WAUSAU, Wis. - "Convenience stores seem to be getting more convenient, as they are popping up in new locations and expanding older locations to meet market demand," writes WSAU News, citing the "aggressive construction schedule" for 2013 of La Crosse, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip.

Hans Zeitlow, director of real estate, told the news source that Kwik Trip has about 20 new store projects in the works, noting a 6,000 square-foot store in Wausau: "The project on Stewart Avenue, we are going to start construction as early as March and open in July. The dates are somewhat tentative," he said, adding, "That will be an exciting store for us because we really don??t have a presence on the west side of Wausau, and we??ve been watching that piece of property for many, many years." He also said the company has purchased land in Rhinelander and for a third Stevens Point location at Highways 10 and I-39.

Kwik Trip is focusing on the future of fuel at its newer locations as well, including compressed natural gas. The news source says that the exact locations have not been announced, but that the company is planning for 25 to 30 initially.

"Getting the infrastructure in place is what we??re going to do, and once the infrastructure is in place, it will enable people to convert their trucking fleets or even their passenger vehicles to compressed natural gas. It??s a fuel of the future," said Zeitlow, adding that convenience stores have changed over the years, and the changes have been good for the consumers.