CF to Gulf Coast

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Convenience-store and fuel retailer EG Group has introduced its Cumberland Farms brand to the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama. It is opening two new Cumberland Farms stores in the region, the first of many planned to open in the Gulf Coast in the coming 24 months.

Both stores will feature the chain’s latest design with the newest equipment and menu.

“We know that both Gulf Coast residents and former New Englanders who have relocated to this area will appreciate seeing Cumberland Farms in their neighborhood,” said George Fournier, president of EG America. “Not only are we adding to our long-time presence in Florida, but we’re also entering the Alabama market for the first time with the Cumberland Farms brand. Our team looks forward to providing our guests with a new convenience experience and our premium snacks, grab-and-go foods and Farmhouse Blend coffee.”

The new Cumberland Farms in Orange Beach, Ala., is 7,700 square feet with 12 gas pumps. This location also features a Sbarro restaurant, with a Burger King scheduled to open in July. The other new Cumberland Farms, in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., is 6,700 square feet with 12 gas pumps and features a Burger King restaurant.

In February, EG Group announced plans to expand Cumberland Farms to the Gulf Coast by converting most of its existing Tom Thumb stores, in addition to developing new locations. EG Group conducted extensive research that projected the tremendous growth opportunity for company by bringing the popular Cumberland Farms brand and offerings to customers in Gulf Coast communities, it said.

Each new location will have a grand opening celebration on June 15 with free food and drink samples, with grand opening food and beverage deals and additional gasoline discounts in the coming weeks.

EG Group is No. 4 on CSP’s 2022 Top 40 update to the 2021 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. Watch for the 2022 Top 202 ranking in the June issue of CSP magazine and in CSP Daily News.

Founded in 2001 as EuroGarages by co-CEOs Moshin and Zuber Issa, Blackburn, U.K.-based EG Group is a gasoline forecourt and retail convenience operator with more than 6,200 sites across the United Kingdom and Ireland, Europe, the United States and Australia. In 2018, EG Group established itself in the United States as EG America by acquiring Kroger’s 762-site c-store network. It acquired TravelCenters of America’s Minit Mart convenience-store business for approximately $330.8 million in 2018. The portfolio included 225 c-stores. And in 2019, among other acquisitions, EG Group acquired Cumberland Farms and its nearly 660 c-stores in the Northeast and Florida, and EG America now has its headquarters in Westborough, Mass. With more than 1,750 sites across 33 states, U.S. c-store brands include Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N’ Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill.