CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—QuikTrip announced the opening of a new remote travel center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After opening 11 new travel centers in 2022, the convenience retailer says it will continue to expand throughout 2023 with new locations across the country.
QT’s travel center formats feature a larger designed lot and a more spacious store. QT’s new store model was created specifically for highly traveled areas of the country that are also within a reasonable proximity to a QT distribution center for access to fresh food.
The Chattanooga travel Center features an expanded QT Kitchens, offering fresh, made-to-order food, premium specialty drinks and tasty frozen treats. It also has room to service 18 cars for gasoline and six diesel bays for trucks.
“We are excited to introduce our QuikTrip remote travel center in Chattanooga. We look forward to introducing our unique QuikTrip brand and culture to our new community,” said Aisha Jefferson-Smith, QuikTrip’s corporate communications manager. “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.”
QT makes an impact on the communities it serves with each store generating on average $1.3 million in annual local and state taxes. The company donates 5% of its annual net profits to charitable organizations. Among the organizations QT supports are United Way, Safe Place, local food banks, schools and Folds of Honor.
QT is now in its 65th year in business and employs more than 24,000 people across 16 states. Planning is underway for future Travel Center locations across the country, according to the retailer.
Meanwhile, TravelCenters of America (TA) signed 30 new franchise agreements in 2022, reaching its annual target. The company is focused on franchising for accelerated network growth and continues to see year-over-year franchise signing growth. In 2022, TA opened three new franchised sites and plans to open 20 franchised locations in 2023.
In addition, TA says it is focused on acquisitions for network growth. The company acquired seven existing travel centers (six with truck maintenance facilities), which began operating as TA or Petro locations in 2022, and three standalone truck service facilities, which began operating as TA Truck Service during the year.
“The success of TA’s franchise and acquisition programs is a critical component of our strategic plan, and over time will add well located facilities to better serve our guests across the country,” said Jon Pertchik, chief executive officer of TA.