Kum & Go

Kum & Go, L.C.

Company type	Private
Industry	Convenience stores
Founded	1959 (1959)
Founder	William A. Krause, Tony S. Gentle
Fate	Acquired by Maverik/FJ Management in 2023; stores to be rebranded as Maverik by 2025
Headquarters	West Des Moines , United States
Area served	Midwestern United States (Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)
Key people	Tanner Krause (CEO), Reed Rainey (COO)
Products	Fuel, ready-to-eat meals, coffee, sandwiches, pizza, drinks, snacks, dairy items
Revenue	US$2.6 billion (2021)
Net income	US$108 million (2021)
Number of employees	5,000 (2021)
Parent	FJ Management (since 2023)

Kum & Go, L.C. is a convenience store network based in Des Moines, Iowa, managing 400 outlets across 13 states, mainly within the Midwestern United States. Established in 1959 by business partners William A. Krause and Tony S. Gentle, the enterprise operates in Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

The company provides a variety of products and services such as fuel, ready-to-eat meals, coffee, sandwiches, pizza, drinks, snacks, and dairy items. In 2021, Kum & Go recorded revenues of US$2.6 billion alongside a net profit of US$108 million, supported by a staff of roughly 5,000 employees.

In 2019, Convenience Store News ranked Kum & Go as the 24th-largest convenience store operator in the United States. The company's strategy centers on maintaining a strong regional footprint complemented by a broad product range. Leadership includes CEO Tanner Krause and COO Reed Rainey.

On August 30, 2023, Maverik and its parent organization, FJ Management, completed the acquisition of Kum & Go. This transaction marks a notable transformation in the company’s ownership structure with intentions to rebrand all existing stores under the Maverik banner. The deal expands Maverik’s market presence and strengthens its position within the convenience retail sector.

Background

The origins of the chain trace back to 1959 when William A. Krause and Tony S. Gentle founded it alongside Hampton Oil Company in Hampton, Iowa. Hampton Oil later evolved into Krause Gentle Corporation, which is now incorporated within Krause Group.

Krause Gentle introduced its first convenience outlets in 1963 by converting traditional gas stations into combined fuel and retail "station stores." The unified brand name Kum & Go was established in 1975 to consolidate all stores under a single identity.

Kum & Go gained unexpected prominence when actor Johnny Knoxville sported a branded T-shirt in the 2006 movie Jackass Number Two, which boosted sales due to its provocative slogan.

In 2021, Kum & Go executed a viral marketing campaign featuring TikTok influencer Kyle Scheele endorsing a "Kyle Scheele meal." Initially presented as a joke that amassed millions of views, it was later revealed as an actual menu item, demonstrating the company’s innovative use of social media marketing.

History

In 1988, Krause Gentle shifted its headquarters to West Des Moines. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kum & Go experienced rapid growth through new construction projects and acquisitions of competitor stores such as those from 7-Eleven and QuikTrip.

Between 2007 and 2008, the company sold over 40 smaller locations to concentrate on larger stores ranging between 3,600 and 5,000 square feet. In 2010, Kum & Go announced plans for significant expansion by adding approximately 100 new stores across the Midwest region, including entering Kansas for the first time.

In June 2011, Kum & Go divested 22 rural stores primarily to Casey's General Stores as part of a strategy to focus investments on higher-growth markets, according to then-CEO Kyle J. Krause.

On June 1, 2018, Tanner Krause assumed the role of president while Kyle Krause became chairman and CEO, marking continued leadership by the fourth generation of the founding family. That same year saw the headquarters relocate to the architecturally acclaimed Krause Gateway Center designed by Renzo Piano in downtown Des Moines.

By 2019, Kum & Go was ranked number 178 on Forbes’ list of largest private companies in the U.S., holding the position as Iowa’s second-largest private firm after Hy-Vee.

Krause Group’s diverse holdings include ownership stakes in the Des Moines Menace soccer team, Italy’s Serie A club Parma Calcio 1913, Solar Transport logistics firm, Teamwork Ranch and Dalla Terra Ranch agricultural ventures, along with Italian wineries Vietti and Enrico Serafino.

In 2022, Kum & Go revealed plans to expand into the Boise metro area with an addition of 20 to 25 new stores as part of its ongoing regional growth strategy.

In April 2023, FJ Management—the parent company behind Maverik—acquired both Kum & Go and Solar Transport from Krause Group. Stores located in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho are undergoing rebranding to Maverik with completion expected by 2024. By January 2024, FJ Management confirmed that every Kum & Go location will be fully transitioned to Maverik branding no later than 2025.