Key Factors
- Regional comfort retailer chains have been disappearing.
- Kum & Go’s model was changed with Maverik after the sale.
- Plenty of smaller chains have been offered lately.
Within the comfort retailer house, measurement appears to matter.
“With expenses rising and labor continuing to be a daily struggle, many c-store retailers are choosing one of two directions: take a chance to grow the business through an acquisition or sell the company and make a clean exit. Industry experts have said that they don’t foresee this years-long trend slowing down in 2026,” C-Retailer Dive reported.
In 2025, Maverik accomplished its rebranding of Kum & Go areas after buying the chain in 2023, reflecting the broader consolidation pattern within the c-store trade.
That pattern has continued in 2026 with Pops Mart, a 54-store chain, promoting itself to a few separate patrons.
Pops Mart exits the convenience-store enterprise
Pops Mart Gasoline has offered its 54 comfort shops to a few separate patrons.
“Sunoco LP purchased 36 of Pops Mart’s 54 convenience stores in addition to its wholesale distribution business, according to American Business Brokers & Advisors’ website. Meanwhile, according to the website, Petroleum Marketing Group acquired seven of Pops Mart’s c-stores, and details on who acquired the other 11 stores were not immediately available,” C-Retailer Dive reported.
Monetary particulars weren’t disclosed.
American Enterprise Brokers and Advisors, the Fort Myers Seaside, Florida-based agency that offered merger and acquisition advisory companies to Pops Mart Gasoline, shared on Jan. 19 that the sale was accomplished.
Sunoco LP and Petroleum Advertising and marketing Group have each acquired some Pops Mart shops. — Supply: Shutterstock
Pops Mart had a brief run
The comfort retailer chain “formed its own LLC in 2021 after former parent company Winnsboro Petroleum sold its then two dozen locations to retail fuel investors Don Draughon and JD Dykstra,” in accordance with C-Retailer Dive. The corporate additionally made a number of small-scale offers because it grew its community to 54 shops.
Pops Mart had been engaged on development plans when it was approached to promote.
“The company had been considering additional dealer-site acquisitions to keep expanding when it was approached by Sunoco. The strategic and operational synergies between the two firms ultimately led to the decision to sell the entire business,” American Enterprise Brokers & Advisors President Terry Monroe informed Mass Market Retailers.
Extra Retail:
The buying corporations haven’t introduced when they’ll convert the Pops Mart shops into their model.
“Pops Mart’s exit reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the convenience-store industry, as smaller regional operators keep selling assets amid a tough operating environment characterized by stagnant in-store transaction growth and rising competitive pressure,” wrote Thorvardur de Shong for Mass Market Retailers.
Pops Mart Gasoline: C-store timeline
- 2021, Formation of Pops Mart Gasoline, LLC: Pops Mart Gasoline was fashioned after retail gasoline traders Don Draughon and JD Dykstra acquired 24 comfort retailer areas from Winnsboro Petroleum, establishing the corporate to function fueling stations and comfort shops, in accordance with a press launch.
- Late 2022, Enlargement into C-Shops: In December 2022, Pops Mart Gasoline acquired 14 comfort shops and 7 wholesale gasoline supplier areas from Anderson Oil Co., increasing its branded retail gasoline website choices (Shell and Exxon), CSP Day by day Information reported.
- Late 2022, Entry into Jap North Carolina: The corporate continued development by buying six c-stores with gasoline from Mallard Oil Co. in japanese North Carolina, in accordance with CSP Day by day Information.
- 2023, Enlargement into Wisconsin: Pops Mart expanded past the Carolinas by buying a number of comfort shops and gasoline supplier areas in Wisconsin, together with seven areas by way of DJ’s Mart and journey heart acquisitions, reported C-Retailer Dive.
- By late 2023/early 2024, Retail Footprint Development: At this level, Pops Mart was working greater than 42 shops throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Wisconsin by acquisitions of c-stores with fueling, in accordance with CS Information.
- Dec. 2025, C-Retailer Enterprise Sale to Sunoco and others: In December 2025, Pops Mart Gasoline offered 36 of its 54 comfort shops (and its wholesale gasoline enterprise) to Sunoco LP, with extra areas acquired by Petroleum Advertising and marketing Group and others, marking the corporate’s exit from the c-store and gasoline retail trade, reported C-Retailer Dive.
Concerning the authors
Co-Editor-in-Chief The Avenue
Daniel Kline serves as co-editor-in-chief of TheStreet. He has greater than 30 years of expertise protecting retail, eating places, journey, and know-how. He is the creator of Come Cruise With Me, and a famous professional on cruise journey. He has been passionate in regards to the altering state of retail and loves to point out why corporations succeed or fail.
Celine is a author and editor with over 20 years of expertise and has coated various information, options, tutorial/analysis, and authorized matters. At TheStreet.com, Celine is a senior editor with expertise throughout retail, shares, investing, private finance, know-how, the financial system, and journey.
