Kum & Go plans to open 50-plus stores in Detroit

Dive Brief:

Kum & Go will expand to Detroit in 2024 with plans to open more than 50 c-stores in the region over the next several years, according to a Thursday announcement.
This continues Kum & Go’s expansion into Michigan, which was first revealed last summer with “a set of Grand Rapids area stores expected to open in 2022,” the company said at the time. Those stores have not opened yet.
Once it opens its first stores in Michigan, Kum & Go — which is also in the process of expanding to Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boise, Idaho, over the next year — will operate more than 400 c-stores in 14 states.

Dive Insight:

Kum & Go’s expansion to Detroit underscores the retailer’s intention to become one of the top c-store operators in the Great Lakes State. The company aims to “bring a fresh perspective centered around people, food and digital technology” to the region, according to the announcement.

“We’ve been warmly welcomed as we prepare to enter the Grand Rapids area and with the addition of Detroit, believe Kum & Go will be the lead convenience operator across the state as we continue our growth and expansion,” CEO Tanner Krause said in the announcement.

The stores in Michigan will feature Kum & Go’s fresh food menu, which debuted at locations in Des Moines, Iowa, in October. Focused on offering healthy options within the c-store space, it includes items like chicken, sausage and veggie burritos and bowls, as well as more than 10 pizza varieties. Earlier this month, Kum & Go doubled down on its healthy foods strategy by partnering with natural and organic distributor Kehe to bring the healthier-for-you offerings to 80 of its roughly 400 locations.

In terms of employment, Kum & Go offers full-time positions with a benefits program that includes medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, parental leave and more.

Kum & Go is one of many c-store chains focusing on new market expansion. Earlier this year, Royal Farms and Kwik Trip also moved into Michigan, while Wawa began construction on its first store in Alabama and Buc-ee’s expanded to Missouri. Additionally, EG America debuted its first Cumberland Farms stores in the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama, while QuikTrip opened its first c-store in Colorado.