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Take a glance in the rearview mirror and see just how far the company has traveled in its more than 50 year history.
W.A. Krause and T.S. Gentle founded Kum & Go, L.C. on September 1, 1959. When the two Hampton entrepreneurs opened their small full-service gas station, they couldn't have known it was only the beginning of a business which would become known for unmatched ingenuity and courageous risk-taking.
In 1963, based on a desire to further serve customers, Kum & Go, L.C. introduced the convenience store concept by offering fuel and merchandise – converting their "gas station" into a "station store."
By late 1977, Kum & Go had grown to 65 convenience stores employing 327 people.
The 1980s brought further innovations in convenience with the addition of quick serve restaurants – including Blimpie, Taco John's and Burger King – in several stores.
Kum & Go opened its first store in Des Moines in 1984.
In 1988, the headquarters were moved from Hampton to West Des Moines – the fastest growing city in Iowa.
By the end of the 80s, Kum & Go had 134 stores across the Midwest.
In 1996, Kum & Go opened 22 new stores.
In 1997, the company opened 14 new stores.
In 1998, Kum & Go added 122 new stores.
In early 1999, the company capped a decade of phenomenal growth with the acquisition of an additional 45 stores.
In 2002, Iowa gained another 12 stores, including 7 in Des Moines, 2 in Fort Dodge and one each in Oskaloosa, Carroll and Grinnell.
Sixty-eight stores were added under the Kum & Go brand in Missouri and Oklahoma in 2004.
Kum & Go entered the Jonesboro, AR market in 2006 with 11 new stores.
During 2009 Kum & Go strengthened its presence in Springfield & Joplin, MO with 36 new stores.
A number of stores in the Des Moines, IA area were remodeled in 2010 to incorporate Go Fresh Market kitchens.
Kum & Go opened its first two stores in central Arkansas in 2011, planning to build 25 in the area within five years.
Today
The pioneering spirit of Kum & Go’s founders continues to drive the company forward into the future. As the fifth largest privately-held, company-operated convenience store chain in the United States, Kum & Go operates more than 400 stores in 11 states throughout the Midwest. Thanks to the efforts of its more than 4,000 associates, Kum & Go continues to strive for excellence in customer service and convenience – serving more than 400,000 customers each day.
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