel centers, QuikTrip will continue to expand its remote model throughout 2023 planning new locations across the country, according to the announcement.
Dive Insight:
By introducing a network of travel centers alongside its well-known c-stores, QuikTrip increases the competition with major travel-center players, such as Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Pilot and TravelCenters of America.
The remote concept was created “for highly traveled areas of the country” that are near a QT Distribution Center for access to fresh food, according to the announcement. QuikTrip’s distribution centers are located in Atlanta; Dallas; Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix; and Tulsa.
QuikTrip’s remote travel centers are much larger than its regular locations, with the c-stores being around 8,200 square feet, Jefferson-Smith said. In comparison, regular QuikTrip c-stores are between 4,100 and 5,700 square feet.
The new Chattanooga location has room for 18 cars to pump gas and six diesel bays for trucks — also more than at a regular QuikTrip, according to the announcement.
QuikTrip did not specify how the foodservice offering at its remote travel centers is more expansive than at its regular stores. The retailer’s prepared foods concept, QT Kitchens, offers meals across all dayparts, ranging from veggie breakfast scrambles and biscuits to barbecue brisket, chicken and pulled pork sandwiches.
“The Travel Center allows us to not only create meaningful connections with our new local customers in Chattanooga but also serve travelers in this busy part of the country,” Jefferson-Smith said in the announcement.
Founded in 1958, QuikTrip operates more than 900 c-stores across 16 states.
