QuikTrip Has Big Ambitions for 2014

TULSA, Okla. -- QuikTrip Corp. is gearing up for an active new year.

According to a report by Tulsa World, the locally based retailer is slated to break ground today on an 80,000-square-foot expansion of its headquarters, which was built in 2002 with expansion in mind. The new four-story wing -- known as Wing D -- will eventually accomodate 200 corporate and support personnel above the 500 currently employed there. The retailer is eyeing a spring 2015 completion date.

"When we first built our corporate headquarters, we already had it in our plans for the addition," QuikTrip spokesman Michael Thornbrugh told the newspaper. "It was one of those great times where our long-term planning was dead on."

QuikTrip has been on an impressive growth streak in the intervening years. The chain's 700th store is expected to open in early 2014, meaning it will have added 100 stores in less than two years. The new Wing D will be built between Wings A and C at the headquarters complex and house additional employees for company units such as petroleum, benefits and other support posts.

The move will also help support the company's expanding convenience store footprint, according to Tulsa World.

In addition to store count growth, the retailer is eyeing growth in its offering, Thornbrugh said. "In the next six months and few years, you will see some big changes at QuikTrip," he commented.

Not that the retailer has been standing still. Over the past few years, QuikTrip has expanded with QT Kitchens regional food factories where fresh offerings for the stores are produced. It has also focused on building bigger convenience stores, specifically its Generation 3 model aimed at delivering more food options including various coffees, baked goods and smoothies, the report added.

Generation 3 stores, with nearly 6,000 square feet of space, are nearly double the size of older locations. More than 100 locations now feature the model, Thornbrugh said. QuikTrip plans to replace all legacy stores with this model. The new stores are also aimed at providing more food -- fresh and fast, or take-home.

"Hopefully you come to QuikTrip, you need gas, you're thirsty or you're hungry," Thornbrugh said.