Get the Inside Scoop from Kum & Go

With 420 locations across 11 states, Kum & Go is an industry leader. The chain is winning customers with its fresh food products, convenience and innovation. During NATSO Connect 2020, show attendees had a chance to visit two Kum & Go locations in the Denver area—Kum & Go 939 and Kum & Go 335. During the visits, Michael Fix, a manager for the company, led a detailed behind-the-scenes tour and shared deep insights into what is working best at the stores.
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Get the Inside Scoop from Kum & Go
 

With 420 locations across 11 states, Kum & Go is an industry leader. The chain is winning customers with its fresh food products, convenience and innovation. During NATSO Connect 2020, show attendees had a chance to visit two Kum & Go locations in the Denver area—Kum & Go 939 and Kum & Go 335. During the visits, Michael Fix, a manager for the company, led a detailed behind-the-scenes tour and shared deep insights into what is working best at the stores.

A Successful Bakery Program
Kum & Go has created its own bakery program, partnering with a vendor who produces frozen doughs for cookies, donuts and cinnamon rolls from Kum & Go’s recipes. “We use all clean ingredients,” Fix said.

Once the products are in the store, employees thaw, proof, bake and frost them. Managers even have the flexibility to dress up the donuts any way they’d like, with some adding cookie crumbles or other fun toppings.

Fix told attendees one small bakery case at Kum & Go 335 did $6,300 in sales in January.

He added that cinnamon rolls are a top seller and sell all day. The location places them in clam shells and positions them near the register.

Busy Kitechens and Coolers
Both Kum & Go locations attendees visited had an open kitchen concept. “Everything is meant for speed and efficiency,” Fix said.

Pizza is a top seller made fresh in the store. The dough, like dough for other baked goods, comes in frozen and thaws and proofs in the store.

Fix said most deli sales take place between 5 and 9 a.m., and there are three people working in the deli in the morning. The deli sales at Kum & Go 939 average $40,000 to $48,000 a month. He added that the store can print off its own labels for the grab-and-go food it offers.

Beverages are a popular item for Kum & Go. Fix said 32 percent of business at Kum & Go 939 is from beverage coolers, and 12 percent of that is from beer.

Other Odds and Ends
While at Store 335, Fix took time to discuss some of the small but effective things the location has done. He said the location’s ice machine has been a good investment. “We bag our own in 10- and 20-pound bags. It is one of our biggest margin items,” he said.

Fix also told attendees the location’s camera system has video and audio, and stores are vigilant about sharing information. The company also invites police in and shows them how to use the camera systems.

The company is also going to polished concrete floors, which Fix said are easier to clean.

Fuel Alternatives
Fix said Kum & Go has seen an overall trend toward decreasing gallons, so the company is looking to the future with electric vehicle charging. Store 939 installed a charger from ChargePoint earlier this year. Fix said the company also is looking at E15 and E85.

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